Cannibalism as a genre of horror fiction has its own cult following. It features a specific type of psychological horror and gore that focuses on the consumption of human meat.
The genre of cannibalistic films was mainly popularized by the release of “The Silence of the Lambs” and the creation of the iconic character of Dr. Hannibal Lecter.
However, the 1970s saw a surge in the release of cannibalistic films as well, mostly by Italian directors.
In this list provided below, we have specially picked the best cannibal movies ever released so that you do not miss out on the best.
CrimeDramaThriller
Director:
Jonathan Demme
Release Date:
Thu Feb 14 1991
Star Cast:
Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn
Budget:
$19,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$272,742,922
"The Silence of the Lambs" stands as a true classic in the cannibal genre, centering on exceptional FBI trainee Clarice Starling, who excels at her academy.
Agent Jack Crawford enlists Clarice to interview Dr. Hannibal Lecter—a brilliant psychiatrist and notorious murderer, infamous for his cannibalism, now serving a life sentence in prison.
Crawford suspects that Lecter's unique perspective could be critical in solving an ongoing case. He hopes Clarice's intelligence and charm will be the key to gaining Lecter's cooperation.
This sets off a chilling series of encounters, delving into the twisted psyche of one of cinema's most infamous cannibals.
DramaHorror
Director:
Julia Ducournau
Release Date:
Wed Mar 15 2017
Star Cast:
Garance Marillier, Ella Rumpf, Rabah Nait Oufella
Budget:
€3,500,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$3,096,815
Justine, a sheltered vegetarian, is thrust into the competitive and unforgiving environment of veterinary school. Everything changes after a hazing ritual forces her to eat raw meat, awakening a primal hunger that shatters her vegetarian beliefs and transforms her urges in horrifying new ways.
As her cravings intensify, the line between predator and prey begins to blur. Her relationship with her rebellious sister, Alexia, devolves into a dark dynamic, marked by manipulation and a shared descent into monstrosity.
Directed by Julia Ducournau, "Raw" is more than a visceral body horror film—it's a disturbing coming-of-age story. Cannibalism becomes a powerful metaphor for the chaotic, transformative journey from adolescence to adulthood. Be prepared for shocking gore, sharp social commentary, and a protagonist who is as unsettling as she is fascinating.
DramaHorrorMusical
Director:
Tim Burton
Release Date:
Fri Dec 21 2007
Star Cast:
Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman
Budget:
$50,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$153,383,627
"Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" is a captivating gothic musical from the visionary director Tim Burton, featuring his frequent collaborators Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter.
This film stands out as a darkly imaginative musical, where characters frequently express their emotions and motives through haunting and memorable songs.
The story revolves around Benjamin Barker, a barber who is wrongly imprisoned by the envious Judge Turpin, who desires Barker's wife and conspires to keep them apart.
After escaping from years of unjust captivity, Barker returns to London under the alias Sweeney Todd, determined to seek revenge.
As Sweeney crosses paths with Mrs. Lovett, his pent-up rage turns murderous, and together they plot vengeance—Mrs. Lovett turning the victims of Sweeney's blade into infamous meat pies.
CrimeMysteryThriller
Director:
Michael Mann
Release Date:
Fri Aug 15 1986
Star Cast:
William Petersen, Kim Greist, Joan Allen
Budget:
$15,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$8,622,412
"Manhunter" offers a compelling entry in the saga surrounding the infamous cannibal, Dr. Hannibal Lecter. However, rather than centering on Lecter himself, the film follows renowned FBI profiler Will Graham as its main character.
After capturing Dr. Lecter, Will Graham is left mentally and emotionally scarred. The experience pushes him into a self-imposed exile, far removed from his demanding career with the FBI.
Will's respite is short-lived when the FBI urgently seeks his expertise. A new and dangerous murderer, dubbed the "Tooth Fairy," is on the loose and terrorizing communities.
Despite his reservations, Will agrees to return and assist in the pursuit of this elusive killer. However, the complexity of the case tests his abilities and makes him realize he cannot solve it alone.
Faced with this daunting challenge, Will makes a bold and unsettling choice—he must seek help from Dr. Lecter himself in order to catch the new psychopath stalking the streets.
DramaHorrorWestern
Director:
S. Craig Zahler
Release Date:
Fri Feb 19 2016
Star Cast:
Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox
Budget:
$1,800,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$382,579
Released in 2015, "Bone Tomahawk" is set against the backdrop of the Western frontier. The story begins when Samantha, a local doctor, is abruptly kidnapped under mysterious circumstances.
The town sheriff teams up with three determined men, including Samantha's husband, to embark on a dangerous journey to bring her back.
Unbeknownst to them, Samantha's captors are not ordinary criminals but a savage tribe known for their cannibalistic practices.
As the group presses on, they face relentless attacks from the cannibal tribe. With each step, they must summon incredible courage, risking everything in a desperate attempt to rescue Samantha.
ComedyCrime
Director:
Paul Bartel
Release Date:
Fri Oct 1 1982
Star Cast:
Mary Woronov, Paul Bartel, Robert Beltran
Budget:
$350,000 (estimated)
"Eating Raoul" is a darkly comedic film with a sharp, satirical edge. The story follows a prudish married couple struggling to make ends meet in a world full of decadence and temptation.
