The Essentials: The Best Horror Movie Franchises Ranked

15. The” Saw” Series (Saw, Saw II, Saw III, Saw IV, Saw V, Saw VI, Saw 3D, i.e. Saw: The Final Chapter, Jigsaw)
In January 2004, rising horror director James Wan terrified Sundance audiences to their shaking boots by asking one simple question: Do you want to play a game? Over a decade later, the bloody, twisted legacy of the Jigsaw Killer still looms heavy. One of the most instantly recognizable figures in modern horror, Jigsaw’s deadly traps, extreme existential queries and accompanying puppet companion, Billy, are synonymous with the October horror movie season, and for good reason. While the overindulgence of sequels, along with the growingly preposterous running narrative, might’ve turned the weaker installments into parodies of their former selves, Wan’s “Saw” remains an entirely compelling indie horror, instantly proving his knack for tension and thrilling set pieces, while also establishing a firm attention to troubled characters, high stakes scenarios, perversely realized subject matters and hostile environments. And while the sequels don’t live up to the original’s potential, they can still be fun in their own cheekily disturbing ways, especially the sequels who grew a dark sense of humor. The franchise lives another day with this weekend’s “Jigsaw,” though its victims (or “victims”) might not get to say the same. It’s unclear if the eight installment will be a debatched return-to-form or another unsavory sequel, but one thing’s for sure: this series isn’t for quitters. – Will Ashton

14. The “Blair Witch” franchise (The Blair Witch Project, Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2, Blair Witch)
Remember when handheld camera use was so new that audience members reportedly experienced motion sickness upon witnessing it in theatres? A key foremother of the found footage genre, Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez’s “The Blair Witch Project” revolutionized low-budget horror and film marketing when it premiered at Sundance in 1999. Their $60,000 project became a sleeper hit and ended up recouping its own budget 4,000 times over, thanks in large part to a genius marketing campaign that asserted the events in the film actually took place. It wasn’t a hard lie for audiences to believe, as the bare bones film shoot relied on improvisational performance. The actors actually held the cameras during scenes, and often reacted in real time to surprises inflicted on them by the crew. This DIY filmmaking style would be replicated for maximum scares in countless films to come, including two sequels: “Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2” and “Blair Witch.” Though both sequels are hardly critical darlings, they reflect the legacy of the original film — especially 2016’s “Blair Witch,”which brought found footage into the new millennium with drones and cell phones. Even if you’re not a fan of this franchise, its lasting impression on horror is undeniable. Without “The Blair Witch Project,” we wouldn’t have “Paranormal Activity,” “REC,” “Grave Encounters,” “V/H/S,” or “District 9.” – Lena Wilson

13. “The Exorcist” series (The Exorcist I-III, Exorcist: The Beginning, Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist)
Until it was dethroned by “It,” William Friedkin’s The Exorcist was the highest-grossing horror film of all time. Between Friedkin’s “The French Connection” cred and being put out by a major studio, The Exorcist was seen as classier than most horror films. And in a way, that is still true. More of a straightforward drama about questioning faith, being both a working mother and a single parent, and an archeological hunt for ancient demons, all these elements culminate in the end which is where most people’s memory of the film lies. John Boorman’s sequel tries to show us that evil never truly dies, but just leaves us with Richard Burton looking utterly confused for two hours. Exorcist author William Peter Blatty takes the reins on the third entry, which if not entirely successful, is closer in tone and spirit to the original. Two prequels were made from similar material – one from Renny Harlin, and one from Paul Schrader, who was replaced with Harlin when his version wasn’t what Warner Bros. had in mind – and both are equally fascinating, and not good. Still, we’ll always have Friedkin’s original, which is enough to land this franchise on this list. – RO

12. “Jaws” series (Jaws, Jaws 2, Jaws 3-D, Jaws: The Revenge)
James Bond producer Albert R.Broccoli, when asked if he would hire OO7 fanatic Steven Spielberg to direct a Bond, allegedly tossed the question aside with “let’s see how the fish picture turns out.” “The fish picture”? Only the biggest hit of 1975, the film that spawned the North American blockbuster trend and a film that still stirs fears in the hearts of many to enter any ocean. “Jaws,” a hellish shoot of production and budgetary concerns, brought the impossible to the screen, convincing audiences worldwide that an underwater camera and a rubber shark were as good as real. Everybody has their favourite picks (the drowning woman, the exploding shark, The Indianapolis Disaster monologue), but what’s often forgotten is how well Jaws 2 holds up, Roy Scheider and Lorraine Gray maintaining their composure with just the right level of sincerity (Gray’s performance in Jaws: The Revenge entered to near self-parody, then again, so did the film) and that killer tagline “Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water…,” has added bite. And forgetting the negligible Michael Caine led Jaws: The Revenge, Jaws 3-D is a better film than is often remembered, bringing a kitch quality to the bloodied proceedings, all of that with the addition of 3-D effects. – EL

11. “Child’s Play” series (Child’s Play, Child’s Play 2, Child’s Play 3, Bride of Chucky, Seed of Chucky, Curse of Chucky, Cult of Chucky)
Who would have thought that the franchise that began with the unlikely success of possessed-doll thriller “Child’s Play” way back in 1988 would still be continuing today … and what’s more actually be hitting its creative stride? While the original film benefitted from the leadership of genre heavyweight Tom Holland (who appears elsewhere on this list thanks to his writing credit on “Psycho II”), who brought a playful intensity to the material, it’s writer Don Mancini who is the series’ undeniable shepherd. It was Mancini who exploited the elasticity of the central conceit, pivoting away from full-fledged horror into something more self-referential with “Bride of Chucky” (possibly the series highlight) and then outright comedic with “Seed of Chucky” (his first outing as a director). What’s even more remarkable is that the two more recent installments (both of them home video premieres) have returned the franchise to its more intense roots. These two films, written and directed by Mancini, offer terse tales of terror on lean budgets that maintain the series’ cheekiness and bloodiness, while offering inventive new set pieces and more sophisticated visuals (possibly informed by Mancini’s time on “Hannibal” and “Channel Zero“). This franchise shows no signs of slowing down, either. In addition to a direct sequel to “Cult of Chucky,” Mancini has talked about wanting to do a period thriller set on a train that would be heavily indebted to Brian De Palma. And that just sounds killer. – DT