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Throughout the history of the Academy Awards, horror movies have received limited recognition compared to other genres. As of 2025, only a select few horror films have won Oscars in major categories, with The Silence of the Lambs (1991) being the only horror film to win Best Picture. Despite the genre's often overlooked status, several horror films have achieved critical acclaim and recognition in various technical and artistic categories.
Notable Oscar-Winning Horror Films
Although horror films are rarely awarded in major categories such as Best Picture or Best Director, several have won Oscars in other areas, such as makeup, sound design, and original screenplay. Some of the most notable Oscar-winning horror films include:
The Exorcist (1973)
One of the earliest horror films to gain major recognition at the Oscars, The Exorcist was nominated for ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It ultimately won two Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound, highlighting its terrifying atmosphere and impactful storytelling.
Alien (1979)
Ridley Scott’s sci-fi horror masterpiece won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects, showcasing groundbreaking practical and special effects that brought the terrifying Xenomorph to life.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
This psychological horror-thriller is the only horror film to win all five major Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Its gripping narrative, chilling performances, and suspenseful direction solidified its place in Oscar history.
Get Out (2017)
Jordan Peele's Get Out made history by winning the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, marking a significant achievement for modern horror. The film’s social commentary and unique take on psychological horror earned widespread critical acclaim.
The Fly (1986)
David Cronenberg’s body horror film won the Academy Award for Best Makeup, thanks to its grotesque and groundbreaking special effects that depicted the protagonist’s horrifying transformation.
Horror Films Nominated for Best Picture
Despite their cultural impact and critical success, horror films have rarely been nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. However, a few standout titles have broken through, earning nominations in this prestigious category:
The Exorcist (1973)
As the first horror film to receive a Best Picture nomination, The Exorcist paved the way for future horror movies at the Oscars. Its chilling atmosphere and deep psychological themes helped elevate the genre's reputation.
Jaws (1975)
Steven Spielberg’s thriller about a killer shark received a Best Picture nomination and won three Oscars in technical categories, including Best Film Editing, Best Sound, and Best Original Score.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Winning Best Picture in addition to four other major awards, this film remains the gold standard for horror at the Oscars. Its success demonstrated that horror could be both commercially successful and critically acclaimed.
The Sixth Sense (1999)
M. Night Shyamalan’s supernatural thriller earned a Best Picture nomination along with five other nods, highlighting its suspenseful storytelling and powerful performances.
Black Swan (2010)
Darren Aronofsky’s psychological horror-drama earned a Best Picture nomination, showcasing the genre’s ability to blend psychological elements with high art and emotional depth.
Get Out (2017)
The success of Get Out at the Oscars marked a shift in how horror films are perceived, with its Best Picture nomination underscoring the genre’s growing recognition for its storytelling and social commentary.
The Babadook (2014)
Though not nominated for Best Picture, The Babadook received critical acclaim and was considered a strong contender in the independent film circuit, showcasing the potential for horror to gain Oscar recognition in the future.
Challenges Faced by Horror Films at the Oscars
Despite the success of a few horror films, the genre has long faced biases within the Academy. Horror is often seen as a commercial rather than artistic genre, leading to many notable performances and films being overlooked.
One of the biggest challenges horror films face is the perception that they rely too heavily on jump scares and gore, rather than deep storytelling or character development. This perception has caused many critically acclaimed horror films, such as Hereditary (2018) and Us (2019), to be snubbed despite their critical success and strong performances.
Furthermore, the Academy often leans toward traditional drama films when considering nominees for major categories. Horror films that blend elements of drama and suspense tend to fare better, as seen with Black Swan and Get Out, which incorporate psychological depth beyond typical horror conventions.
Technical Categories Where Horror Films Shine
Although horror movies often struggle to gain recognition in major Oscar categories, they frequently receive nominations and wins in technical categories such as:
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Films like The Fly and An American Werewolf in London have won Oscars for their groundbreaking prosthetics and special effects, highlighting the horror genre’s innovation in creating terrifying visuals.
Best Sound Editing and Mixing
Horror films heavily rely on sound design to create suspense and atmosphere. Movies such as A Quiet Place and Jaws have earned nominations and wins in sound categories for their effective use of audio to enhance the horror experience.
Best Visual Effects
Many horror films, particularly those blending science fiction elements, have won in the visual effects category, with Alien being a prime example of groundbreaking creature design that earned an Oscar.
The Future of Horror at the Oscars
In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift in the perception of horror films within the film industry and among critics. With movies like Get Out, Hereditary, and The Lighthouse receiving critical acclaim, there is growing hope that the Academy will become more receptive to the genre’s artistic merits.
Streaming platforms have also played a role in elevating horror films, making them more accessible to wider audiences and increasing their chances of recognition by award bodies. As filmmakers continue to push the boundaries of horror with innovative storytelling and deeper thematic exploration, the genre's presence at the Oscars may continue to grow.
Upcoming horror films with strong Oscar potential include those that blend horror with social commentary, psychological depth, and strong character arcs—factors that tend to resonate well with Academy voters.
Conclusion
Horror movies have had a complicated relationship with the Oscars, often being overlooked in favor of more traditional genres. However, a handful of films have broken through, earning well-deserved recognition in categories such as Best Picture, Best Screenplay, and technical awards. The genre’s evolution and increasing acceptance within the industry suggest that more horror films may achieve Oscar success in the future, proving that horror can be both terrifying and artistically profound.