When the husband loses his job, their desperation for money intensifies. Their lives take an unexpected turn when a sleazy swinger makes advances toward the wife, prompting the husband to accidentally kill him in an attempt to protect her.
Instead of reporting the incident, they decide to steal the swinger's wallet. Realizing the potential profit, the couple crafts a scheme: luring in perverts, eliminating them, and cashing in along the way.
Their operation is complicated by the challenge of disposing of the bodies. This is where Raoul enters the picture, offering to help for a price.
However, things get messy as Raoul begins to develop feelings for the wife. The husband ultimately kills Raoul, but disposing of his body proves to be their biggest challenge yet, forcing the couple to devise an even more creative solution.
DramaHorrorRomance
Director:
Luca Guadagnino
Release Date:
Wed Nov 23 2022
Star Cast:
Timothée Chalamet, Taylor Russell, Mark Rylance
Budget:
$16,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$15,234,907
Maren, a troubled teenage cannibal, roams across 1980s America, haunted by her past and an uncontrollable hunger. Her journey takes a turn when she meets Lee, an enigmatic drifter who shares her dark urges, and together they develop a love that's as intense and raw as their appetites.
Their cross-country odyssey turns into a desperate struggle between passion and self-preservation, while a sinister figure named Sully relentlessly pursues Maren, raising the stakes with every mile.
Directed by Luca Guadagnino, "Bones and All" transcends the typical horror romance, offering a touching story about outsiders longing for acceptance. Cannibalism becomes a powerful metaphor for alienation, set against beautifully haunting visuals and powerful chemistry, inviting viewers to contemplate what it means to be human while living on the edge of society.
CrimeDrama
Director:
Peter Greenaway
Release Date:
Fri Apr 6 1990
Star Cast:
Richard Bohringer, Michael Gambon, Helen Mirren
Box Office (Worldwide):
$8,523,572
While not centered entirely on cannibalism, this film delivers a striking exploration of the theme within a story of love and vengeance. Its brilliance lies in the intertwining of passion, betrayal, and dark culinary acts.
The plot revolves around Richard Boarst, a talented cook; Albert Spica, a volatile gangster; Spica’s wife, Georgina; and her secret lover, Michael. Tensions quickly escalate as Spica’s violent temper disrupts life at Richard’s restaurant.
Despite Spica’s intimidating presence, Georgina continues her affair with Michael under her husband's watchful eye. The drama intensifies when Spica discovers the affair and murders Michael in cold blood.
Devastated by her lover’s death, Georgina compels Richard to prepare a grisly dish: Michael’s flesh, which she then forces Spica to eat. This shocking act exacts a gruesome revenge and marks a chilling turning point in the film.
The narrative concludes with Georgina naming Spica a cannibal, just before she exacts her final act of justice against him.
AdventureDramaThriller
Director:
Cornel Wilde
Release Date:
Thu Feb 17 1966
Star Cast:
Cornel Wilde, Gert van den Bergh, Ken Gampu
Budget:
$900,000 (estimated)
"The Naked Prey" explores the devastating results of arrogance and ignorance as a group of Europeans venture into South African tribal lands for a hunting expedition. Their attitudes set a dangerous tone from the outset.
Set during the colonial era, the film powerfully illustrates the discrimination and prejudice faced by dark-skinned people under European dominance.
The local guide repeatedly urges the hunting party to treat the native people with respect, but his warnings are ignored. Tensions escalate when one member humiliates the tribal chief by shoving him to the ground.
At first, the Europeans appear to escape immediate consequences, but retribution soon follows. The tribe hunts the group down mercilessly until only the guide remains.
Completely stripped of his clothes, the guide is given a head start, turning him into the "naked prey". Alone and pursued, he must rely on his wits and determination to survive.
HorrorThriller
Director:
Mimi Cave
Release Date:
Fri Mar 4 2022
Star Cast:
Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sebastian Stan, Jojo T. Gibbs
"Fresh" is a gripping thriller that centers on Noa, a young woman disillusioned by her lackluster experiences in the modern dating world.
Frustrated with repetitive swipes and disappointing dates on various apps, Noa craves a genuine connection. Her luck seems to change when she meets the charming and attractive Steve at a local grocery store.
Sparks quickly fly between the two, and Noa is intrigued enough to give him her number. Their conversations deepen her interest, leading her to accept Steve's invitation for a weekend away together.
However, what starts as a promising romance takes a sinister turn. During the trip, Noa uncovers disturbing truths about Steve—especially regarding his hidden, predatory urges that involve a dark and unnatural appetite.
DramaThriller
Director:
John Hillcoat
Release Date:
Wed Nov 25 2009
Star Cast:
Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron, Kodi Smit-McPhee
Budget:
$25,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$27,639,579
"The Road" transports viewers to a grim, post-apocalyptic future where society as we know it has collapsed, leaving only ruins behind. At the heart of the film is the poignant journey of a father and his young son as they struggle to survive under unimaginable hardship.
The story unfolds in a devastated America—transformed by catastrophe into a barren, lawless wasteland. Communities have disappeared, and savage groups now roam the land, turning once-familiar places into dangerous territory.
