The 65+ Best Horror Movies Of 1977, Ranked
Ranked By
965 votes
99 voters
2 reranks
- 1Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini, Joan BennettSuzy (Jessica Harper) travels to Germany to attend ballet school. When she arrives, late on a stormy night, no one lets her in, and she sees Pat (Eva Axén), another student, fleeing from the school. When Pat reaches her apartment, she is murdered. The next day, Suzy is admitted to her new school, but has a difficult time settling in. She hears noises, and often feels ill. As more people die, Suzy uncovers the terrifying secret history of the place.More Suspiria
- #250 of 397 onThe Best Horror Movies Of All Time
- #156 of 199 onThe Best Movies Of The '70s, Ranked
- #71 of 77 onThe 75+ Best Horror Franchises, Ranked By Scary Movie Fans
- 2Marilyn Chambers, Joe Silver, Susan RomanRabid is a 1977 Canadian drama horror film written and directed by David Cronenberg. It features Marilyn Chambers in the lead role, supported by Howard Ryshpan, Joe Silver and Robert A. Silverman. The orifice hides a phallic stinger that she uses to feed on people's blood. Those she feeds upon become infected, whose bite spreads the disease.More Rabid
- #76 of 125 onThe Top 100+ Zombie Movies Of All Time
- #11 of 60 onThe Best Horror Movies About Evil Experiments
- #32 of 49 onThe Best Horror Movies About Virus Outbreaks
- 3Suze Lanier-Bramlett, Robert Houston, James WhitworthIn The Hills Have Eyes, a chilling horror flick directed by Wes Craven, the Carter family, led by Big Bob (Russ Grieve), embarks on a road trip across a desolate US desert. Unbeknownst to them, they are venturing into the hunting grounds of a cannibalistic mutant clan, residing in the hills. A wrong turn lands them in gruesome peril as they fight for survival against these horrifying predators. The movie won praise for its raw depiction of terror, and Michael Berryman's portrayal of Pluto became an iconic figure in horror cinema.More The Hills Have Eyes
- #62 of 397 onThe Best Horror Movies Of All Time
- #11 of 57 onThe Best Horror Movies Based On True Stories, Ranked
- #10 of 13 onHorror Villains Who Actually Deserve Our Sympathy
- 4Jack Nance, Charlotte Stewart, Allen JosephEraserhead, a surrealist body of work, explores the life of Henry Spencer (Jack Nance), an introverted man living in an industrial wasteland. He finds himself burdened with fatherhood as his girlfriend, Mary X (Charlotte Stewart), gives birth to a grotesque, constantly crying creature. The movie, directed by David Lynch, is renowned for its disturbing imagery and atmospheric sound design. It's a puzzling narrative that delves into themes of fear, responsibility, and the human condition. This cult classic has left audiences contemplating its meaning since its release in 1977.More Eraserhead
- #198 of 252 onThe 200+ Best Psychological Thrillers Of All Time
- #73 of 125 onThe 100+ Grossest Movies Ever
- #348 of 397 onThe Best Horror Movies Of All Time
- 5Kimiko Ikegami, Haruko Wanibuchi, Yōko MinamidaHouse (Japanese: ハウス, Hepburn: Hausu) is a 1977 Japanese horror film directed and produced by Nobuhiko Obayashi. The film stars mostly amateur actors with only Kimiko Ikegami and Yōko Minamida having any notable previous acting experience. The film is about a schoolgirl traveling with her six classmates to her ailing aunt's country home, where they come face to face with supernatural events as the girls are, one by one, devoured by the home. The film company Toho approached Obayashi with the suggestion to make a film like Jaws. Influenced by ideas from his daughter Chigumi, Obayashi developed ideas for a script that was written by Chiho Katsura.More House
- #34 of 41 onThe 100+ Best Movies Streaming On The Criterion Channel
- #380 of 425 onThe Greatest Movies in World Cinema History
- #34 of 35 onThe 35 Best Horror Comedy Movies, Ranked By Fans
- 6Cristina Raines, Ava Gardner, Chris SarandonA New York City model with a troubled past, Alison Parker (Cristina Raines) decides to make some changes in her life. Breaking up with her boyfriend, Michael (Chris Sarandon), Alison relocates to an apartment in a brownstone building where the only other tenant is a withdrawn blind priest (John Carradine). After experiencing strange occurrences, Alison begins to realize why the holy man is present -- the building has an evil presence that must be kept in check at all costs.More The Sentinel
- #136 of 168 onThe 160+ Scariest Psychological Thrillers
- #5 of 18 onObscure Horror Movies from the 1970s You Should Know About
- #13 of 36 onThe Best Horror Movies About Hell
- 7Julie Christie, Fritz Weaver, Gerrit GrahamChild psychologist Susan Harris (Julie Christie) lives with her husband, Alan (Fritz Weaver), in a home operated by a computer program. When Alan invents Proteus IV, an artificial intelligence system capable of advanced thought, Alan's obsession with technology strains his relationship with Susan. But Susan sees the true power of her husband's invention when Proteus IV takes her hostage in her own home and plans to impregnate her in order to take on a human form.
