The slasher film has become as American as apple pie. In some twisted way, audiences relate to these brutal movies depicting average, everyday citizens turning into heroes as they’re thrust into terrifying scenarios with chainsaws buzzing and knives gashing. Millions of horror fans tuning in to watch the latest showdown between Michael Myers and Laurie Strode or Freddy and Nancy or Jason and any unlucky camper makes one thing clear: scream queens and masked killers are not going out of fashion any time soon.
HBO Max has plenty of classic slashers, with fantastic films that every horror fan should see. From forgotten pre-Halloween classics to modern-day masterpieces, these slasher films promise to leave no knife unbloodied.
Looking for more horror recommendations? Check out our list of the best movies on HBO or the best horror movies on Netflix or Hulu.
Editor's note: This article was updated October 2023.
The Best Slasher Movies of the 21st Century So Far
We've got satires, time loops, sociopolitical thrillers and more!Cabin in the Woods (2011)
Run Time: 1 hr 35 min | Director: Drew Goddard
Cast: Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Bradley Whitford, Richard Jenkins
Bradley Whitford and Richard Jenkins star in the ultra-meta slasher flick Cabin in the Woods. In Drew Goddard’s directorial debut, Cabin in the Woods was co-written by the director and Joss Whedon. Cabin in the Woods blossoms from the traditional horror premise of attractive young people visiting a remote location for a weekend to partake in drinking, drugs, and sex. While this foundational plot often evolves into various expected tropes, Cabin in the Woods cleverly subverts expectations. Through intense action and thrilling suspense, Cabin in the Woods seamlessly merges genres like sci-fi, horror, and satire. Along with Whitford and Jenkins, Cabin in the Woods features early performances from Thor’s Chris Hemsworth, as well as Jesse Williams and Kristen Connolly. – Yael Tygiel
Sorority Row (2009)
Run Time: 1 hr 41 min | Director: Stewart Hendler
Cast: Briana Evigan, Rumer Willis, Carrie Fisher
A reimagining of Mark Rosman’s The House on Sorority Row, Sorority Row follows a group of sorority sisters who, after a prank gone fatally wrong, are hunted down by a serial killer. Led by the likes of Briana Evigan and Carrie Fisher, Sorority Row’s cast suits its genre perfectly, with every scream nailed and visceral fear never far from their eyes. A slasher in its truest form, the film relishes the chance to bring gory killings and dazzles in its visual effects, with this movie almost playful in the way it tackles its murders. Fast-paced and intense, Sorority Row is a wild ride from minute one. - Jake Hodges
Friday the 13th (1980)
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=1500&dpr=1.5)
Run Time: 1 hr 35 min | Director: Sean S. Cunningham
Cast: Kevin Bacon, Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King, Jeannine Taylor
This legendary horror film, directed by Sean S. Cunningham, follows the reopening of Crystal Lake summer camp and the clan of camp counselors who uncover its dark past in the face of one of the genre’s most feared killers. Short but deadly, Friday the 13th finds reason behind its gore instead of throwing blood at every opportunity, with the visual effects a feast for mischievous eyes. Creepy and full of thrills, Friday the 13th is accompanied by its iconic score composed by Harry Manfredini. Spawning a global horror franchise, Friday the 13th is one of the greatest examples of a formula that has served the genre so well. - Jake Hodges
You’re Next (2011)
Run Time: 1 hr 35 min | Director: Adam Wingard
Cast: Sharni Vinson, Joe Swanberg, AJ Bowen
Premiering at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival, You’re Next follows the attack on the estranged Davison family by a gang of animal mask-wearing serial killers. Sharni Varson excels as the powerful Erin, with Adam Wingard’s direction getting the most out of her clear talent. Tense throughout, the story tightens its grip as the narrative plays on, creating a sense of claustrophobia as the terrifying home invasion continues. Innovative in its process, You’re Next takes a well-worn genre and applies a twisted spin that will delight slasher fans everywhere. - Jake Hodges
Scary Movie (2000)
Run Time: 1 hr 28 min | Director: Keenan Ivory Wayans
Cast: Anna Faris, Jon Abrahams, Marlon Wayans
Following a group of teens as they are hunted down by a lackluster serial killer, Scary Movie makes light of many of the horror genre’s greatest movies, with the likes of Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer parodied. The talented ensemble, including Anna Faris and Marlon Wayans, hits every comedic beat but never fails to forget the slasher origins of the story, with some genuinely scary moments from director Keenan Ivory Williams. Laugh-out-loud fun, Scary Movie takes the entire horror genre, especially how it was perceived in 2000, and adds a knowing wink and a nudge to its content. A worldwide phenomenon, Scary Movie didn’t just spawn a lucrative franchise — it also spawned an entire sub-genre of parody films that would go on to define a decade of comedy. - Jake Hodges
