Best Horror Comedies of 1990
- HaHa Jokester
- Jul 1
- 10 min read
1990 marked a peculiar turning point in horror cinema. The excesses of the '80s had left audiences desensitized to slasher clichés, and the mainstream box office was shifting away from guts and gore. But horror-comedy thrived in this liminal space—where parody, surrealism, and creature features collided. Whether riffing on horror tropes, pushing visual effects into overdrive, or embracing pure absurdity, 1990's horror comedies found laughs in the shadows—and helped lay the groundwork for the genre-bending decade ahead.
The Horror Comedy Landscape in 1990
Poking at the Genre
While traditional horror franchises were winding down or self-destructing, horror-comedy stayed agile by poking fun at the genre’s own rules. These films blended slapstick with splatter, satire with scares—often leaning into the campy excess that pure horror was starting to shed. Low-budget creativity thrived, cult classics emerged, and filmmakers found freedom in the absurd.
Post-Slasher Fatigue Becomes Fuel
By 1990, audiences were growing tired of masked killers and formulaic slayings. Horror-comedies capitalized on this burnout by exaggerating and ridiculing slasher conventions. Films like Frankenhooker and Class of Nuke ’Em High Part II reveled in cartoonish violence and irreverent storytelling, transforming genre fatigue into parody gold.
Parody, Puppets, and Practical FX
This year was big on bizarre creatures, mad scientists, and tongue-in-cheek gore. Horror-comedy embraced its B-movie roots, with animatronics, slime, and mutant mayhem running wild. Whether it was the puppet insanity of Bride of Re-Animator or the absurd premise of Spaced Invaders, effects were deliberately exaggerated to elicit both laughs and winces.
Top 10 Horror Comedies of 1990
Tremors
Runtime: 1hr 36min
A perfect blend of monster movie thrills and buddy comedy, Tremors introduced the world to Graboids—underground beasts that inspired sequels, a cult following, and decades of creature-feature joy.
Tremors is a wildly entertaining blend of creature feature, Western, and horror-comedy that pits a small desert town against a mysterious underground menace. When a series of unexplained deaths and disappearances rocks the isolated community of Perfection, Nevada, two handymen—Val and Earl—discover giant, worm-like creatures called Graboids are tunneling beneath the ground, devouring anything that moves. As the townsfolk scramble for survival, the film expertly balances suspense, humor, and inventive action sequences, enhanced by practical effects and a charming ensemble cast. Tremors stands out for its tight pacing, self-aware wit, and its love letter approach to B-movie monster flicks, turning low-budget ingenuity into cult classic gold.
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
Runtime: 1hr 49min
Joe Dante’s chaotic, self-aware sequel upped the meta-humor and anarchic cartoon logic, turning the original’s small-town horror into a corporate-skewering, genre-exploding satire.
Gremlins 2: The New Batch is a chaotic, meta-horror-comedy sequel that gleefully amplifies the madness of its predecessor while satirizing corporate culture, media, and sequel-making itself. Set in a high-tech Manhattan skyscraper owned by a cartoonish media mogul, the film unleashes Gizmo and a new generation of mischievous gremlins who mutate into increasingly absurd forms—thanks to a genetic lab housed inside the building. Director Joe Dante takes full advantage of the sequel format to break the fourth wall, lampoon genre tropes, and deliver an anarchic blend of slapstick, horror, and satire. With its manic energy, creature creativity, and self-aware humor, Gremlins 2 stands as one of the most unhinged and inventive horror-comedies of its era.
Arachnophobia
Runtime: 1hr 43min
This spider-infested suburban nightmare walks a tightrope between fear and farce, with Jeff Daniels grounding the creature chaos with comedic charm and real-world phobias.
Arachnophobia is a slick blend of suspense, horror, and dark comedy that turns an everyday fear into a creeping, skin-crawling nightmare. The story follows a small-town doctor who discovers that a deadly species of spider—accidentally imported from South America—has begun to breed in his new home, resulting in a series of mysterious deaths. As the infestation spreads, the tension builds with a perfect mix of genuine scares and tongue-in-cheek humor. Directed by Frank Marshall and produced by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment, the film uses practical effects, clever staging, and relatable fears to create a popcorn thriller that manages to be both chilling and playfully self-aware. Arachnophobia thrives on its balance of fright and fun, making it a standout horror-comedy of the early ’90s.
Frankenhooker
Runtime: 1hr 25min
Frank Henenlotter’s twisted take on Frankenstein is equal parts sleaze, satire, and gore—a madcap tale of reanimated sex workers and electric resurrection.
Frankenhooker is a gleefully grotesque and darkly comedic riff on the Frankenstein mythos, filtered through sleazy 1980s grindhouse sensibilities. Directed by Frank Henenlotter, the film follows a grief-stricken amateur scientist who, after his fiancée is accidentally killed by a runaway lawnmower, sets out to reassemble her using parts from sex workers he lures and obliterates with a homemade super-drug called “Supercrack.” The result is a stitched-together resurrection gone hilariously awry, as his newly reanimated “bride” goes on a rampage of her own. Loaded with campy dialogue, practical effects, and a proudly trashy tone, Frankenhooker turns exploitation into satire—poking fun at horror tropes, sexual politics, and mad scientist clichés with over-the-top flair. It’s a cult classic that’s as absurd as it is unforgettable.