Amid this chaos, the father and son embark on a desperate trek toward the sea, clinging to hope in their search for safety and a better future. Their path is fraught with peril at every turn.
Surrounded by ruthless survivors and constant threats, they live with the haunting risk of being taken captive—facing the horrifying possibility of enslavement or falling prey to cannibalistic bands. "The Road" is a gripping tale of endurance and the human spirit tested to its limits.
DramaRomanceThriller
Director:
Manuel Martín Cuenca
Release Date:
Fri Jul 25 2014
Star Cast:
Antonio de la Torre, Olimpia Melinte, María Alfonsa Rosso
Box Office (Worldwide):
$194,948
"Cannibal" (2013) offers a refreshing, modern interpretation of the classic cannibal story, immersing viewers in a unique blend of suspense and emotion.
The film centers on Carlos, a distinguished tailor in Granada who leads a double life. Outwardly, he appears respectable, but beneath the surface, he harbors a disturbing secret.
Despite his professional success, Carlos is also a cold-blooded murderer and cannibal, living in isolation with his gruesome habits. He has never experienced guilt or remorse—until love unexpectedly enters his life.
When Nina arrives, her presence begins to illuminate Carlos's dark world. Through his growing feelings for her, Carlos undergoes a profound transformation, slowly confronting the darkness within.
DramaHorror
Director:
Jorge Michel Grau
Release Date:
Fri Dec 3 2010
Star Cast:
Francisco Barreiro, Paulina Gaitan, Alan Chávez
Box Office (Worldwide):
$338,166
Unlike most cannibal movies, where cannibals are portrayed as sinister villains, "We Are What We Are" offers a refreshing twist by placing the cannibalistic family at the center as protagonists.
The story introduces us to an unusual family with disturbing dietary customs. Their lives spiral further into darkness after the death of their patriarch, who once handled the burden of finding their food.
Now left to fend for themselves, the family ventures into the nearby town, abducting unsuspecting victims in desperate attempts to maintain their gruesome traditions. Their methods are not always successful, breeding tension and unease.
As news of the disappearances reaches the police, a tense cat-and-mouse game unfolds. The film is both dark and gripping, featuring a cast of characters whose motives challenge the viewer’s ability to empathize.
HorrorThriller
Director:
Wes Craven
Release Date:
Fri Jul 22 1977
Star Cast:
Susan Lanier, Robert Houston, John Steadman
Budget:
$230,000 (estimated)
"The Hills Have Eyes," starring Susan Lanier, Robert Houston, and John Steadman, is a classic horror-thriller released in 1977. Directed and written by the acclaimed Wes Craven, with Eric Saarinen handling cinematography, the film brought together a talented team to create a truly unsettling experience.
The movie achieved a 6.3 rating on IMDb and a score of 64 out of 100 on Metacritic, reflecting its impact and genre appeal. The story follows a family traveling to California who accidentally stray into a restricted Air Testing range. After crashing their car, they find themselves stranded in the unforgiving desert.
Alone and vulnerable, the family soon discovers they are being hunted by a ruthless group of people who have lived in isolation, away from modern civilization.
ComedyHorrorMystery
Director:
Bob Balaban
Release Date:
Fri Jan 27 1989
Star Cast:
Randy Quaid, Mary Beth Hurt, Sandy Dennis
Budget:
$3,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$870,532
“Parents” (1989) stands out among cannibal films by blending dark comedy with horror, offering a refreshingly original take on the genre. This suspenseful tale delivers both chills and laughs, ensuring viewers stay captivated throughout.
The story follows young Michael, a ten-year-old boy whose innocent world is shaken when he starts to harbor troubling doubts about his seemingly perfect parents.
On the surface, Michael’s mother plays the role of an ideal housewife, while his father appears to be a hardworking mortuary employee. But beneath this façade, Michael senses that something is terribly amiss.
Michael grows increasingly uneasy when his father brings home unusually large cuts of meat, raising unsettling questions about their origins. Driven by fear and suspicion, Michael confides in his school counselor, who decides to investigate, setting the stage for even deeper mysteries.
DramaHorrorThriller
Director:
Lucky McKee
Release Date:
Thu Aug 18 2011
Star Cast:
Pollyanna McIntosh, Brandon Gerald Fuller, Lauren Ashley Carter
Box Office (Worldwide):
$1,449
"The Woman" (2011) challenges viewers to question their own sense of right and wrong. At its core, the film blurs the line between monster and human, forcing us to reconsider where our sympathies truly lie.
The story opens on a mysterious woman wandering the northeast coastline with her child and a pet wolf. She is depicted as the last survivor of a cannibalistic clan that once haunted the region, performing an enigmatic ritual with her wolf and baby.
The narrative quickly shifts to a barbecue restaurant, introducing a successful lawyer enjoying a meal with his family. This seemingly normal man soon discovers the woman while she bathes and deliberately traps her.
He brings her home, proposing a twisted experiment to "civilize" the so-called savage woman, enlisting his family in this disturbing project. The woman is kept imprisoned and subjected to frequent mistreatment by household members.
