Sunday Special: The 10 Best Horror Movie Franchises

Key Takeaways

Experts debated the current state of horror cinema, with views ranging from a "prolonged golden age" to a potential decline.
The episode aimed to establish a definitive ranking of the top 10 horror film franchises from a century of cinema history.
Panelists evaluated franchises based on impact, recurring elements, and overall quality across their respective films.
A final list of 10 iconic horror franchises was compiled, including "Night of the Living Dead" and "The Conjuring."

Erik Piepenburg views the current horror landscape as a "prolonged golden age," initiated by "Get Out" and continuing with recent films like "Weapons."
Jason Zinoman holds a more reserved outlook, suggesting the "golden age" might be concluding but noting the genre's current "respectable" status, including "prestige, Oscar bait" horror.
The discussion highlighted the presence of both successful studio productions and a thriving independent horror scene.
Jason Blum's comments were referenced regarding the declining viability of low-budget horror, necessitating "event" films for success.

The panel considered Universal Monster movies, starting in 1931 with films like 'Bride of Frankenstein,' as potential first horror franchises.
Alfred Hitchcock's 'Psycho' (1960), with its sequels and remake, was considered for its potential as a slasher franchise pioneer.
George Romero's 'Night of the Living Dead' series (1968) was identified as a genre-defining zombie franchise, automatically qualifying for discussion.
'The Exorcist' (1973) was acknowledged for its original impact, though the quality of its sequels was debated.
Tobe Hooper's 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' (1974) was introduced for consideration.

"Halloween" (1978) was recognized as an influential horror franchise and slated for further discussion.
"Phantasm" (1979) was praised for its villain, the Tall Man, and its surreal imagery, leading to a debate on its ranking.
"The Amityville Horror" (1979) sparked debate over its franchise merit due to numerous low-budget sequels capitalizing on the town's name.
"Alien" (1979) was recognized as a classic and advanced for consideration for the list of top horror franchises.
The 1980s slasher era saw "Friday the 13th" quickly approved, while "Hellraiser" and "Evil Dead" were also considered.

"A Nightmare on Elm Street" (1984) was noted for its sequels, including "Freddy's Revenge" with its queer subtext, and "New Nightmare" for its meta-commentary preceding "Scream."
The Hannibal Lecter films, beginning with "Manhunter" (1986), were debated for inclusion but ultimately excluded due to their "classy" tone versus "true horror."
"Child's Play" (1988) received praise for its influence on queer horror, iconic status, and broader cultural impact, including merchandise.
"Candyman" (1992) and "Scream" (1996) were discussed, with "Candyman" being excluded, and "Scream" drawing debate over its meta-commentary and humor.

The "Final Destination" franchise was highlighted for its recent revival with "Bloodlines" and its blend of horror and comedy, alongside the significant "Saw" franchise.
"Paranormal Activity" was deemed deserving of a spot on the top franchises list for its innovative found-footage style and surprising success.
"The Conjuring" (2013) was confirmed as a strong contender, expanding into a cinematic universe with films like "Annabelle" and "The Nun."
The "V/H/S" anthology series was praised for its format, while "The Purge" franchise received a negative reception from some panelists.
"Terrifier" garnered attention for its low-budget success and its villain, Art the Clown, emerging as a new icon, though its graphic nature made it a borderline inclusion.

The hosts narrowed down 15 horror franchises for final debate, including Universal Monsters, "Night of the Living Dead," "The Exorcist," and "Halloween."
Arguments were made for including "Friday the 13th" and "Child's Play," while "The Exorcist" and "V/H/S" were proposed for removal.
Host Michael Barbaro advocated for "A Nightmare on Elm Street," citing Freddy Krueger's personality and the franchise's surreal visuals.
"Saw" was initially removed due to a perceived lack of innovation but reinstated for its consistent output and effectiveness.
"Alien" was proposed for removal, with the argument that it leans more towards science fiction than pure horror.

A guest advocated for keeping "Paranormal Activity" on the list due to its innovative found-footage style and surprising success.
The Universal Monsters franchise was questioned regarding its qualification as a true franchise despite its classic status and nostalgic value.
"Evil Dead" was championed for its consistent quality and evolution from horror to comedy, with a participant noting that no "Evil Dead" movie is considered bad.
"The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" franchise was proposed for removal, arguing its sequels paled compared to the original, though a newer trilogy, "X," was noted for capturing its essence.

"The Conjuring" universe was identified as a strong contender due to its expansion into multiple films and series, including "Annabelle" and "The Nun," defining a modern franchise model.
"Halloween" was discussed as a primary candidate for its iconic status, with "Halloween 3: Season of the Witch" singled out as an underrated entry.
The panel contrasted "Halloween" with "Night of the Living Dead," preferring the latter for its more ambitious and creatively expansive sequels like "Dawn of the Dead."
The definitive top 10 horror movie franchises were announced: "Night of the Living Dead," "Halloween," "Friday the 13th," "The Evil Dead," "A Nightmare on Elm Street," "Child's Play," "Final Destination," "Saw," "Paranormal Activity," and "The Conjuring."

The podcast featured a game segment, "A Nightmare on Film Street," testing knowledge of horror franchises.
Questions covered details like the fictional town of Haddonfield in "Halloween," the "Good Guy Doll" from "Child's Play," and "Paranormal Activity" surpassing "The Blair Witch Project" in profitability.
Guests Jason Zinoman and Erik Piepenburg identified franchises based on character death descriptions from "Friday the 13th," "A Nightmare on Elm Street," and "Child's Play."
Iconic dialogue from films including "The Silence of the Lambs" and "Psycho" was used for identification during the game.