10 Best Horror Movie Franchises

10. Candyman

One of the more under-appreciated franchises in the horror world, Candyman is deep, emotional, dreamy and grossly bloody all at the same time. The original film was based on The Forbidden, a title in the Books of Blood series written by author Clive Barker, but was released at a time where interest in the horror genre was at an all time low. Sandwiched inbetween a decade of increasingly low budget and sleazy slasher sequels and the emergence of meta-heavy Scream-inspired films, Candyman usually slips under the radar when people think about the world's best franchises.

Tony Todd puts in one of the most standout performances ever seen in horror with his portrayal of Candyman, the ghost of Daniel Robitaille. Robitaille was, in life, an African-American man who, after the discovery of his relationship with a white woman, was beaten, mutilated and fed to bees. Throughout the franchise, he pops up sporting a bloody hook for a hand, a long trench coat and a carcass filled with bees.

Candyman is summoned by people who mention his name five times, though is usually far from grateful for the experience. Not many characters can blend together the terrifying and whimsical, but that's what helps make Candyman one of the most special franchises in horror history.