11. Nosferatu (1922)
The first vampire film and the first classic horror film, Nosferatu is notable for two main reasons: it contains some of the most powerful images in the history of cinema, and it also stars Max Schreck in one of the most legendary performance in film history. Nosferatu has an incredibly interesting inception story. It began as an adaption of Bram Stoker's Dracula, however the filmmakers could not get the rights to the novel so they simply copied the story, changed a few names and released the film anyways. The Stoker Estate, justly furious, sued the production company and won, with the court ordering every print of the film destroyed. Fortunately for movie lovers everywhere, a single print survived and today, it is one of the most revered of all silent films. Ironically, Nosferatu has done more to help the Stoker Estate than anything else as it spawned countless vampire films and novels, permeating the Dracula legend throughout popular culture. Nosferatu helped establish the horror genre as a legitimate form and remains one of the most iconic films ever made. Nosferatu still holds up well today although it is not quite as terrifying as it would have been back in the 20's. Roger Ebert, who added it to his Great Movies list, summed it up well when he said "Is Murnau's "Nosferatu" scary in the modern sense? Not for me. I admire it more for its artistry and ideas, its atmosphere and images, than for its ability to manipulate my emotions like a skillful modern horror film. It knows none of the later tricks of the trade, like sudden threats that pop in from the side of the screen. But "Nosferatu" remains effective: It doesnt scare us, but it haunts us."