- 8Neville Brand, Mel Ferrer, Carolyn JonesDeep in the swamps of Louisiana, disfigured psychotic Judd (Neville Brand) manages a sleazy, decaying motel. Upon learning that one of his guests is a prostitute, he promptly impales her with a pitchfork and tosses her to the crocodile that stalks the nearby waters. This is just the first in a series of slayings, and, as the croc's belly begins to bulge with victims, people grow suspicious. Outsiders begin to poke around the motel, but Judd simply sees them as more treats for his pet.
- 9Lamberto Bava, Daria Nicolodi, John SteinerShock is a 1977 Italian horror film directed by Mario Bava. It was Bava's last film before he died of a heart attack in 1980. The film stars Daria Nicolodi, John Steiner and David Colin, Jr.
- 10James Brolin, Kathleen Lloyd, John MarleyTwo bicyclists are run down by a strange black car in the desert near a small town in Utah. But this is just the first in a series of hit-and-run murders. Sheriff Wade Parents (James Brolin) is called in to investigate, and his deputy, Everett (John Marley), is killed by the black sedan, which, some witnesses say, has no one behind its wheel. When the car threatens a local school parade, the lives of the town's children and Wade's teacher girlfriend, Lauren (Kathleen Lloyd), are endangered.
- 11
Orca
Bo Derek, Richard Harris, Charlotte RamplingOrca is a 1977 horror film directed by Michael Anderson and produced by Dino De Laurentiis, starring Richard Harris, Charlotte Rampling, and Will Sampson. It is based on Arthur Herzog's novel of the same name. The film was poorly received by critics and audiences alike due in part to its similarities to the film Jaws released two years prior. Upon release the film received only minor theatrical success, but in recent years the film has achieved a cult following among fans of the natural horror subgenre.More Orca - 12Marsha Mason, Anthony Hopkins, John BeckHusband and wife Janice (Marsha Mason) and Bill Templeton (John Beck) lead a pleasant life, residing in New York and sending their daughter, Ivy (Susan Swift), to a good school. Things change, though, when the odd Elliot Hoover (Anthony Hopkins) arrives and tells the couple that, after having spent time in India, he believes Ivy is the reincarnated spirit of his daughter, who died years earlier. The Templetons scoff, but ensuing supernatural events soon turn their lives upside down.
- 13Leslie Nielsen, Christopher George, Michael AnsaraDay of the Animals is a 1977 American horror film thriller directed by William Girdler and based on a story written by Edward L. Montoro. Premiering on May 13, 1977, the movie reunited stars Christopher George and Richard Jaeckel, director Girdler and producer Montoro from the previous year's hit film Grizzly. In 1978, Film Ventures International re-released the film under the title "Something Is Out There"
- 14Jennifer O'Neill, Gabriele Ferzetti, Marc PorelSette note in nero is a 1977 giallo film directed by Lucio Fulci and written by Roberto Gianviti and Dardano Sacchetti. Sette note in nero stars Jennifer O'Neill, Gianni Garko and Marc Porel. The film has received mixed reviews from critics. When a woman begins experiencing psychic visions that lead her to discover a murder, her husband is charged with the killing. The psychic must embark on an investigation with a paranormal researcher to clear her husband's name of the crime.
- 15Helen Hunt, Lee Grant, Jack ColvinThe Spell is a film directed by Lee Philips released on Feb 20, 1977.
