Best Horror Films of 1984
- HaHa Horrors
- Jun 6
- 9 min read
Updated: Jun 20
1984 was the year horror began dreaming—literally. With the genre now a mainstream staple, filmmakers embraced bold new directions. From franchise starters to meta-horror hybrids, 1984 showed that horror could be wildly inventive, crowd-pleasing, and utterly terrifying. This was the year horror icons were born, comedy crept in, and nightmares took center stage—forever changing how we sleep and scream.
The Horror Landscape in 1984
Slashers Evolve or Die
By 1984, the slasher formula was wearing thin—unless it had a hook. That’s where A Nightmare on Elm Street came in, reinventing the subgenre with supernatural flair and surreal dream logic.
Horror Meets Comedy
Filmmakers leaned into humor, creating bizarre, genre-blending horror comedies that appealed to wider audiences and built loyal cult followings.
Monster Mayhem Goes Mainstream
Gremlins, ghouls, and ghostly chaos proved that creature-based horror could be both marketable and menacing.
Top 10 Horror Films of 1984
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Runtime: 1hr 31min
Wes Craven’s terrifying original introduced Freddy Krueger and revolutionized slasher horror with dreams, surrealism, and imaginative kills.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), directed by Wes Craven, redefined the slasher genre with a nightmarish twist on reality. The film follows teenager Nancy Thompson and her friends, who are stalked in their dreams by the vengeful spirit Freddy Krueger—a burned, claw-gloved killer who can turn dreams deadly. As the boundaries between waking life and nightmares blur, Nancy must uncover Freddy’s dark past and find a way to survive. Blending surreal horror, inventive visual effects, and chilling atmosphere, Elm Street introduced one of cinema’s most iconic villains and launched a franchise that forever changed horror.
Gremlins
Runtime: 1hr 46min
Joe Dante’s holiday-set horror-comedy about mischievous creatures balanced cute with carnage—and sparked the PG-13 rating debate.
Gremlins (1984), directed by Joe Dante and produced by Steven Spielberg, is a darkly comedic creature feature that blends holiday cheer with gleeful mayhem. The story begins when young Billy Peltzer receives a mysterious furry creature called a Mogwai as a Christmas gift, along with three strict rules: don’t expose it to bright light, don’t get it wet, and never feed it after midnight. Inevitably, the rules are broken—unleashing a horde of mischievous, reptilian Gremlins that wreak havoc on the sleepy town of Kingston Falls. With its mix of horror, slapstick comedy, and cutting-edge practical effects, Gremlins became a beloved cult classic that helped define the era’s playful, subversive approach to genre filmmaking.
C.H.U.D.
Runtime: 1hr 36min
Cannibalistic mutants under New York City? A grimy, gory cult favorite with urban decay and conspiracy.
C.H.U.D. (1984), directed by Douglas Cheek, is a gritty, low-budget urban horror film that taps into fears of environmental decay and government conspiracy. The title stands for “Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers,” mutated creatures lurking in the sewers beneath New York City. When homeless people begin disappearing and strange attacks surface, a photographer and a soup kitchen operator uncover a cover-up involving toxic waste and corporate negligence. Mixing creature-feature thrills with social commentary about urban blight and institutional corruption, C.H.U.D. has earned cult status for its grim atmosphere, practical monster effects, and satirical edge.
Children of the Corn
Runtime: 1hr 32min
Creepy kids and cornfields collide in this Stephen King adaptation about cultic terror in the heartland.
Children of the Corn (1984), directed by Fritz Kiersch and based on a short story by Stephen King, is a chilling tale of rural isolation and religious fanaticism. The film follows a young couple, Burt and Vicky, who stumble upon the seemingly deserted town of Gatlin, Nebraska. They soon discover that the town’s children, under the sway of a sinister child preacher named Isaac and his enforcer Malachai, have murdered all the adults in service to a malevolent deity known as "He Who Walks Behind the Rows." As the couple fights for survival, the film delivers an eerie blend of supernatural horror and cult-like dread, turning the heartland’s cornfields into a nightmarish landscape of terror.
The Company of Wolves
Runtime: 1hr 35min
Neil Jordan’s stylized, dreamlike reimagining of werewolf lore and fairy tales.
