The 13 Best R-Rated Horror Movies of the 1990s, Ranked (2024)

There was hardly a better time to be a horror fan than in the 1990s. In a decade that saw a gradual change in cinema, with newer technologies and the rise of the internet, came a new age of horror with films that today have become some of the best in the genre's history.

The '90s produced some spectacular and highly rewatchable horror films. Many are praised for reinvigorating and sparking new interest in the genre. From acclaimed thrillers like Misery and The Silence of the Lambs to experimental game-changers like The Blair Witch Project, this decade was exciting and produced some incredible classics. Many of which, of course, were particularly violent and gory and featured harsh language, earning them R-ratings. While there are many great horror movies with PG-13 or lower ratings, it can't be ignored that some of the most notable films were rated R. Here are the ten best R-rated horror movies.

13 'Wes Craven's New Nightmare' (1994)

Directed by Wes Craven

Before the undeniably more polished Scream, Wes Craven took horror into meta territory way ahead of the curve with New Nightmare, which saw the return of final girl Heather Langenkamp (here playing herself, in a much more confident and textured performance than previous franchise appearances) in a high-concept supernatural thriller about a malevolent force (is it Freddy, or not?) that makes itself known among the creatives involved with the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise.

New Nightmare says the quiet part out loud: violent and frightening movies aren't made or experienced in a vacuum, and they absolutely have an effect on the people who watch them and the people who make them. But what is that exactly? There are some rough edges here, and the tone doesn't always glide as we'd see in Scream, but both movies are essential slashers. New Nightmare is scary, provocative, and way, way ahead of its time.

Wes Craven's New Nightmare

R

Horror

Mystery

Fantasy

A demonic force has chosen Freddy Krueger as its portal to the real world. Can Heather Langenkamp play the part of Nancy one last time and trap the evil trying to enter our world?

Release Date

October 14, 1994

Director

Wes Craven

Cast

Heather Langenkamp , Robert Englund , Miko Hughes , Matt Winston , David Newsom

Runtime

112 Minutes

Main Genre

Horror

Writers

Wes Craven

12 'Predator 2' (1990)

Directed by Stephen Hopkins

Stephen Hopkins' 1990 sequel to John McTiernan's jungle-set, genre hybrid takes the titular monster to the futuristic cityscape of 1997's Los Angeles. Danny Glover and Gary Busey star in an underappreciated and commendably bold sequel that deserves more credit than it gets for refusing to just do the same thing all over again. The genre alchemy that made the original so special is further enhanced with Predator 2, which is partly a police procedural. Glover plays against type here, as a hot-head cop that's very different from what audiences had seen from the actor in Lethal Weapon.

Of course, some have said Predator 2 suffers from a lack of Arnold Schwarzenegger, and though Predator 2 doesn't match the gripping power of the mostly silent, intelligently staged tête-à-tête that concluded that film, this is still the best Predator sequel, even better than the well-received Prey. It's deservedly garnered critical and fan reappraisal in recent years.

Predator 2

R

Action

Sci-Fi

Thriller

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Release Date

November 20, 1990

Director

Stephen Hopkins

Cast

Kevin Peter Hall , Danny Glover , Gary Busey , Ruben Blades , Maria Conchita Alonso , Bill Paxton

Runtime

108

Main Genre

Action

Writers

Jim Thomas , John Thomas

Tagline

Silent. Invisible. Invincible. He's in town with a few days to kill.

11 'In the Mouth of Madness' (1994)

Directed by John Carpenter

Horror wouldn't be anything like the genre we know and love today without the contributions of John Carpenter. Hell, genre filmmaking at large owes him a debt that's hard to overstate. Following The Thing and Prince of Darkness, supernatural thriller In the Mouth of Madness concludes the auteur's "Apocalypse Trilogy." Sam Neill stars in one of Carpenter's most underrated and inspired efforts, as an insurance investigator exploring the disappearance of a horror novelist.

In the Mouth of Madness is a funny, strange and frightening film that benefits greatly from the director's slow-burn approach as well as the lead performance from Neill, one year after he starred in the box-office record-obliterating Jurassic Park. The author within the narrative, Sutter Cane (Jürgen Prochnow) bears obvious similarities to Stephen King, and like New Nightmare in the same year, In the Mouth of Madness was a meta kind of horror film that has aged very well.

