Best Vincent Price Movies, Ranked (2024)

The horror genre is no stranger to giants, with names like Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Christopher Lee, and more revered for their work in the industry. But one of the most underrated horror greats is the one and only Vincent Price. Price is well-known for his decades of acting, primarily in the horror world. There are a handful of his roles that tower over the others.

Vincent Price's first movie role was in 1938, with his first dance with horror a few years later in 1946. He's definitely best known for his work in early horror, with his face attached to tons of Gothic Literature-inspired movies. He also has one of the most recognizable voices in the horror world, cementing himself as a pop culture legend when he essentially cameo-ed in Michael Jackson's 1983 song "Thriller" as the ghoulish narrator. Director Tim Burton provided a gateway to his works by featuring him in two of his most essential movies. Over 30 years after he passed away, many of his films retain a fierce cult following, and some are revered as straight-up classics.

Updated on February 28 by Robert Vaux: Price's best works retain an evergreen status, which is part of why fans continue to enjoy them so many years later. Most of them wouldn't be so memorable were it not for his performances, which often make his films worth watching all on their own. The article has been updated slightly with new content in each entry. It has also been reformatted to adhere to current CBR guidelines.

10 House on Haunted Hill Is a William Castle Classic

Vincent Price plays a millionaire named Frederick Loren in the 1959 movie House on Haunted Hill. The classic haunted house film follows his oddball proposal for five guests to survive the night at a possibly haunted mansion. If one survives the night of increasingly bizarre scares, they win ten grand each. Not only does the plan feature ghouls and tricks, but it also features an estranged lover and a murder scheme.

Aside from Price's killer performance, House on Haunted Hill was a case of marketing perfection, as theaters used never-before-seen gimmicks to engage the audience (including a plastic skeleton floating above the seats). That was the calling card of director William Castle, who created ingenious marketing hooks that increased their novelty value. The same year as House on Haunted Hill, Price starred in Castle's The Tingler, which used joy buzzers planted in the theater seats to give audiences a jolt whenever the monster attacked. House on Haunted Hill has a better story and strong execution -- a perfect bundle of suspense and now-cheesy horror -- and it's gained cult-classic status since its release. The concept has re-emerged in pop culture countless times, and a remake came out in 1999 that has garnered a cult following of its own.

9 The Last Man on Earth Is a Novel-Accurate Version of I Am Legend

Vincent Price's 1964 movie, The Last Man on Earth, is a post-apocalyptic story in which Price plays Dr. Robert Morgan, the last survivor on a planet ridden with vampiric zombie-like creatures. The plot may be recognizable to some as the movie is an early adaptation of the 1954 Richard Matheson novel, I Am Legend, which notably got re-adapted in 2007 with Will Smith. While that film has its fans -- as does 1971's The Omega Man, also based on the Matheson book -- The Last Man on Earth is the most accurate to the source novel, as well as benefiting from a strong central performance by Price.

The movie wasn't much of a blockbuster when it came out, though it's gained cult-classic status. There's also no denying its impact on the horror genre. Aside from Bela Lugosi's White Zombie, The Last Man on Earth is one of the first post-apocalyptic movies that feature a virus outbreak resulting in undead beings. With that said, the movie also changed portrayals of vampires as they appear more like zombies and get created by some infection rather than a bite. It's a unique story, especially for 1964, with a perfect mix of horror and dread in its subject.

8 The Raven Is More than Just the Poem

Like many of Vincent Price's movies, The Raven is an adaptation of one of Edgar Allan Poe's stories. The 1963 movie is a loose adaptation of Poe's The Raven, with more dark comedy than Gothic horror elements. Vincent Price plays Erasmus Craven, a sorcerer grieving the loss of his wife, Lenore. He gets a visit from a man seeking help after he's transformed into a raven by an evil wizard. The movie features not only Price but also horror greats Peter Lorre and Boris Karloff.

