If there’s one thing we can appreciate the ‘80s for, it’s for being ahorrormovie gold mine. Some gems one might recall from the era includeA Nightmare on Elm Street, Aliens, Hellraiser,andThe Evil Dead— and that’s just getting started. There are countless others that have flown a bit more under the radar over the years. Yet overall, the ’80s saw the momentous rise of all types of horror, from creature features to slashers to psychological thrillers, into the mainstream film canon, permanently changing how we continue to see horror today.
Update August 17, 2025: In honor of Halloween, this article has been updated by Soniya Hinduja with even more 80s horror movies that deserve a remake.
Although thetopic of remakes is often a touchy one, many of these ’80s gems are more than deserving of a 2023 revisiting. Whether it be their campiness, their innovative premise, or their idiosyncratic styles that made them stand out forty years ago, here are some ’80s horror movies that might be amazing to see on the big screen again in a fresh remake.
13Silver Bullet (1985)
The ‘80s were a glorious time for bringing the stories and novellas crafted by the genius Stephen King to terrific life.Silver Bulletis based onCycle of the Werewolf, which was written by the author in 1983. The premise, set in the otherwise quiet town of Tarker’s Mill, goes something like this: every full moon night, the town hears the news of a murder carried out by a mysterious force. When Marty Coslaw, a paraplegic boy, encounters a werewolf one night, the puzzle pieces fall into place, and the dread fuels into a nightmare, sending townsfolk into a frenzy.
It isa cult classic for its ambitious storytelling, but the film isn’t particularly scary. From the makeup to the visceral scares, every element of the film seemed to fall short on delivery. A fresh take could, perhaps, reverse this reputation. Werewolves are not the top horror monster at the moment and have always been an underutilized one, so this is certainly a story that could use a modern retelling.
12Opera (1987)
Directed by Dario Argento and co-written by him and Franco Fraticelli,Operais an Italian slasher horror film that follows a young opera singer, played by Cristina Marsillach, being stalked by a maniac to the point where he turns the stage of her spectacular theater into a place of death and torture. Apparently, this fan shows unannounced and brutally murders all the performers associated with the production of Verdi’s opera “Macbeth,” of which Marsillach is the lead singer.
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Through a depressive lens, we witness the tormented and deranged vision of this stalker come to life. Delivering all the shocks it intended to and being boldly terrifying, the movie is a testament to the director’s passion for pushing past the boundaries made by the genre. Watching the same film being remade would only be next-level exciting.
11Shocker (1989)
Shockeris an often forgotten-about slasher film made by Wes Craven, made during the time betweenA Nightmare on Elm StreetandScreamwhen the director was trying to find the next big thing. The film’s premise of a serial killer who becomes a being of pure electricity did not connect with audiences or critics at the time. Many saw it as a derivative of Freddy Krueger.
Yet Freddy Krueger has largely been absent from movie screens, and now is the perfect time to reviveShocker. The premise certainly feels more interesting in the 21st century, as with so much technology reliant on electricity, it makes the killer all the more powerful and opens the doors up for what exactly he can do. This is the best example of a premise that might have been made too early and could do better now.
10Near Dark (1987)
Blending neo-Western elements with supernatural horror is the last thing you’d expect to see today. But if you look back to this classic flick directed by Kathryn Bigelow, you will realize how dazzling the genres can look together.Near Darkfollows Caleb Colton, a cowboy, and Mae, a gorgeous woman. They meet at a bar, and the chemistry between them is almost instant. However, when Caleb learns that Mae is a vampire and that she’s just turned him into one, too, by biting his neck, Caleb is torn between staying in town with his family and riding away with Mae into her hungry world.
The movie features anintoxicating mix of violence, romance, and philosophythat makes it quite interesting and worthy of a remake. Vampires have been popular for a long time in recent years, and this is a reboot that could give the genre a new spin.
9Sleepaway Camp (1983)
1983’sSleepaway Campis a subversive camp-horror classic. The original story follows quiet young Angela as she bears witness to a series of cruel, inventive murders at her summer camp following a family tragedy. The film, which was originally only made on a $350,000 budget, has now developed into a full-blown franchise, with anew installment in the works. However, while franchise add-ons always remain a welcome site, it is the initial installment of theSleepaway Campseries that continues to remain the most memorable, due to its assortment of novel twists and even more novel killing mechanisms. The technology of 2022, compounded with maybe a more comfortable budget, could makeSleepaway Campeven more of a ruthlessly imaginative marvel than it already is.
