The horror genre has been booming over the past couple of decades, with everything from a myriad of strange and successful A24 movies to a rise in TV horror anthologies. Audiences have been able to see all sorts of fears and terrors come to life on screen.

Filmmakers have been exploring every dark corner of humanity and creating new twists and styles for the genre. Horror movies are ever-expanding the limits of film, especially thanks to directors of the modern era. Here are a handful of modern horror movie directors who are some of the best creators for the genre.

Updated on September 24th, 2023, by Amira Abdel-Fadil: This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.

10 Leigh Janiak

The Fear Street trilogy

fear street part 1 1994
Netflix

Last summer Netflix released the Fear Street trilogy, which is based on the books by R.L. Stine (though these three movies are NOT written for kids). The series centers on a group of teens trying to end a curse on their town where a witch turns people into killers.

Each movie takes place during a different time period in the town as the origins of the curse and the impact it has begun to unfold. It all circles back around at the end, so the group of friends can defeat the sinister witch. For teenagers and adults who want a unique set of slasher films, this trilogy is a great spot to start. Leigh Janiak creates a relatable set of characters while adding new elements to a beloved genre.

9 Alice Waddington

Paradise Hills

emma roberts paradise hills
Alfa Pictures

An underrated horror film is Paradise Hills. Led by a talented (almost entirely) female cast that includes members like Emma Roberts and Milla Jovovich, this film is unsettling in all the best ways and has much commentary on society and how women are treated as objects. The film is set in a dystopian world where young women who are imperfect by the standards of their family or society are sent away to a treatment center called “Paradise” where they are to be reformed.

This facility has a chilling headmistress and frightening ulterior motives, as girls who are sent to their graduation overnight suddenly become entirely different people by the next day. This film has gorgeous cinematography, an incredibly talented cast, and impactful feminist themes about women’s strengths and identities. This was Alice Waddington’s debut movie back in 2019, and hopefully, she will be creating more eerily intriguing films with powerful messages in the future.

8 Robert Eggers

The Witch, The Lighthouse

Anya Taylor-Joy as Thomasin
Universal Pictures

This director quickly became known among fans of horror movies after the release of his movie The Witch, starring Anya Taylor Joy. As his name and skills rose in acclaim, he became even more revered after The Lighthouse made its way to audiences.

Robert Eggers' passion for film and storytelling is evident in his work. He cuts no corners when it comes to making something truly and beautifully haunting. While Eggers does have films that belong to other categories, his horror, and thrillers have become staples of the genre; his films show some of the darkest parts of the human heart while also making it all seem otherworldly. He blends elements perfectly in his films to create a story that is completely captivating from start to finish.

7 Jordan Peele

Get Out, Us

The Sunken Place in Get Out
Universal Pictures

Many viewers were taken by surprise by Jordan Peele’s dive into horror, as many people will recognize him as a comedian and star of the show Key & Peele. Though he does have a lot of comedic talent, he also has a gift for horror.

Peele was celebrated for his skills after the release of Get Out, which quickly became a horror phenomenon and an exciting exploration of the racism and struggles of African Americans. His films continue to follow these kinds of themes, creating a repertoire of incredible stories that scare audiences so much they learn something from it. His movies have had a lot of impact on the art world over the past few years, and he doesn’t show any signs of stopping.

6 Jennifer Kent

The Babadook

The Babadook - The Babadook
Umbrella Entertainment

Whether a fan of horror or not, many will shudder at the recognizable name of The Babadook. This film was the debut of Jennifer Kent’s abilities and took audiences by storm. This film is terrifying in a myriad of ways. It centers around a single mother and her son struggling with the grief and trauma of losing their husband and father. The son battles a lot of constant paranoia about the world around him and the monsters he believes in, so much so that he gets in trouble at school for bringing in handmade weapons to defend himself.

