When you think of the greatest American filmmakers, a few names likely come to mind: Martin Scorsese. Steven Spielberg. Spike Lee. Kathryn Bigelow. But one name that often gets forgotten when discussing iconic directors is John Carpenter, as he tends to get overlooked or dismissed as a genre movie maker.
18. The Ward (2010)
![Amber Heard holding a knife to Laura-Leigh's throat](https://cdn.statically.io/img/img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-09/1/21/asset/d6cc372deeb4/sub-buzz-3193-1662067852-3.jpg?downsize=700%3A%2A&output-quality=auto&output-format=auto)
17. Village of the Damned (1995)
![Cody Dorkin and Linsdey Haun sitting in a classroom](https://cdn.statically.io/img/img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-09/1/21/asset/ab60311f6639/sub-buzz-3112-1662067971-14.jpg?downsize=700%3A%2A&output-quality=auto&output-format=auto)
16. Vampires (1998)
![James Woods looking exhausted](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-09/1/21/asset/d14d37dc16ae/sub-buzz-3197-1662068163-5.jpg)
15. Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992)
![Chevy Chase and Daryl Hannah sitting on steps](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-09/1/21/asset/d14d37dc16ae/sub-buzz-3197-1662068278-7.jpg)
14. Ghost of Mars (2001)
![Ice Cube looking concerned](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-09/1/21/asset/57a01bb9b1b2/sub-buzz-3108-1662068434-4.png)
13. Escape from L.A. (1996)
![Kurt Russell and Stacy Keach riding motorcycles](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-09/1/21/asset/ab60311f6639/sub-buzz-3130-1662068531-5.jpg)
12. Dark Star (1974)
![Brian Narelle, Cal Kuniholm, and Dan O'Bannon sitting in a spaceship](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-09/1/21/asset/d14d37dc16ae/sub-buzz-3204-1662068663-14.jpg)
11. Christine (1983)
![Alexandra Paul and Keith Gordon standing by a car](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-09/1/21/asset/d6cc372deeb4/sub-buzz-3207-1662068765-12.jpg)
10. Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
![Kurt Russell and Dennis Dun standing behind a statue](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-09/1/21/asset/d6cc372deeb4/sub-buzz-3224-1662069014-8.jpg)
9. Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)
![a man holding a gun](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-09/1/21/asset/d6cc372deeb4/sub-buzz-3224-1662069172-10.jpg)
8. The Fog (1980)
![Ominous figures standing in the fog](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-09/1/21/asset/ab60311f6639/sub-buzz-3156-1662069221-1.jpg)
7. Starman (1984)
![Karen Allen and Jeff Bridges holding hands](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-09/1/21/asset/d14d37dc16ae/sub-buzz-3239-1662069327-9.jpg)
6. They Live (1988)
![Faceless figures at the bank](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-09/1/21/asset/2076b544c33c/sub-buzz-3267-1662069409-19.jpg)
5. Prince of Darkness (1987)
![Alice Cooper staring menacingly](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-09/1/21/asset/d14d37dc16ae/sub-buzz-3229-1662069514-19.jpg)
4. Escape from New York (1981)
![Kurt Russell pointing a gun](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-09/1/21/asset/2076b544c33c/sub-buzz-3267-1662069594-21.jpg)
3. In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
![Kevin Rushton and Gene Mack holding Sam Neill in a straight jacket](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-09/1/22/asset/ab60311f6639/sub-buzz-3160-1662069721-3.jpg)
2. Halloween (1978)
![Nick Castle behind Jamie Lee Curtis](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-09/1/22/asset/d14d37dc16ae/sub-buzz-3252-1662069822-1.jpg)
1. The Thing (1982)
![Kurt Russell lying in the snow](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2022-09/1/22/asset/d6cc372deeb4/sub-buzz-3246-1662069916-3.jpg)
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