The Best Horror Movie From Every Year of the 2000s
Looking back, the 2000s were thrilling times for horror fans. Granted, there were some slip-ups, some notable stinkers we’d probably like to forget, but seeing all the great ones, the ones that truly stood out and are now considered classics can make anyone appreciate just how significant this decade was to the genre.
The 2000s saw some of the most thrilling, terrifying, and endlessly rewatchable horror movies in cinema history. There were so many films released during this time that anyone, even those not particularly fans of the genre, could get behind. This time released so much excitement and epic scares every year, and today, they’re still enjoyed. Here are the ten best horror movies from each year in the 2000s. Sit back, unwind, and get ready for some fright.
10
‘American Psycho’ (2000)
Directed by Mary Harron
Horror hit the ground running at the start of the 21st century with American Psycho, the cult classic psychological thriller directed by Mary Harron. It’s a riveting story with shocking turns, bloody kills, and a dark, wicked sense of humor that sees the talented Christian Bale as a 1980s New York banking executive, Patrick Batman, who moonlights as a ruthless serial killer.
Cited as one of the most iconic thrillers of the decade, American Psycho is a truly captivating nail-biter that never loses intensity, even after all these years and with multiple rewatches. It’s a thought-provoking, deeply psychological tale that’ll keep audiences guessing what’s really happening and how much of the story is made up from the perspective of the main character, Patrick. Coupled with its shocking imagery and Bale’s magnificent performance, this definite horror classic continues to be a stand of the early 2000s and one that’s continually enjoyed.
9
‘Pulse’ (2001)
Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa
If nonstop terror and unimaginable scares are your thing, definitely check out Pulse, the 2001 Japanese supernatural horror film directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa. With a unique premise and unsettling imagery, this chilling techno-horror is about several Tokyo residents who make the horrifying discovery that sinister spirits are using the internet to cross into the human world to spread death and despair.
It’s undeniably one of the scariest horror flicks of the decade and perhaps of all time. Kurosawa’s modern classic is filled to the brim with so much shock and atmosphere. It’s eerie from start to finish, featuring unsettling moments that have become legendary in the horror genre. There’s no shortage of scares in this one, and it’ll surely keep you up at night.
- Release Date
-
February 3, 2001
- Runtime
-
119 Minutes
-
Haruhiko Katô
Ryosuke Kawashima
-
-
-
Kurume Arisaka
Junko Sasano
8
’28 Days Later’ (2002)
Directed by Danny Boyle
Danny Boyle‘s iconic 2002 zombie disaster flick, 28 Days Later, is truly one of the most recognizable horror films of its time. Starring Academy Award-winner Cillian Murphy, it follows an ordinary bicycle messenger as he awakens from a coma and finds that England and most of the world have become devastated by a deadly virus that has turned victims into aggressive, mindless killers.
28 Days Later was a groundbreaker that defined horror in the early 2000s and helped rejuvenate the zombie subgenre with its intense, refreshing take on the formula. It’s full of nonstop suspense and terror, enough to keep coming back for more. The genre today wouldn’t be the same without it, and is still today considered a blast to rewatch.
7
‘Final Destination 2’ (2003)
Directed by David R. Ellis
Keeping the slasher subgenre’s momentum going in the post-Scream era, the Final Destination films rolled into theaters to become one of the most popular horror franchises of the 2000s. With five memorable installments, including a highly anticipated sixth entry due to arrive in May, this series shows no signs of stopping. While it’s debatable which one is currently the best, most would agree the thrilling second installment from 2003, Final Destination 2, is the superior film.
With better direction, pacing, and certainly more spectacularly gory effects, Final Destination 2 is a major set-up from the first one, released in 2000. Like any great horror sequel, it takes what made its predecessor so good and adds something new to the story, providing more interesting characters and higher stakes. There’s more world-building, and it overall feels like a direct continuation rather than a rushedly made, inferior sequel just trying to cash in on the original. It’s certainly the most recognizable horror film of ’03 and perhaps the entire franchise.
- Release Date
-
January 31, 2003
- Runtime
-
90 Minutes
-
-
-
Michael Landes
Thomas Burke
-
Terrence T.C. Carson
Eugene Dix
6
‘Saw’ (2004)
Directed by James Wan
Changing the horror landscape in 2004 was the wildly successful game-changer Saw, a gritty spatter flick directed by James Wan. With shocking twists, memorable scares, and an iconic antagonist, this story follows two men as they must work together to survive after waking up chained and locked in an unknown location and forced to play a deadly game by the mysterious vigilante serial killer Jigsaw.