Green Room (2015)
Run Time: 1 hr 35 min | Director: Jeremy Saulnier
Cast: Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Alia Shawkat, Patrick Stewart
Written and directed by Jeremy Saulnier, Green Room takes place after a punk rock band witnesses a brutal murder and is forced to go on the run as they are tracked down by the hideous neo-nazi gang behind the killing. Terrifying from the first scene, Saulnier’s script was so overwhelming that it caused Sir Patrick Stewart to lock up his own home after reading. With twists and turns around every corner, the movie hits full speed and never lets up, dragging the audience on a wild ride through hellish set pieces and adrenaline-fueled violence. Not for the faint-hearted, Green Room is a film best watched with as little knowledge about its plot as possible. - Jake Hodges
Child’s Play (1988)
Run Time: 1 hr 27 min | Director: Tom Holland
Cast: Catherine Hicks, Chris Sarandon, Alex Vincent
One of the horror genre’s most iconic titles, Child’s Play follows a mother’s terrible decision to gift her son a new doll, the infamous Chucky. Directed by Tom Holland (no, not that one), the movie never lets go of its thrilling tension, with the title perfectly summarising the devilishly playful way the narrative dances around the viewer’s fears. Fiendishly creepy, Child’s Play crescendos towards a horrific climax all to the beat of one of horror’s boldest scores by Joe Renzetti. One of the defining horrors of a generation, Child’s Play has spawned a worldwide franchise, including sequels, remakes, and a high-budget series, with the terrifying legend of Chucky still as strong as ever today. - Jake Hodges
Leatherface (2017)
Run Time: 1 hr 30 min | Director: Alexandre Bustillo, Julien Maury
Cast: Stephen Dorff, Lili Taylor, Sam Strike
The eighth installment in the iconic Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise and a prequel to the 1974 original, Leatherface follows the infamous masked murderer as a teenager when he escapes a hospital and kidnaps an innocent nurse whilst on the run himself. Chilling to the core, the movie acts as the origin of the killer that would become known as Leatherface and does a wonderful job of paying homage to the countless films to have paved its way. Directors Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury leave nothing to the imagination with an almighty cavalcade of blood and gore, leaving fans of the slasher genre surely satisfied. - Jake Hodges
Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993)
Run Time: 1 hr 27 min | Director: Adam Marcus
Cast: John D. LeMay, Kari Keegan, Kane Hodder
In the ninth installment in the Friday the 13th franchise, Kane Hodder dons the infamous mask of Jason as the supernatural killer’s origins are finally discovered. The brooding atmosphere famous in the franchise is back and bigger than ever, with tense music scoring the rising violence. Unapologetically gruesome, the feature powers towards its epic finale, where Jason faces his toughest opponent yet. Ticking all of the boxes fans of Friday the 13th had come to expect, Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday even takes a moment to pay homage to some of its contemporaries, with a not-so-subtle nod to one Mr. Krueger that would pave the way for an epic battle between the two. - Jake Hodges
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Run Time: 1 hr 31 min | Director: Wes Craven
Cast: Heather Langenkamp, Robert Englund, Johnny Depp
Growing up can be a nightmare. Parents are controlling, school is hard, and sleep is all too fleeting. The 1984 fantasy slasher film Nightmare on Elm Street is a full-blown waking nightmare as a bunch of teenagers begin sharing the same disturbing dream. The nightmares are of the serial killer Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund), a dead man who uses dreams as an opportunity to hunt teenagers down and kill them. High school students begin getting murdered in their dreams as Freddy gets closer and closer to crossing over into the real world. Final girl and fellow classmate Nancy Thompson (Heather Langenkamp) refuses to go to sleep and makes it her mission to bring Freddy down even if it means she has to burn in hell herself. Written and directed by Wes Craven, Nightmare On Elm Street features Johnny Depp in his feature film debut alongside John Saxon, Amanda Wyss, and Ronee Blakley in a timeless classic about the horrors of being a teenager trapped in a superficial world.
