The Best Tobe Hooper Movies, Ranked
40 credits from 1965 to 2025, ranked by the Movie Echo Score — a blend of critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. The biggest box office hit is Poltergeist (1982) with $77.2M worldwide. Below: the best films by genre and by decade, the most awarded and the newest releases.
Biggest Tobe Hooper Box Office Hits
Tobe Hooper's films have made $143M worldwide in total. Poltergeist (1982) is the biggest hit at $77.2M, ahead of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) ($30.9M). Lifetime grosses, with each film's domestic share.
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Poltergeist 1982 · Horror $77.2M $77.2M dom. - 2
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 1974 · Mystery $30.9M $30.9M dom. - 3
Lifeforce 1985 · Action $11.6M $11.6M dom. - 4
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 1986 · Horror $8.03M $8.03M dom. - 5
The Funhouse 1981 · Horror $7.89M $7.89M dom. - 6
Invaders from Mars 1986 · Sci-Fi $4.88M $4.88M dom. - 7
The Mangler 1995 · Mystery $1.78M $1.78M dom. - 8
Mortuary 2005 · Horror $895K - 9
Toolbox Murders 2004 · Mystery $188K
The Best Tobe Hooper Movie in Every Genre
The best-rated film in each genre Tobe Hooper has worked in, the genres with the most films first. Horror leads with 7 films, and Poltergeist (1982) is the pick of them.
The Best Tobe Hooper Movie of Each Decade
One pick per decade of Tobe Hooper's career, newest decade first: the best-rated film of each ten years, from 1970s to 2000s.
The Latest Tobe Hooper Movies
The most recent films Tobe Hooper is credited on, newest first — starting with Dance of the Dead (2005). Open any of them for the cast, ratings, box office and where to watch.
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Dance of the Dead 2005 · Director - Mortuary 2005 · Director
- Toolbox Murders 2004 · Director
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Crocodile 2000 · Director -
The Apartment Complex 1999 · Director -
Dark Skies 1996 · Director - The Mangler 1995 · Director
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Night Terrors 1993 · Director -
Body Bags 1993 · Director -
I’m Dangerous Tonight 1990 · Director -
Freddy’s Nightmares: No More Mr. Nice Guy 1988 · Director - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 1986 · Director
The Best Tobe Hooper Movies: Questions & Answers
The best-rated, highest-grossing, most awarded and newest Tobe Hooper films, answered from the rankings on this page.
What is the highest-grossing Tobe Hooper movie?
Poltergeist (1982) made the most at the box office, with $77.2M worldwide, followed by The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) with $30.9M. Together, Tobe Hooper's films with box office figures have made $143M.
Which Tobe Hooper movie won the most awards?
Poltergeist (1982) is the most decorated Tobe Hooper film, with 3 wins from 9 nominations across the Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA and the other ceremonies in the awards database.
What is the best Tobe Hooper horror movie?
Poltergeist (1982) is the best-rated of Tobe Hooper's horror films. In other genres: Invaders from Mars (sci-fi), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (mystery) and Lifeforce (action).
What is the newest Tobe Hooper movie?
The newest film on Tobe Hooper's filmography is The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault (2025), with Tobe Hooper as Self.
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