This is one of the most defining horror films of the decade. Saw is an undeniable modern horror classic, featuring some of the most memorable and influential horror movie moments in recent history. The story is intense, the setting is eerily claustrophobic, and it ends with one of the most brilliant twist conclusions in the genre. Truly, we couldn’t talk today about 2000s horror movies without this one.
5
‘The Descent’ (2005)
Directed by Neil Marshall
From Neil Marshall comes one of the most disturbing, bloody, and uncomfortable-looking horror movies you’ll ever see, The Descent, a British survival horror thriller from 2003. Featuring nonstop terror and claustrophobic suspense, it follows a group of friends on vacation in the Appalachian mountains as their excursion into an unmarked cave system turns deadly as they’re stalked by bloodthirsty creatures.
This film pulls many tricks to scare the hell out of you. It’s visually haunting, darkly atmospheric, and full of endless dread. The Descent has become a massive standout of the horror genre in recent years for just how incredibly terrifying it is. Despite being twenty years old now, its scary moments and nail-biting suspense are as effective now and perhaps more than ever than when it was initially released.
4
‘The Host’ (2006)
Directed by Bong Joon Ho
From talented Academy Award-winning South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon Ho comes his memorable contribution to the monster and horror genre, The Host, from 2006. Starring his frequent collaborator Song Kang-ho, it follows a misfit street vendor in Seoul who must rescue his teenage daughter (Go Ah-sung) from a mutated monster created from toxic chemicals released in a local river.
Fans of Joon Ho’s films would have a blast with this one as it’s one of his most recognizable works. Perfectly directed, brilliantly intense, masterfully acted, and wonderfully unique, this is easily one of the most interesting entries to the monster genre ever and certainly one that’ll always be remembered fondly. Though 2006 was a remarkable year for movies, this is easily the best that horror had to offer.
3
‘The Mist’ (2007)
Directed by Frank Darabont
There’s hardly any mention these days of talking about the greatest horror movies of each decade without including one of Stephen King‘s film adaptions. Easily, his best work during this time was the 2007 monster horror cult classic The Mist, directed by a filmmaker known for powerfully adapting King’s books to the big screen, Frank Darabont. Starring Thomas Jane and Marcia Gay Harden, it’s a deeply unsettling survival tale of a scared group of people who hold out in a grocery store after a large blinding mist engulfs their town, bringing with it a whole host of deadly monsters.
While critically mixed at the time, The Mist nowadays is often regarded as one of the most compelling of Stephen King’s film adaptations. It’s dark and intense, featuring a terrible sense of dread, and it constantly leaves the audience with a sinking feeling that things aren’t going to play out well for any of the characters. It’s also best remembered now for its shockingly brutal and depressing conclusion that still now feels like a punch in the gut. While it had some stiff competition that year, competing against King’s other adaptation, 1408, and others like 30 Days of Night and Rob Zombie‘s Halloween Remake, overall, The Mist took the crown as the best horror movie of 2007.
2
‘Let the Right One In’ (2008)
Directed by Tomas Alfredson
Proving that 2008 was a spectacular year for cinema, Tomas Alfredson‘s Swedish vampire horror drama Let the Right One In is truly a film that needs to be seen and stands as one of the greatest international horror pictures of all time. It tells the story of a lonely young boy in Stockholm who finds companionship with a mysterious girl who moves into his apartment building but slowly realizes she’s a centuries-old vampire who constantly needs feeding.
While probably not one of the scariest films you’ll come across, this is a truly essential piece of horror cinema. It’s a powerful tale with riveting drama, thoughtful themes, and plenty of moments that’ll keep you invested. This also has enough for vampire fans to sink their teeth into, as it does have some gory imagery and plenty of blood. Overall, it’s definitely the best horror you’ll see this year. Just like its blood-sucking protagonist, this one is truly immortal.
1
‘Zombieland’ (2009)
Directed by Ruben Fleischer
Now, to cap off this incredible horror decade, here is one of the funniest and most creative zombie flicks in recent memory, Zombieland, the wildly fun horror comedy classic from 2009. Starring Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg, it follows four survivors who form a family bond while working together to find a new home on a cross-country road trip in the zombie-infested United States.
Zombieland was a breath of fresh air to the subgenre, a unique blend of laughs, action, and genuine horror that anyone could enjoy. It’s simply a blast from start to finish, featuring so much hilarity and decent action that it’s impossible not to come back for multiple rewatches. To conclude, this ended the 2000s on the marvelous high note it deserved. It came out at the perfect time, and today is a favorite among zombie enthusiasts.
