10 Great Horror Movies Turning 20 In 2025
These films prove that 2005 was a GREAT year for horror.
It can be easy to dismiss 2000s horror as insignificant and/or superficial compared to what preceded it (such as the 1970s’ elegantly dramatic leanings, the 1980s’ slasher boom, and the 1990s’ gritty psychological/societal commentaries).
That said, those directions also infiltrated the scene during the dawn of the 21st century, and the decade’s distinctive emphasis on supernatural frights; culturally specific approaches (especially Asian); and gore that’s either hilariously exaggerated or disturbingly authentic gave 2000s horror an equally valuable voice.
2005 was a particularly notable year for the genre, and despite spawning some truly awful cinematic experiences (namely, new entries in the Fog, Alone in the Dark, Urban Legend, and Day of the Dead series), it gave us just as many – if not more – great features that’ve clearly stood the test of time.
Seeing as how those films are celebrating their 20th anniversaries this year, now's the perfect opportunity to dive into 10 of the best horror movies of 2005 (with spoilers).
Naturally, they represent a wide array of subgenres and markets, thereby offering superb glimpses into how inventive, transgressive, and enjoyable the genre could be across the world at that time.
Just be warned that things are about to get nasty...
10. The Devil's Rejects
Rob Zombie’s House of 1000 Corpses was an energetic, colorful, depraved, and darkly comedic effort that showed considerable promise for the fledgling filmmaker. However, it was also an unabashedly derivative tribute to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (but with the metal attitude and comic book flashiness of Zombie’s non-cinematic ventures).
Although it’s not exactly groundbreaking either, Zombie’s direct follow-up – The Devil’s Rejects – was a significant improvement, to the point that many fans still rank it as his greatest movie.
In contrast to the somewhat amateurish grindhouse/exploitation tone of its predecessor, The Devil’s Rejects seems professionally and confidently made. From its cinematography and locations to its acting and soundtrack, The Devil’s Rejects feels much more like a “real” movie.
Likewise, its Western revenge/serial killer road trip narrative is fairly well told and consistently compelling, with all three surviving members of the lovably loathsome Firefly family (Otis, Baby, and Captain Spaulding) receiving more depth and appeal alongside their equally psychopathic rival, Sheriff Wydell.
Their epic final showdown – supported by Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Free Bird and Terry Reid’s Seed of Memory – is the icing on the cake, cementing The Devil’s Rejects as major evolution for Zombie.
(Let’s just forget that 3 From Hell exists, okay?)