When did horror movies first came out?

It's hard to pinpoint an exact date for the "first" horror movie, as the genre evolved over time. However, some of the earliest films considered to have horror elements date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries:

* 1896: "The Haunted Castle" by Georges Méliès is often cited as one of the first horror films, using special effects to create spooky visuals.

* 1908: "The Curse of the Werewolf" by Segundo de Chomón features a man transforming into a werewolf, showcasing early use of makeup and special effects.

* 1910: "The Tell-Tale Heart" by D.W. Griffith is a silent film adaptation of the Edgar Allan Poe story, demonstrating the potential of horror to create psychological suspense.

These films laid the groundwork for the horror genre as we know it today, with later films like "Frankenstein" (1931) and "Dracula" (1931) further solidifying its popularity.

So, while there's no single definitive "first" horror movie, the early 1900s saw the emergence of films that utilized horror elements to create a new and exciting form of cinematic storytelling.