The Best B Horror Movies
The bedrock of genre films, B horror movies is something that is hard to describe. While the Wikipedia definition of a B movie is “a low-budget commercial motion picture”, there are many tropes and styles that make a true B movie stand out. The main elements we’ll be highlighting here include a campy tone, earnest filmmaking, and over uniqueness that you can’t find in mainstream films.
The films on our list range from summer camp slashers, space clowns, and giant rudder monsters. As such today we want to discuss our favorite B horror movies. Enjoy!
Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959)
Runtime: 1 hour, 19 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Plan 9 From Outer Space was directed and written by Ed Wood. It stars Gregory Walcott, Bela Lugosi, and Maila Nurmi. The plot follows a group of alien invaders that plan on taking over the world by resurrecting several corpses as undead servants.
One of the definitive “so-bad-it’s-good” films, Plan 9 From Outer Space is a film that just has to be seen to be believed. From a nonsensical plot to bizarre acting choices, this is the only kind of film that would spawn from the mind of Ed Wood. Easily one of the most (unintentionally) funniest B horror movies.
Killer Klowns From Outer Space (1988)
Runtime: 1 hour, 28 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Killer Klowns From Outer Space was directed by Stephen Chiodo. It was co-written by Stephen and Charles Chiodo. The film stars Grant Cramer, Suzanne Snyder, and John Allen Nelson. Killer Klowns From Outer Space follows a group of young adults trying to warn their town of evil aliens that resemble clowns as they begin harvesting the citizens in cotton candy cocoons.
If Plan 9 From Outer Space is a great unintentional camp, then Killer Klowns From Outer Space is some of the most amazing intentional camp. This gem of the 1980s features spectacular practical effects, clever use of the theme around clowns, and a kick-ass soundtrack from composer John Massari. If you haven’t seen one of the best B horror movies then this is a must-watch for any fan of good cheesy fun!
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Them! (1954)
Runtime: 1 hour, 34 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Them! was directed by Gordon Douglas with a screenplay by Ted Sherdeman. The cast includes James Whitmore, Edmund Gwenn, Joan Weldon, and James Arness. The plot follows the investigation of several mysterious murders in New Mexico that is revealed to be caused by a colony of giant ants mutated by atomic radiation.
The first major “big bug” creature feature and an early example of the atomic age of cinema, Them! is B movie royalty. For a silly premise of giant ants, the film surprisingly tells the story with dead seriousness that makes it engaging rather than silly. Add-on some great horror from the 1950s and Them! is a great watch for fans of 1950s atomic cinema and giant monster enthusiasts!
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Dead Alive (1992)
Runtime: 1 hour, 25 minutes
Rating: R
Dead Alive (Braindead) was written by Stephen Sinclair, Frances Walsh, and Peter Jackson. It was directed by Peter Jackson and stars Timothy Balme, Elizabeth Moody, and Diana Penalver. Dead Alive follows a meek man trying to find love but is unfortunately held back by his overbearing mother who is suddenly turned into a flesh-eating zombie.
One of the earliest films by Peter Jackson and the definitive example of a “splatstick” film, Dead Alive pushes the envelope of gore to the point of hilarity. Jackson’s New Zealand humor is all over the place with absurd moments such as a kung-fu priest or the infamous pudding scene, fans of B horror movies will be belly laughing at this zom-com masterpiece! A must-watch for those interested in the early films of Peter Jackson and wanting to see perhaps one of the bloodiest movies put to film.
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Chopping Mall (1986)
Runtime: 1 hour, 35 minutes
Rating: R
Chopping Mall is directed and co-written by Jim Wynorski with Steve Mitchell co-writing the script. Chopping Mall stars Kelli Maroney, Tony O’Dell, John Terlesky, Barbara Crampton, Dick Miller, and Russell Todd. The plot follows a group of teens sneaking into a mall after closing hours, only to be hunted by the mall’s security robots that have gone rogue.
Chopping Mall is a film that oozes 1980s energy. From its vintage mall setting to the heavy use of synth music composed by Chuck Cirino, there is no other decade this film could exist in except the 1980s. Silly as hell yet earnestly made, Chopping Mall is a B horror movie that has earned its cult status!