In the Mouth of Madness

R

Horror

Mystery

Thriller

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Release Date

February 3, 1995

Director

John Carpenter

Cast

Sam Neill , Julie Carmen , Jurgen Prochnow , David Warner , John Glover , Bernie Casey

Runtime

95

Main Genre

Horror

Writers

Michael De Luca

Tagline

Lived Any Good Books Lately?

Website

http://www.theofficialjohncarpenter.com/in-the-mouth-of-madness/

10 'The Blair Witch Project' (1999)

Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez

The Blair Witch Project has cemented its legacy as one of the most iconic indie horror movies of all time. Shot in an eerie, realistic found-footage style, the story documents the terrifying final days of three amateur film students who went missing in the woods of Maryland to pursue a mysterious local legend, the Blair Witch.

Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez, this low-budget passion film was a small-time project that blossomed into a box-office juggernaut. The Blair Witch Project is a nightmare-inducing story from start to finish. The plot effectively freaks out the audience within its seventy-eight-minute runtime. Every moment leaves a sense of dread and makes the audience uncomfortable, knowing something terrible will happen to the protagonists. It continues to be a frightening and iconic film that defines horror in the 1990s. Still, today, its scares couldn't help but leave viewers covering their eyes.

The Blair Witch Project

R

Horror

Mystery

Psychological

Supernatural

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Release Date

July 30, 1999

Director

Daniel Myrick , Eduardo Sánchez

Cast

Heather Donahue , Michael C. Williams , Joshua Leonard

Runtime

81 minutes

9 'Jacob's Ladder' (1990)

Directed by Adrian Lyne

Shocking and disturbing best describe Jacob's Ladder, a mind-bending psychological horror thriller in which nothing is what it appears. Starring Academy Award winner Tim Robbins, it tells the tragic story of Jacob Singer, a grieving man who struggles to put his life back together while suffering horrifying visions from his service in Vietnam.

Jacob's Ladder is the ultimate in psychological terror. It's a dark, twisted journey into a troubled human mind, featuring appalling imagery and shocking moments that hit the audience right where it scares them the most. The plot is a brilliant look into the horrors of PTSD and the effects war has on those who fought in it. Although its gut-wrenching twist ending only works the first time, Jacob's Ladder's story is still timeless and unforgettable. Undoubtedly, this more than thirty-year-old film is still a chilling viewing experience.

Jacob's Ladder

R

Drama

Horror

Mystery

Jacob's Ladder is a horror mystery centering on a mourning father and scarred Vietnam War vet named Jacob that is dealing with dissociation. After his child dies, Jacob struggles to separate reality from his delusions. Jacob's Ladder stars Tim Robbins alongsideElizabeth Peña, Danny Aiello, Matt Craven, and Jason Alexander.

Release Date

November 2, 1990

Director

Adrian Lyne

Cast

Tim Robbins , Elizabeth Peña , Danny Aiello , Matt Craven , Pruitt Taylor Vince , Jason Alexander

Runtime

113 minutes

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8 'Bram Stoker's Dracula' (1992)

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

One of the most iconic Gothic tales in literature, Irish author Bram Stoker's 1987 novel Dracula, has been adapted and re-adapted for many decades since the invention of cinema. While many prefer either Bela Lugui's 1932 black-and-white version or Christopher Lee's iconic Hammer series, arguably, it's Francis Ford Coppola's 1992 Dracula that is the most faithful.

Starring a marvelous cast, including big-named stars like Anthony Hopkins, Gary Oldman, and Winona Ryder, Coppola's mainstream version of The Count is one of Hollywood's most grandiose attempts at adapting Stoker's classic tale. With elaborate sets, Oscar-winning make-up and effects, and exaggerated performances, Dracula tries to go bigger, bolder, and bloodier than any previous ones. While every fan has their favorite version of Dracula, Coppola's attempt has become a standout and is often seen as the definitive Dracula movie.

Bram Stoker's Dracula

R

Horror

Romance

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Release Date

November 13, 1992

Director

Francis Ford Coppola

Cast

Gary Oldman , Winona Ryder , Anthony Hopkins , Keanu Reeves , Cary Elwes

Runtime

128 minutes

7 'Sleepy Hollow' (1999)

Directed by Tim Burton

From visionary filmmaker Tim Burton comes Sleepy Hollow, an extravagant big-screen adaptation of Washington Irving's 1820 short story. Burton's frequent collaborator, Johnny Depp, stars as Constable Ichabod Crane, who journeys to the small town of Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of horrific murders committed by the legend of a vengeful spirit.

