Explore the genre
The slasher boom is one of the defining stories of 1980s horror. Masked killers, final girls, summer camps, suburban streets and increasingly inventive set pieces became fixtures of the decade.
Major franchises produced sequel after sequel while independent filmmakers created their own variations, leaving the 80s with an enormous catalogue of slashers to rediscover.
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40 movies so far
1980
Friday the 13th: mortality and friendship, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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1980
Inferno: mortality and mortality and lifespan, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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1980
Maniac: mortality and family, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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1980
New Year's Evil: family and parents protecting their children, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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1980
Prom Night: mortality and lifespan and loss, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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1980
Terror Train: mortality, and why this 1980 movie still matters.
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1980
A radio voice, a lighthouse and a sea of revenge — Stevie Wayne stands between Antonio Bay and the fog.
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1981
Friday the 13th Part 2: mortality and loss, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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1981
Laurie Strode, a hospital corridor and a revelation that rewrites everything — Halloween II doubles down and gets messy in the best 80s way.
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1981
Happy Birthday to Me: family and the safety of home, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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1981
My Bloody Valentine: courage and parents protecting their children, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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1981
The Burning: fear and freedom, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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1981
The Funhouse: fear and greed, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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1981
The House by the Cemetery: the safety of home and loss, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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1981
The Prowler: the safety of home and mortality, and why this 1981 movie still matters.
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1982
Tenebrae: the safety of home and mortality, and why this 1982 movie still matters.
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1983
Sleepaway Camp: family and parents protecting their children, and why this 1983 movie still matters.
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1984
A Nightmare on Elm Street: family and the safety of home, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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1984
A film about watching — and about what watching does to the watcher.
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1984
C.H.U.D.: fear and authority, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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1984
Children of the Corn: parents protecting their children and family, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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1984
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter: family and the safety of home, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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1984
Silent Night, Deadly Night: family and the safety of home, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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1984
Tightrope: family and the safety of home, and why this 1984 movie still matters.
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1985
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge: the safety of home and family, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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1985
Friday the 13th: A New Beginning: family and loss, and why this 1985 movie still matters.
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1986
April Fool's Day: friendship and mortality, and why this 1986 movie still matters.
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1986
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives: parents protecting their children and family, and why this 1986 movie still matters.
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1986
A lift you regret for the rest of your life.
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1986
A chainsaw, a grieving ex‑ranger and a very loud 1986 satire — bloody ridiculous and oddly stubborn.
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1987
Nancy comes back to teach a new generation to fight Freddy — and she brings a team.
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1987
Creepshow 2: freedom and family, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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1987
The Stepfather: family and mortality, and why this 1987 movie still matters.
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1988
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master: parents protecting their children and friendship, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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1988
Child's Play: family and freedom, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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1988
Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood: the safety of home and fear, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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1988
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers: the safety of home and freedom, and why this 1988 movie still matters.
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1989
A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child: family and parents protecting their children, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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1989
Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan: freedom and loss, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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1989
Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers: authority and parents protecting their children, and why this 1989 movie still matters.
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