Top Longest-Running Horror Movie Franchises That Keep Us Terrified
Explore the most enduring horror franchises in cinematic history, featuring iconic series like 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' and 'Hellraiser'. Dive into their origins, legacy, and why they continue to captivate audiences worldwide.
Discover the most legendary horror film series that have left a lasting mark on cinema, along with the original movies that launched these terrifying sagas.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Number of films: 8.
- USA, 1974.
- Duration: 83 minutes.
- IMDb Rating: 7.5.
Sally and her disabled brother, along with friends, visit their grandfather's grave but unwittingly pick up a mysterious hitchhiker who invites them to his family's home. They soon discover the terrifying Leatherface and his cannibalistic clan.
Available on iTunes →
Available on Google Play →
The oldest franchise on this list, it continues to release new installments. Most films revolve around groups of young people confronting the infamous Leatherface.
Inspired by real-life serial killer Ed Gein, Leatherface wears a mask made of human skin and is part of a cannibalistic family.
Over the years, the franchise has expanded with four sequels, a remake/prequel, and a direct sequel to the original.
This year, a new prequel titled "Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Leatherface" explores the origins of the antagonist.
Halloween
Number of films: 10.
- USA, 1978.
- Duration: 91 minutes.
- IMDb Rating: 7.8.
As a child, Michael Myers murdered his sister on Halloween night. Fifteen years later, he escapes a psychiatric facility and returns to his hometown to unleash a bloody rampage.
Available on iTunes →
Available on Google Play →
This groundbreaking independent film by director John Carpenter pioneered the slasher genre, where a relentless killer systematically hunts victims.
Michael Myers' chilling story began in 1978 and continues today, with new installments planned.
After eight original films, a remake directed by Rob Zombie offered a darker, character-driven perspective on Myers. Its sequel received mixed reviews.
Friday the 13th
Number of films: 12.
- USA, 1980.
- Duration: 95 minutes.
- IMDb Rating: 6.5.
At Crystal Lake summer camp, a boy drowned years ago, and after a brutal murder, the camp was shut down. Years later, new counselors arrive to reopen the camp, but the ancient curse resurfaces.
Available on iTunes →
Available on Google Play →
This franchise boasts the highest number of films among those listed, including a crossover with "A Nightmare on Elm Street."
Jason Voorhees, the hockey-masked killer, is a horror icon, though he only becomes the main antagonist from the second film onward.
Jason evolves from a human murderer to an undead entity, even venturing into space, but his signature hockey mask and brutal killings remain constant.
The series was rebooted in 2009 with a refreshed backstory, maintaining Jason's relentless murderous nature.
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Number of films: 9.
- USA, 1984.
- Duration: 92 minutes.
- IMDb Rating: 7.5.
Teenagers in a small town share terrifying dreams about a disfigured man wearing a hat and metal claw glove. Those who die in their dreams perish in reality. Freddy Krueger, once executed by the townsfolk, returns through nightmares for revenge.
Available on iTunes →
Available on Google Play →
Freddy Krueger is among the most recognizable horror villains, with his burned face, striped sweater, and clawed glove, famously portrayed by Robert Englund since 1984.
The success of the original led to five sequels, a meta-film where previous stories were considered scripts, and a crossover battle with Jason Voorhees.
A 2010 reboot attempted to revive Freddy's tale, but poor box office results stalled future projects.
Hellraiser
Number of films: 10.
- UK, 1987.
- Duration: 94 minutes.
- IMDb Rating: 7.0.
Frank discovers a mysterious puzzle box that promises otherworldly pleasures but instead unleashes endless pain. After escaping hell, he kills to restore his body, aided by Julia, his brother's wife secretly in love with him. Meanwhile, sinister Cenobites led by Pinhead pursue him.
Available on iTunes →
Available on Google Play →
Originating from Clive Barker's novella "The Hellbound Heart," the 1987 film adaptation spawned a long-running franchise.
Though Pinhead and the Cenobites had brief appearances initially, they became central figures connecting all installments. Over 30 years, nine films explored character backstories, hellish tortures, and even Cenobites aboard a spaceship.
The tenth film, "Hellraiser: Judgment," is completed but awaiting release. Clive Barker has expressed interest in rebooting the series under his guidance.
Child's Play
Number of films: 7.
- USA, 1988.
- Duration: 87 minutes.
- IMDb Rating: 6.5.
A serial killer's soul possesses a doll owned by a boy named Andy. When the doll kills the nanny, no one believes Andy. But Chucky's terror doesn't stop there as he wreaks havoc across the town.
Available on iTunes →
Available on Google Play →
While the film's title might not be instantly recalled, the sinister doll Chucky is instantly recognizable. The franchise shifted from pure horror to dark humor in later sequels, but the fear of the knife-wielding doll remains.
Chucky gains a doll bride, attempts to return to human form, and despite multiple destructions, always comes back. He even breaks into the real world in one film.
The seventh installment, "Cult of Chucky," was released globally this August.
Saw
Number of films: 8.
- USA, 2004.
- Duration: 103 minutes.
- IMDb Rating: 7.7.
Two strangers wake up in a locked room with a dead body holding a gun. They soon learn that to survive, one must kill the other, but reaching the weapon requires amputating their own leg.
Available on iTunes →
Available on Google Play →
The newest franchise on this list, "Saw" quickly earned global acclaim and spawned numerous sequels.
The original "Saw" was created in 2004 by two Australian students and initially had no theatrical release plans. However, early screenings captivated audiences.
The series follows John Kramer, aka Jigsaw, and his successors who trap victims in deadly games testing their will to live.
The eighth film, continuing Jigsaw's legacy, is set to release on October 26.
Discover the latest news and current events in Inspiring Movies & TV Shows as of 29-05-2021. The article titled " Top Longest-Running Horror Movie Franchises That Keep Us Terrified " provides you with the most relevant and reliable information in the Inspiring Movies & TV Shows field. Each news piece is thoroughly analyzed to deliver valuable insights to our readers.
The information in " Top Longest-Running Horror Movie Franchises That Keep Us Terrified " helps you make better-informed decisions within the Inspiring Movies & TV Shows category. Our news articles are continuously updated and adhere to journalistic standards.