20 Least Scary Horror Movies of All Time, Ranked

Some horror films aim for laughs or light thrills rather than nightmares, and a few scary stories simply land with a softer touch. This list collects titles that lean into comedy, camp, or family friendly frights, along with a handful of infamous misfires that never quite chilled audiences.

To keep things consistent it is organized as a countdown that ends with the most widely praised entry at number one. The order is based on general audience ratings, so you will see a mix of horror comedies and mild creature features alongside remakes and oddball experiments.

‘Sharknado’ (2013)

The film was directed by Anthony C Ferrante and premiered on television on the Syfy channel in July 2013. It stars Ian Ziering and Tara Reid and was produced by The Asylum with a reported runtime of about 86 minutes. The plot follows a freak weather event that sends sharks swirling through a tornado over Los Angeles.

Its broadcast drew strong social media attention and generated multiple sequels that continued through 2018. Production used locations around Southern California and relied on digital effects to depict airborne sharks and flooded streets.

‘The Wicker Man’ (2006)

This remake of the 1973 British folk horror was written and directed by Neil LaBute and stars Nicolas Cage, Ellen Burstyn, and Kate Beahan. It was released in late summer 2006 and runs approximately 102 minutes in its theatrical cut. The story follows a police officer who travels to a secluded island community to investigate a disappearance.

The film was shot largely in British Columbia and uses a modern setting in place of the original’s Scottish locale. It received a PG 13 rating in the United States and circulated in both theatrical and unrated home video editions.

‘One Missed Call’ (2008)

Directed by Eric Valette, this American remake adapts the Japanese hit based on the novel by Yasushi Akimoto. It stars Shannyn Sossamon and Edward Burns and opened in theaters in January 2008 with a runtime near 87 minutes. The premise centers on a cursed voicemail that predicts the time of a future death.

The production was set in Atlanta and features a score by Reinhold Heil and Johnny Klimek. The film earned back many times its reported budget worldwide thanks to international markets and home media sales.

‘The Happening’ (2008)

Written and directed by M Night Shyamalan, the film stars Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel and was released worldwide in June 2008. It runs about 91 minutes and follows a rapid series of unexplained events across the northeastern United States. Scenes were shot in Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey using a mix of urban and rural locations.

It was the director’s first R rated feature and received a broad theatrical rollout before moving to home video. The production used practical wind effects on set to sell its environmental premise and features a score by James Newton Howard.

‘Rubber’ (2010)

This French produced independent feature was written and directed by Quentin Dupieux and premiered at the Cannes Film Festival’s Critics’ Week in 2010. The story follows a sentient tire named Robert that develops destructive powers in the California desert. The cast includes Stephen Spinella and Roxane Mesquida and the runtime is around 82 minutes.

Filming took place near Lancaster and Palmdale with a small crew emphasizing practical puppetry and on set gags. The film later toured genre festivals and received a limited theatrical release in North America before moving to video on demand.

‘Killer Klowns from Outer Space’ (1988)

The movie was the feature debut of the Chiodo Brothers, known for practical creature effects. It stars Grant Cramer and Suzanne Snyder and runs about 88 minutes, depicting extraterrestrial clowns who trap townspeople in cotton candy cocoons. The soundtrack features the punk band The Dickies performing the title track.

Filmed around Santa Cruz and Watsonville in California, it showcases practical makeup and animatronics to create the clown designs. The film’s colorful set pieces and carnival imagery later helped it build a long running midnight movie following and inspired themed merchandise and attractions.

‘Idle Hands’ (1999)

Directed by Rodman Flender, the film stars Devon Sawa, Seth Green, Elden Henson, and Jessica Alba. It was released in April 1999 with a runtime near 92 minutes and follows a teenager whose possessed hand commits a string of crimes. The project blends slasher elements with teen comedy and includes practical effects work for the severed hand sequences.

The film was produced by Columbia Pictures and shot primarily in Southern California. It underperformed in its theatrical run but found a second life on cable and home video, where it reached a wider audience.

‘Scary Movie’ (2000)

Keenen Ivory Wayans directed this spoof of late 1990s teen slashers and supernatural hits. The cast features Anna Faris, Regina Hall, Marlon Wayans, and Shawn Wayans and the theatrical cut runs about 88 minutes. The story follows a group of high school friends entangled in a masked killer’s spree while parodying well known genre scenes.

The production was filmed in and around Vancouver, British Columbia, using recognizable suburban locations and school settings. It became a major box office success worldwide and launched a franchise that produced multiple sequels across the 2000s.

‘Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse’ (2015)

Christopher Landon directed this R rated zombie comedy for Paramount Pictures. Tye Sheridan, Logan Miller, and Joey Morgan lead the cast and the film runs about 93 minutes. The plot teams three Boy Scouts with a resourceful cocktail waitress as they navigate an outbreak in their town.

Principal photography took place in Los Angeles County and features elaborate makeup effects for its undead characters. The movie used a hybrid release strategy that included an early digital window in some territories following its theatrical debut.

‘Slither’ (2006)

Written and directed by James Gunn, the film stars Nathan Fillion, Elizabeth Banks, and Michael Rooker. It was released in North America in March 2006 and runs roughly 95 minutes, telling the story of an alien parasite that invades a small town. The production mixes creature horror with comedic dialogue and practical gore effects.

