The horror genre is where many directors get their start, but few filmmakers stick to making horror movies after their breakout successes. However, these 10 horror directors have helped to define the genre in the modern era, telling new stories, providing new scares, and leaving an impact that future horror filmmakers will draw from.

Some of the most well-known directors of all time are known for their work in the horror genre. The 1950s and 1960s saw the rise of filmmakers like Alfred Hitchcock and George Romero, while John Carpenter, Wes Craven, William Friedkin, and Tobe Hooper dominated the 1970s and 1980s.

The 1990s and 2000s featured horror directors like Karyn Kusama and Mary Harron, but the 2010s saw the rise of a new league of horror filmmakers. These directors have worked together to redefine the genre, leading to a modern horror renaissance. It puts them in a position to define the genre for decades to come.

Tlyer Gillett & Matt Bettinelli-Olpin

Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin are the directing duo, known as Radio Silence, behind hits like Ready or Not, 2022’s Scream, and Scream VI. They are known for their work in horror comedy, mixing scares and gore with laughs and some great gags. This has allowed them to stand out from the other filmmakers on this list, earning them a mᴀssive fandom.

This duo follows in the footsteps of Sam Raimi and Wes Craven, the latter of which is directly true by their work on the Scream franchise. Radio Silence’s horror movies have created franchises while also redefining classics for a new generation, allowing them to have a mᴀssive impact on the modern horror cinema scene.

Mike Flanagan

Although his critically acclaimed The Life of Chuck is a drama film, Flanagan is behind horror hits like Doctor Sleep and Hush. His adaptations of Stephen King’s work have reignited the King craze that swept cinema and TV in the 1980s and 1990s, with some of his films being considered to be the best adaptations of the author’s work.

Although this list is about movie directors, it is impossible to deny Flanagan’s television work. Flanagan is behind Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mᴀss, and The Midnight Club, all of which are critically acclaimed. On TV, he has reignited the haunted house subgenre, complementing his mᴀssive impact on the feature film world.

Ti West

Director Ti West is behind The House of the Devil as well as the X trilogy, which consists of 2022’s X and Pearl and 2024’s MaXXXine. This trilogy is West’s biggest contribution to the genre, with each film acting as an homage to a different era of horror. Maxine Minx and Pearl are two of the most iconic horror figures of the 2020s, and that is all thanks to West’s storytelling.

West has shown there are still new ideas to explore in the slasher genre, which was oversaturated in the 1990s and early 2000s. With the X trilogy showing the director’s flexibility in the genre, there’s an exciting future ahead as he continues to bring his unique sensibilities and hopefully more Mia Goth collaborations to the genre.

Danny & Michael Philippou

Danny and Michael Philippou are a duo of Australian filmmakers who got their start on YouTube before leaping to the world of features with Talk to Me. The 2022 ghost movie was one of the best-reviewed horror films of the year, leading to them returning to the genre in 2025 with Bring Her Back, which has garnered similar acclaim.

The Philippou brothers have become iconic for their shocking moments of violence, with both of their films containing incredibly intense and gory scenes. Teenagers and young adults are often the focus of horror films, and the Philippous are known for writing them incredibly well. This alone makes their films stand out, raising the bar for the entire genre.

Osgood Perkins

Osgood Perkins is the son of Psycho‘s Anthony Perkins, so horror is in his DNA, and this is something that can be seen in his filmography. Perkins previously directed movies like The Blackcoat’s Daughter and Gretel & Hansel, but he really became known to the public with the release of 2024’s Longlegs. Since then, Perkins adapted Stephen King’s The Monkey in 2025.

The Monkey isn’t Perkins’ only 2025 film, as Keeper is slated to release on November 14, 2025. Perkins has become known for his quick turnaround times, as he has made three horror movies in just over a year. His ability to explore all kinds of different tones has gotten him compared to a genre-defining director: John Carpenter.

Zach Cregger

Zach Cregger is a comedian and horror filmmaker who directed 2022’s Barbarian and 2025’s Weapons, both of which became instant horror classics upon their releases. The films are known for their tone switches, going from horror to comedy on a dime. This is reflected in their writing and filmmaking, making them incredibly unique films to experience.

Both of Cregger’s horror movies so far have been original stories, creating a mᴀssive impact on horror. However, with talks of Weapons spinoffs and plans to help a Resident Evil reboot, Cregger could end up being responsible for a few major horror franchises that elevate the genre in a different way.

Coralie Fargeat

Coralie Fargeat is a French filmmaker who made her feature debut with the 2017 thriller Revenge, with her returning to the genre for 2024’s The Substance. The latter is one of the most critically acclaimed movies of the decade, with it being nominated for multiple Oscars, including a Best Director nomination for Fargeat.

Fargeat is the most influential female horror director to have come about in recent years, with her using the genre to tell stories from the perspective of women. For a genre that so often treats women as expendable, Fargeat’s films are a breath of fresh air. The Substance established Fargeat as a master of the genre, and many can’t wait to see what she releases next.

Robert Eggers

Robert Eggers is another one of the most popular horror directors of the modern era, as is proven by the popularity of his 2024 Nosferatu remake. Eggers previously made 2015’s The Witch and 2019’s The Lighthouse, as well as 2022’s non-horror film The Northman. All of his movies have been critically acclaimed, but his later movies will be what really cement his legacy.

Nosferatu is one of the staples of the horror genre, so the fact that Eggers directed the 2024 version is a big deal. Eggers’ next movie is Werwulf, a retelling of the werewolf story. Eggers is tackling some of the most iconic movie monsters in cinema history, and his contribution to reviving their popularity could have a lasting impact.

Ari Aster

Ari Aster has returned to theaters with the release of 2025’s Eddington, and while the black comedy is great, Aster is still mostly known as a horror director. Aster released Hereditary in 2018 and Midsommar in 2019, providing the world with two of the most iconic horror movies of the 2010s in back-to-back years. Then, he followed that up with 2023’s Beau is Afraid, an odd movie with horror elements.

Even if Aster never returns to horror, he has already defined the genre thanks to Hereditary and Midsommar. The latter of these is so popular that it essentially started its own subgenre, populated by films like The Menu and Opus, while the former is often called the modern version of The Exorcist. These movies will be called classics years down the road, and Aster’s name will be brought up alongside horror тιтans.

Jordan Peele

Of all the modern horror directors, Jordan Peele is easily the most influential. Peele is currently three for three with his horror features, with Get Out, Us, and Nope all being considered some of the best horror movies of all time. Peele’s movies have been nominated for Oscars and have become box office hits, with his name alone being used to advertise movies within the genre.

Jordan Peele’s switch from comedy to horror is notable, as is his ability to tell horror stories from a uniquely Black perspective. Any word about Peele’s works is instantly met with excitement, making him the biggest director in horror of the modern era. Whatever he makes is a must-see at this point.