The Company of Wolves (1984), directed by Neil Jordan and based on Angela Carter’s feminist reimagining of classic fairy tales, is a visually rich, dark fantasy-horror film that blurs the line between dreams and reality. Framed as a series of nested stories within a young girl’s fevered imagination, the film retells Little Red Riding Hood with a sensual, gothic twist—exploring themes of sexuality, transformation, and the dangers lurking beneath innocence. Werewolves serve as potent metaphors for predatory desire and repressed fears, brought to life through striking practical effects and lush, theatrical sets. The Company of Wolves stands as a haunting, lyrical entry in 1980s horror cinema, celebrated for its feminist subtext and dreamlike style.
Night of the Comet
Runtime: 1hr 35min
A post-apocalyptic horror comedy with Valley Girls, zombies, and a killer ‘80s soundtrack.
The Toxic Avenger
Runtime: 1hr 27min
Troma’s ultra-violent, gross-out superhero satire became a grindhouse legend.
The Toxic Avenger (1984), directed by Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman, is a gleefully over-the-top splatter comedy that became the flagship cult classic for Troma Entertainment. The film follows Melvin, a scrawny, hapless janitor at a New Jersey health club, who falls into a vat of toxic waste after a cruel prank. Transformed into a hideously deformed but super-powered mutant, Melvin—now the Toxic Avenger—takes bloody revenge on the corrupt criminals and bullies plaguing his town. Blending ultraviolence, slapstick humor, and subversive satire, The Toxic Avenger revels in its low-budget absurdity and anarchic spirit, earning a devoted fanbase and spawning a franchise that celebrates the weirdest corners of genre cinema.
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter
Runtime: 1hr 31min
Jason returns (again) for what was supposed to be the end—featuring some of Tom Savini’s best gore.
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984), directed by Joseph Zito, is the fourth entry in the Friday the 13th series and one of its most memorable installments. Despite its title, it marked anything but the end of Jason Voorhees' reign of terror. The film picks up immediately after Part III, with Jason revived and continuing his brutal rampage through Crystal Lake. A new group of teenagers, along with young Tommy Jarvis—a horror-obsessed boy with a knack for masks and makeup—find themselves in Jason’s deadly path. Known for its gruesome kills, strong pacing, and standout practical effects by Tom Savini, The Final Chapter helped solidify Jason as a horror icon and injected new life into the slasher formula, ensuring the franchise’s bloody legacy would continue.
Firestarter
Runtime: 1hr 54min
A young Drew Barrymore ignites in this King adaptation about a girl with pyrokinetic powers.
Firestarter (1984), directed by Mark L. Lester and based on Stephen King’s novel, is a sci-fi horror thriller centered on a young girl with terrifying pyrokinetic powers. Charlie McGee, played by Drew Barrymore, is the product of a government experiment that gave her and her parents psychic abilities. Now hunted by the secretive agency known as "The Shop," Charlie and her father flee for their lives. As the agents close in, Charlie’s ability to unleash deadly, uncontrollable fire becomes both her greatest weapon and deepest burden. Blending emotional drama with explosive set pieces, Firestarter explores themes of exploitation, parental love, and the destructive potential of unchecked power.
Razorback
Runtime: 1hr 47min
A visually striking Australian monster movie featuring a giant killer boar and gorgeous outback cinematography.
Razorback (1984), directed by Russell Mulcahy, is a visually striking Australian eco-horror film centered around a monstrous wild boar terrorizing the Outback. The story follows American journalist Carl Winters, who travels to Australia to investigate the disappearance of his wife, only to uncover a brutal landscape where nature and man collide. At the heart of this brutal environment is the titular razorback—a giant, feral boar capable of immense destruction. Renowned for its stylish cinematography, atmospheric landscapes, and surreal imagery, Razorback elevates its creature-feature premise into an eerie, hallucinatory experience. The film has since gained cult status for its unique tone and haunting portrayal of nature’s untamed savagery.
Underrated Picks Worth Your Time
Monster Dog
Runtime: 1hr 24min
A low-budget Spanish-American oddity starring Alice Cooper as a haunted rock star.
