Beast is a film that follows in the pawprints of many feline horrors before it. Here are 10 of the best according to IMDb.

Idris Elba stars in Baltasar Kormákur's new survival horror Beast, which was released in theaters last month. At a time of global climate anxiety and receding ecosystems, it makes sense that filmmakers should turn their attention to the eco-horror subgenre to express these anxieties, but the concept of a killer cat is by no means original.

Feline creatures have taken center stage in some of the most chilling horrors in cinema history. From bloodthirsty lions and tigers, to cat-like vampires and sinister domestic cats, these films have their fans looking differently at the animal curled up on their laps. Here are the best feline horrors ranked according to their IMDb ratings.

Based on true events, Darrell Roodt's survival horror Prey tells the tale of a family vacation gone horribly wrong when they find themselves lost in a game reserve and stalked by lions. The film's tagline bleakly reads, "out here you're the endangered species."

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Many viewers liken the plot to Stephen King's Cujo but with lions, claiming that the entire film is basically the classic novel's climax stretched out for 80 minutes. It also shares similarities with Beast itself, which was released sixteen years later.

As well as writing novels about killer dogs, legendary author Stephen King has also penned his fair share of feline horrors. One such horror, Sleepwalkers, was the first King movie written for screen first. It centers around a mother-son duo of energy vampires who transform into humanoid cat-like creatures but are ironically afraid of cats.

The film is a foray into the weirder side of King's imagination. Fans of the film are often hesitant to admit their admiration, perhaps due to its campy nature and creepy depiction of the mother-son relationship.

The Dutch horror/thriller Prooi (Prey in English) shares with its aforementioned namesake the premise of a lion wreaking havoc, but with one crucial difference; this lion stalks its prey on the streets of Amsterdam rather than in an African game reserve.

Director Dick Maas is accredited for his execution of outlandish concepts, including killer elevators in Down and murderous scuba-divers in Amsterdamned. It is no surprise then that his most recent feature is well-received by fans, despite it being considered a flop in his home country.

In this anthology film, Peter Cushing stars as a horror writer who believes that cats are supernatural beings that are more powerful than humans realize. In an attempt to make others believe him, he pens a book containing three tales that outline these thoughts.

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The stories depict three accounts of feline vengeance, taking place in London, Quebec, and Hollywood respectively. Critics might call the concept ludicrous, but fans argue that it is a fun film that is appreciated best when approached with imagination and an open mind.

A premise in which a woman and her younger brother are trapped in a house with a vicious tiger during a hurricane sounds a little convoluted, but it is effectively executed in the Carlos Brooks horror/thriller Burning Bright.

Fans praise the film as an engaging and intense thriller that provokes fear without relying on gore or a high body count to do so. The overall IMDb rating might be harmed by the far-fetched nature of the plot, but it is the thought of being trapped in a place that people should feel safe that makes the film so unsettling.

The Idris Elba led survival thriller Beast shares a concept with its predecessor Prey, but with a stylishly up-to-date execution. In it, Dr Nate Samuels (Elba) and his teenage daughters are hunted down by a rogue lion while on vacation at the Mopani Reserve.

Writing for Rogert Ebert, critic Odie Henderson highlights the similarities between the two lion films, but concedes that Beast "requires a lot more suspension of disbelief." Some viewers are less forgiving, while others enjoy the straight-to-the-point nature of this action-packed picture.

The erotic horror film Cat People stars Nastassja Kinski as a young woman whose sexual urges transform her into a black leopard. The film is a remake of the 1942 film of the same name, with many fans of the original praising this retelling of the story, even if they still prefer the older version.

Its respectable IMDb rating is reflective of the film's hypnotic effect on audiences. Cast performances are credited in positive reviews, but it is generally understood why the film might be seen as too much in the eyes of some viewers.

Like The Uncanny, Stephen King's Cat's Eye is an anthology horror film, but unlike its predecessor, cats are not the villains in these stories. Instead, they are told from the perspective of a stray cat who is the linking element between the terrifying tales.

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At the time of its release, the film was heralded by critics as one of the best adaptations of Stephen King's work so far. Fans appear to be in agreement, commonly describing the film as fun and entertaining. It is unsurprising then, that it remains to be one of the most highly rated horrors to feature a feline creature to this day.

Ryan Reynolds stars in this offbeat comedy horror as a man who is spurred to commit a string of murders by his talking cat, while his talking dog looks on disapprovingly. It is unsurprising that The Voices bemused critics and viewers alike upon its release, but has since gone on to achieve cult status due to its unconventional themes, hilarious plot and gory aesthetic.

The film's dark nature could be the reason behind its slipping under the radar, with Reynolds complaining on Twitter that "it never got its day in court," but its strong IMDb rating is a testament to its positive reception by those who did catch it.

One of the most famous horror films to feature a feline creature at its center is Mary Lambert's adaptation of the Stephen King novel, Pet Sematary. Although the Creed family cat, Church, is not the prime focus of the classic tale, he helps propel the plot forwards when, following his untimely death, he is buried in the pet sematary and is subsequently brought back to life, but changed.

The film was remade in 2019, but the difference in the films' IMDb ratings is revealing of attitudes towards the original and its remake. Lambert's film stays true to the novel and makes for a more authentic, chilling depiction of this King classic, that sees it reign as the highest-rated feline horror according to IMDb.

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Tyler Turner (she/her) is a writer, tutor and workshop facilitator based in Derbyshire, UK. Her poetry and fiction has been published in multiple journals and anthologies. When she isn't writing, she's probably watching a horror movie with her cats.