Here’s a list of 20 classic horror movies, ranked by how shocking or scary their endings are: Starting with Number 20.
20. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Scary Ending: The ambiguity of Freddy’s return and the nightmarish final scene keep audiences guessing and creeped out.
19. The Shining (1980)
Scary Ending: Jack’s transformation into a murderous maniac, paired with the final image of his picture in the hotel, creates an unsettling loop of terror.
18. The Witch (2015)
Scary Ending: Thomasin’s final transformation and her choice to embrace the devil in the woods ends the film on an eerie and dark note.
17. Friday the 13th (1980)
Shocking Ending: Jason’s leap from the water in the final dream sequence gave audiences a final, unexpected scare.
16. Carrie (1976)
Shocking/Scary Ending: The jump scare of Carrie’s hand bursting from the grave is one of the most iconic in horror history.
15. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
Shocking Ending: The final moment where Donald Sutherland’s character screams, signaling he’s been taken over, is haunting.
14. The Ring (2002)
Scary Ending: The realization that the curse isn’t lifted, and that Samara is still on the loose, leaves viewers with a sense of dread.
13. Don't Look Now (1973)
Shocking Ending: The dwarf in the red coat reveals itself, ending the film on a grotesque and shocking murder that no one saw coming.
12. Halloween (1978)
Scary Ending: Michael Myers’ disappearance after being shot multiple times emphasizes his near-supernatural persistence, ending on an unsettling note.
11. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Scary Ending: Sally’s desperate escape, coupled with Leatherface's terrifying chainsaw dance, leaves an image that lingers long after the film ends.
10. Get Out (2017)
Shocking Ending: The audience expects the worst when police lights flash, only for the twist to relieve some tension with a smart commentary on societal fears.
9. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Scary Ending: Rosemary discovering her baby is the child of Satan is deeply disturbing, leaving audiences horrified by her acceptance.
8. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Shocking Ending: After surviving the zombie onslaught, the main character is tragically mistaken for a zombie and killed by rescuers.
7. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Scary Ending: The final scene of Mike standing in the corner, paired with the shaky camera and sudden silence, delivers a deeply unsettling conclusion.
6. Hereditary (2018)
Scary Ending: The dark supernatural forces at work take control, leading to a shocking and horrifying conclusion.
5. Saw (2004)
Shocking Ending: The real Jigsaw killer was lying in the room the entire time. This reveal is both terrifying and brilliantly executed.
4. The Mist (2007)
Scary/Shocking Ending: The ending where the protagonist takes extreme measures to "save" his group, only for help to arrive moments later, is devastating.
3. The Others (2001)
Shocking Ending: The twist that Grace and her children are the actual ghosts turns the story on its head in a deeply unsettling way.
2. Psycho (1960)
Shocking Ending: Norman Bates' dual identity and the chilling final shot of him sitting in the police station as "Mother" are unforgettable.
1. The Sixth Sense (1999)
Shocking Ending: The revelation about Dr. Malcolm Crowe is one of the most iconic plot twists in film history, leaving audiences stunned.
Each of these movies has its own flavor of dread and terror, but films like The Sixth Sense, Psycho, and The Mist stand out for endings that left audiences either shocked by sudden twists or disturbed by the grim fates of the characters.