Under the direction of Roger Corman, The Raven was elevated to bring Poe's poem into the new era, and he had a proven track record of successfully adapting Gothic literature into horror movies. But, in the case of The Raven, which is originally a dark story of grief, isolation, and mental instability centered around the idea of "nevermore" and constant loss, Price and Corman lightened the mood a great deal while still homaging the original poem. (Frankly, no one can recite those verses quite as well as Price.) And though they have dated quite badly, the special effects are fun to watch as well: revealing how creative concepts and clever execution can overcome obvious artifice.

7 House of Usher Has Inspired New Filmmakers

With the new series, The Fall of the House of Usher, taking Netflix by storm lately, it's only natural for fans to explore the show's source. With that, though, it's vital to acknowledge one of the first adaptations of Edgar Allan Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher, which, of course, starred Vincent Price. The 1960 movie House of Usher follows Price's Roderick Usher and his family's struggles as he believes they're cursed. It's a complex story of family drama evoking the dark nature of Gothic Literature, especially where Poe is involved.

The movie is a relatively faithful adaptation of Poe's story, with director Roger Corman carrying through the haunting, decrepit atmosphere representative of the Usher family. While he could often lean into camp when it served the material, Corman plays it deadly straight here, as does Price, whose own penchant for camp has saved many a movie. Jettisoning that does House of Usher a world of good. It often gets noted for his ability to convey a sense of impending doom and mental illness throughout the film while remaining a mesmerizing character.

6 Theater of Blood Is Price at His Campy Best

Unlike most of Vincent Price's best movies, 1973's Theater of Blood isn't based on work by Edgar Allan Poe. It's based on Shakespearean works, following Price's Edward Lionheart, whose career crumbles due to critics. After essentially faking his death, he returns and targets his critics, killing them in various ways straight from Shakespeare's plays. It's a spiritual continuation of two previous films -- The Abominable Dr. Phibes and Dr. Phibes Rises Again -- which play on similarly themed killings as acts of vengeance.

Unsurprisingly, Vincent Price's performance is perfect as he blends murderous vengeance with dark comedy. Perhaps the best part of Theater of Blood is the constant references to Shakespeare, especially the creative violence pulled directly from his repertoire. The movie is pure camp, now a cult favorite, with modern films like The Menu carrying the same artist-against-critics vibe. It even includes a meal that Ralph Fiennes' unhinged chef would fully approve of.

5 Edward Scissorhands Is Price's Beautiful Farewell

Edward Scissorhands

See Also

Vincent Price | Rotten Tomatoes

PG-13

Romance

Fantasy

Drama

The solitary life of an artificial man - who was incompletely constructed and has scissors for hands - is upended when he is taken in by a suburban family.

Director

Tim Burton

Release Date

December 14, 1990

Cast

Vincent Price , Dianne Wiest , Anthony Michael Hall , Johnny Depp , Winona Ryder , Kathy Baker

Writers

Caroline Thompson

Runtime

105 minutes

Main Genre

Drama

Edward Scissorhands came out in 1990 from the mind of the legendary Tim Burton. The movie was a commercial and critical success when it came out due to its blend of Gothic horror, teen romance, and a retro suburban setting. But arguably the most successful part of Edward Scissorhands is its characters and the star-studded cast, including Vincent Price. Burton was a lifelong fan, and his early animated short Vincent -- which Price himself narrated -- is an affectionate homage to the actor's work.

Edward Scissorhands sadly doesn't feature Price in a leading role, instead putting Johnny Depp's Edward in that slot. But, the movie has Price as Edward's creator, listed only as The Inventor, and the owner of the gorgeous Gothic mansion. He's not in the entire film, as he dies before he can finish his creation and attach Edward's hands. Unfortunately, Edward Scissorhands also marks the final Hollywood movie for Vincent Price, who passed at 82 in 1993.