But when she finally breaks free, she exacts a brutal revenge, turning the tables on those who sought to break her spirit.
ComedyHorrorThriller
Director:
Kevin Connor
Release Date:
Fri Oct 24 1980
Star Cast:
Rory Calhoun, Paul Linke, Nancy Parsons
Budget:
$3,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$6,342,668
"Motel Hell" tells the disturbing tale of a sinister sibling pair who find a gruesome way to increase their sausage sales—using a shocking ingredient in their recipes.
Vincent and his sister Ida run a rural motel, but their main source of income comes from their popular food stall, known for its delicious and mysterious meats.
Their brother, Sheriff Bruce, starts to grow suspicious of their rapidly growing business and questions whether Vincent and Ida might be hiding something sinister behind their success.
Bruce's suspicions are well-founded, as it’s eventually revealed that the siblings are using an unthinkable kind of meat in their products—human flesh taken from their unsuspecting guests.
With their deception exposed, it becomes clear that Vincent and Ida have been luring guests to their motel, only to murder and butcher them, turning the horrid results into their highly sought-after sausages.
ComedyDrama
Director:
Anders Thomas Jensen
Release Date:
Fri Mar 21 2003
Star Cast:
Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Mads Mikkelsen, Line Kruse
Box Office (Worldwide):
$3,783
“The Green Butchers” is a dark comedy that masterfully blends humor with shocking moments of gore. The story follows two ambitious men determined to escape their insufferable boss by opening their own business.
Driven by frustration, Bjarne and Svend launch a butcher’s shop with hopes of finding success. Unfortunately, their new venture struggles—until an unexpected event sets a wild chain of events in motion.
When an electrician accidentally dies in their freezer, the pair concoct a bizarre scheme: selling his meat disguised as chicken. Surprisingly, this scandalous act brings unexpected profits.
The newfound success is short-lived, as the duo soon runs out of "chicken" and face the troubling question of how far they're willing to go to keep the shop afloat.
AdventureBiographyDrama
Director:
Frank Marshall
Release Date:
Fri Jan 15 1993
Star Cast:
Ethan Hawke, Vincent Spano, Josh Hamilton
Budget:
$32,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$36,733,909
"Alive" stands out as a harrowing tragedy rather than a typical horror film. Unlike movies filled with deranged killers, it draws its terror from the true events faced by a group of rugby players suddenly thrust into an unimaginable ordeal.
The story follows the Uruguayan rugby team whose plane crashes in the remote, snow-laden Andes. Stranded in a frozen wilderness, they find themselves completely isolated and without any food or supplies.
As the days pass and external help fails to arrive, the situation grows increasingly desperate. The survivors must endure the relentless cold while grappling with dwindling hope.
With no remaining sources of nourishment, the group faces a profoundly grim choice: succumb to starvation or turn to cannibalism in order to survive.
ComedyHorror
Director:
Boris Rodriguez
Release Date:
Fri Apr 5 2013
Star Cast:
Thure Lindhardt, Georgina Reilly, Dylan Smith
Budget:
CA$1,500,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$45,778
"Eddie: The Sleepwalking Cannibal (2012)" presents the darkly comedic tale of Lars Olafsson, a once-celebrated artist whose creativity has begun to wane. As his fame fades, even his art dealer, Ronnie, grows desperate for new work to sell and pressures Lars to return to painting.
Despite Ronnie's pleas, Lars resists creating anything new, haunted by the troubling truth that his artistic inspiration comes only from violence and gore. The emotional price for his art has become unbearably steep.
Seeking a fresh start, Lars accepts a position as an art teacher in a quiet Canadian town. Just as he begins to settle into a more ordinary life, he meets Eddie—a sleepwalking cannibal whose gruesome habits offer Lars the disturbing inspiration he has been missing.
AdventureDramaHorror
Director:
Antonia Bird
Release Date:
Fri Mar 19 1999
Star Cast:
Guy Pearce, Robert Carlyle, David Arquette
Budget:
$12,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$2,062,405
“Ravenous” was not exactly a commercial hit during the time of its release however, over time, the film has managed to gather quite a cult following.
The story provides a good blend of both mystery and thrill. It all begins with Captain Joh Boyd going to Fort Spencer to investigate a curious case.
He had heard of some mysterious disappearances around the area and wanted to investigate its cause. Upon reaching the place, he received even more disturbing news.
A wounded frontiersman recounted a horrific story in front of the captain. He spoke of a wagon train whose passengers were all murdered by its guide.
The Captain and his regiment decide to look into the matter but things take a dangerous turn when a cannibal starts stalking them.
CrimeDramaThriller
Director:
Ridley Scott
Release Date:
Fri Feb 9 2001
Star Cast:
Anthony Hopkins, Julianne Moore, Gary Oldman
Budget:
$87,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$351,692,268
This movie shows another part of Hannibal’s journey. It mainly focuses on Hannibal’s life during exile after he managed to escape custody somehow.
Nobody knew Hannibal’s location anymore as he could be anywhere in Europe. However, one particular man was bent on finding Hannibal.
This man was Mason Verger. Mason was the cannibal’s last victim and Hannibal had left him horribly disfigured. Mason is now wandering around looking for revenge and he does not plan on giving up his search until he has located Hannibal.
