There are even comedic films about home invasions, such as Home Alone or arguably What About Bob, but we’re going to be sticking with horror and serious tension for this look at the best home invasion movies. It’s fascinating to consider that for as long as human beings have been telling stories, there have been depictions of forces invading a home as a profound assault on personal safety. Home invasion movies as its own genre have been around for a lot longer than you might think. Unless you’re exceptionally wealthy, your protections are only going to go but so far. We understand that even with locks and security measures, someone with enough ambition can probably work around our best defenses.

There are few basic plots that can hit closer to real fears shared by many of us, as no one is too terribly concerned about actual zombies, ghosts, dream demons, or mask-wearing mass murder enthusiasts. Any list of the best home invasion movies is going to reveal just how far-reaching this genre can get.