The Scariest Movies According to Science

MoneySuperMarket’s Science of Scare project puts horror films through a heart‑rate test to scientifically crown the scariest. They strap viewers to monitors and measure two things: how fast your heart races (BPM) and how irregular your heartbeat gets (HRV). Bigger BPM jumps = adrenaline, lower HRV = creeping dread. They combine those into a “Scare Score.”

According to their latest study, Sinister owns the fear throne with a score of 96… and Smile 2 stakes its claim in the top ranks too.

Here’s the Top 10:

1. “Sinister” (2012)

2. “Host” (2020)

3. “Skinamirink” (2022)

4. “Insidious” (2010)

5. “The Conjuring” (2013)

6. “Hereditary” (2018)

7. “Smile 2” (2024)

8. “Smile” (2022)

9. “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” (2005)

10. “Talk to Me” (2022)