Hannibal is a shrewd man and Mason knew that he needed bait to lure him out. This is where Clarice Sterling comes in, the FBI agent for whom Hannibal had a soft spot.
Mason, therefore, decides on using Clarice to bring Hannibal out of hiding.
AdventureComedyDrama
Director:
Jean-Luc Godard
Release Date:
Fri Sep 27 1968
Star Cast:
Mireille Darc, Jean Yanne, Jean-Pierre Kalfon
Budget:
$250,000 (estimated)
“Weekend” is a tale of adultery, human selfishness, murder, and cannibalism. At the centre of this story is a bourgeois couple who are both cheating on each other.
Both husband and wife harbour the thought of murdering each other so that they can peacefully continue their lives with their secret lovers.
However, before that is done, they must attend to another important business. The wife, Corinne, has an old and ailing father who is supposed to live behind a huge inheritance after his death.
The couple, thus, takes a ride to Corinne’s house to claim it for themselves. However, when they do finally reach Corinne’s house, they discover that her father is already dead.
Corinne’s mother is a selfish widow who refuses to share any part of the inheritance so they kill her.
After the deed is done, the couple hit the road to return but are unable to do so. They are captured by a group of hippie cannibals on their way back who eventually cook up and eat the husband.
DramaHorrorThriller
Director:
Claire Denis
Release Date:
Wed Jul 11 2001
Star Cast:
Vincent Gallo, Tricia Vessey, Béatrice Dalle
Box Office (Worldwide):
$15,571
The movie “Trouble Everyday” is not only horrific but also quite heartbreaking. It shows two people who find themselves to be a victim of their nature and as a result, feel isolated even from their closest ones.
Initially, we see a loving couple Shane and June who travel to Paris to enjoy a romantic honeymoon together.
However, Shane has other plans. His primary reason for visiting Paris is not to spend time with June but to seek out a woman named Core who shares his strange affliction.
Both Core and Shane face sudden urges of violence and a desire to consume human flesh. The movie focuses not only on the relationship between these two people but also on their respective relationships with their loved ones.
We see two individuals trying to find a way to survive with their unique hunger.
HorrorMystery
Director:
Gary Sherman
Release Date:
Fri Sep 14 1973
Star Cast:
Donald Pleasence, Norman Rossington, David Ladd
It all begins when a young couple discovers a fainted man on the stairway of the underground subway in London.
They rushed to inform a guard but the fainted man had disappeared when they returned. Initially reluctant to believe them, the guard finally realizes the graveness of their story and takes them to the police station where the case is taken over by an MI-5 agent.
It gradually comes to light that this was not the first case of disappearance that had happened in the London underground; multiple people have been going missing in the same way.
As the film goes on the audience is met with the shocking revelation that it was all the work of a cannibal who was living in London’s underground.
It is this cannibal who has been kidnapping people to not only feed on them but also to find some companionship.
AdventureHorror
Director:
Ruggero Deodato
Release Date:
Fri Jun 21 1985
Star Cast:
Robert Kerman, Francesca Ciardi, Perry Pirkanen
Budget:
$100,000 (estimated)
This movie tells the story of a curious group of researchers conducting a study on the numerous cannibalistic tribes hiding in the heart of the Amazon.
The initial group of researchers who conducted this study and taped vicious proof of the same went completely missing.
To recover these missing tapes and find the lost group of researchers, an anthropologist named Harold Monroe comes to the Amazon along with his group of seasoned guides.
Here in the Amazon, Monroe comes across the tapes recorded by the previous group of researchers. During their search in the heart of the wild Amazon, Harold and his group end up catching the attention of a cannibalistic group who are unlike anything a white man has laid eyes on before.
The rest of the story focuses on Harold’s discovery of the tapes and his desire to learn the truth despite the danger he is surrounded by.
Horror
Director:
Marcus Nispel
Release Date:
Fri Oct 17 2003
Star Cast:
Jessica Biel, Jonathan Tucker, Andrew Bryniarski
Budget:
$9,500,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$107,363,905
“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” is a classic horror tale that has been adapted in many future productions. Who does not know of the terrifying Leatherface and his many violent crimes?
The tragedy begins when a girl named Sally discovers that her grandfather’s grave has been vandalized. Highly unsettled by this, she decides to visit the location to investigate matters further and this becomes one of her gravest mistakes.
Sally and her brother decided to settle in their old family farmhouse completely unaware of the fact that they were living next to a family of dangerous cannibals.
One of the cannibals, Leatherface, begins pursuing them and they must find a way to survive this murderous monster.
DramaHorror
Director:
Fruit Chan
Release Date:
Thu Aug 19 2004
Star Cast:
Bai Ling, Miriam Chin-Wah Yeung, Sum-Yeung Wong
Box Office (Worldwide):
$763,552
The story of “Dumplings” takes place in Hong Kong where a renowned chef named Aunt Mei. Aunt Mei is especially famous for her dumplings which have some brilliant qualities.
These dumplings can rejuvenate anyone and return their youthful glow. This particular quality has made her dumplings famous far and wide but no one seems to know what the secret ingredient for her dumplings are.
