1922 4th March
Nosferatu
Directs Nosferatu, one of the central works of German silent horror.
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Horror Cinema History
Horror films, performers and recurring screen monsters. This page combines historical context with 18 matching records drawn directly from the World History Database cinema archive.
Historical context
Horror Cinema History: overview and significance
What happened?
The horror records include performers and films associated with Gothic, supernatural and monster cinema, particularly within British and American production.
Why was it important?
Horror has repeatedly renewed itself around new technologies, audiences and social anxieties while sustaining long-running screen traditions and iconic performers.
World History Database records
Horror Cinema History timeline
The records below are selected from the 2,036-record Cinema History archive and rendered as static HTML in chronological order.
1922
1954
1954
Godzilla
Ishiro Honda releases the anti-nuclear horror film Gojira, which was translated in the West as Godzilla
1954
Gojira
Ishiro Honda releases the anti-nuclear horror film Gojira, which was translated in the West as Godzilla
1957
1957
The Curse of Frankenstein
First film for Hammer inThe Curse of Frankenstein, plays Frankensteins monster. Appears in The Curse of Frankenstein
1958
1958
A Tale of Two Cities
Stars as Dracula in the film Dracula. Appears in A Tale of Two Cities
1963
1963
Dementia 13
Directs Dementia 13, an early independent horror feature made before his major studio successes.
1965
1965
Dracula: Prince of Darkness
Stars as Dracula in Hammers Dracula: Prince of Darkness
1970
1970
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes
Stars in The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes. Stars in Taste the Blood of Dracula
1974
1974
Young Frankenstein
Stars in "Young Frankenstein"
1978
1978
Saturn Award
The Wickerman wins the 1978 Saturn Award for Best Horror Film
1979
1979
Alien
Directs Alien, combining science fiction and horror in a film that becomes a major genre landmark.
1980
1980
The Shining
Directs The Shining, adapting Stephen King's novel into a psychological horror film.
1987
1987
Near Dark
Directs Near Dark, blending vampire horror with the visual language of the western.
1992
1992
Bram Stoker's Dracula
Stars as Count Dracula in Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation Bram Stoker's Dracula.
2017
2017
Get Out
Makes his feature directing debut with Get Out, blending horror with social satire.
2019
2019
Us
Writes and directs Us, a horror film about a family confronted by violent doubles.
2022
2022
Nope
Stars as ranch owner OJ Haywood in Jordan Peele's science-fiction horror film Nope.
2022
Nope
Writes and directs Nope, a science-fiction horror film centred on mysterious events above a California ranch.
Editorial provenance
Sources and editorial review
Compiled and edited by World History Database.
Historical context is editorial material; the chronology is generated from World History Database cinema records.
Last reviewed: September 2026.
British Film Institute · Library of Congress · Academy Awards
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