- 16Peter Cushing, John Carradine, Brooke AdamsAn old Nazi's (Peter Cushing) sunken battalion rises from the sea as a death corps of begoggled zombies.More Shock Waves
- #98 of 125 onThe Top 100+ Zombie Movies Of All Time
- #12 of 14 onPretty Good Horror Movies That Will Make You Afraid To Go In The Water
- #10 of 16 onThe Best '70s Zombie Movies, Ranked
- 17
The Island of Dr. Moreau
Burt Lancaster, Michael York, Barbara CarreraAfter his ship sinks, Andrew Braddock (Michael York) washes ashore on a tropical island owned by Dr. Moreau (Burt Lancaster). While waiting for a ship to return him to civilization, Braddock becomes disturbed by the strange creatures roaming the island, and at the same time falls for the lovely Maria (Barbara Carrera), who lives with Moreau. Soon Braddock discovers that the creatures are the results of Moreau's sinister experiments, and plots to escape before he himself becomes a victim.- #32 of 44 onThe 40+ Best Jungle Adventure Movies, Ranked
- #10 of 15 onHorror Movie References In 'The Simpsons' 'Treehouse Of Horror' Specials
- #126 of 211 onThe Scariest Movies Of All Time
- 18Myron Healey, Michael Alldredge, Burr DeBenningThe Incredible Melting Man is a 1977 American science fiction horror film about an astronaut whose body begins to melt after he is exposed to radiation during a space flight to Saturn, driving him to commit murders and consume human flesh to survive. Written and directed by William Sachs, the film starred Alex Rebar as Steve West, the antagonist of the title, alongside Burr DeBenning as a scientist trying to help him, and Myron Healey as a United States Air Force general seeking to capture him. It has been described as a remake of First Man into Space. The screenplay was originally intended as a parody of horror films, but comedic scenes were edited out during production and new horror scenes added. Sachs claims that the producers decided during shooting that a straight horror film would be more financially successful, and that the film suffered as a result. The Incredible Melting Man was produced by American International Pictures, which also handled the theatrical distribution. The film includes several homages to science fiction and horror films of the 1950s. Makeup artist Rick Baker provided the gory makeup effects for the film.
- 19Hal HolbrookRituals is a 1977 film directed by Peter Carter.
- 20Joe Don Baker, R. G. Armstrong, Richard B. ShullThe Pack is a 1977 horror film about a pack of abandoned dogs who turn against humans by killing them for food at Seal Island.
- 21Richard Burton, Peter Firth, Colin BlakelyDr. Martin Dysart (Richard Burton), a psychiatrist who has grown unhappy with his life, takes on the peculiar case of Alan Strang (Peter Firth), a reserved teenager who has been accused of brutally blinding six horses. Dysart slowly unravels Alan's background, learning that he grew up in a strained household with a devoutly religious mother (Joan Plowright) and an atheist father (Colin Blakely). But as Dysart begins to trace the roots of Alan's problems, his own also begin to surface.
- 22Ed Begley, Jr., Patrick Macnee
- 23Alan Scarfe, Sonny Forbes, Robert V. Girolami
- 24John Astin, Carolyn Jones, Ted CassidyA revival of the popular '60s TV comedy series "The Addams Family" has them preparing for Halloween in their own inimitable way. Halloween with the New Addams Family was a 1977 NBC TV-movie. This TV-movie has John Astin, Carolyn Jones, Jackie Coogan, Ted Cassidy, Lisa Loring, and Ken Weatherwax reprising their roles from the 1960s series The Addams Family. Blossom Rock was ill at the time of the production causing her role of Grandmama to be portrayed by Jane Rose.
- 25William Shatner, Tiffany Bolling, Woody StrodeArizona farmer Walter Colby (Woody Strode) and his wife, Birch (Altovise Davis), have a problem on their hands: One of their cows was just killed by a creature, but they have no idea what the beast could have been. So they consult local vet Dr. Robert Hansen (William Shatner), who becomes puzzled and calls in scientist Diane Ashley (Tiffany Bolling). Eventually, the duo discovers that oversize spiders are invading the small town, putting the entire population in danger as a county fair begins.
- #57 of 71 onThe Scariest Animal Horror Movies Ever Made
- #8 of 36 onMovies That Have Spiders In Them, Ranked
- #41 of 45 onThe 45 Best PG-Rated Scary And Horror Movies
- 26Donna Mills, June Allyson, Vic MorrowCurse of the Black Widow is a made-for-television horror film, by Dan Curtis, and starring Anthony Franciosa, Donna Mills, Patty Duke, Vic Morrow, and June Allyson. It originally aired on ABC in 1977.
- 27
The Night Nurse
Kate FitzpatrickThe Night Nurse is a 1977 Australian TV movie about the relationship between a former opera star and her night nurse. - 28Cameron Mitchell, Aldo Ray, May Britt
- 29Peter Weller, Kathy Baker, John GloverA Killing Affair, is a 1986 drama film starring Peter Weller, Kathy Baker, John Glover, Bill Smitrovich and Danny Nelson.
- 30Rita Wilson, George Gobel, Robert GinnavenThe Day It Came to Earth is a 1977 American horror film directed by Harry Thomason.