What does it take for a horror movie to take home an Oscar? A masked killer lurking in the shadows? A possessed child whispering eerie secrets? Or maybe a psychological nightmare that blurs the line between reality and madness. The Academy does not often reward horror, but when it does, you know the film is something truly special. These films are more than tacky frights—they haunt your mind, twist your emotions, and stay with you long after the screen fades to black.

Ready to experience fear at its finest?  From spine-tingling exorcisms to terrifying and disturbing games of the mind, these Academy Award-winning horror movies show that fear can be just as powerful as drama!

In Jordan Peele's award-winning directorial debut, Get Out, photographer Chris Washington played by Daniel Kaluuya agrees to meet his girlfriend Rose played by Allison Williams' parents at their secluded estate. What starts as awkward hospitality soon reveals a chilling secret, as Chris uncovers the family's sinister intentions. 

The film skillfully combines horror with biting social commentary on race relations, winning critical praise, box office success, and four Oscar nominations, with Peele making history as the first Black writer to win Best Original Screenplay.

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In the chilling film Misery, a successful author Paul Sheldon, played by James Caan, crashes his car during a snowstorm. Annie Wilkes, played by Kathy Bates saves Sheldon, who then claims to be his biggest fan. However, her obsession turns menacing when she discovers Paul has killed off her favorite character, Misery Chastain. 

Annie holds Paul captive, demanding he rewrite the story to her liking. Bates' fierce performance as the deranged Annie won her the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1991, making Misery the only Stephen King adaptation to win an Oscar.

In the peaceful seaside town of Amity Island, a sudden terror rises from the depths— a huge great white shark with an enormous appetite. Following the death of a young swimmer at the jaws of this terror, Police Chief Martin Brody played by Roy Scheider now faces the daunting task of protecting his community. Joined by marine biologist Matt Hooper and seasoned shark hunter Quint played by Robert Shaw, Brody sets out on a dangerous quest to hunt down the relentless predator before it kills again. 

Steven Spielberg's Jaws not only thrilled audiences with its suspenseful narrative but also received critical praise, winning three Academy Awards: Best Sound, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Score for John Williams' iconic music. 

After drifting in space for 57 years, Ellen Ripley played by Sigourney Weaver wakes to a new horror. The previously abandoned moon LV-426 is now a thriving colony—until all contact is suddenly lost. Teaming up with a squad of tough Colonial Marines, Ripley returns to face the alien terror that torments her nightmares. Director James Cameron skillfully ratchets up the suspense, combining heart-pounding action with chilling horror. 

Aliens not only delighted viewers but also wowed the Academy, which awarded the film Oscars for Best Sound Editing and Best Visual Effects. Not only that, but Weaver's powerful performance also got her a rare Best Actress nomination for a sci-fi actress, cementing Ripley as an iconic heroine of cinematic history.

Adding to her catalog of movies, Natalie Portman starring in Darren Aronofsky's psychological thriller Black Swan, delivers a mesmerizing performance as Nina Sayers, a ballerina  who was chosen to play both the innocent White Swan and the seductive Black Swan in a production of Swan Lake. As Nina strives for perfection, she finds herself caught up in a deadly duel with newcomer Lily, played by Mila Kunis. 

This rivalry, along with the sheer pressure of the double role, drives Nina towards obsession and paranoia, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. Portman's portrayal of Nina's descent into madness earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress, while the film also received nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Film Editing. 

In this dark tale of Rosemary's Baby, young couple Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse move into a historic New York apartment, but find themselves faced with strange neighbors, the Castevets. After a series of unsettling events, Rosemary becomes pregnant and starts to suspect that those around her have sinister plans for her unborn child.  

Mia Farrow delivers a haunting performance as Rosemary, while Ruth Gordon's depiction of the pushy neighbor, Minnie Castevet, earned her the Best Supporting Actress Oscar. Directed by Roman Polanski, Rosemary's Baby skillfully merges psychological horror with themes of paranoia and betrayal, making it a timeless classic that continues to unsettle viewers.

Jeff Goldblum starring as scientist Seth Brundle in The Fly invents a teleportation machine, but when a housefly enters the pod, his DNA merges with the insect leading to a twist of events. What begins as a scientific miracle turns into a horrifying transformation, leaving his girlfriend Veronica played by Geena Davis in shock. 

Directed by David Cronenberg, this body horror masterpiece stunned audiences with its gruesome yet hypnotic practical effects. The film’s terrifyingly realistic makeup brought Seth’s monstrous change to life, earning it the Oscar for Best Makeup. Even today, The Fly remains a chilling reminder in the scene of horror!

In the spine-tingling The Omen, Robert Thorn, an American diplomat, faces a heart-wrenching decision when his newborn son dies. To spare his wife, Katherine, the pain, he secretly adopts an orphaned baby, Damien. As Damien grows, eerie events and untimely deaths plague the Thorn family, leading them to the terrifying revelation that their dear son is the Antichrist. The eerie atmosphere of the film is further heightened by Jerry Goldsmith's legendary score, which took home an Academy Award for Best Original Score.

In 1973, The Exorcist shocked movie buffs with its chilling tale of a young girl, Regan, possessed by a demonic force. Her mother, Chris, can only watch as she seeks assistance from two priests, Father Merrin and Father Karras. The climactic mood of the film, combined with its groundbreaking special effects, raised the bar for horror films.

The Exorcist’s effect was so deep that it became the first horror film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. It even went on to take home the Best Sound and Best Adapted Screenplay awards, solidifying its legacy as a must-watch classic!

In the gripping tale of The Silence of the Lambs, FBI agent trainee Clarice Starling seeks the help of the imprisoned Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer, to catch another murderer known as Buffalo Bill. Their dark and intense interactions touch the darkest aspects of human psychology, creating a spine-chilling story that swept the hearts and minds of critics and fans. 

The Silence of the Lambs made history when it swept the top five Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director for Jonathan Demme, Best Actor for Anthony Hopkins, Best Actress for Jodie Foster, and Best Adapted Screenplay. So, whether you love psychological mind games, supernatural chills, or shocking twists, these films serve both fear and brilliance in equal doses for you to sit back and enjoy!

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So, which one gave you the biggest chills? Did we miss a horror classic that deserved the gold? Share your horror picks in the comments below!