Historically, the horror genre has had a complicated relationship with the Oscars, but there have been several landmark moments where these films managed to triumph. Here are the most significant cases:

The Big Winners (Major Categories)

The Silence of the Lambs

(1991): It is the only horror film (though often classified as a psychological thriller) to win the "Big Five": Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

The Exorcist

(1973): This was the first horror film ever nominated for Best Picture. It took home two statues: Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound.

Get Out

(2017): A modern masterpiece that won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay (Jordan Peele) and was also nominated for Best Picture.

Misery

(1990): Kathy Bates won Best Actress for her chilling portrayal of Annie Wilkes.

Rosemary's Baby

(1968): Ruth Gordon won for Best Supporting Actress.

Technical and Genre Successes

Jaws

(1975): Often regarded as the original summer blockbuster with horror elements, it won three Oscars: Best Film Editing, Best Sound, and Best Original Score (John Williams' iconic theme).

Bram Stoker's Dracula

(1992): Coppola's film earned three awards: Best Costume Design, Best Makeup, and Best Sound Effects Editing.

An American Werewolf in London

(1981): This was the first film ever to win the Oscar for Best Makeup, a category created specifically to recognize Rick Baker's incredible special effects.

Aliens

(1986): Won for Best Visual Effects and Best Sound Effects Editing.

The Fly

(1986): Won the Oscar for Best Makeup.

The Phantom of the Opera

(1943): Won for Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography.

Notable Mentions

Pan's Labyrinth

(2006): While a dark fantasy with heavy horror elements, it won three Oscars (Cinematography, Art Direction, and Makeup).

Parasite

(2019): Although a genre-bending film with strong social thriller/horror undertones, it made history by winning Best Picture.

In short, while the Academy tends to overlook horror in acting and directing categories, the genre has frequently dominated technical awards (makeup, sound, special effects), with a few rare but memorable exceptions reaching the very top of the cinematic world.