One day, an actress comes to her seeking help. She wants her dumplings to regain her youthful beauty so that she can enjoy her husband’s affection again.
It is to this very actress that Aunt Mei confesses that she had performed thousands of abortions during the time she was living in China.
When the actress kept asking for accelerated production of these dumplings, her needs could not be met until a 15-year-old came to Aunt Mei for an abortion.
HorrorThriller
Director:
Rob Schmidt
Release Date:
Fri May 30 2003
Star Cast:
Eliza Dushku, Jeremy Sisto, Emmanuelle Chriqui
Budget:
$12,600,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$28,650,575
“Wrong Turn” tells the story of a group of friends who were travelling together but end up being hunted by cannibals due to some unfortunate turn of events.
A group of 5 friends was going on a drive together when their car suddenly broke down right in the middle of the woods.
A few moments later a motorist named Chris came and crashed into this already broken-down car. Now the group of 5 friends found themselves stranded in the middle of the deep woods with no help in sight.
The situation turns even more grave when they discover that they are being watched and followed by a group of backwoods cannibals.
These cannibals seem like hungry savages waiting to ruthlessly hunt them down. The only way for Chris and his group of 5 pals to escape this situation is to find a way to outsmart these savages.
AdventureComedy
Director:
Nelson Pereira dos Santos
Release Date:
Mon Apr 16 1973
Star Cast:
Arduíno Colassanti, Ana Maria Magalhães, Eduardo Imbassahy Filho
Another one of the 1970s cannibal classics. The story of “How Tasty Was My Little Frenchman” pursues the story of a misunderstood Frenchman who falls victim to a grave tragedy.
In Brazil, there lives a tribe of Indians who have aligned themselves with the French. This tribe considers the Portuguese as their enemy.
When a Frenchman is caught by this tribe, they believe him to be Portuguese despite his repeated protests. He is eventually captured and kept in captivity.
Later, he uses some explosive powder left behind by the Portuguese to attack and defeats the enemy. Instead of praising his efforts, the cannibalistic Indians decide to repay him in a much more devious and malevolent way.
AdventureHorror
Director:
Eli Roth
Release Date:
Fri Sep 25 2015
Star Cast:
Lorenza Izzo, Ariel Levy, Aaron Burns
Budget:
$5,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$12,666,449
While we have come across villainous cannibalistic individuals, families, and even viruses, most of these cannibal films do not focus on the jungle scene.
The existence of cannibalistic tribes in the wild is no myth. Time and again researchers have confirmed that consumption of human flesh is not uncommon amongst some barbaric tribes.
In the movie “The Green Inferno” we come across such a tribe. It all begins when two naïve environmentalists trespass into dangerous territory and end up on the dinner menu for a man-eating tribe.
The main plot of the story revolves around 2 characters – Justine and Alejandro. Justine is a lawyer’s daughter who is smitten by Alejandro’s dedication to preserving the Amazon.
Highly impressed, Justine decides to join him in this cause. However, both of them are met with a terrible and unforeseen situation in the wild jungles.
Drama
Director:
Pier Paolo Pasolini
Release Date:
Fri Oct 10 1969
Star Cast:
Pierre Clémenti, Jean-Pierre Léaud, Alberto Lionello
“Porcile” explores a set of two disturbing stories, unlike any other films on this list. These two stories give us an estimate of the human capacity for barbarism.
In the first film, we see a man abandoned on a volcanic terrain. Wandering alone, he gradually develops into a cannibal.
He loses his sense of reason and sanity and finds self-acceptance within it. In the second story, we see a disturbing portrayal of bestiality.
A son of a wealthy German industrialist is dissatisfied with his current life. He does not feel satisfied with his fiancé.
He eventually leaves her to pursue his true passion – which is his disturbing love for pigs.
BiographyCrimeDrama
Director:
Ulli Lommel
Release Date:
Thu Jul 12 1973
Star Cast:
Kurt Raab, Jeff Roden, Margit Carstensen
Budget:
DEM 250,000 (estimated)
The film “Tenderness of the Wolves” has been inspired by the true story of Fritz Harmann, also known as the Vampire of Hanover.
This German serial killer is not exactly a cannibal himself but makes unsuspecting people consume the flesh of other human beings.
This is somewhat similar to the narrative of “Sweeney Todd” and “Motel Hell”. Fritz is a police informant and makes smart use of his position to perform his killings.
Fritz was active during the disturbing times between wars. He would usually prey on young men and boys during a period filled with crisis and turmoil.
He had a unique way of disposing of the bodies of those he killed. He would cut up the corpses of his victims and sell large chunks of the meat to various restaurants and dump anything remaining out of sight.
Drama
Director:
Michael Landon Jr.
Release Date:
Fri Feb 9 2007
Star Cast:
Louise Fletcher, Henry Thomas, Liana Liberato
Budget:
$2,200,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$388,390
“Eater” is among one of the lesser-known cannibal movies of the last decade. However, its thrilling plot and nerve-wracking air of mystery have given it a glorious spot on our list.
It centres around the fear and havoc caused by a cannibalistic murderer who somehow managed to escape prison. The primary character of this movie is a policeman named Bannerman.
