There is something timelessly thrilling about good slasher movies—the masked killer lurking in the shadows, the suspenseful buildup, and the unforgettable finale. With the recent release of the sequel to the 1997 hit I Know What You Did Last Summer, the slasher genre is experiencing a revival. Whether you prefer vintage horror or sleek, self-aware scares, now is the perfect time to revisit the classics that paved the way. These iconic slasher movies didn’t just terrify generations; they became cultural milestones, forever changing the way we scream at our screens. 7 iconic slasher movies worth revisiting if you liked I Know What You Did Last Summer; on Netflix, Apple TV+ and more 1. Psycho – Apple TV+ Long before the slasher genre had a name, Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho redefined what horror could be. The movie begins with Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) on the run after stealing money. She checks into the eerie Bates Motel, run by the soft-spoken yet unsettling Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). What follows is one of cinema’s most shocking twists, punctuated by the legendary shower scene and Bernard Herrmann’s screeching score. With its psychological depth, taboo-breaking themes, and masterful suspense, the movie was a bold cinematic revolution that forever changed the language of horror. 2. Halloween (1978) – JioHotstar A genre-defining masterpiece, Halloween introduced the world to the silent, unstoppable force that is Michael Myers. Set in the quiet town of Haddonfield, the film follows teenager Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis in her breakout role) as she becomes the target of a masked killer who escaped from a mental institution. With a haunting score composed by director John Carpenter himself and a slow-burn style that builds relentless tension, the movie set the blueprint for the modern slasher. It spawned countless sequels, reboots, and an entire generation of horror that tried to capture its chilling simplicity. 3. Scream – Amazon Prime Video Wes Craven’s Scream didn’t just revive the slasher genre, it reinvented it. Blending sharp satire with genuine scares, the movie follows high schooler Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell). The plot unfolds as she becomes the target of a masked killer known as Ghostface, who taunts victims with horror movie trivia before striking. With its self-aware script, iconic opening scene featuring Drew Barrymore, and a killer twist, the movie was both a love letter and a clever critique of the genre. It not only launched a successful franchise that’s still spawning sequels, but also inspired a whole wave of postmodern horror movies that knew the rules and weren’t afraid to break them. 4. Friday the 13th – Amazon Prime Video Set around the eerie and remote Camp Crystal Lake, the movie kick-started one of horror’s most enduring franchises. The first movie follows a group of camp counsellors being gruesomely murdered one by one, as a mysterious killer seeks revenge for a tragedy in the camp’s past. While Jason Voorhees, the hockey-masked killer we all know, doesn’t become the main killer until later sequels, this first instalment laid the groundwork with its shocking twist ending and brutal kills. Gory, suspenseful, and packed with jump scares, it became a template for summer-camp horror and an icon of '80s slasher cinema. 5. Child’s Play – Amazon Prime Video Who knew a Good Guys doll could be so evil? The movie gave us one of horror’s most unique and twisted villains: Chucky, a seemingly innocent toy possessed by the soul of a serial killer, Charles Lee Ray (voiced by Brad Dourif). When little Andy Barclay receives the doll as a gift, no one believes him when the murders begin, because who would suspect a toy? Blending supernatural horror with slasher thrills and a dark sense of humour, the movie turned childhood innocence into nightmare fuel. It led to a cult-followed franchise, proving that even the smallest killer can leave a big mark. 6. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) – Amazon Prime Video Sleep became the ultimate danger in Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street, a slasher that blurred the line between dreams and reality. The movie introduced Freddy Krueger, a burned, fedora-wearing killer with knives for fingers who stalks teenagers in their nightmares and kills them in real life. With his grotesque physical appearance and dream-bending abilities, Freddy (Robert Englund) brought a surreal, supernatural twist to the slasher genre. Featuring inventive kills, haunting visuals, and the debut of a young Johnny Depp, this nightmare-fuelled classic redefined fear. 7. I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) – Netflix Slick, suspenseful, and soaked in '90s teen angst, I Know What You Did Last Summer brought a fresh twist to the slasher genre. Based on the Lois Duncan novel, the movie follows four friends who cover up a fatal accident. A year later, they are hunted by a hook-wielding killer who knows their secret. With its coastal setting and stylish kills, the movie became a pop culture phenomenon. Riding the wave of Scream’s success, it helped usher in a new era of self-aware, character-driven slashers. And with its long-awaited sequel now finally out, the chilling past these characters tried to bury is once again coming back to haunt them, proving some secrets never stay dead.