Filming occurred in and around Vancouver with extensive prosthetics created for transformation sequences. The score was composed by Tyler Bates and the soundtrack also features country and rock tracks that underscore the rural setting.

‘The Final Girls’ (2015)

This meta slasher was directed by Todd Strauss Schulson and premiered at South by Southwest in March 2015 before an October release. The cast includes Taissa Farmiga, Malin Åkerman, Alexander Ludwig, and Adam Devine and the runtime is about 91 minutes. The narrative follows modern teenagers who find themselves inside an eighties style summer camp slasher.

The production filmed in Louisiana and blends digital and practical effects to replicate period slasher aesthetics. It received a PG 13 rating in the United States and later became available on streaming platforms and home media with commentary and behind the scenes features.

‘Warm Bodies’ (2013)

Directed by Jonathan Levine, the film adapts Isaac Marion’s novel and stars Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer. It opened in February 2013 in the United States with a runtime of approximately 98 minutes and follows a zombie who begins to regain humanity after meeting a living girl. The cast also includes Rob Corddry and John Malkovich.

Production was based in Montreal, with large sets built for airport and stadium locations. The release performed strongly worldwide and spurred renewed interest in romantic takes on zombie mythology across books and television.

‘The Cabin in the Woods’ (2011)

This feature directorial debut from Drew Goddard was co written and produced with Joss Whedon. It stars Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, and Jesse Williams and runs about 95 minutes. The story follows a group of college students who travel to a remote cabin while an unseen organization manipulates events from an underground facility.

Shot in Vancouver and at Canadian Motion Picture Park studios, the production completed in 2009 but was released widely in April 2012. The film uses an array of practical creature suits alongside digital effects and was distributed by Lionsgate in international markets.

‘Little Shop of Horrors’ (1986)

Frank Oz directed this adaptation of the stage musical, which itself was based on the 1960 film. Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, and Steve Martin star and the movie runs about 94 minutes in its theatrical version. The plot follows a meek flower shop clerk who raises a rapidly growing carnivorous plant.

The production is noted for its large scale animatronic plant built by a team led by Lyle Conway. Test screenings prompted a new ending for the theatrical release, while the original ending was later restored for a special director’s cut on home video.

‘Gremlins’ (1984)

Directed by Joe Dante and produced by Steven Spielberg, the film stars Zach Galligan and Phoebe Cates. It was released in June 1984 and runs around 106 minutes, telling the story of a small town overrun by mischievous creatures that multiply when wet and transform after eating at night. Composer Jerry Goldsmith provided the score that includes a memorable mischievous theme.

The film’s PG rating and intense sequences helped inspire the creation of the PG 13 rating later that year. It was a major box office success and led to a sequel in 1990 along with decades of merchandise and seasonal television airings.

‘Army of Darkness’ (1992)

Sam Raimi directed this follow up to his earlier supernatural films with Bruce Campbell returning as Ash Williams. The story transports the protagonist to a medieval setting where he battles undead armies and ancient curses. The theatrical cut runs about 81 minutes and Universal Pictures handled distribution in North America.

Multiple edits exist, including a director’s cut with an alternate ending that circulated on home video. Filming took place in California with large practical sets and stop motion effects supervised by Bill Taylor and William Mesa.

‘Zombieland’ (2009)

Ruben Fleischer directed the film with a cast that includes Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin. It opened in October 2009 in North America with a runtime of about 88 minutes and follows survivors traveling across the United States after an outbreak. The script originated from a television concept that was reworked into a feature.

Principal photography was conducted in Georgia, with locations standing in for multiple states along the road trip route. The movie’s success led to the sequel ‘Zombieland: Double Tap’ in 2019 with returning cast members and new characters.

‘What We Do in the Shadows’ (2014)

Written, directed by, and starring Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, this New Zealand mockumentary follows a household of vampires in Wellington. The feature runs around 86 minutes and debuted at festivals in early 2014 before rolling out internationally. The cast includes Jonathan Brugh, Cori Gonzalez Macuer, and Rhys Darby.

The production was funded in part by the New Zealand Film Commission and utilized extensive improvisation within structured scene outlines. Its success led to a television spinoff series that premiered in 2019 and expanded the setting to Staten Island.

‘Shaun of the Dead’ (2004)

Edgar Wright directed this British feature starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, with a supporting cast that includes Kate Ashfield, Lucy Davis, and Bill Nighy. Released in 2004, the film runs about 99 minutes and follows a London electronics salesman who attempts to rescue friends and family during a sudden zombie crisis. It is part of the informal Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy with two later films by the same team.

Filming took place around North London, including locations in Crouch End and Finchley, and used a mix of practical makeup and visual effects. The movie’s strong word of mouth in the United Kingdom supported a successful rollout in North America and other territories.

‘Young Frankenstein’ (1974)

Directed by Mel Brooks and co written with star Gene Wilder, this black and white feature pays homage to early studio monster films. The cast includes Peter Boyle, Marty Feldman, Teri Garr, Cloris Leachman, and Madeline Kahn and the runtime is approximately 106 minutes. The laboratory set famously reused original electrical equipment created by Kenneth Strickfaden for the 1931 ‘Frankenstein’.

The movie was shot on soundstages in California and features cinematography by Gerald Hirschfeld that replicates the look of 1930s horror. It became one of the year’s biggest earners and later inspired a stage musical adaptation that opened on Broadway in 2007.

Share your own picks for gentle or goofy horror in the comments so everyone can compare favorites.