Though known for his child-friendly Gothic fantasy story, Sleepy Hollow is one of Tim Burton's darkest and most mature films. It's intense, with shocking beheadings, disturbing acts of violence, and plenty of blood. The typical fantasy tropes typically associated with Burton work perfectly within this film's setting, creating an unsettling and terrifying movie with spectacular, Oscar-winning visuals that look incredible today. Sleepy Hollow continues to be one of the acclaimed directors' best efforts, certainly the most disturbing of his career.

Sleepy Hollow

R

Fantasy

Horror

Mystery

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Release Date

November 19, 1999

Director

Tim Burton

Cast

Johnny Depp , Christina Ricci , Miranda Richardson , Michael Gambon

Runtime

105 minutes

6 'Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me' (1992)

Directed by David Lynch

One of the most iconic small-town supernatural shows ever, David Lynch's Twin Peaks has become a staple of '90s pop culture, a compelling police drama with a thrilling mystery and psychological horrors. In 1992, he directed a spinoff film, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, which takes place in the days leading up to the series' main events. Starring Sheryl Lee, reprising her role as the ill-fated Laura Palmer, it shows Laura's heartbreaking final hours before her horrific murder.

Fire Walk With Me doesn't fail in its execution. The graphic death of Laura Palmer is one of pure terror and heartbreak. The disturbing backstory behind the murder continues to be shocking and unsettling, even for those who've watched the show and know its many twists. Lynch crafted a dark and twisted film that continues to shock fans and leaves them speechless by the end. Today, Fire Walk With Me has been cited as one of the greatest horror prequels of all time.

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me

R

Horror

Drama

Mystery

Laura Palmer's harrowing final days are chronicled one year after the murder of Teresa Banks, a resident of Twin Peaks' neighboring town.

Release Date

August 28, 1992

Director

David Lynch

Cast

Sheryl Lee , Ray Wise , Mädchen Amick , Dana Ashbrook , Phoebe Augustine , David Bowie , Eric DaRe , Miguel Ferrer

Runtime

134 Minutes

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5 'Audition' (1999)

Directed by Takashi Miike

Audition is a 1999 splatter horror classic by Japanese director Takashi Miike. Today, considered one of the most remarkable Asian horror flicks ever made, it tells the disturbing tale of a widowed father who uses his film-producing connections to set up an audition to find his new soul mate. But when he connects with a mysterious young woman, he discovers too late that she's harboring a murderous dark side.

Shock and disgusting are just a few words to describe this bold masterpiece. Audition is a truly disturbing film featuring uncomfortable body horror and graphic torture scenes. Though its first act is a slow-burner, the finale makes up for the wait and doesn't hold back on the disgusting and twisted imagery. It's a difficult film to go through, no matter how often viewers watch it. But it's a necessary movie for any horror fan of the '90s.

Audition

R

Horror

Mystery

Thriller

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A widower takes an offer to screen girls at a special audition, arranged for him by a friend to find him a new wife. The one he fancies is not who she appears to be after all.

Release Date

October 6, 1999

Director

Takashi Miike

Cast

Ryo Ishibashi , Eihi Shiina , Tetsu Sawaki , Jun Kunimura , Renji Ishibashi , Miyuki Matsuda

Runtime

115 minutes

4 'Candyman' (1992)

Directed by Bernard Rose

A chilling Urban Legends movie, Bernard Rose's unique slasher classic Candyman stands out in '90s horror cinema. Starring Tony Todd and Virgina Madsen, it follows an ambitious college student as she investigates the local Chicago legend of a supernatural murderer. However, when her actions begin tarnishing his legacy, she finds herself stalked by the killer who intends to have her join him in the afterlife.

Candyman is best recognized for its uniqueness. It's a slasher flick with a perfect drama and gothic horror mix. Along with tragic themes about racism and gentrification, Candyman has been studied and praised throughout the decades and continues to be one of the most significant films of the '90s.