8Re-Animator (1985)
1985’sRe-Animatoris already a recreation of sorts. The cult classic is loosely based on H.P. Lovecraft’s short story “Herbert West—Re-animator,” about a mad (by today’s standards) scientist who zomb-ifies corpses. While Lovecraft’s story is doused in seriousness and the occult, the film version is much more lighthearted and essentially humorous. Over the past few years, words have been thrown around about aremake more true to the original source.
Regardless of how true it stays to the source,Re-Animatorwould be nothing less than a camp classic were it to be remade again in 2022. There are also certainproblematic elementsof the 1985 version that could definitely go for a revisit.
7Society (1989)
1989’sSocietyis a hilarious social satire oozing with Cronenberg-level body horror. Although it did not get much attention upon release, over the years, the film has developed a cult-like following, noted by many as asubversive, surreal classic. The movie follows Bill Whitney, a rich Beverly Hills teenager, who begins to suspect that something is seriously wrong with his parents and sister. Bill then finds himself in the thrall of a gruesome orgy cult for the social elite.
The movie is just about as wild as it sounds, yet it never manages to become proselytizing or take itself too seriously. Were it to be remade today, it would be fascinating to see how the nature of this elitist cult has shifted and changed. “High society,” after all, has taken on a whole new meaning in today’s world, just like the term “networking.”
6The Lost Boys (1987)
Even if he’s expressedprofound regretsabout his mullet, who doesn’t love seeing Kiefer Sutherland as the bleached-blond undead? For Sutherland and its myriad other charms, Joel Schumacher’sThe Lost Boyshas become both a vampire classic and a cultural phenomenon for edgy teens everywhere. Despite the sweeping cult success of the first film, though, its two sequels,Lost Boys: The Tribe(2008) andLost Boys: The Thirst(2010) were released direct-to-DVD and only starred Corey Feldman of the original cast.
Perhaps what remains most enticing about the idea of aLost Boysremake is its casting possibilities. The star power of the original goes unmatched, so it would be interesting to see which young actors are up for the challenge today. This is a horror film that has plenty of untapped potential and is just waiting for a modern remake.
5They Live (1988)
Thirty-five years after its initial release date,They Livecontinues to be relevant in exciting — and slightly troubling — new ways. Starring former pro wrestler Roddy Piper, the movie follows a listless man who one day discovers a pair of sunglasses that show him the “truth” of the world amid the consumer hellscape of late-’80s Los Angeles. The film is remembered equally for its incredibly iconic scenes, most notably one involving bubblegum and some ass-kicking, as well as its funny and incisive cultural commentary.
The seeds ofThey Livereally run so deep thatThe Hard Timeshad fans fooled into believing there might be asequel in the works. While there (luckily) is no known sequel happening, the possibilities for aremake seem truly limitless, considering today’s shifted, but altogether unchanged, cultural landscape. Instead of aliens, perhaps Nada, played by John Cena, could see the demonic underbelly of vegan TikTok influencers.
4An American Werewolf in London (1981)
Brought to you byAnimal Housedirector John Landis,An American Werewolf in Londonremains unparalleled in its sexiness, goriness, and wit alike. It is perhaps one of Landis’ best andmost creativeefforts. While the film, whose title gives away the most important parts of its plot, is remembered today for its grisly aesthetics and on-the-nose use of Van Morrison’s “Moondance,” it is undoubtedly one of the mostimpressive werewolf movies of all time.
Best Body Horror Films of the ’80s, Ranked
The body horror genre has given birth to some grotesque, yet very entertaining, films. Let’s look at the best ones from the ‘80s, ranked.
Its wonderful subversion of genre and stunning usage of practical effects, most notably for the protagonist’s iconic transformation scene, definitely lets us wonder what possibilities remain for the film were it to be remade today. Although it’s difficult to compete with Landis’s superb style, David’s relatively flat character might benefit from some modern re-imagining, as well.
