Spooky Locations

From blood-curdling slasher films to bone-chilling psychological terrors, horror movies continue to stand the test of time thanks to their scare factor, unsettling suspense, and unforgettable moments that leave you looking over your shoulders.

Whether it’s Michael Myers's House from the Halloween series or the creepy steps from The Exorcist, the US has produced some of the most haunting filming locations — but if you’ve ever thought to yourself, where are the most popular horror movie filming locations near me? We’ll take a deep dive into the underworld to find out!

Taking a closer look at the number of eerie movies made across various cities and states, the experts at Giggster unveil the most popular horror movie sites in the US, highlighting the most iconic, spine-tingling spots you can visit on Halloween.

Jersey tops the list as the spookiest filming location for horror movies

  1. Jersey, New Jersey

Horror movies per 100,000 population: 132.35

According to IMDb, Jersey ranks first with approximately 132.35 horror movies filmed per 100,000 population. One of the most recent movies in the genre that showcases spooky scenes shot across Jersey City is 2022’s psychological horror film Smile, which follows the chilling experience of a therapist after witnessing a traumatic event.

Also filmed in Jersey is the 1984 horror-comedy The Toxic Avenger. A favorite among fans of dark humor, this superhero black comedy splatter film revolves around a janitor who turns into a monstrous hero after a toxic waste accident.

  1. Los Angeles, California

Horror movies per 100,000 population: 63.07

Dubbed the home of Hollywood, it’s no surprise that there are plenty of filming locations in Los Angeles. The city follows in second place, with 63.07 horror movies filmed per 100,000 population. From spooky abandoned gas stations to ominous cemetery gates, LA provides the perfect backdrop for just about any horror movie location.

Some of the most notable horror movies filmed in LA include Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Insidious, Poltergeist, The Purge: Anarchy, and Scream 3.

  1. Washington, D.C.

Horror movies per 100,000 population: 47.72

Washington completes the top three with 47.72 horror movies per 100,000 population. The capital city has produced some of the most unnerving films, contributing to the spooky cinematic legacy of the horror genre.

One of the iconic stomach-churning movies to ever come out of Washington is The Exorcist. This fear-inducing film primarily takes place in the Georgetown neighborhood, with one of the most recognizable features being the ‘M Street Steps,’ which connects Prospect and 36th Streets.

Maine grabs the top spot as the spookiest state, producing over 10 horror movies per 100,000 population

  1. Maine

Horror movies per 100,000 population: 10.68

Maine is crowned the spookiest state, with an estimated 10.68 horror movies filmed per 100,000 population. From its dark history surrounding urban legends to its eerie real-life horrors, Maine has become the go-to setting for several horror stories.

Stephen King’s 1989 classic Pet Sematary was shot in various parts of Maine, including Bangor, Hancock, and Ellsworth. The plot revolves around a young doctor and his family who move to the rural parts of Maine and soon discover a mysterious burial ground for pets.

  1. California

Horror movies per 100,000 population: 9.82

California is a hub for the world's most iconic and recognized movie genres. Therefore, it’s no stranger to producing horror and supernatural films. The Golden State has been a filming location for approximately 9.82 horror movies per 100,000 population. 

From The Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Psycho to The Fog and The Birds, among many other renowned titles, many horror movies filmed in the state arguably shaped the cinematic trajectory of the horror genre.

  1. New Mexico

Horror movies per 100,000 population: 6.29

Due to its affordable production costs and competitive tax incentives, many filmmakers choose New Mexico as a filming location. Hence, it's no surprise that the southwestern state ranks third with 6.29 horror movies per 100,000 population.

With a unique background in ghostly New Mexican folklore, New Mexico is a popular location that has helped form parts of cinematic arts through its culture. As a result, the state has been a setting for several well-known horror films, including Let Me In and Don’t Blink.

The Shining’s Overlook Hotel is the most Googled horror movie location, with over half a million searches

  1. Overlook Hotel - The Shining

Global Google searches: 516,900

Most notable for its appearance in Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of Stephen King’s The Shining, The Timberline Lodge in Oregon is popularly referred to as the Overlook Hotel featured in the movie and has over half a million Google searches. Guests are welcome to visit the location, which offers free historical tours and plenty of other activities, such as skiing and snowboarding, for avid thrill-seekers.

The main inspiration for the 1980 film adaptation was the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. The hotel now offers ghostly tours that uncover its history and architecture for visitors who dare to explore its paranormal allure.

  1. Camp Crystal Lake - Friday the 13th

Global Google searches: 374,200

The iconic 1980 slasher film Friday the 13th has made a name for itself thanks to its main antagonist, Jason Voorhees, a masked serial killer, as one of the primary filming locations in the film. The movie used the boy’s scout Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco to represent Camp Crystal Lake, which has become a popular site among fans, having received 374,200 Google searches globally in the past year.

Several tours visit the lake at specific times of the year, especially during the spooky season, offering daring fans an overnight experience. There are also lakefront tours that visit the filming locations surrounding the famous lake.

  1. Texas Chainsaw House - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Global Google searches: 280,700

Terrifying audiences since 1974, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie franchise is based on cannibalistic spree killer Leatherface and his family. Avid fans of the horror movie can now stop by and enjoy a delicious meal at the now-renovated Hooper’s cafe located inside the horror movie house in Kingsland, Texas.

With 280,700 global Google searches, the search term ‘Texas Chainsaw House’ has gained considerable traction throughout the year, just two years after the ninth installment of the series, released in 2022.

Methodology

To reveal the cities with the most filming locations for horror movies, we created a seed list of the top 100 most populated towns and cities across the US using the 2023 Census Bureau.

We then used IMDb to collect the total number of horror movies filmed in each city and state using the advanced search to find horror movies with each US city and state as the filming location. City data was then normalized against the population figures per 100,000 on 09/06/2024.

We then gathered population figures by state using the 2023 US Census Bureau state population totals and normalized the number of movies against each state’s population per 100,000 on 09/06/2024.

To reveal the most iconic horror movie locations to visit, we created a seed list using articles such as All That is Interesting, InsideHook, and Matador Network. We then used Google Keyword Planner to gather data on the global Google searches from 08/01/2023 to 07/31/2024.