What happens when you take seventy years of horror fiction and let the data decide which series reign supreme? Sales, acclaim, and fan ratings all collide in this countdown of the Top 20 Horror Series Since 1950 — ranked not by fear, but by facts.
From cursed towns and haunted houses to cannibal geniuses and psychic vampire hunters, this list has it all — and yes, a few surprises.
Join Jim from Fantasy for the Ages as he unveils which series truly dominate the genre. You might cheer, you might rage… but either way, you’ll probably leave your lights on tonight. 🔦
🧮 How the Rankings Were Determined:
• Series must include 2 or more books
• First published 1950 or later
• Ranked using a weighted blend of:
1️⃣ Total sales over time
2️⃣ Critical acclaim and awards
3️⃣ Fan ratings across Goodreads, Storygraph & Amazon
• Cultural impact broke the ties — because the monsters that last matter most.
💬 In This Episode: Jim counts down 20 of the most successful, influential, and downright terrifying horror series ever written — featuring names like Stephen King, Anne Rice, Clive Barker, Thomas Harris, Brian Lumley, and many more.
Which series defined the genre?
Which authors built their own haunted empires?
And which sleeper hits still deserve to be resurrected?
Watch and find out… if you dare. 😈
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#HorrorBooks #HorrorSeries #BookTube #FantasyForTheAges #JimSolo #StephenKing #AnneRice #CliveBarker #ThomasHarris #BrianLumley #RLStine #GothicHorror #UrbanFantasy #ParanormalFiction #VampireBooks #HauntedBooks #BookRecommendations #Top20Horror #HorrorReaders #SFFCommunity #DarkFiction #BookDiscussion
Want to purchase books/media mentioned in this episode?
Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter: https://t.ly/DrTkT
Cujo: https://t.ly/lHb4c
The Dark Half: https://t.ly/GxlCR
The Dark Tower: https://t.ly/0yCfx
The Dead Zone: https://t.ly/Tpae5
Doctor Sleep: https://t.ly/Ni3v1
The Exorcist Series: https://t.ly/dW195
Fear Street: https://t.ly/y001T
Goosebumps: https://t.ly/n1MfC
The Hellbound Heart: https://t.ly/jkwCP
It: https://t.ly/_eo3k
Lives of the Mayfair Witches: https://t.ly/bcnF-
Locke and Key Series: https://t.ly/SkuhT
The Necroscope Series: https://t.ly/EicM0
Needful Things: https://t.ly/0ok2I
The Passage Trilogy: https://t.ly/zYwC5
’Salem’s Lot: https://t.ly/dWAxo
The Shining: https://t.ly/Y530H
The Southern Reach Trilogy: https://t.ly/O0Ksu
The Strain Trilogy: https://t.ly/Mlz8k
Vampire Chronicles: https://t.ly/VD4U3
Vampire Hunter D:
V.C. Andrews Collection: https://t.ly/4gcVZ
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0:00 - Opening
1:21 - Episode Explanation
3:30 - Top 20 Horror Series
14:39 - Conclusion & Wrap-up
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