The 2020s have been great for horror classics for a reason.

There is a wide variety of slasher movies, ranging from hilarious and thrilling dark comedies to movies with smart social commentary. The best slashers stand out above the rest of the competition for different reasons, including but not limited to having a formidable slasher villain, realistic and compelling heroes, and of course, electrifying and unforgettable death scenes.

10 Heart Eyes (2025)

Directed By Josh Ruben

Heart Eyes is a unique romantic comedy slasher movie that follows Ally McCabe (Olivia Holt) and Jay Simmons' (Mason Gooding) budding relationship as they're targeted by a serial killer who brutally murders couples on Valentine's Day.

The Heart Eyes' cast, in particular, Holt and Gooding, perfectly contrast the titular serial killer Heart Eyes' violent murder spree with their romantic chemistry and comedic chops. Heart Eyes' glowing red heart-shaped eyes and disturbing mask are delightfully creepy, and the serial killer's willingness to commit gruesome murders makes it an incredible horror comedy film.

While Heart Eyes leans more heavily into the romantic comedy genre, the serial killer is still a formidable villain who relentlessly stalks and hunts down couples. Heart Eyes' blend of comedy and horror makes it an entertaining and unique slasher movie, despite the impact of the horror scenes being lightened by the comedic tone.

9 Totally Killer (2023)

Directed By Nahnatchka Khan

Totally Killer is a comedy slasher horror following Jamie Hughes (Kiernan Shipka) as she travels back in time after her mother Pam (Julie Bowens) is murdered by the Sweet 16 Killer, who resurfaced after more than 35 years. The Sweet 16 Killer terrorizes the small town and kills three of Pam's friends before disappearing, and Jamie struggles to fight off the murderer and protect Pam and her friends from the deadly Sweet 16 Killer while in the past.

Totally Killer manages to tug at the heartstrings with a strong opening scene, as Pam valiantly fights back against the killer before being overpowered. Jamie's grief and rage over her mother's untimely and violent death are compelling, and Totally Killer's ending has a thrilling plot twist. Totally Killer expertly blends comedic scenes with a tense and suspense-filled mystery regarding the Sweet 16 Killer, making it one of the best slasher films of the 2020s.

8 Thanksgiving (2023)

Directed By Eli Roth

Thanksgiving is a blood and gore-filled slasher movie following a relentless killer hunting down a group of teenagers who inadvertently sparked a deadly Black Friday stampede that resulted in the death of three people. The slasher is a violent and bloody thriller that's a healthy mix between grisly and fun. The killer's brutal murders, including the shockingly gruesome death of Kathleen (Karen Cliche), the stepmother of the lead character Jessica (Nell Verlaque), who is cooked alive and served to the horrified hostages.

Despite Thanksgiving being filled with gore and horrifying deaths, the most terrifying and bloodcurdling deaths are experienced by minor characters and most of the major characters survive till the end of the film. Thanksgiving's killer is a terrifying villain, even though they might not be the most effective killer we've seen in a movie like that. That said, Thanksgiving would have ranked higher if the movie wasn't scared to kill off its main characters.

7 Fear Street Part One: 1994 (2021)

Directed By Leigh Janiak

Fear Street Part One: 1994 is the first installment of the Fear Street trilogy, based on the book series of the same name written by R. L. Stine. The supernatural slasher film is set in a notoriously dangerous town, Shadyside, and follows a group of teenage friends who attempt to remove the ancient curse plaguing their town and turning their citizens into murderers.

Fear Street 1994 won over audiences with its LGBTQ+ representation, compelling supernatural and slasher plot, and lovable main characters. Fear Street Part One: 1994 flawlessly linked the brutal murders haunting the town of Shadyside with its dark history and social commentary.

The smart lead characters were able to fight back against the killers, resulting in exciting and tense chase sequences filled with action and violence. Fear Street Part One: 1994's well-planned and well-written plot along with the incredible opening kill scene cemented the movie as one of the best slashers of the early 2020s.

6 Scream (2022)

Directed By Tyler Gillett & Matt Bettinelli-Olpin

The Scream reboot successfully revived the Scream franchise and also helped reignite the popularity of slasher horrors. Set 25 years after the events of the original film, the reboot introduced Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera), the daughter of Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich), who returns to Woodsboro after her sister Tara (Jenna Ortega) is injured in a Ghostface attack. The fresh, talented cast led by Barrera and Ortega are ed by Neve Campell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette, who reprise their roles from the original films.

Scream is a great lesson in how to bring an iconic IP back with interesting new faces that have strong, meaningful connections to the original characters in a way that feels natural with a lot of major franchises failed to do. With an iconic killer hunting the teens down, and its willingness to kill off beloved characters, Scream has cemented itself as a worthy successor to the original films and as a great slasher film on its own.

