Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy are certainly trusted sources when it comes to horror. Having starred in one of the most visually beautiful and complex horror shows on television, the Hannibal Lecter and Will Graham actors certainly know what they are talking about when it comes to a good scare. Although their preferred method of spook seems to be psychological, they don’t seem averse to the classic scare that everyone loves from time to time.

Keeping this in mind, it can be assumed that Dancy and Mikkelsen would have excellent taste in horror films because of their line of work. With this in mind, they were asked about their favorite movies in the genre, and they did not disappoint.

Although talks of a Season 4 of Hannibal are still hypothetical, Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy still attend conventions to meet fans, regardless of whether they are providing us with more Hannigram or not. Most recently, the two attended the Emerald City Comic Con 2025, where they were asked quite interesting questions (via Popverse).

Considering the genre that their beloved series is in, the pair was asked about their favorite horror movie stories. At first, they were overwhelmed by how open-ended the question was, as it allowed them to answer from the entire genre as a whole. But soon, the answers began to pour in, and they were certainly interesting.

Dancy confessed that if there is one film that he truly adored in its entirety, it is Nosferatu. While the immediate thought jumps to the recently released Robert Eggers’ version of the same, the actor clarified that he was talking about the original 1922 classic. Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror is timeless in every definition of the word, having a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The film was the first to mainstream the concept of vampires in the media and made them terrifying, rather than glorified. Thankfully, Dancy’s confession could not come at a better time, as the film has become very easy to stream. Starting off, it is available for free on Plex, as well as for streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Fandango. It is also available for rent on Apple TV.

Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror wasn’t the only film that Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelsen stated as being their favorite work in the horror genre. Dancy mentioned another film, stating that he was a big fan of The Shining. It is not an unexpected choice as it is an excellent horror movie adaptation of a Stephen King classic.

The film has an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and stands as one of the most culturally significant moments in the entire genre. It featured Jack Nicholson, Shelly Duvall, and even Philip Stone. With this, it is safe to say that Dancy made an excellent choice when he put this on his list. Finally, Mikkelsen took his turn and took somewhat of an emotional approach when it comes to his favorite horror movie.

Mikkelsen confessed that 1978’s Halloween holds a special place in his heart. Since the film was released when he was very young, he wasn’t allowed to watch it in the theaters. However, this did not stop the intrigue he had for it. It would seem that Mikkelsen’s brother also spoiled the entire film for him, telling intricate details about it.

For me, it was the first Halloween film. I snuck into the movies when I was too young for it, and my brother had seen it and he just pitched it to me, like, 50 times and I was just listening to him. And then I eventually, when I came in and saw it… I was frozen in the seat even though I knew everything that was happening.

Finally, the actor snuck into the theater and watched the film, and the spoilers did not diminish the quality of the film in the slightest. This makes sense, considering the John Carpenter classic is regarded as one of the most iconic and significant films in the slasher genre. With the picks that Mikkelsen and Dancy made, it is fair to say that they have excellent taste.

and Halloween (1978) are available for streaming on Apple TV and Netflix, respectively.