Bannerman is only a rookie cop whose financial condition is nothing to brag about. To make ends meet, he takes the graveyard shift working late at night for the NYPD.
During his late-night shifts, Officer Bannerman constantly feels a devious presence around him. He feels like someone is stalking him.
This was happening around the time when there were ongoing rumours about a notorious cannibal having escaped prison.
AdventureCrimeDrama
Director:
Peter Webber
Release Date:
Fri Feb 9 2007
Star Cast:
Gaspard Ulliel, Rhys Ifans, Gong Li
Budget:
$50,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$82,169,884
Multiple films and adaptations have been made of the famous classical cannibal character called Hannibal Lecter. This film focuses on a certain aspect of Hannibal’s journey.
While he is indeed a cannibal, his hunt for people in this movie has a deeper and greater aim.
Young Hannibal had lost his parents during the notorious Second World War. After losing his parents, he decided to move in with another family member – his beautiful aunt.
However, Hannibal was not planning on living a quiet life at his aunt’s house, he had revenge on his mind.
Hannibal spent his days plotting revenge against the gang of barbaric villains who were responsible for the death of his dear sister.
ComedyHorror
Director:
Herschell Gordon Lewis
Release Date:
Tue Jul 29 2003
Star Cast:
Trey Bosworth, Lavelle Higgins, Mark McLachlan
This movie gives you a good mix of paranormal and gore and is a must-watch for both horror and psycho-thriller fans.
The main plot of the story centres around a man called Fuad. When Fuad returns to Miami, he focuses on re-starting his grandfather’s catering business.
The town sheriff, however, holds a bad opinion regarding Fuad’s family. Nevertheless. Fuad is called to cater for the sheriff’s wedding by the sheriff’s mother-in-law.
However, after coming across the statue of an old Egyptian goddess, Fuad becomes possessed. Instead of preparing a regular meal, he now decides to prepare a blood feast – a feast made out of the flesh of murdered bridesmaids.
Horror
Director:
Joe D'Amato
Release Date:
Fri Oct 9 1981
Star Cast:
Tisa Farrow, Saverio Vallone, Serena Grandi
“Anthropophagus” is a delicious mix of mystery and terror. When a group of tourists decided they wanted to take a boat ride to a particular remote island, none of them could have predicted the horrors that await them there.
Upon reaching the island, the tourist group noticed that most of the residents there were missing. Moreover, they also felt the sinister presence of someone stalking them.
Eventually, their journey leads them to a mysterious diary containing clues regarding the island's disturbing occurrences. The group must decipher the clues and find a way to escape the monster trailing them.
Their stalker is far from an ordinary person but is a disfigured murderer with a taste for the human flesh.
AdventureHorror
Director:
Sergio Martino
Release Date:
Fri Apr 13 1979
Star Cast:
Ursula Andress, Stacy Keach, Claudio Cassinelli
The 70s saw a lot of good Italian cannibal movies. The movie “Slave of the Cannibal God” stood out in its own way even amongst the plethora of cannibal movies released during the time.
The movie features two American actors as its main characters. This is another cannibal movie that focuses on brutalities committed in the wild.
The main plot of the story centres around the disappearance of a certain man and the train of events that it leads to.
A young woman along with her brother decided to fly to New Guinea one day. The cause of this trip was the mysterious disappearance of the woman’s husband.
However, upon further investigation, the siblings uncover a truth far more disturbing than they could have imagined; the woman’s husband had been kidnapped by cannibals.
ComedyHorror
Director:
Ivan Reitman
Star Cast:
Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Ronald Ulrich
“Cannibal Girls” is a classic Canadian horror story that centres around the existence of a cannibalistic urban legend about three women who lure unsuspecting men back to their place to eat them.
The main story of the film focuses on the unfortunate events that take place in the life of a couple who simply wanted to enjoy their honeymoon.
During their honeymoon trip to a remote place, this couple decided to spend a night at a bed and breakfast.
This bed and breakfast is run by a trio of ladies who are not what they seem to be.
As the unsuspecting couple decides to spend a quiet night together, the trio of women plots of having them as their next meal.
Faced with such an abnormal situation, the couple is often found wondering whether they are indeed facing reality or if it’s all a dream.
ActionComedyHorror
Director:
Hark Tsui
Release Date:
Wed Apr 2 1980
Star Cast:
Norman Chu, Eddy Ko, Melvin Wong
“We’re Going to Eat You” is another classic cannibal story filled with thrill and horror. It explores the journey of a secret agent who ends up in a deadly situation unlike any he has experienced before.
The secret agent, with the code 999, was in pursuit of a thief named Rolex. In his pursuit, he ended up following Rolex’s trail to a village.
However, unknown to Agent 999, this was no ordinary village; all the villagers were cannibals. They followed a devious cannibalistic ritual of capturing any wandering visitors and eating them.
Agent 999 almost fell prey to these cannibalistic monsters but was saved in the nick of time by Rolex.
Finally, the agent did manage to escape, and not just by himself, he had a lovely lady by his side too.
CrimeDramaHorror
Director:
Eloy de la Iglesia
Star Cast:
Vicente Parra, Emma Cohen, Eusebio Poncela
The story of this movie focuses on the unfortunate events that occur in the life of a man named Marcos that slowly turns him into a killer.