The Exorcist III
Runtime: 1hr 50min
Though more of a psychological horror with pitch-black humor, its absurdly intense monologues, demonic weirdness, and unexpected scares edge it into horror-comedy territory.
The Exorcist III is a cerebral, atmospheric horror sequel that defies expectations by leaning into psychological terror rather than traditional exorcism tropes. Written and directed by The Exorcist author William Peter Blatty, the film follows a skeptical police lieutenant investigating a series of gruesome murders that mirror the work of a long-dead serial killer. The trail leads to a psychiatric ward—and to a mysterious patient who may be possessed by a demonic force linked to the original exorcism. With minimal jump scares and a focus on dread, dialogue, and philosophical themes of evil and faith, The Exorcist III delivers some of the genre’s most haunting imagery (including a now-iconic hallway scare). It's a moody, underrated gem that revives the spirit of the original through a more introspective, chilling lens.
Basket Case 2
Runtime: 1hr 30min
Picking up where the original left off, this sequel leans harder into freak-show comedy and grotesque family drama—making the bizarre even more bizarre.
Basket Case 2 is a twisted, surreal sequel that doubles down on the bizarre charm and grotesque humor of the original cult classic. Picking up immediately after the events of Basket Case, the film follows Duane Bradley and his deformed, formerly conjoined twin Belial as they recover from their injuries in a secluded mansion inhabited by a secret community of unique, monstrous individuals. Rather than hiding in the shadows, these “freaks” have formed a family—and Duane’s growing discomfort with their lifestyle fuels the film’s emotional tension. Director Frank Henenlotter leans further into camp and creature effects, replacing the gritty horror of the first film with a cartoonish, almost fairytale tone. Basket Case 2 is less about scares than it is about celebrating the grotesque outsider, turning what could’ve been a one-note sequel into a weirdly heartfelt tale of identity, belonging, and monster solidarity.
Class of Nuke ’Em High Part II: Subhumanoid Meltdown
Runtime: 1hr 40min
Radiation, mutants, and absurd plotlines—this Troma sequel pushes camp and chaos to absurdist levels, making satire of environmental horror.
Class of Nuke ’Em High Part II: Subhumanoid Meltdown is a deliriously over-the-top Troma sequel that cranks up the absurdity, gore, and nuclear weirdness of the original. Set in the irradiated wasteland of Tromaville, the film shifts focus to the Tromaville Institute of Technology, where mad scientists have begun creating “Subhumanoids”—emotionless humanoid clones designed for labor. When one of these artificial beings falls in love with a student journalist, chaos erupts as bodies melt, experiments go haywire, and a giant mutant squirrel named Tromie wreaks radioactive havoc. With its cartoonish violence, trashy satire, and DIY effects, the film embraces its low-budget punk roots and revels in nonsensical plot turns. Subhumanoid Meltdown doesn’t aim for coherence—it aims for shock, laughs, and gooey destruction, making it a perfect specimen of Troma’s anarchic, no-holds-barred horror-comedy style.
Spaced Invaders
Runtime: 1hr 40min
Tiny Martians invade Earth on Halloween and are hilariously mistaken for kids in costume. It’s War of the Worlds filtered through Looney Tunes.
Spaced Invaders is a family-friendly sci-fi horror-comedy that mixes Martian mayhem with small-town charm and Halloween hijinks. The film follows a ragtag group of dim-witted Martians who misinterpret a rebroadcast of Orson Welles’s War of the Worlds as a real call to arms and launch an ill-fated invasion of Earth—specifically, a sleepy Midwestern town on Halloween night. Mistaken for kids in costumes, the bumbling aliens cause chaos as they try to conquer humanity using malfunctioning tech, exaggerated villainy, and slapstick ineptitude. With colorful practical effects, cartoonish humor, and a playful tone, Spaced Invaders delivers a nostalgic B-movie homage wrapped in a kid-friendly package. While never truly scary, it parodies alien invasion tropes with enthusiasm and heart, making it a cult favorite among early-’90s genre fans.
Bride of Re-Animator
Runtime: 1hr 36min
Mad science, romantic horror, and grotesque slapstick come together in this gory sequel to the cult classic Re-Animator.
Bride of Re-Animator is a gory, madcap continuation of H.P. Lovecraft-inspired chaos, picking up the twisted story of Dr. Herbert West and his obsession with defeating death. Set eight months after the original Re-Animator, the film finds West and his reluctant partner Dr. Dan Cain working as medics in a war zone before returning to Miskatonic Hospital to resume their experiments. This time, their goal is even more monstrous: to construct an entirely new being from assembled body parts and reanimate it as a “bride.” As their grotesque creation comes to life, so does the surrounding horror, with grotesque creatures, reanimated corpses, and collapsing morality spiraling into over-the-top carnage. Directed by Brian Yuzna, Bride of Re-Animator leans hard into practical effects, dark humor, and baroque insanity—making it a delirious blend of mad science, splatter, and tragic romance that deepens the cult legacy of the original.
