Study reveals the 10 scariest horror movies in history with real physiological data

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fear is a traveling companion we all have to deal with. Some do it when they are left in the dark. Others, when they have to face an operation or a meeting with human resources. There are those who feel it at their side when speaking in public. AND Hollywood is determined to visit us every time we see a clown. The fact is that now, thanks to the Science of Scare study, we know what are the best movies and series to invoke this old friend.

The Science of Scare study is an experiment that has been conducted every year since 2020 to determine, with real physiological datawhich is the scariest movie ever created. The project uses a panel 250 volunteers equipped with heart monitors that record your heart rate and how it varies during the screening of different horror movies. The goal? Scientifically measure the impact of fear on the human body. From there comes the Science of Scare Score, a metric that combines the increase in heart rate (indicator of shocks and adrenaline) with the decrease in cardiac variability (a symptom of sustained stress and tension).

‘Sinister’ is still the queen of terror

Con a 34% increase in heart rate average (from 64 to 86 beats per minute) and peaks of up to 131, ‘Sinister’ rises with a Scare Score of 96 out of 100, surpassing ‘Host’ by one point, the terrifying proposal based on video calls that led the ranking in 2021. The film starring Ethan Hawke achieves a perfect balance between shocks and psychological terror, which makes it an experience of the most distressing even for those already seasoned in the genre.

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‘Smile 2’ and ‘Bring Her Back’: two new titans of terror

Among the developments in recent years, the inclusion in the list of ‘Smile 2’, the sequel to the success of the 2022 film of the same name, stands out. It slips directly into position number 7 in the ranking, even surpassing its predecessor. Its director, Parker Finn, joins James Wan as one of the few filmmakers with two films in the top 10.

Also on the list is ‘Devuélvemela’, the bleak new film by the Philippou brothers. It is ranked 24th and has been described by several participants as “the most disturbing movie you have ever seen”.

‘Skinamarink’, ‘Insidious’ and ‘Hereditary’: classic horror that never goes out of style

Third place on the list is occupied by ‘Skinamarink’, an experimental proposal that, despite its diffuse narrative, generates the highest level of stress among viewers and has a 22% drop in heart variability. It is followed by modern classics such as ‘Insidious’, ‘The Warren File’, ‘Hereditary’ or ‘The Exorcism of Emily Rose’, which continue to demonstrate their ability to chill the blood.

Curiosities of the 2025 ranking

  • Patrick Wilson appears in seven top 50 filmsthanks to his participation in the sagas ‘Insidious’ and ‘The Warren File’.
  • Sosie Bacon (‘Smile’) and Kevin Bacon (‘Friday the 13th’) become the first father-daughter duo to appear on the list.
  • The ranking only includes movies in englishcurated from review lists, forums like r/horror, and expert recommendations.

The 10 scariest movies in history

  1. ‘Sinister’
  2. ‘Host’
  3. ‘Skinamirink’
  4. ‘Insidious’
  5. ‘Warren File’
  6. ‘Hereditary’
  7. ‘Smile 2′
  8. ‘Smile’
  9. ‘The Exorcism of Emily Rose’
  10. ‘Devuélvemela’

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