At the beginning of the movie, we see Marcos as a poor and humble man. He lives deplorably and works at the local slaughterhouse but never seems to complain about the perilous state of his life.
He even has a girlfriend name Paula but their relationship had to be kept secret because Paula’s father wouldn’t approve of him.
One night, while travelling with Paula in a Taxi, Marcos gets into a fight with a taxi driver and kills him; that was his first kill.
Later, when Paula was going to confess the crime to the police, Marcos had to strangle her too so that he could avoid getting arrested.
To hide his crimes, he now had to keep committing multiple murders. However, with the bodies piling up, Marcos must find a smart way to dispose of them.
DramaFantasy
Director:
Marina de Van
Release Date:
Sat Oct 6 2012
Star Cast:
Denis Lavant, Adrien de Van, Rachel Arditi
While we consider cannibalistic films to be more of an adult genre, we forget that children’s fairy tales have spared no horrors.
The story of “Hop-o'-My-Thumb” is quite similar to the tale of “Hansel and Gretel” by the brothers Grimm. The plot of this movie is fantastical and follows a fairy-tale-like structure with all the thrilling horrors of a good cannibal movie.
This story does not have a large adult cast and mainly features children who must find a way to survive in the face of grave danger.
The main character of this story is a young boy named Hop. Hop and his brothers are suddenly abandoned by their parents one day.
Alone and desperate, they take shelter in the cottage of a strange woman. However, it is hardly a safe space.
The woman soon warns them that her husband is a cannibalistic ogre who loves the taste of human flesh.
ComedyHorrorSci-Fi
Director:
Jake West
Release Date:
Fri Jun 12 2009
Star Cast:
Danny Dyer, Noel Clarke, Emil Marwa
Budget:
$4,000,000 (estimated)
Box Office (Worldwide):
$179,836
The movie “Doghouse” is a classic example of the British slapstick comedy genre. It tells the tale of a simple boys’ weekend that went horribly wrong.
One of the main characters, Vince, is very upset over his recent divorce. In order to cheer him up, Vince’s friends plan a boys’ trip to a remote village.
However, upon arriving at this place they notice something strange - there are hardly any women there. They were almost about to leave when they saw a little girl being confronted by a soldier.
One of the guys rushes to the girl’s aid but the girl stabs him instead. Later, the gang discovers that the women of this village have been infected by a strange disease.
The soldier they had met earlier tells them that the women of this village have fallen prey to a deadly biological agent that has turned them into man-hating cannibals.
AdventureHorror
Director:
Ruggero Deodato
Release Date:
Fri Mar 24 1978
Star Cast:
Massimo Foschi, Me Me Lai, Ivan Rassimov
This movie is another rare find that focuses mainly on the cannibalistic tendencies in the wild. However, unlike “The Green Inferno”, the victims of this movie did not end up in the jungle of their own accord.
The tragedy primarily began with a plane crash. One of the survivors of the plane crash finds himself separated from the rest of his group and stranded in the middle of the deadly wild.
He ventures out to find a way out of the jungle. However, in his search for a way out, he is noticed by a dangerous, cannibalistic tribe and captured by them for the sake of consumption.
After he somehow manages to escape the tribe’s clutches, he must venture out into the wild once again. The movie shows his desperate search for his comrades and his crashed plane so that he is finally able to escape the malevolent wild.
DramaFantasyHorror
Director:
Antonio Margheriti
Release Date:
Fri Sep 18 1981
Star Cast:
John Saxon, Elizabeth Turner, Giovanni Lombardo Radice
This particular movie serves both war and gore. It has been somewhat inspired by the classic movie on the Vietnam War called “Apocalypse Now”.
Even though quite ludicrous, this movie quickly became a cult favourite. Just like its name, the movie depicts an apocalyptic situation that is similar to the Zombie apocalypse movies that you might have seen.
The only difference is, instead of zombies, this movie serves Cannibals. It all begins when two war veterans return from war infected by a strange virus.
This virus can turn any walking, breathing man into a cannibal. Just like in the case of zombies, it spreads through bites.
After these 2 return, the streets of Atlanta are engulfed in chaos and mayhem. Bloodthirsty cannibals cause havoc on the streets as the deadly virus continues to spread.
Horror
Director:
Jordan F. Ghanma
Release Date:
Tue Dec 5 2017
Star Cast:
Cynthia Aileen Strahan, Marcus D. Spencer, Julia Heller
Budget:
$368,000 (estimated)
The second part of the “Wrong Turn” series takes place in the wild. It all begins when a group of people decides to participate in a reality show.
The reality show had promised them a handsome cash prize if they are able to brave their environment and win the survival game designed for them.
All the contestants are left alone in the middle of nature. The rules are simple, they had to survive in the wild on their own for a period of one week.
However, hunting for food and water was not their only concern for the group of reality contestants had something far worse to fear than just wild animals.
Turns out they had caught the attention of a group of inbred cannibals who were planning on hunting them down and eating them.
The contestants must find a way to protect themselves from this unforeseen and devious threat to escape alive.