4 The Masque of the Red Death Is a Brilliant Poe Adaptation

Of course, The Masque of the Red Death is another Edgar Allan Poe adaptation that Vincent Price stars in. Roger Corman also directs The Masque of the Red Death. The story takes place in medieval Europe in the middle of a deadly outbreak of a disease called the Red Death. Vincent Price stars as Prince Prospero, who shows off his sadistic privilege by partying while his people die. But, the amusement ends when a stranger crashes a party dressed in red, symbolizing the Red Death itself.

The Masque of the Red Death is one of several Corman-led Poe adaptations, and they all have a visually stunning atmosphere with Gothic themes and extravagant settings. The ability of Price to portray the most wicked characters while showing a level of class is precisely why he's considered America's Master of Horror. Corman knew how to deploy his abilities to the fullest, and while he's always been known as a low-budget director, The Masque of the Red Death effortlessly transcends those roots. Price plays a huge role in that.

3 The Comedy of Terrors Brings Three Horror Legends Together

The Comedy of Terrors is a horror-comedy film from 1963, best remembered for its perfect blend of comedy and the macabre. That's Vincent Price's specialty, but he's not the only notable star in the show, as horror icons like Peter Lorre and Boris Karloff appear alongside Price. The trio work as well together here as they do in The Raven, and the gathering of three such icons proves to be a winning move simply because of how much fun they're all having.

The movie follows a group of undertakers led by Price's Waldo Trumbull, a greedy guy who turns to murder to increase business at his funeral home. Lorre plays Felix, Trumbull's assistant, and Karloff plays a gravedigger. The Comedy of Terrors is basically a pure comedy with satire and absurd jokes. That said, though, the subject is extremely dark, as the entire story surrounds death. It was one of the first horror comedy movies, and, unsurprisingly, Price is the straw that stirs the drink.

2 House of Wax Helped Launch the 3-D Craze

House of Wax (1953)

GP

Horror

An associate burns down a wax museum with the owner inside, but he survives only to become vengeful and murderous.

Director

André De Toth

Release Date

April 25, 1953

Cast

Vincent Price , Frank Lovejoy , Phyllis Kirk , Carolyn Jones , Paul Picerni , Roy Roberts , Angela Clarke , Paul Cavanagh

Writers

Crane Wilbur , Charles Belden

Runtime

88 Minutes

Main Genre

Horror

House of Wax is one of Vincent Price's best-known roles, and it's also one of the best horror movies of the 1950s. Some may not know that the 1950s had a technology boom with the 3D technology that's widespread these days. House of Wax is one of the first horror movies to use 3D, and while the trend has since died off (with occasional resurgences from time to time), the film itself holds up extremely well without the gimmick: making it one of the best horror films of the 50s.

House of Wax centers around a wax museum where the figures are genuine dead bodies. Price is in the starring role as the museum's wax sculptor. The concept first appeared in the 1933 movie Mystery of the Wax Museum. It's since had a loose remake, also called House of Wax, released in 2005 and surrounding a character named Vincent.

1 The Fly Is Still Unsettling Today

The Fly follows a scientist named Andre, who accidentally merges with a fly after a failed experiment. The 1958 film was based on a short story by George Langelaan and is one of the best-known early sci-fi films. Even though Vincent Price doesn't have the starring role in the movie, as that goes to the fly-human hybrid Andre, the movie was a box-office hit. It also gives him a terrific showcase for his talents, as he carries several key scenes more or less on his own.

After only one year, The Fly got a sequel called Return of the Fly, featuring Vincent Price in the same role. The sequel was significantly less successful, now rated as Rotten on Rotten Tomatoes, compared to its predecessor's Certified Fresh, with a 95 percent rating. A notable scene from the original features a human-headed fly creature trapped in a spider web, crying for help. Unfortunately for the original, the movie has since gotten squashed under the immensely successful 1986 remake of The Fly by David Cronenberg. It's a terrific film in its own right, richly deserving rediscovery.

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