Monster Dog (1984), directed by Claudio Fragasso and starring rock icon Alice Cooper, is a campy, low-budget blend of gothic horror and werewolf mythology. The film follows aging rock star Vincent Raven (played by Cooper), who returns to his family estate in the Spanish countryside to shoot a music video—only to find the nearby village plagued by mysterious, savage killings. As the bodies pile up, it becomes clear that a monstrous canine creature—and perhaps a dark family curse—lies at the heart of the bloodshed. Filled with eerie fog, practical creature effects, and a surreal atmosphere, Monster Dog is a quirky oddity beloved by fans of Euro-horror and Cooper’s larger-than-life presence.
Sole Survivor
Runtime: 1hr 25 min
A moody, Final Destination-esque film about a woman stalked by death itself.
Sole Survivor (1984), directed by Thom Eberhardt, is a chilling, atmospheric psychological horror film that explores fate, guilt, and the thin veil between life and death. The story centers on Denise Watson, the lone survivor of a devastating plane crash. Though she escapes physical harm, Denise soon becomes haunted by an eerie sense that death is still pursuing her. As strange figures stalk her and inexplicable events unfold, it becomes clear that she has somehow disrupted the natural order—and must now pay the price. With its slow-building dread, existential themes, and understated style, Sole Survivor is often compared to Final Destination and has earned cult status for its haunting take on the inevitability of death.
The Mutilator (a.k.a. Fall Break)
Runtime: 1hr 26min
A cheesy, beachside slasher that’s better remembered for its kills than its acting.
The Mutilator (1984), also known as Fall Break, is a bloody, tongue-in-cheek entry in the slasher genre directed by Buddy Cooper. The film follows a group of college friends who head to a remote beachfront condo during fall break, only to find themselves stalked by a deranged killer—Big Ed, the deeply traumatized father of protagonist Ed Jr. Years earlier, Ed Jr. accidentally shot his mother in a tragic accident, driving Big Ed to madness. Now, the friends are picked off one by one with gruesome, inventive kills. Known for its over-the-top gore, synth-heavy theme song, and low-budget charm, The Mutilator embraces slasher tropes with both enthusiasm and a wink, earning it a cult following among fans of 1980s horror excess.
Dreamscape
Runtime: 1hr 39min
Sci-fi horror hybrid where trained psychics enter people's dreams—with deadly consequences.
Dreamscape (1984), directed by Joseph Ruben, is a genre-blending sci-fi horror thriller that explores the dark potential of manipulating the human mind. The film follows Alex Gardner, a young psychic recruited into a government project that enables individuals to enter and influence others’ dreams. What begins as a groundbreaking experiment soon takes a sinister turn as political forces seek to weaponize the technology—and a deadly "dream assassin" emerges. Blending elements of espionage, fantasy, and horror, Dreamscape is notable for its inventive visual effects, surreal dream sequences, and prescient themes about the ethics of mind control. The film stands as a cult classic, often remembered alongside A Nightmare on Elm Street for its innovative exploration of dreams in 1980s cinema.
Horror Highlights & Trivia
Freddy Krueger’s sweater colors (red and green) were chosen because they’re the most difficult combo for the human eye to process together.
Gremlins and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom both pushed the MPAA to create the PG-13 rating.
Night of the Comet was one of the first genre films to feature resourceful, pop culture-savvy teen girl protagonists.
The Company of Wolves was produced on a shoestring budget but features stunning practical effects and dreamlike set design.
Where to Watch These Today
A Nightmare on Elm Street: Streaming on Max and available in franchise collections.
Gremlins: Widely available on Max and in 4K UHD editions.
C.H.U.D.: On Shudder and physical media from Arrow Video.
Children of the Corn: Streaming on Tubi and in numerous DVD box sets.
The Company of Wolves: Often on Kanopy or available via Scream Factory Blu-ray.
Closing Thoughts
1984 was the year horror stopped playing it safe and started having fun—with rules, with reality, with the genre itself. It gave us icons like Freddy and Gizmo, blurred the line between nightmares and cinema, and proved that horror could be deeply weird, darkly funny, and widely beloved all at once. A true cornerstone of the horror boom, 1984 left scars—and smiles—that haven’t faded.
