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Horror Movies

The Five Most Influential 1980s Horror Movies

These are some of the best movies of the decade that gave us some of the best horror films.

6 min readOct 14, 2025

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Freddy Krueger is an iconic 1980s slasher villian

The 1980s were a golden age for horror films. From classic slasher films to body horror, these films used special effects to bring monsters to life. We also saw the heyday of the film adaptations that helped make Stephen King a household name for decades.

To rank these films is a difficult task. There are so many classic characters and subgenres to choose from. And I am sure there will be plenty of readers who will be miffed that their favorite was not listed. So keep in mind, this list is subjective, and if your favorite isn't mentioned, let me know in the comments.

The Shining (1980)

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All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy…

Let's start with one of the greatest horror films of all time: The Shining. While author Stephen King was not a fan of this adaptation of his novel, given some significant plot changes, it is still considered a cinematic masterpiece.

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Cinemania
Cinemania

Published in Cinemania

A home for conversations about all things cinema.

Nick Howard
Nick Howard

Written by Nick Howard

I am an educator and a writer. I write about sports, movies, comics, history, professional wrestling, food, music.

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