It’s Halloween, the perfect time to take a look at the best horror franchises out there! If you are a hardcore fan of the horror genre, you will realize that this is the utmost important task during this spooky season and we are not missing a beat when it comes to delivering the task. Sadly, over the years there have not been incredible additions of films to the existing classic genres or the introduction of new ones. We have, however, a meticulously curated list that offers you a franchise that might just never have had a sleeper miss.
Are you ready to indulge in this list? Because we sure as hell are ready to serve you with the very best when it comes to picking out the best horror franchise out there. Please know that the listing of the films is not ranked in any order.
Best Horror Franchises to Tune Into For Halloween 2023
Halloween Franchise
One cannot start a Halloween list without mentioning the classic Halloween film franchise. This slasher film first came out in 1978 and has not looked back since. With almost 13 films coming together, the franchise has an extensive backstory that makes it relevant and fan-favourite to date. The world-building is amazing alongside the gore and scare, offering everyone the perfect experience to vibe to for the Jack O Lantern season. Donald Pleasence and Jamie Lee Curtis are some of the most important actors who are a part of this franchise. You can catch the first film in the franchise alongside several others now on Amazon Prime Video.
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The Conjuring Universe
You must be living under a rock if you have not heard about The Conjuring Universe. The supernatural horror film has four direct movies under it and spans over several other horror films interlinking so many plot points and creating a scary space like no other. It is an unmissable addition when it comes to horror franchises because of the excellent storylines it offers alongside a strong star cast.
The films in The Conjuring are produced by New Line Cinema, the Safran Company, and Atomic Monster and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. What makes this franchise stand out from the rest of the lot is the reality of the events depicted as it is based on the life and cases of paranormal investigators- Ed and Lorraine Warren. You can watch it now on Apple TV+.
Scream
Another slasher horror franchise that has only gotten better and crazier with time. In fact, out of all the film franchises on the list, Scream might be the only one that has managed to evolve with the taste of the changing audience and is presently serving us some hardcore well-executed movies. There are six films as of now in the franchise with Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, and Roger L. Jackson as the main as well as recurring cast. Some of the films from the franchise are available on Apple TV+ while some are streaming now on Amazon Prime Video.
Evil Dead
A Sam Raimi creation that includes films as well as TV series. With the first film coming out as early as 1981, one can say that a true Evil Dead fan might just be one of the longest-living horror fans out there, right? Ashley Joanna Williams aka Ash, played by Bruce Campbell is the main character in this universe and is the only one to appear in every piece of media under this franchise ever. This slasher horror has been extremely influential in giving direction to the entire genre as we know it today and has received several awards and recognitions. You can catch the films now on Apple TV+ as well as Amazon Prime Video.
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A Nightmare on Elm Street
If you sign up for this franchise, you have been warned through the title itself that it is going to be a ‘nightmare’. But for a horror fan that would be a piece of cake to devour. Mixing the supernatural and slasher categories with elements of horror, this franchise will make your skin crawl and make you feel like taking it off, literally! The franchise’s birth was in 1984 and the overall story includes the fictional character Fred Krueger aka Freddy’s ghostly revenge tale. From video games to novels, this one has spread its wings like wildfire to capture every kind of audience in its horror world.
X Film Series
Slasher horror franchises must be the viewer’s choice because the most recent franchise titled X film series that is taking off rather brilliantly belongs to the same genre. Pearl and X both have garnered some critical acclaim and rightly so as the franchise focuses on not only paying tribute to the said genre but also engaging us with psychologically thrilling plot points. In fact, the next film in the franchise titled MaXXine is going to arrive soon. It is created by Ti West with horror-queen Mia Goth leading the franchise in the titular role. This A24 production is available for viewing on Amazon Prime Video.
Saw
This franchise is less a movie and more of a phenomenon and movement when it comes to the horror genre as it has grown as cinema and pop culture in today’s time. Although the films’ have received mixed reviews most of the time, fans have left no stone unturned to promote it to be a must-watch for all horror lovers out there. It is definitely one of the highest-grossing franchises ever and that says everything to make you want to dive right into it.
Let us know in the comments below which according to you is the best horror franchise out there!
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