10 Campy Horror Movies Worth Watching, Ranked

While horror movies will always be able to create genuine tension, scares, and mature thematics, there will always be an ingrained audience dedicated to horror films that take a campier approach. As opposed to a more standard horror movie experience, campy horror movies relish the absurdity and chaos of their premise and execution, focusing more on creating an electrifying and entertaining horror experience above all else. This increased focus on the wildest and most entertaining filmmaking aspects has made many films more approachable than standard horror offerings.

There has been a vast and expansive history of campy horror movies that has lasted decades, with multiple films becoming massively influential, not only for other campy horror films but for the horror genre as a whole. The overall style and approach to campy horror lends itself to becoming underground fan favorites and cult classics, not always widely accepted by general audiences but always finding a niche with dedicated, horror-loving fans.

10

‘Drag Me to Hell’ (2009)

Directed by Sam Raimi

Sam Raimi has always had an inherent strength when it comes to creating wildly entertaining and campy horror experiences, with his premier camp-fueled horror outing of the 21st century easily being Drag Me to Hell. The film follows loan officer Christine Brown (Alison Lohman), who after denying an older woman an extension to keep her home, enters a terrifying downward spiral as she believes that she’s been cursed. She now finds herself in a mad frenzy and scrambles for answers to save her soul before she ends up being dragged to hell.

Raimi is at the top of his game when it comes to chaotic and campy filmmaking in Drag Me to Hell, whether it be through direct plot points like an evil possessed goat or production elements like using a giant fork prop to get the perfect angle for a shot. It finds a way to still be shocking and gruesome despite only being PG-13, and while the film is largely remembered for Drag Me to Hell‘s infamous and shocking ending, the entire film has this underlying absurdity and fun to its execution.

9

‘Sleepaway Camp’ (1983)

Directed by Robert Hiltzik

A wide variety of summer camp slashers were created throughout the 80s following the major success of films like Friday the 13th, yet one of the few that was able to stand out among the rest due to its various quirks and campy style was Sleepaway Camp. While its premise of a mysterious killer laying waste to the campers at a beloved summer camp seems innocuous enough, the mixture of strange line deliveries, hilarious kills, and homoerotic energy has made the film a camp classic of the 80s.

The film has a signature offbeat energy and approach to storytelling that proves to make each scene more strange and campy than the last, feeling more like a harsh, realistic take on a disturbed summer camp over other films’ squeaky-clean approach. Although the film has found some difficulties due to its confusing and possibly even problematic ending, everything else surrounding the film’s ending is what has made it a campy cult classic for decades.

8

‘M3GAN’ (2023)

Directed by Gerard Johnstone

It’s rare for modern horror movies to truly understand the essence and abilities of campy horror without just becoming full-on comedies or satires, yet M3GAN stands out as one of the few that fully understands the magic of campy horror. The film understands the inherent absurdity and fun to be had from a young girl doll going on a killing spree, fully embracing its inherent comedy without being too tongue-in-cheek in its approach.

It’s one thing to have a campy horror comedy about a killer robot, yet standout scenes like M3GAN doing choreographed dances before killing and singing hilarious remixes of Sia‘s “Titanium” elevate the film into a modern camp icon. It finds the absolute perfect balance between being chaotically over-the-top while still taking itself slightly serious enough to make its emotional moments work in tandem with the campy great time. With a highly anticipated M3GAN sequel on the way, the 2023 film is sure to continue to be a horror camp icon for the ages.

7

‘Elvira: Mistress of the Dark’ (1988)

Directed by James Signorelli

Elvira is one of the quintessential horror camp icons throughout the 80s, introducing many audiences to strange and hilarious horror B movies through her program, Elvira’s Movie Macabre. It was only a matter of time before the character received a wild horror B movie of their own, with Elvira: Mistress of the Dark fully delivering on the absurdity and campy nature of the character. The film brought out all the best attributes of Cassandra Peterson‘s portrayal of the iconic character, balancing wit and campy charm flawlessly to become an 80s cult classic.

The film directly combats the topic of more Puritan posturing and the fear of shocking horror filmmaking in general, pointing out those who equate the content in horror movies as abhorrently evil and demonic. However, as a horror satirical take on the topic, the film goes to absurd lengths to create all sorts of comedy out of real sorcery from a vicious evil warlock and Elvira’s continued infamy in the community. Elvira proves to be such a fun, infectious character that it’s hard not to root for her and all of her likable qualities.

6

‘Death Becomes Her’ (1992)

Directed by Robert Zemeckis

Robert Zemeckis is a director who very rarely travels into the realm of horror filmmaking, yet one of his few ventures into the genre, Death Becomes Her, has become iconic as one of the best campy horror movies of the 90s. The film sees a vicious plot of love triangle murder taking a wild and chaotic turn after a magic potion proves to increase the stakes and make everything much more complicated and unpredictable.

