The 25 Best Horror Movie Posters Of the '80s

Image via Complex Original

The '80s were responsible for some of the most iconic and frightening horror flicks in film history. We had to sleep with a nightlight after watching movies like Hellraiser, Friday The 13th and Pet Sematary. Today's horror flicks are all about CGI and special effects, but back when we were growing up, it was corn syrup and titties − Those were the days. The promotional art also turned out some of the best movie posters of the decade. These prints are quite collectible and an original can be worth some serious guap. Since Halloween is approaching, we decided to showcase a collection of our favorites.

Grab some popcorn and a flashlight because were counting down 25 Classic Horror Movie Posters From The '80s.

RELATED: 80 Fashion Trends From the 80's You Can Still Appreciate

Critters

Film: Critters
Year: 1986

Part "Where the Wild Things Are" and part classic sci-fi poster, this art signifies the titular creatures as dangerously cuddly.

Firestarter

Film: Firestarter
Date: 1984

The fiery backdrop is a bright foreshadowing of things to come in this Dino de Laurentis film.

Swamp Thing

Film: Swamp Thing
Date: 1982

Reminiscent of classic B-movie posters, the twist here is that the monster is actually the hero.

The Shining

Film: The Shining 
Date: 1980

HEEEEEEEEEERRRRE'S JOHNNY... hamming it up on this poster, encapsulating one of the film's most classic moments.

Halloween II

Film: Halloween II
Date: 1981

Here's a great candidate for one of our Craziest Carved Pumpkins Ever.

Dolls

Film: Dolls
Year: 1987

Eyeless dolls = creepy. Eyeless dolls holding eyeballs with a skull mouth = terrifying. Thanks Dolls, you've ruined someone's childhood.

Cannibal Holocaust

Film: Cannibal Holocaust
Year: 1980

We imagine this movie poster meeting went like this:

"Jesus Christ! This film is fucked up."

"Uh... yeah. So we were thinking of making the poster look like a metal album cover."

"Oh, good call. Put a tribesman on the front with a dead hot chick, and make the background black."

"Done. Man, people are gonna be in for one sick surprise."

Cannibal Holocaust: the original rickroll.

The Evil Dead

Film: The Evil Dead
Date: 1981

Before Bruce Campbell became the franchise's star, the film promoted babes in negligees being grabbed by undead hands. We're thankful this poster didn't depic the graphic tree rape scene.

The Fly

Film: The Fly 
Date: 1986

Besides originating the phrase "Be afraid. Be very afraid," this Cronenberg film unleashed another horror on the world: a naked Jeff Goldblum.

Cujo

Name: Cujo
Date: 1983

That ain't paint on that white picket fence. Shit is about to get real in suburbia.

Puppet Master

Film: Puppet Master
Date: 1989

If you value your life, you'll keep these suckers in the box.

Children of The Corn

Film: Children of The Corn
Date: 1984

This film isn't about Communism is it? Oh god, OH GOD what did that kid just do with that sickle?!

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Film: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Date: 1986

Don't they all look like one happy family? The only one missing is Sister Sledge.

Child's Play

Film: Child's Play
Date: 1988

Well, we're not buying our kids any redheaded dolls. Ever.

The Toxic Avenger

Film: The Toxic Avenger
Date: 1984

Your typical superhero movie... minus the dashing good looks. Toxie's got a face so fugly they couldn't even put it on the poster.

Friday The 13th

Film: Friday The 13th
Date: 1980

The devious silouette of the film's main antagonist provides an eerie outline to the otherwise serene scene of these campers. Take it away, and all you have is some sort of folk album cover about making moonshine at midnight.

Gremlins

Film: Gremlins
Date: 1984

Yes! Mogwai in a box! Just what we wanted for Christmas! What the hell is this paper? Instructions? Fuck 'em!

The Blob

Film: The Blob
Date: 1988

Fact: replace The Blob with a random band name and you will get every other rock album cover of the '90s.

Monkey Shines

Film: Monkey Shines
Date: 1987

This ominous poster once again flips innocent imagery into something more devious. The couplets sum up the film pretty concisely but playfully.

Pet Sematary

Film: Pet Sematary 
Date: 1989

Pretty self-explanatory cover. Zombie man, gravestones, creepy cat.

Poltergeist

Film: Poltergeist
Date: 1982

"Honey, you're too close to the TV."

"Honey, back away you'll ruin your eyes."

"Geez! For the last time! Back away from th--AHHHHH!"

Hellraiser

Film: Hellraiser
Date: 1987

Yep. That's decidedly creepy.

They Live

Film: They Live
Date: 1988

One part sci-fi horror film, one part sunglasses advertisement, 100% '80s.

Sleepaway Camp

Film: Sleepaway Camp
Date: 1983

OH MY GOD THEY KILLED MY FAVORITE SHOE!

A Nightmare On Elm Street

Film: A Nightmare On Elm Street
Date: 1984

Great job, those eyes at the top of the poster, combined with the claw and implied blood, means that people are not only going to wanna know what's up with this film, they may lose sleep over it. You know, to keep killers out of their dreams.