The Reflecting Skin
Runtime: 1hr 35min
While not a comedy in the traditional sense, its dreamlike tone, dark surrealism, and bizarre imagery give it an eerie, blackly comic edge.
The Reflecting Skin is a haunting, poetic, and deeply unsettling blend of psychological horror and coming-of-age drama set in the desolate wheat fields of post–World War II rural America. The story centers on an impressionable young boy named Seth who begins to suspect that a mysterious English widow living nearby is a vampire, even as he tries to make sense of the far more real horrors around him—family trauma, grief, violence, and the shadow of atomic-age paranoia. Director Philip Ridley crafts the film as a surreal nightmare, drenching its dreamlike visuals in stark sunlight that contrasts with the decay and dread at its core. With its meditative pacing, eerie atmosphere, and allegorical layers, The Reflecting Skin feels more like a fever dream than a traditional horror film, evoking the tone of Terrence Malick filtered through Gothic horror. It’s an underseen gem that lingers long after the credits roll—unsettling, beautiful, and deeply strange.
Underrated Picks Worth Your Time
I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle
Runtime: 1hr 45min
British biker horror meets absurdist comedy.
I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle is a gleefully absurd British horror-comedy that delivers exactly what its title promises—biker culture, vampire lore, and tongue-in-cheek gore with a heavy dose of camp. The film follows a hapless courier who unknowingly purchases a motorcycle possessed by an evil spirit that feeds on blood and has a mind (and appetite) of its own. As bodies pile up, the protagonist must team up with his girlfriend and a hard-drinking priest to stop the two-wheeled menace. Packed with outrageous kills, foul-mouthed humor, and low-budget charm, the film spoofs both horror and action tropes while embracing its own ridiculous premise. I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle is pure cult cinema: scrappy, ridiculous, and unforgettable in the best B-movie tradition.
Mirror Mirror
Runtime: 1hr 44min
A goth-tinged, low-budget oddity with some sly humor under the surface.
Mirror Mirror is a gothic teen horror film that blends supernatural possession with dark coming-of-age themes, set against the backdrop of suburban alienation. The story centers on shy and introverted teen Megan, who moves into a new home with her recently widowed mother—only to discover an antique mirror in her bedroom with a sinister presence lurking inside. As Megan's anger and isolation grow, the mirror begins granting her power, unleashing violent retribution on her tormentors and driving her deeper into darkness. With moody visuals, occult atmosphere, and echoes of Carrie and Heathers, Mirror Mirror explores the seductive pull of vengeance and the horror of losing oneself to it. Anchored by a strong central performance and eerie practical effects, it became a cult favorite and launched a lesser-known horror franchise in the early ’90s.
Pledge Night
Runtime: 1hr 26min
A slasher spoof with a supernatural frat hazing twist.
Pledge Night is a grungy, punk-infused slasher that mixes campus comedy with supernatural revenge horror. Set during Hell Week at a notoriously brutal fraternity, the film follows a group of pledges enduring cruel hazing rituals—until their pranks awaken the vengeful spirit of a former pledge who died years earlier during a hazing gone wrong. Known as Sid and played in ghost form by Anthrax lead singer Joey Belladonna, the murderous revenant begins dispatching frat brothers in gruesome and creatively grotesque ways. With its mix of raunchy college humor, metal soundtrack, and blood-soaked kills, Pledge Night plays like Animal House colliding with A Nightmare on Elm Street. While rough around the edges, it embraces its sleazy charm and anti-establishment tone, making it a cult gem for fans of late ’80s and early ’90s DIY horror.
Horror Highlights & Trivia
Practical Effects Take Over: 1990 was a banner year for grotesque creature design—from Graboids to Frankenhookers.
Gremlins Goes Meta: Gremlins 2 features a sequence where the film literally breaks, with Hulk Hogan demanding the projectionist get it back on.
Comedy Veterans Join In: John Goodman (Arachnophobia) and Tony Randall (Gremlins 2) brought mainstream comedic energy to genre madness.
Where to Watch These Today
Streaming:
Tremors – Peacock, Prime Video
Gremlins 2 – Max, rentable on most platforms
Arachnophobia – Disney+
Frankenhooker – Shudder
Spaced Invaders – Tubi, Prime Video
Physical Media:
Vinegar Syndrome and Arrow Video have restored several cult favorites from 1990 with commentaries and behind-the-scenes extras.
Closing Thoughts
1990 didn’t reinvent horror, but it reshaped how the genre laughed at itself. With mainstream horror in transition, horror comedies stepped into the spotlight—balancing scares with satire and low-budget mayhem with sharp parody. These films kept the genre alive, weird, and self-aware, sowing the seeds for the meta-horror explosion that would dominate the late ‘90s.
