Horror has no dedicated Oscar category. Films that qualify as horror—or sit near its borders—compete in the Academy’s general categories, from Best Picture and acting to makeup, sound, costume, and production design. The history below is a curated set of landmark horror and horror-adjacent feature films, not an exhaustive year-by-year inventory: the Academy’s official database records award results but does not classify films by genre.
How to read horror’s Oscar history
The Academy Awards Database is the authoritative record for nominees and winners, and its data is complete through the 98th Academy Awards, presented March 15, 2026. It records awards, not a definitive horror canon. This account includes widely understood horror films and labels crossover cases—such as psychological thrillers, monster films, and dark fantasy—where the boundary is open to interpretation. Explore the Academy Awards Database.
![Hammer Films - Ultimate Collection [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51FbWlarGkL._SL160_.jpg)
That distinction matters: a film’s presence in this history does not mean the Academy designated it horror. The selected milestones instead show the kinds of recognition horror-related films have received, from top-category nominations to awards for the craft that creates their worlds and transformations.
Landmark horror and horror-adjacent Oscar cases
The Exorcist (1973): horror reaches Best Picture
At the 46th Academy Awards in 1974, The Exorcist became an early landmark for horror in the Academy’s top category: it was nominated for Best Picture, with William Peter Blatty named as producer. See the 1974 ceremony record.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →#1 Best Overall
![Chucky 7-Movie Collection [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51RRgaZLBpL._SL160_.jpg)
- Media Format: Blu-ray
- Studio: Universal Studios
- Country of Origin: USA
- Number of discs: 1
Jaws (1975): the monster-thriller boundary
Jaws is best treated here as horror-adjacent: its threat and suspense invite comparison with monster horror, even as it is commonly discussed as a thriller. The Academy’s record includes the film, but genre classification remains an editorial choice rather than an Oscar designation. See the 1976 ceremony record.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991): a rare sweep across major categories
At the 64th Academy Awards in 1992, The Silence of the Lambs received seven nominations and won five: Best Picture, actor for Anthony Hopkins, actress for Jodie Foster, directing for Jonathan Demme, and adapted screenplay for Ted Tally. Its position between psychological thriller and horror is worth stating rather than treating as settled; whatever label a viewer prefers, its reach across the Academy’s most prominent categories makes it an exceptional crossover case. See the 1992 ceremony record.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992): concentrated craft recognition
At the 65th Academy Awards in 1993, Francis Ford Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula earned four nominations and three wins: costume design, makeup, and sound effects editing. It was also nominated for art direction. The result illustrates a recurring route for horror into Oscar recognition: the Academy honors the visual and sound work that makes a film’s imagined world tangible. See the 1993 ceremony record.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994): a makeup nomination
Kenneth Branagh’s Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein received one nomination, for makeup, at the 67th Academy Awards in 1995. Its recognition was narrower than that of Dracula, but it likewise centered on screen transformation. See the 1995 ceremony record.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesRank #3
Get Out (2017): horror in the Best Picture race
Jordan Peele’s Get Out was nominated for Best Picture at the 90th Academy Awards in 2018. The Academy announcement identifies the film’s producers and production companies, not a genre label; its inclusion here reflects its widely recognized horror identity, not an official Academy classification. See the 2018 nominees and winners.
The Substance and Nosferatu (2024): contemporary craft and Best Picture recognition
At the 97th Academy Awards in 2025, The Substance won makeup and hairstyling and was nominated for Best Picture. Nosferatu was nominated for makeup and hairstyling. Together, the films show two kinds of recognition in the same ceremony: a horror film reaching Best Picture and genre filmmaking receiving attention for its physical design. See the 2025 ceremony record.
Rank #4
![Riddick: The Complete Collection [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ITY6eDlLL._SL160_.jpg)
- Shrink-wrapped
Sinners and Frankenstein (2025): the 2026 ceremony
The 98th Academy Awards, presented in 2026, included both Sinners and Frankenstein among its Best Picture nominees, with recognition extending into acting and craft categories. Sinners won lead actor for Michael B. Jordan and original score for Ludwig Göransson; Frankenstein won makeup and hairstyling. The ceremony record also lists nominations in categories including sound and production design. See the 2026 ceremony record.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the awards show—and what they cannot establish
These cases reveal a varied, selective pattern, not a single Academy policy toward horror. Some films broke into Best Picture and major performance or writing categories; others were recognized chiefly for makeup, sound, costume, or design. The awards can show where particular films found recognition, but they cannot by themselves establish how many horror films have been nominated or whether the Academy has systematically favored one kind of horror over another.
Best Value
A definitive total or complete year-by-year list would require a consistent genre definition and a ceremony-by-ceremony review. Because the Academy database does not supply a horror genre index, any count depends on which disputed thrillers, science-fiction horror films, monster movies, and dark fantasies are included.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
