In a lot of ways, the '90s were an important time to the horror movie genre. The decade saw the rejuvenation of the slasher subgenre and the debut of new characters who would go on to become iconic. History was even made as a horror movie won Best Picture at the Oscars.
This revolutionary era for the genre is captured by what the users at Letterboxd have had to say about these movies. They've reviewed and rated all of the horror films from the '90s and the ones to score the highest rank among the best the genre has ever seen.
In The Mouth Of Madness (1994) - 3.75
Rent On Apple TV and Vudu
When it comes to the horror genre, it's difficult to find a filmmaker more iconic than John Carpenter. After all, he was the man behind The Thing and Halloween, just to name two. One of his best but still underrated works is In The Mouth of Madness.
The Thing is actually important to mention here as that is part of what Carpenter dubs his "Apocalypse Trilogy," which is ended by In The Mouth of Madness. Starring Sam Neill, the film follows an investigator who searches for a missing horror writer, only for strange things to start happening to him. Four stars (32%) is the most common rating on the website.
Tesis (1996) - 3.78
Rent on Apple TV and YouTube
Tesis, known as Thesis in the United States, is a horror film that is more psychological than it is supernatural. The Spanish movie focuses on a woman who, while researching her thesis about violence, stumbles upon a sadistic snuff video where a girl is beaten to death.
A difficult film to watch, Tesis racked up the accolades at the Goya Awards, taking home Best Film, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay, among others. While it's not a popular film on Letterboxd, those who have reviewed it scored it impressively, with four stars (35%) being the most common rating.
Audition (1999) - 3.80
Stream on AMC+, Tubi TV, and Kanopy
In a lot of ways, Japan has been a hotbed for some great horror movies over the past few decades. One of the best made in the country came in 1999 with Audition. This was the follow-up project for Omega Project, the company behind Ring, which went on to spawn some high-profile American remakes.
Audition follows a widower who becomes enamored with an actress but things go awry when secrets about her dark past begin to unravel. Several major horror directors cited this film as an inspiration. With gruesome imagery and a compelling story, it's no wonder it has plenty of four-star reviews (35%) on Letterboxd.
Braindead (1992) - 3.87
Not Available To Stream
These days, everyone knows Peter Jackson as the Academy Award-winning director of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. However, long before he took on that job, he wasn't known for producing blockbuster films. In fact, Braindead was actually a failure at the box office.
Despite that, Braindead was met with solid acclaim and has gone on to become something of a cult classic. Though it also has plenty of comedic elements, the horror worked in this gory zombie story that begins with a rat-monkey biting the protagonist's mother. 32% of users have it at four stars.
Funny Games (1997) - 3.88
Stream On HBO Max
One of the best movies to come out of Austria arrived in 1997 in the form of Funny Games. Though it might sound like a lighthearted tale by the title alone, this is actually one of the most sinister and sadistic films made during the '90s and possibly in history.
Funny Games centers on a pair of men who invade the vacation home of a couple, holding them hostage and torturing them with no remorse for their own amusement. The twisted film was well-received, with most users giving it four stars (35%) and a shot-for-shot American remake was made a decade later.
Scream (1996) - 3.96
Stream On AMC+
In terms of cultural impact and popularity, there's a good chance that Scream is the pinnacle of horror movies in the '90s. With the likes of Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street waning in popularity, the slasher subgenre was dying until Scream changed everything.
Acting as a commentary on the tropes of the genre, the film also manages to be scary in its own right. It marked the debut of legendary characters like Sidney, Dewey, and more, while Ghostface became one of the most notorious on-screen killers ever. While four stars (31%) is the most common score, five stars (22%) is up there.
Manichitrathazhu (1993) - 4.02
Stream On Eros Now
One of the least known films to score this high is Manichitrazthazhu. Released in 1993, this Indian movie was a hit with those who sought it out. The film is something of an epic as it has a runtime that is just shy of three hours long.
Inspired by a 19th-century tragedy, Manichitrazthazhu tells the story of a couple who moves into an ancestral home that is haunted. Though they're skeptical at first, the events become too difficult to ignore. Four stars (27%) is tied with the perfect five star (27%) rating for the score seen most often.
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992) - 4.02
Stream On HBO Max and The Criterion Channel
The early '90s saw the arrival of David Lynch's Twin Peaks, one of the trippiest and most intriguing television series of all time. Its influence is still being felt decades later. In 1992, after the show wrapped up, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me arrived as a prequel.
This film focuses on the investigation into the murder of Teresa Banks and the final week of Laura Palmer's life. Many original cast members didn't return but the movie was still met with critical acclaim as fans appreciated the darker tone. Most users gave it four stars (28%).
Cure (1997) - 4.08
Stream On The Criterion Channel
Returning to Japan for another highly acclaimed horror film, Cure blends that genre with mystery elements expertly. It centers on a series of murders across Tokyo that are only connected by a bloody "X" left carved into the neck of each of the victims. To add to the intrigue, the murderer is found near the scene of the crime each time and never remembers the events.
The combination of that premise and the incredible work by director Kiyoshi Kurosawa makes Cure a truly special movie. The film was met with widespread admiration and four stars (33%) is again the most common rating among Letterboxd users.
Silence Of The Lambs (1991) - 4.31
Stream On Tubi and Kanopy
Not many horror films have the longevity of Silence of the Lambs. It has spawned multiple sequels as well as several TV shows, including the beloved Hannibal. The original film also made history, sweeping the biggest awards at the Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, being the only horror movie to do so.
The plot sees an FBI trainee (Jodie Foster) get advice on catching a serial killer from a notorious cannibal (Anthony Hopkins). Silence of the Lambs is widely considered one of the greatest films ever made, regardless of genre or era. That's clear by the fact that five stars (35%) is the most popular score for it.