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Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971)
Runtime: 1 hour, 36 minutes
Rating: PG
Godzilla vs. Hedorah is directed and co-written by Yoshimitsu Banno with Takeshi Kimura co-writing the screenplay. This kaiju classic stars Akira Yamauchi, Toshie Kimura, and Hiroyuki Kawase, with Haruo Nakajima as Godzilla and Kenpachiro Satsuma as Hedorah. The plot follows an alien monster named Hedorah landing on earth to consume and spread pollution, only to be confronted by Godzilla who must stop Hedroah’s reign of terror.
One of the most popular (and infamous) entries of the Godzilla series, Godzilla vs. Hedorah is essentially a kaiju acid trip. Filled with bizarre sequences such as random bits of animation, a surreal dance sequence, and Godzilla literally flying via his atomic breathe. Yet despite the bizarreness of the film, the heavy environmental and arthouse presentation feels 100% genuine, and as such it’s clear why this has recently become one of the most beloved Godzilla films.
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The Toxic Avenger (1984)
Runtime: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Rating: R
The Toxic Avenger is co-directed by Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman. The screenplay was co-written by Joe Ritter and Lloyd Kaufman. The cast includes Mitch Cohen, Mark Torgl, Andree Maranda, and Pat Ryan Jr. The plot to this Troma classic follows a nerdy janitor who after being exposed to toxic waste from a cruel prank, is mutated into a deformed yet super strong hero who fights injustice across New Jersey.
Troma Entertainment is a factory in the creation of B horror movies, with The Toxic Avenger as their gold standard. Over-the-top and having no filter, The Toxic Avenger is a great example of 1980s independent cinema. We get gags such as Toxie growling like a stereotypical Frankenstein monster then having a dignified voice, to a montage of our hero both killing thugs and being a good samaritan at the same time. The Toxic Avenger is the B horror movie gold standard!
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The Giant Claw (1957)
Runtime: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
The Giant Claw is directed by Fred F. Sears. The screenplay was written by Samuel Newman and Paul Gangelin. Starring Jeff Morrow and Mara Corday, The Giant Claw follows the investigation of airplane disappearances that is revealed to be perpetrated by a colossal extraterrestrial bird.
One of the most infamous giant monster movies, The Giant Claw is an average monster movie with one of the most laughable giant monster designs in human history. What makes this film a literally cinematic turkey is how deadly serious the film takes itself despite the titular Giant Claw resembling a rejected Skeksis from The Dark Crystal. One of the best unintentionally funny monster movies ever made!
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The Blob (1958)
Runtime: 1 hour, 22 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
This 1950s classic is directed by Irvin Yeaworth. The screenplay was written by Kay Linaker and Theodore Simonson. The Blob stars Steve McQueen, Aneta Corsaut, Earl Rowe, and Olin Howland. The plot follows a group of teens having to warn their town that an ever-growing mass of alien slime is attacking and consuming anyone it encounters.
A drive-in staple and Steve McQueen’s first leading role, The Blob is one of the most enduring creature features ever made. Produced and filmed locally in Pennsylvania, The Blob captures that small-town feel of the 1950s and is just a fun watch from beginning to end. Another great example of 1950s B horror movies.
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The Stuff (1985)
Runtime: 1 hour, 33 minutes
Rating: R
The Stuff is written and directed by the late genre movie mast Larry Cohen. The film’s cast includes Michael Moriarty, Garrett Morris, Andrea Marcovicci, and Paul Sorvino. The plot of The Stuff follows a corporate saboteur trying to investigate the immensely popular snack food known as The Stuff, only to discover it is a living organism infecting and consuming those who ingest it.
A great satire on our obsession with junk food, The Stuff is Larry Cohen at his best. Larry Cohen would inject his films with a strong socially conscious lens and a real sense of inner-city life. Add-on some great practical effects and with a standout performance by leading man Michael Moriarty, The Stuff becomes a great watch for any fan of cult cinema.
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Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Runtime: 1 hour, 36 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Night of the Living Dead is directed and co-written by George A Romero with John Russo co-writing the screenplay. The cast includes Duane Jones, Judith O’Dea, Marilyn Eastman, and Keith Wayne. The plot follows a group of survivors trying to find a safe solace in an abandoned home as zombies began to reanimate and attack the living.
One of the most important horror films of all time, Night of the Living Dead would change horror cinema forever. With strong social commentary, an early example of a film with a Black lead hero, and a grim atmosphere, Night of the Living Dead would influence both the zombie sub-genre and horror films as a whole. If there is an example of B horror movies that need to be watched it’s this one!
