Top 10 Highest Grossing Horror Movies
It’s a well-known fact that horror movies are a favorite form of entertainment for many. Often, they can be seen as nothing more than fun and games to get the heart racing or scare someone silly. But what might not be so obvious is how much these films have grossed over the years in theaters alone. In this article, we will take a look at ten of the highest grossing horror movies from all time, discussing what makes them stand out from their peers and why people love them so much.
1) It (2017) – $327,481,748
Stephen King’s IT was a massive success upon release in 2017, and for good reason. The movie follows seven children terrorized by an evil clown entity that awakens every three decades to prey on the townsfolk of Derry, Maine. Since its opening, it has grossed more than $327 million domestically, making it the most successful horror movie of all time.
2) The Sixth Sense (1999) – $293,501,675
M. Night Shyamalan’s breakout hit The Sixth Sense follows a troubled young boy who is haunted by spirits that manifest themselves as apparitions he can see and hear. It was a critical darling upon release, winning Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor and Best Original Screenplay. But it also performed very well at the box office, grossing more than $293 million worldwide.
3) Jaws (1975) – $260,000,000
Widely considered one of the greatest horror movies ever made, Steven Spielberg’s Jaws follows a police chief, a marine biologist, and a shark hunter as they attempt to stop a giant great white shark from terrorizing the fictional town of Amity. It was an instant classic when it was released in 1975, and its total domestic gross of more than $260 million has only grown in the years since.
4) Ghostbusters (1984) – $243,622,700
Ghostbusters is one of the most beloved comedies of all time, but it also happens to be a horror movie. When three parapsychologists start a ghost-catching business in New York City, they quickly find themselves dealing with an influx of supernatural activity. It was an instant hit when it was released in 1984, and its total worldwide gross of more than $243 million makes it the fourth highest-grossing horror movie of all time.
5) The Exorcist (1973) – $232,906,035
William Friedkin’s adaptation of the novel by William Peter Blatty follows a young girl whose body is invaded by a demon and her mother’s efforts to have it exorcised. Widely considered one of the most terrifying horror movies ever made, The Exorcist was a box office success upon its release in 1973, grossing more than $232 million worldwide.
6) It: Chapter Two (2019) – $178.2 million
The highly anticipated sequel to 2017’s IT, It: Chapter Two picks up 27 years after the events of the first movie, as the members of the Losers’ Club return to Derry to face off against Pennywise once again. So far, it has grossed more than $178 million at the box office, and is yet another installment in IT’s box office domination.
7) Halloween (2018) – $159.1 million
The most recent entry on this list, David Gordon Green’s Halloween is the eleventh installment in the long-running series about serial killer Michael Myers, who returns to Haddonfield to terrorize Laurie Strode and her family. It was a massive hit when it was released in theaters in 2018 and has already grossed more than $159 million worldwide.
8) Scary Movie (2000) – $157,019,771
Scary Movie is a horror-comedy that pokes fun at some of the most popular horror movies of all time, including Scream, The Blair Witch Project, and I Know What You Did Last Summer. It was a massive success when it was released in 2000, becoming the highest-grossing comedy of all time until The Hangover came along. It has grossed more than $157 million worldwide, making it the eighth highest-grossing horror movie of all time.
9) The Conjuring (2013) – $137,500,000
The Conjuring tells the story of Ed and Lorraine Warren, a pair of paranormal investigators who are called in to help a family that is being terrorized by an evil spirit. It was a critical and commercial success upon its release in 2013, grossing more than $137 million worldwide.
10) The Ring (2002) – $129,048,684
Directed by Gore Verbinski and based on the novel by Koji Suzuki, The Ring follows Seattle news producer Rachel Keller as she investigates a cursed videotape that kills whoever watches it exactly seven days later. It was one of the most successful horror movies of the early 2000s, earning more than $129 million at the box office in 2002.
The horror genre is a diverse one, with some movies being more comedic and others being downright terrifying. We hope you found these facts about the Top 10 Highest Grossing Horror Movies interesting!