Death Becomes Her is such a stark contrast to every other film that Zemeckis has made, not just in terms of being a horror film, but in being much campier and much darker in tone than anything else he’s created. This dark tone and absurdly campy nature make the film a hilarious comedy experience however, further amplified by the exceptional performances from the likes of Bruce Willis, Goldie Hawn, and Meryl Streep. Their wide array of iconic line readings has further made the film a deeply memorable, camp-fueled horror experience.

5

‘Malignant’ (2021)

Directed by James Wan

Originally setting itself up to be yet another supernatural horror film in the same vein as James Wan‘s other recent horror films like The Conjuring and Insidious, Malignant eventually reveals its hand to become the quintessential campy horror film of the 2020s. The film has a distinct quirk and array of strange occurrences throughout the runtime, yet it isn’t until its final last-act twist that the full picture comes together, in that all of its confusing choices were a conscious choice to create a hilarious, campy time.

The film brilliantly plays into Wan’s reputation and long-lasting legacy in the realm of horror to let the audience’s guard down in terms of the level of camp expected from a studio horror film such as this. It proves to make the last act of the film, filled with non-stop carnage and hilarious action choreography, much more effective and well-crafted, combining Wan’s filmmaking prowess with an amazing campy story to make an instant classic.

4

‘Little Shop of Horrors’ (1986)

Directed by Frank Oz

A wildly entertaining horror comedy musical that would become one of the most acclaimed movie musicals of the 80s and the face of horror musicals in general, Little Shop of Horrors is an icon of camp horror. The film follows neurotic Seymour Krelborn (Rick Moranis), who while working at a flower shop, finds a mysterious bloodthirsty plant that craves human flesh to satiate its appetite. Seymour soon finds an opportunity to use the plant to get rid of those he harbors grudges with, leading to disastrous consequences.

Adding a musical element to any horror film is always going to add some inherent campy qualities to the experience, yet Little Shop of Horrors goes above and beyond in terms of balancing the horror and musical elements to create pure campy perfection. Its execution has helped it become an icon of 80s culture, utilizing exceptional practical effects and puppetry to bring to life the highly entertaining Audrey II, sporting top-notch musical numbers and gruesome kills all the same.

3

‘House’ (1977)

Directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi

Editing is one of the fundamental tenets when it comes to filmmaking, with it oftentimes being the difference between a highly serious and grounded film and a chaotic, unpredictable thrill ride. Nowhere is the importance and impact of over-the-top editing felt more than in the cult classic Japanese horror film House, whose editing has become the stuff of legends to make the film one of the best campy horror films of all time. The film follows a group of young girls taking a trip to the countryside, where their vacation soon turns into a nightmare as various spirits and apparitions take them out one by one.

What would otherwise be a standard paranormal story becomes an electrifying masterpiece that you can’t take your eyes off of thanks to the colorful editing style that is filled with personality and camp with every frame. From drawing blood and effects on the frames to having various quick cuts and comedically timed music cues, the film has no limit when it comes to its inherent creativity and groundbreaking visuals.

2

‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ (1975)

Directed by Jim Sharman

Arguably one of the most iconic and legendarily campy movies of all time, not even just in the realm of horror but redefining the very essence and definition of camp itself, it’s hard to think of campy movies without not immediately thinking of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The near-perfect movie musical has become iconic in the decades since its release thanks to its array of neverending styles, campy over-the-top nature, and full embrace of taboo, sexual, and horror commodities.

There is an undeniable sense and passion for creating the wildest, uncaring work of art and creative expression that makes The Rocky Horror Picture Show a cornerstone of campy filmmaking. All the chaotic musical numbers, an infectiously entertaining lead performance by Tim Curry, and risqué elements of horror and eroticism alike come together to make the film a one-of-a-kind experience that cannot be replicated. The film has been a cult classic for 50 years and will continue to be legendary for another 50 years, being timeless in its execution and as campy as it gets.

1

‘Evil Dead II’ (1987)

Directed by Sam Raimi

While The Rocky Horror Picture Show may be a more recognizable and legendary campy film, when it comes to the combination of campiness and horror elements, no film accomplishes this quite like Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead II. The original Evil Dead was already absurdly campy as is, yet Raimi proved to amplify and ramp up all the best, campiest aspects of the original to transform the sequel into one of the best horror comedies of all time.

From Bruce Campbell‘s wild and unrestrained performance as Ash Williams to a nonstop barrage of blood and gore at every corner, Evil Dead II strives to create a rollercoaster ride of gore and violence above all else. Few films have managed to have nearly as much fun with the prospect of gore and violence than Evil Dead II, transforming the chainsaw from a symbol of terror and fear into one of cathartic release and glorious rage. The film further established just how much fun a campy horror film could be and cemented Sam Raimi as a true auteur of horror and camp alike.

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