Weekly Poll: Best Horror Franchise of All Time

Posted by on September 25th, 2008   Filed under: Horror, Polls

I’ve been meaning to bring back a weekly poll question on the site for a while now, but I just never got around to it for some reason. It can be tough coming up with topics every week, and last time we had the added difficulty of coming up with our own related Top 5 lists on the podcast as well. This time I think we’ll keep it confined mainly to the blog, although we may bring it up on the podcast as well if we think it makes for a good discussion.

So to kick things off we’re starting with a big one in anticipation of Halloween next month: best horror movie franchise. This is a tricky one because the franchises with the most longevity are usually also the ones that go downhill in quality over time. Cast your vote and feel free to mention any glaring omissions in the comments below! The results will be posted next week.

Online Surveys & Market Research



  • Bob the Slob

    wow…my vote just totally tilted the scale a bit there…

  • As far as a solid series goes, I wane between Romero’s Dead movies and the Evil Dead movies. But as far as number one horror movie, it would have to be Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Unfortunately the rest of that series is, to be kind, pretty spotty.

  • Matt

    Where the Troll franchise at?

  • “I wane between Romero’s Dead movies and the Evil Dead movies.”

    Yeah, those were the only two I was choosing between. Evil Dead 2 is probably in my top ten favorite films of all time but the first one is boring and the third one is on a different comedy level than all of them (it almost lacks horror in comparison).

    However, Romero’s Dead movies have a fairly consistent level of quality throughout and they are responsible for zombie cinema as we know it so I couldn’t deny them the crown.

    Ha, I like how the Film Junkies voted (except for the Saw voters; I’d pick any other franchise up there before that one).

  • I’m not a big Saw fan either but the one thing I’d say about the series is that it seems somewhat consistent from part 1 through to part 4. So assuming you liked the first one, there’s no major drop off in quality in the sequels which is pretty rare. (Of course, I’m saying this without actually having seen 2, 3 or 4.)

  • Aaron

    Why is poltergeist not on this list?

  • Itchy-Finger

    One thing that I do like about the Saw series is how each film has wrapped in with the others, I especially liked how the third ones ending fell into place with the ending of the second one, one of the great mind games going on is the playing with time and how all these stories are inter winding together. All in all the films have each time not been as good as the one before it, but I am enjoying the series and looking forward to the 4th installment.

  • Itchy-Finger

    @Aaron
    Did you see Poltergeist 2 or 3? I am a big fan of the first Poltergeist but I could have really done without the 2nd or 3rd. Especially the 3rd when the cute little girl has grown into a chubby non cute child.
    No offense to chubby child’s out there.

  • Aaron

    @ Itchy-Finger
    Yes, I’ve seen all three of the Poltergeist films. I would agree that the first was the best. Personally I didn’t think the third one was that bad. It’s been a few years since I watched that film so I can’t say I recall a chubby non cute child. Regardless, I’d put this franchise above Final Destination any day.

  • Xu Yunliang

    Honestly the Romero dead series is the best, but I choosed EVIL DEAD following my heart

  • Kieron

    I have always enjoyed George Romero’s dead series & feel that the series has maintained a quality through out which is rare for sequels in any genre, especially the horror genre.

  • Friday the 13th all the way baby! The first four movies are awesome. Also part 6,8 and 10 are fun.

  • Romero FTW. No doubt about it. Even though I wasn’t a big fan of Diary.

    His new zombie flick goes to camera on Sunday in Toronto. We spoke to their international sales distributor yesterday. He said that internally they’re calling the film “Something of the Dead”. LOL

  • I don’t think there is a best, because all of them are in good in their own way. However, as much as I like “Jason” as maniacal killer (except Part 1 and 4), Ash brings it to the table in Evil Dead as the hero.

    Ash vs. Jason?

  • Paul Andrews

    Not on the list, but I’d have to go for the Hammer films, which really covers the Frankenstein, Dracula and Wolfman series. I suppose you could include the Mummy films in there too but they were never favourites of mine. Peter Cushing, Bela Lugose, Lon Chaney Jnr; all good stuff.

  • Hands down, Evil Dead, as it is a franchise that knew when to stop (after three) and all three are brilliant.

    Halloween would probably be second, even if most of the sequels are worthless.

  • saw 100% over the others