The top 20 public domain horror movies
Public domain horror films offer a treasure trove of classic, eerie cinema that continues to captivate audiences.
These films, free from copyright restrictions, showcase a wide range of styles – from early supernatural tales to unsettling psychological thrillers – many of which laid the groundwork for modern horror. Whether you’re a casual viewer or a seasoned fan, exploring these timeless gems offers a glimpse into the origins of the genre and the enduring power of fear on screen. You can watch them all here by clicking on the film’s title below.
20. Dementia 13 (1963)
Francis Ford Coppola’s directorial debut is a chilling psychological thriller set on an Irish estate, where a family gathers to mourn the death of a young girl. As tensions rise, a killer lurks, and secrets unravel in increasingly violent ways. The film’s blend of gothic horror and psychological suspense sets the stage for its unpredictable, twisted climax.
19. All the Kind Strangers (1974)
A photographer (Stacy Keach) driving through rural backroads stumbles upon a group of orphaned children who lure him to their isolated home. The children, led by a boy named Peter, expect their new “guests” to become their surrogate parents and refuse to let them leave. Trapped in this unsettling environment, the photographer and another captive woman must find a way to escape the children’s increasingly dangerous and manipulative behavior.
18. Man in the Attic (1953)
This period thriller follows Jack Palance as a reclusive pathologist renting a room in a London house, while Jack the Ripper stalks the streets. Suspicion grows around the man as his behaviour becomes increasingly strange, and the landlady begins to fear he might be the infamous killer. The film builds a tense mystery, with Palance’s unnerving performance at its centre.
17. White Zombie (1932)
In this early zombie film, Bela Lugosi stars as a sinister voodoo master who turns a woman into a mindless zombie for the purpose of controlling her. Set in Haiti, the film explores themes of power, possession, and the loss of free will, with an eerie and atmospheric style. White Zombie is notable for being one of the first films to feature the undead.
16. Little Shop of Horrors (1960)
This dark comedy follows a down-on-his-luck florist who cultivates a carnivorous plant that demands human blood to survive. As the plant grows, so does the florist’s desperation, leading to a series of grotesque and absurd situations. Directed by Roger Corman, the film became a cult classic for its quirky humour and bizarre premise.
15. I Bury the Living (1958)
The new cemetery caretaker (Richard Boone) discovers that marking graves with black pins on a cemetery map seems to cause the marked individuals to die shortly thereafter. As he grapples with the possible supernatural power of the map, the psychological toll of his newfound responsibility pushes him to the brink of insanity. This eerie film blends psychological horror with supernatural mystery.
14. Shock (1946)
A woman (Anabel Shaw) falls into a state of shock after witnessing a murder committed by a doctor (Vincent Price) at a hotel. The doctor takes her into his care, but instead of helping her, he attempts to manipulate her fragile mental state to cover up his crime. This film is a psychological thriller with noir elements, focused on gaslighting and the fragility of the mind.
13. Messiah of Evil (1973)
A young woman searches for her father in a remote seaside town, only to find that the town’s residents are under the spell of a dark, ancient force. As the undead townsfolk grow more hostile, she uncovers a prophecy tied to an evil messiah who is set to rise. The film’s surreal, dreamlike atmosphere and haunting visuals create an unsettling tale of isolation and terror.
12. Night Tide (1961)
A young sailor, played by Dennis Hopper, falls in love with a mysterious woman who performs as a mermaid at a seaside carnival. As their romance deepens, he becomes increasingly convinced she may actually be a siren luring men to their deaths. The film blends fantasy and horror with a melancholic tone, creating an eerie, dreamlike narrative.
11. Horror Express (1972)
A British anthropologist (Christopher Lee) discovers a frozen prehistoric creature that is capable of possessing and killing passengers on a trans-Siberian train. As the body count rises, he and a rival scientist (Peter Cushing) must stop the ancient evil before it consumes everyone onboard. This tense blend of sci-fi and horror is heightened by the claustrophobic train setting and the growing paranoia among passengers.
10. The Sadist (1963)
Three teachers traveling by car stumble upon a sadistic killer (Arch Hall Jr) and his girlfriend in a remote junkyard. Trapped and terrorised, the teachers are forced to play along with the killer’s cruel games in order to survive. This low-budget thriller is unnervingly realistic, focusing on the psychological and physical torment of the captives.
9. Dementia (Daughter of Horror) (1955)
A woman wanders through a nightmarish urban landscape, haunted by violent hallucinations, flashbacks, and mysterious figures. The film delves into her psyche, exploring themes of guilt, repression, and madness through surreal and avant-garde visuals. With no dialogue, Dementia creates a disturbing atmosphere of disorientation and psychological horror.
8. A Bucket of Blood (1959)
In this satirical horror-comedy, a dim-witted busboy at a bohemian café accidentally becomes a celebrated artist after he covers a corpse in clay, passing it off as a sculpture. As his fame grows, so does his need for “artistic materials,” leading to a series of macabre murders. Directed by Roger Corman, the film is a darkly humorous critique of the art world and beatnik culture.
7. Horror Hotel (The City of the Dead) (1960)
A college student travels to a remote New England town to research witchcraft, only to uncover a cult of witches still practicing dark rituals. As she investigates, she finds herself trapped in a web of supernatural terror. The film is known for its haunting atmosphere and striking cinematography, reminiscent of classic gothic horror.
6. The Last Man on Earth (1964)
Vincent Price stars as the sole survivor of a global plague that has turned the rest of humanity into vampiric creatures. Isolated in his home by day and hunting the undead by night, he struggles with loneliness, despair, and the possibility of finding a cure. This adaptation of Richard Matheson’s novel I Am Legend is a haunting meditation on survival and what it means to be human.
5. House on Haunted Hill (1959)
In this horror classic, eccentric millionaire Frederick Loren, played by Vincent Price, offers five strangers $10,000 each if they can survive a night in a supposedly haunted mansion. As the night progresses, a series of sinister and supernatural events unfold, leaving the guests to question whether the house is truly haunted or if they are being manipulated. The film is filled with atmospheric suspense and unexpected twists.
4. Spider Baby or, The Maddest Story Ever Told (1967)
This bizarre and darkly comedic horror film revolves around the Merrye family, whose children suffer from a rare genetic condition that causes them to regress mentally and socially as they age. When outsiders threaten their isolated world, the family resorts to violent and disturbing means to protect their secret. Spider Baby is a cult favourite for its blend of black humour and grotesque horror.
3. Carnival of Souls (1962)
After surviving a car accident, a woman moves to a small town where she is haunted by strange visions of ghostly figures and an abandoned carnival. As she becomes more detached from reality, she questions whether she is alive or dead. The film is a surreal and eerie exploration of isolation, with a haunting atmosphere that has made it a cult classic.
2. The Most Dangerous Game (1932)
A shipwrecked man finds himself on an isolated island owned by a wealthy hunter, who reveals that his prey of choice is human beings. Forced to participate in this deadly game, the man must use all his skills to survive the night. The film is a thrilling exploration of survival and the dark nature of sport hunting.
1. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
In this ground-breaking horror film, a group of strangers barricades themselves in a farmhouse as they fend off an onslaught of flesh-eating zombies. As tensions within the group rise, the threat of the undead outside becomes more pressing. Directed by George A Romero, the film redefined the zombie genre and is celebrated for its social commentary and shocking ending.