5 Terrifier 2 (2022)

Directed By Damien Leone

Creepy murderous clowns have gained popularity in horror over recent years, with movies like It and Terrifier reinforcing the trope of the monster clown. The aptly named Terrifier franchise features the antagonist Art the Clown as a demon clown that ruthlessly and brutally murders people indiscriminately.

Art the Clown is already an iconic slasher villain who can strike fear into all of our souls, even if you are not scared of clowns.

Terrifier 2 is about Art the Clown after he's resurrected and tries to come for Sienna Shaw (Lauren LaVera), the teenager who is destined to defeat him. Art the Clown is already an iconic slasher villain who can strike fear into all of our souls, even if you are not scared of clowns.

While Art the Clown can be killed, his resurrection in Terrifier 2 proves that he is still an unstoppable villain who won't let death stop his gruesome murder sprees and mayhem. The sequel is arguably better than the first movie and embraces the tropes of slashers. That said, the second film is not afraid to push the boundaries of horror, with Terrifier 2's notorious bedroom scene being unforgettable and brutal.

4 Abigail (2024)

Directed By Tyler Gillett & Matt Bettinelli-Olpin

Abigail is a vampire horror film starring Alisha Weir as the titular character Abigail, who, despite looking like a 12-year-old, is an ancient vampire. The seemingly harmless Abigail is abducted by six criminals and held for ransom. However, things take a turn after Abigail reveals that she is a powerful vampire and begins taking down the kidnappers one by one. Abigail is a refreshing take on the classic vampire movies, filled with fun plot twists and blood-soaked gore.

Abigail's unique and surprisingly sweet dynamic with the former Army medic Joey (Melissa Barrera) is the highlight of the vampire slasher. The unlikely bond between Abigail and Joey is built throughout the movie and provides compelling character motivations for both characters. Abigail is an incredibly gripping and entertaining horror movie and its intriguing premise, strong acting from both leads, and clever ending cements it as one of the best slashers and vampire horror movies of recent years.

3 Candyman (2021)

Directed By Nia DaCosta

Nia DaCosta's Candyman works as a spiritual sequel and reboot of the 1992 film of the same name, which starred the late Tony Todd. Similar to the original movie, Candyman is a thrilling horror film, and it also serves as a social commentary on important societal issues. In Candyman, the countless bone-chilling murders aren't the most horrifying aspects of the horror film, the true horror is the racism and bigotry that led to the death of Daniel Robitaille and the birth of the Candyman.

Candyman's tragic backstory and death make him a compelling vengeful antagonist, and the reveal that the Candyman hive consists of innocent Black men who were murdered in racially charged crimes is a horrifying premise that is tragically rooted in reality. Candyman's end credits, the montage of the Candyman hive, perfectly encapsulates the theme of the film and is a chilling reminder of the horrors of reality.

2 X (2022)

Directed By Ti West

X might have been the beginning of a franchise, but it's still the best entry in the saga. X stars Mia Goth in a dual role as the protagonist Maxine Minx and the antagonist Pearl Douglas, with the film following the cast and crew of a pornographic movie as they arrive at a remote farmhouse owned by an elderly couple.

However, the characters find themselves in a fight to survive when the farmhouse owners Pearl and Howard (Stephen Ure) begin killing them one by one, a simple yet perfect premise for a slasher that also includes a few surprises. Goth's critically acclaimed performance cemented her status as a horror icon, which she would continue to prove in the rest of the franchise.

Pearl and Howard's violent massacre of the cast and crew is suspenseful slasher perfection. Like the best slasher films, X utilizes the horror genre to explore themes such as youth, aging, and beauty through the film's characters. X balances the film's themes and strong characterizations with brutal murders and intense scenes.

1 The Invisible Man (2020)

Directed By Leigh Whannell

The Invisible Man is a thrilling subversion of the classic horror genre and is loosely based on H. G. Well's novel of the same name. It also works as a reboot of the 1933 Invisible Man film. This version follows Cee Kass (Elizabeth Moss) as she is stalked and harassed by her ex-boyfriend Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), a wealthy scientist who creates a bodysuit that allows him to become invisible.

The Invisible Man was a reminder that the best way to approach the Universal monsters was with standalone horror films, not a cinematic universe. While Griffin was always an antagonist with little to no regard for human lives in the original novel, Griffin in The Invisible Man movie is a different type of monster. Griffin is an abusive partner who gleefully gaslights Cee and tries to ruin her life.

Similar to Candyman, in The Invisible Man, the real horror is Griffin's gaslighting and abusive behavior and the fact that Cee's concerns are ignored. Despite the lack of murders, The Invisible Man expertly builds a sense of dread and suspense throughout the thought-provoking horror film, making it the best slasher of the 2020s so far.