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Friday the 13th (1980)
Runtime: 1 hour, 35 minutes
Rating: R
Friday the 13th is directed by Sean S. Cunningham and written by Victor Miller. It stars Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King, Harry Crosby, Laurie Bartram, Mark Nelson, Jeannine Taylor, Robbi Morgan, and Kevin Bacon. The plot follows several young adults setting up the upcoming summer camp at Camp Crystal Lake, only to be killed one by one by a vengeful killer.
One of the most influential slasher movies alongside the likes of Halloween, Friday the 13th is a prime example of B horror movies making a huge impact on cinema. The first entry in one of the prolific horror franchises, Friday the 13th is a classic summer camp slasher that has endured for decades. With great gore effects that practical effects master Tom Savini to a (no pun intended) killer score by Harry Manfredini, this is required viewing for those interested in slasher movies.
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Sleepaway Camp (1983)
Runtime: 1 hour, 28 minutes
Rating: R
Sleepaway Camp is written and directed by Robert Hiltzik. The cast includes Felissa Rose, Katherine Kamhi, Paul DeAngelo, Mike Kellin, and Christopher Collet. The plot to Sleepaway Camp follows a summer camp plagued by mysterious deaths that seem to be tied to two cousins with one of them having a dark secret.
If Friday the 13th built the door for summer camp slashers, then Sleepaway Camp kicked it down and made itself at home. A film that just lives in its own universe, Sleepaway Camp is both bizarre yet classic when it comes to 1980s slashers. From memorable dialogue such as “Eat shit and live Bill“, brutal kills, and one of the most notorious endings to any horror film, we cannot express that out of all the B horror movies on this list we just love Sleepaway Camp!
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Tremors (1990)
Runtime: 1 hour, 36 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Tremors is directed by Ron Underwood with Brent Maddock and S. S. Wilson co-writing the screenplay. The cast includes Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Finn Carter, Michael Gross, and Reba McEntire. The plot follows a small Nevada town suddenly under siege by several giant worms that hunt via burrowing underground.
A throwback to 1950s monster movies and a great creature feature in its own right, Tremors is simply fun. Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward are some of the best dynamic duos in genre cinema and the soon-to-be series lead Michael Gross would stand out in his iconic role as Burt Gummer. Very quotable and having one of the best movie monsters with The Graboids, Tremors is an easy recommendation.
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Creature From The Black Lagoon (1954)
Runtime: 1 hour, 35 minutes
Rating: G
Creature From The Black Lagoon is directed by Jack Arnold with a screenplay written by Harry Essex and Arthur Ross. It stars Richard Carlson, Julie Adams, Richard Denning, Antonio Moreno, Nestor Paiva, and Whit Bissell. The plot follows a paleological exhibition into the Amazon jungle, only for the scientists to be hunted by a mysterious amphibious humanoid that has taken a liking to the sole woman on the exhibition.
One of the last entries of Universal‘s classic horror films, Creature From The Black Lagoon is another great example of 1950s B horror movies. The Gill-Man himself is one of the most iconic movie monsters ever created and that is thanks to the incredible artist that is Milicent Patrick. What else can we say that hasn’t been said about this flick, go watch it!
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War of the Gargantuas (1966)
Runtime: 1 hour, 32 minutes
Rating: PG
Another kaiju classic, War of the Gargantuas is directed by Ishiro Honda with special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. The cast includes Russ Tamblyn, Kumi Mizuno and Kenji Sahara, with Yû Sekida as Sanda and Haruo Nakajima as Gaira. The plot follows the conflict between two giant Bigfoot-esque giants with the green Gaira wanting to consume humans and the brown Sanda wanting to be at peace with humans.
A classic example of Toho’s Showa era (1954-1975) kaiju cinema, War of the Gargantuas is one of the best non-Godzilla examples of the genre. A semi-sequel to Frankenstein Conquers the World, War of the Gargantuas holds itself on its own very well and features some of Eiji Tsuburaya‘s best special effects work. The last entry on this showcase of B horror movies, there is no better movie to end it off than this giant monster classic!
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What Are Your Favorite B Horror Movies?
We hope you enjoyed the list of our favorite B horror movies! Did we miss any of your favorites? Let us know on social media!
