The 26 Most Iconic Horror Movie Themes

Two notes can empty a beach and a whispered syllable can clear a campsite. Synth pulses, Latin choirs and nursery rhymes all made this cut, and each one still raises the hair on your arms.

1. 1
   Halloween

   John Carpenter's piano-and-synth theme in 5/4 time from his 1978 slasher, built on a relentless repeating figure.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Jaws

   John Williams' two-note ostinato from 1975 that turned an unseen shark into the most famous threat in film music.
   991pts
3. 3
   Phantasm

   Fred Myrow and Malcolm Seagrave's 1979 synth-and-organ theme, a cult favourite that echoes Tubular Bells.
   693pts
4. 4
   The Thing

   Ennio Morricone's minimalist, heartbeat-like 1982 synth theme for John Carpenter's Antarctic shocker.
   617pts
5. 5
   Beetlejuice

   Danny Elfman's manic 1988 carnival-style theme for Tim Burton's horror comedy.
   573pts
6. 6
   Suspiria

   Goblin's 1977 prog-rock theme for Dario Argento, mixing celesta, bouzouki and whispered vocals.
   573pts
7. 7
   Us

   Michael Abels' 2019 score, whose horror-choir 'Anthem' and twisted 'I Got 5 on It' remix went viral.
   524pts
8. 8
   Candyman

   Philip Glass's 1992 organ-and-choir score that gives the slasher a haunting, almost sacred grandeur.
   524pts
9. 9
   The Amityville Horror

   Lalo Schifrin's Oscar-nominated 1979 score, built around a creepy children's-choir lullaby.
   469pts
10. 10
    It Follows

    Disasterpeace's pulsing 2014 synth score that nods to Carpenter while sounding fully modern.
    469pts
11. 11
    Deep Red

    Goblin's breakout 1975 prog-rock theme for Dario Argento's giallo Profondo Rosso.
    407pts
12. 12
    The Omen

    Jerry Goldsmith's Oscar-winning 1976 score, led by the Latin chant 'Ave Satani'.
    335pts
13. 13
    Poltergeist

    Jerry Goldsmith's 1982 score, best known for the innocent lullaby 'Carol Anne's Theme'.
    335pts
14. 14
    Friday the 13th

    Harry Manfredini's 1980 score, famous for the whispered 'ki ki ki, ma ma ma' motif that signals the killer.
    335pts
15. 15
    The Exorcist

    The 1973 film made the opening of Mike Oldfield's 'Tubular Bells' a byword for dread.
    335pts
16. 16
    Psycho

    Bernard Herrmann's all-strings 1960 score, whose screeching violins in the shower scene became horror shorthand.
    335pts
17. 17
    Saw

    Charlie Clouser's 'Hello Zepp', the pounding 2004 cue that plays over every twist ending in the franchise.
    335pts
18. 18
    A Nightmare on Elm Street

    Charles Bernstein's 1984 synth theme, paired with the children's 'One, two, Freddy's coming for you' rhyme.
    335pts
19. 19
    The Shining

    Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind's droning electronic take on 'Dies irae' over Kubrick's 1980 opening drive.
    335pts
20. 20
    Rosemary's Baby

    Krzysztof Komeda's 1968 lullaby, hummed by Mia Farrow, that sounds sweet and sinister at once.
    253pts
21. 21
    Carrie

    Pino Donaggio's 1976 score for Brian De Palma, swinging from dreamy romance to shrieking Psycho-style strings.
    253pts
22. 22
    Get Out

    Michael Abels' 2017 Swahili-chant cue 'Sikiliza Kwa Wahenga', which warns the hero to run.
    253pts
23. 23
    The Fog

    John Carpenter's eerie 1980 synth score for his ghost-ship tale set in a Californian fishing town.
    253pts
24. 24
    Dawn of the Dead

    Goblin's driving 1978 score for George A. Romero's shopping-mall zombie classic.
    156pts
25. 25
    Hellraiser

    Christopher Young's lush 1987 orchestral score that treats Clive Barker's Cenobites like gothic royalty.
    156pts
26. 26
    Creepshow

    John Harrison's playful, creepy 1982 piano theme for the Romero and Stephen King anthology.
    0pts

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