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985)
Run Time: 1 hr 27 min | Director: Jack Sholder
Cast: Mark Patton, Kim Myers, Robert Rusler, Clu Gulager, Hope Lange, Robert Englund
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge is a much different film from the 1984 classic. While the first film deals with genuinely terrifying societal horror, Freddy’s Revenge tackles all the wacky hijinks that come with going through puberty. Robert Englund became the campier version of Freddy Krueger that the subsequent sequels would adopt; the various sequences where Freddy transforms his body show a far goofier version of the iconic killer. Freddy’s Revenge has rightfully earned a cult appreciation in recent years. The 2019 documentary Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street explored the homoerotic subtext of the film and featured fascinating insights from actor Mark Patton. -Liam Gaughan
The Forever Purge (2021)
Run Time: 1 hr 43 min | Director: Everardo Valerio Gout
Cast: Ana de la Reguera, Tenoch Huerta, Josh Lucas, Cassidy Freeman, Leven Rambin, Will Patton
The fifth film in the extremely popular Purge franchise, The Forever Purge picks up where The Purge: Election Year leaves off by following a group of people attempting to escape the US after some people continue committing crimes after the Purge is over. The story is especially timely, touching on themes of racism, classism, immigration, and greed. If you’re looking for a truly frightening dystopian horror movie with a unique concept and surprising twists that will keep you on your toes, you’ll find it in this flick. – Taylor Gates
Final Destination (2000)
Run Time: 1 hr 38 min | Director: James Wong
Cast: Devon Sawa, Ali Larter, Kerr Smith, Kristen Cloke, Seann William Scott, Tony Todd, Chad Donella
Final Destination is not your typical slasher flick. Instead of a masked figure stalking a group of people, this movie features a less conspicuous killer. While preparing for a class trip to Paris, Alex (Devon Sawa) has a premonition of the plane exploding on takeoff. He freaks out and gets himself, one of his teachers, and a few of his classmates kicked off the plane. After his premonition comes true and the plane explodes, they try to move on with their lives and take advantage of their second chance. However, they soon discover that Death won’t let them off so easily. As the survivors start to die in increasingly bizarre accidents, Alex tries to find a way to fend off this malevolent force and save his friends from its wrath. Even though we never physically see the killer, their presence is everywhere. Death makes everyday objects deadly, which is its own special brand of terrifying. - Brynna Arens
Final Destination 2 (2003)
Run Time: 1 hr 30 min | Director: David R. Ellis
Cast: A.J. Cook, Ali Larter, Tony Todd, Michael Landes, Keegan Connor Tracy, James Kirk, David Paetkau, Justina Machado, Terrence ‘T.C’ Carson, Jonathan Cherry
On the one-year anniversary of the Flight 180 explosion from the first Final Destination, Kimberly (A.J. Cook) has a premonition of a deadly and explosive pileup on the highway. When she wakes up, she freaks out and blocks the on-ramp, effectively saving herself and others from dying. However, as with the first film, Death isn’t ready to just let them walk away. The deaths are somehow even more bizarre than the first film and will likely have you avoiding dentists, elevators, and driving behind log trucks for a while after watching it. As the bodies pile up, Kimberly tries her best to defeat Death once again to save herself and the others. But even with the help of Flight 180 survivor Clear Rivers (Ali Larter), she can’t save everyone. - Brynna Arens
Malignant (2021)
Run Time: 1 hr 52 min | Director: James Wan
Cast: Annabelle Wallis, Maddie Hasson, George Young, Susanna Thompson, Michole Brianna White
While Malignant combines elements of supernatural-thriller and slasher genres, there is truly nothing out there like this movie. After Madison’s (Annabelle Wallis) abusive husband is mysteriously murdered in their home, she discovers that a presence from her childhood is back with a vengeance. Haunted by visions of other murders this entity is committing, Madison goes to the police for help. With the help of her sister Sydney (Maddie Hasson) and Detectives Shaw (George Young) and Moss (Michole Brianna White), Madison starts to uncover secrets from her past that connect her to this ruthless killer. If you haven’t had the big plot twist of Malignant spoiled for you yet, I highly suggest going into the movie without reading anything else about it. It’s truly one of the most jaw-dropping killer reveals in recent history. - Brynna Arens