'The Exorcist' named as scariest film of all time

'The Exorcist' has been named the scariest film of all time, while the top horror villain was Hannibal Lector, according to a new survey today.

A poll of more than 5,000 film fans by Internet giant MSN Movies found one in five were most frightened by 'The Exorcist', followed by the 'Saw' series and Jack Nicholson's 'The Shining'.

Other films in the top ten included 'The Omen', 'Jaws' and 'The Blair Witch Project'.

More than a third of those questioned named the portrayal by Anthony Hopkins of Hannibal Lector in 'The Silence of the Lambs' as the top horror villain, followed by the 'Alien'.

Horror heroes included Elen Ripley in 'Alien', Jodie Foster's Clarence Starling in 'The Silence of the Lambs' and Chief Martin Brody in 'Jaws'.

Fans voted the theme from 'Jaws' as the scariest horror music.