8. Halloween
As with so many other horror movie franchises, Halloween hasn’t always been entirely consistent. One thing has remained consistent, though: the franchise has always maintained focus on Michael Myers. Having its central villain be a simple man twisted into evil by decades of imprisonment (sort of, at least) is a remarkably simple premise, and it’s one that has secured the Halloween movies a place of reverence even among its peers.
Let’s be clear and say that Michael Myers is one of cinema’s most horrifying villains. He’s a seemingly unstoppable hulking mass of murder, and he holds human life in extremely low regard. He’s somehow both a complex figure and an incredibly simple one, and that is indicative of Halloween’s wider appeal.
Though there are one or two entries into the franchise that aren’t worth defending, it has enjoyed a number of solid films along the way. It’s also only fair to mention that it has also continually entertained fans for decades. Considering its lasting popularity and the terrifying nature of its villain, it’s clear that Halloween remains one of the most iconic – and therefore best – horror movie franchises there is.