Los Angeles has long been the backdrop for some of cinema’s most unforgettable nightmares, and a new 2026 ranking has officially recognized the city’s horror movie credentials, just in time for Halloween.
According to a study by eSIM provider Holafly, Los Angeles ranks No. 5 among the best U.S. cities for horror film fanatics, thanks in large part to its impressive history of horror movie productions.
And horror fans don’t have to look far to find some of the genre’s most recognizable filming locations. Several famous movie houses, historic buildings, and quiet residential streets around Los Angeles have doubled as the settings for terrifying stories on the big screen.
Famous horror movie filming locations around Los Angeles
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street was largely filmed in Los Angeles, including the Hollywood neighborhood where Nancy Thompson’s house still stands. Located at 1428 N. Genesee Avenue, the recognizable home is where Freddy Krueger famously haunted Nancy’s dreams. Fans can also spot the neighboring house used as Glen Lantz’s home, marking the location of Johnny Depp’s first film appearance.
John Carpenter’s original Halloween was filmed largely in Southern California, with several of its most recognizable locations found in South Pasadena. The house used as Michael Myers’ childhood home is now known as the Century House, located at 1000 Mission Street. The building was relocated from its original filming position and later became a South Pasadena cultural landmark.
Fans can also find Laurie Strode’s house nearby at 1115 Oxley Street, along with several other recognizable neighborhood locations from the film.
The People Under the Stairs (1991)
Wes Craven returned to Los Angeles for this unsettling horror thriller, which features a particularly memorable house at 2215 S. Harvard Boulevard. The imposing Craftsman residence served as the home of the Robeson family in the film. Known as the Thomas W. Phillips Residence, the historic property is one of the city’s more unusual horror movie landmarks.
House on Haunted Hill (1959)
Los Angeles’ famous Ennis House, located in the Los Feliz neighborhood, has its own horror movie history. The distinctive Mayan Revival-style residence, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, appeared in the original House on Haunted Hill, helping establish the eerie atmosphere surrounding the film’s supposedly haunted mansion.
L.A. ranks fifth among the best U.S. cities for horror fans
Despite its enormous horror filmmaking history, Los Angeles landed behind four other American cities in Holafly’s ranking. Wilmington, North Carolina took the top spot, followed by New Orleans, Pittsburgh, and Salt Lake City.
Los Angeles nevertheless led the ranking for horror movie productions per capita, with 28.2 films per 100,000 residents. It also recorded four popular horror films per 100,000 residents.
The ranking considered five categories: horror films filmed per capita, popular horror films filmed per capita, filming locations open to visitors, ghost tours per capita, and monthly search demand for horror movie filming locations.
For horror fans, Los Angeles offers a particularly cinematic way to celebrate Halloween – exploring the real-world streets and landmarks that helped bring some of the genre’s most terrifying stories to life.
