Horror isn’t just a genre — it’s a lifestyle. A pulse-racing, dread-fueled escape from the ordinary that lives in the shadows and feeds on the thrill of fear. And for those who crave the long haul — the lore, the mythologies, the sequels, prequels, and spinoffs — horror franchises are the ultimate obsession.
Whether it’s a cursed VHS tape, a chainsaw-wielding maniac, a hellish video game, or an immortal literary demon, horror franchises offer more than jump scares. They build entire universes of dread that fans willingly return to, again and again, because the darkness is just that good.
From silver-screen slashers to haunting pages and blood-soaked pixels, here are the 10 greatest horror franchises of all time — ranked, dissected, and worshipped.
From possession scenes to psychological breakdowns, these…