Candyman (1992)

R

Horror

Drama

Thriller

A graduate student researching urban legends discovers the terrifying tale of Candyman, a vengeful spirit with a hook for a hand. As she delves deeper into his history, she unwittingly summons him, leading to a series of gruesome murders. The line between myth and reality blurs as she fights to survive his wrath.

Release Date

October 16, 1992

Director

Bernard Rose

Cast

Virginia Madsen , Tony Todd , Xander Berkeley , Kasi Lemmons , Vanessa Williams , DeJuan Guy , Marianna Elliott , Ted Raimi

Runtime

100 Minutes

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3 'Misery' (1990)

Directed by Rob Reiner

The legendary author Stephen King had many hits in the '90s, some even defining the decade. One such hit was 1990's Misery, a widely suspenseful horror thriller starring the late James Caan and Academy Award winner Kathy Bates. When revered novelist Paul Sheldon is left seriously injured after a violent car crash in an isolated countryside, he's rescued and nursed by a good Samaritan named Annie Wilkes, who's also his biggest fan. However, as days pass, he slowly realizes Annie has no intention to let him leave.

Misery is one of the most acclaimed of King's adapted filmography. It's the only King to have won an Oscar, a well-deserved Best Actress win for the legendary Kathy Bates, who truly hones in the film's scare factor with her chilling performance as the unstable Annie Wilkes. Every moment of her screen time once she reveals her true self is filled with tension and dread, leaving audiences wondering what she'll do next. Misery is a compelling and creepy thriller that keeps viewers on edge. It's a standout of the '90s and revered as one of the best classics of the decade.

Misery

R

Drama

Thriller

Horror

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After a famous author is rescued from a car crash by a fan of his novels, he comes to realize that the care he is receiving is only the beginning of a nightmare of captivity and abuse.

Release Date

November 30, 1990

Director

Rob Reiner

Cast

James Caan , Kathy Bates , Richard Farnsworth , Frances Sternhagen , Lauren Bacall , Graham Jarvis

Runtime

107 minutes

2 'Scream' (1996)

Directed by Wes Craven

Wildly regarded as the film that saved the slasher genre, Wes Craven's fascinating game-changer Scream is a masterpiece that defined horror in the 1990s. Starring Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox, it follows high schooler Sidney Prescott as she finds herself the target of a horror-obsessed serial killer stalking her on the anniversary of her mother's grizzly murder.

Scream and the massive hit franchise it spawned brought horror back to the spotlight after a string of critical and commercial failures in the mid-90s. Introducing a wonderful mix of self-aware humor, it tells a story that can be dark and terrifying one moment, then laugh-out-loud hilarious the next. Outside of Campbell and Cox, the film also boasts a rich supporting cast who complement the film's tone, including iconic and hilarious performances by Matthew Lillard and Jamie Kennedy.

Scream

R

Horror

Mystery

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A year after the murder of her mother, a teenage girl is terrorized by a masked killer who targets her and her friends by using scary movies as part of a deadly game.

Release Date

December 20, 1996

Director

Wes Craven

Cast

Drew Barrymore , Neve Campbell , Skeet Ulrich , Matthew Lillard , Jamie Kennedy , Rose McGowan

Runtime

111 minutes

1 'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991)

Directed by Jonathan Demme

No horror film has reached the height of acclaim and status quite like Jonathan Demme's Best Picture-winning horror thriller The Silence of the Lambs. Starring Jodie Foster and Sir Anthony Hopkins, it tells the nail-biting story of FBI trainee Clarice Starling as she probes the mind of intelligent convicted murderer Dr. Hannibal Lecter to understand the mind of another serial killer before he kills his next victim.

It can't be understated how much of a masterpiece The Silence of the Lambs is. It boasts some of the most compelling acting in horror history, featuring two brilliant performances by Hopkins and Foster, who both won Academy Awards, which is rare for the genre. Today, Demme's film is considered a timeless classic, showing no signs of diminishing popularity. It's arguably the most significant horror film of the 1990s and will continue to be praised for its flawlessness.

The Silence of the Lambs

R

Horror

Thriller

Crime

Psychological

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A young F.B.I. cadet must receive the help of an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims.

Release Date

February 14, 1991

Director

Jonathan Demme

Cast

Jodie Foster , Anthony Hopkins , Scott Glenn , Ted Levine

Runtime

118 minutes

NEXT: The 10 Best R-Rated Horror Movies of the 2010s, Ranked