As the mother tries to connect and deal with her son, a storybook about a monster called the Babadook appears in their home. As soon as they read it, the son believes in the monster, and both of them become increasingly erratic and paranoid as they feel haunted by this pale-faced monster. The film carefully walks the line between reality and invention, keeping audience members on edge throughout the whole story. This is truly one of the most iconic and unforgettable movies of the horror genre.

Related: 11 Best Movies and Shows Written & Produced by Jordan Peele, Ranked

5 Guillermo del Toro

Pan's Labyrinth, Crimson Peak

Mia Wasikowska in Crimson Peak.
Universal Pictures

This director has a wide variety of films under his belt, everything from Pan’s Labyrinth to Crimson Peak– as well as an upcoming anthology series. Guillermo del Toro is a master of his craft and an incredible storyteller. His movies tend to blend the styles of fantasy and horror, creating films that are visually stunning as well as narratively enticing.

He makes movies for all ages, each of them directed with the perfect amount of eeriness for the target audience. Del Toro knows exactly how to play around with genre and style, making projects that are experimental and unique compared to other pieces under the same genre.

4 James Wan

Saw, The Conjuring, Insidious

Insidious 2010
FilmDistrict

Often regarded as one of the most successful horror directors, James Wan has captivated audiences with The Conjuring film series as well as the Insidious franchise, and the terrifying film Malignant. His films tend to center around threats from the supernatural– some of them nothing more than a casual demon, and some of them entirely other.

Wan can create a world in which these supernatural elements feel anchored and (more or less) make sense as the characters in the story learn and fight against them. His films make things that seem normal or recognizable suddenly feel very suspicious and scary, creating an atmosphere that keeps audience members on the edge of their seats. As his success with franchises and individual stories continues, there’s no telling what kind of terrors await viewers next.

3 Mike Flanagan

Hush, Doctor Sleep, The Haunting of Hill House

Kyliegh Curran as Abra Stone in Doctor Sleep.
Warner Bros.

Director Mike Flanagan started his career in the 2000s with his debut film Make Believe which revolved around the 4 love lives of 4 college students. However, the director started stepping foot in the filmmaking industry of horror movies where he wrote and directed the movie Absentia, an atmospheric film about two sisters who witness eerie occurrences.

From then on, Flanagan has narrowed his focus on the genre and has continued to direct movies such as Doctor Sleep and hit shows such as television miniseries The Haunting of Hill House. His work is interesting, creepy, and engaging at the same time, and a lot of the time, he focuses more on characters. One of his most original works is the suspenseful film Hush which zooms in on a deaf and mute girl who lives by herself out in the woods up until she one day gets tracked by a killer with a mask who makes his way to her house.

2 Adam Wingard

You're Next, The Guest

The Guest (2014) by Adam Wingard
Picture House

Adam Wingard has been in the film industry for over a decade and has been the director behind some quality horror movies and shows such as You're Next, The Guest, and Outcast. His films are violent, mysterious, and often with a touch of dark comedy. His movies have also been praised for not being generic and predictable.

Instead, he tries to bring out clever narratives that lure you into their terrifying universe. One thing to know about Adam Wingard is that he is a jack of all trades, as he has experience being both an editor and a cinematographer for different movies. This technical knowledge and experience always allow a director to bring their vision to its full potential.

1 Ari Aster

Hereditary, Midsommar

hereditary collette
A24

Ari Aster is a critically acclaimed horror director who made a buzz with his debut feature film Hereditary. The film follows the Graham family who are mourning the loss of their mentally ill mother. However, with an already overpowering sense of grief and guilt, they start to encounter stranger occurrences that only seem to get darker over time. A supernatural entity is overtaking their lives and revealing frightening secrets about their ancestry. Is this madness and horror destined to be their fate?

Before this film, Aster directed shorts such as The Strange Thing About The Johnsons which caught the attention of A24 films and made the company allow Aster to direct his first feature film Hereditary, which he also wrote. The film was produced for 10 million dollars and ended up grossing a little over 82 million dollars. The director went on to direct Midsommar and Beau is Afraid, both of which were well received.