From being vilified in the '80s to becoming hip and trendy in the '90s to being called groundbreaking and experimental in the new millennium, the horror movie has been around the block a few times. Often looked down upon by the critics, the genre has always had its loyal fans who have supported it through thick and thin, sometimes sifting through wastes of celluloid to find that one diamond that makes it all worth it.
Update September 25, 2023: This article has been updated with even more horror films and to reflect the recent slate of releases still scheduled for the year.
Though it's been proclaimed dead on more than one occasion, nothing could be further from the truth. The horror movie has always had a special place in cinematic history, carving its own path toward greatness. Despite what people say, the genre is alive and well today, with 2023's Evil Dead Rise, Scream VI, and The Nun IIproving successful at the box office. Furthermore, with Saw X and The Exorcist: Believer still to be released, it's clear that horror isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Now, then, seems like a good time to take a look at the highest-grossing horror films of all time.
15 Annabelle: Creation (2017) - $306,515,884
Bringing up the rear is 2017's Annabelle: Creation, the fourth film installment in The Conjuring Universe franchise. A prequel to 2014's Annabelle, the film tells the story of a doll-maker and his wife who, after losing their daughter in a tragic car accident, become the targets of one of the doll-maker's possessed creations.
Upon its release, Annabelle: Creation garnered generally positive reviews from critics, who saw it as a big improvement over the first film. While the creepy doll trope has been done time and time before, Annabelle: Creation proved that there is still life in the worn-out subgenre and, in doing so, became a commercial success that took the Conjuring Franchise past the billion-dollar mark
14 Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016) - $312,242,626
At number fourteen is the sixth entry in a film franchise that has been going from over twenty years. 2016's Resident Evil: The Final Chapter is the last installment in the original Resident Evil series before it was rebooted in 2021 with Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City and, like its predecessors, is based on the video game series of the same name. It stars Milla Jovovich as Alice, who, once again, takes on the Umbrella Corporation for one final fight.
While it gained a negative response equal to that of the films that came before it, The Final Chapter did become the highest-grossing entry in the series, earning over $310 million on a $40 million budget.
13 The Conjuring (2013) - $319,494,638
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The original The Conjuring film not only became one of the highest-grossing horror films of all time when it was released in 2013 but also kick-started a cinematic universe that has made over $2 billion and counting. Starring Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, the film is inspired by the supposedly true encounters of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren and tells the story of a malevolent spirit that inhabits the recently purchased farmhouse belonging to the Perron family.
The Conjuring has received praise for its direction, cinematography, use of practical effects, and for having more depth than most modern horrors. It has been positively compared to The Exorcist and is frequently considered one of the best horror films of the twenty-first century.
12 The Conjuring 2 (2016) - $320,392,818
Having made marginally more than its predecessor and coming in at number twelve is The Conjuring 2. This time, paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren travel to England to assist a single mother whose council house is being haunted by an evil poltergeist.
Loosely based on the supposedly real Enfield poltergeist that plagued the house of the Hodgson family in the 1970s and the real-life Ed and Lorraine Warren investigated, the film was both a critical and commercial success that proved the first one wasn't merely a fluke. Critics once again praised director James Wan, the old-school horror elements, and the visuals. The Conjuring 2 is the second highest-grossing horror sequel of all time.
11 A Quiet Place (2018) - $340,952,971
Just missing out on the top ten is A Quiet Place, one of the most original horror films of the twenty-first century. Directed by John Krasinski, and starring Krasinski himself alongside his real-life wife, Emily Blunt, the film is set in a post-apocalyptic world inhabited by blind creatures who possess an enhanced sense of hearing. The story centers on the Abbott family and their attempts to survive by making as little noise as possible.
Upon its release, A Quiet Place instantly became a hit with both critics and audiences, with many deeming it one of the best and most influential horror movies in years. Much of the praise was directed at the film's technical achievements, as well as its originality and the performances of the cast. The film went on to be nominated for several awards, including an Oscar, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, and three Critics Choice Awards. Its sequel, A Quiet Place II, didn't make quite enough money to make the top 15 but is just outside it.
10 Hannibal (2001) - $351,692,268
Tenth on this list is Hannibal, the sequel to the 1991 sensation Silence of the Lambs. Premiering on February 9th, 2001, the film follows the further exploits of FBI agent Clarice Starling as she tries to capture the elusive Hannibal Lecter before one of his surviving victims can.
This time around, Julianne Moore was in the role of Starling, replacing Academy Award winner Jodie Foster, who declined to return after finding the source material too lurid. Still, anticipations were high for Hannibal, and they did not disappoint. It had the largest opening weekend for any R-rated film at the time, raking in $58 million dollars.
9 The Nun (2018) - $365,550,119
At number nine on the list, we have the fifth installment in The Conjuring Universe, The Nun, which debuted on September 7th, 2018. This spin-off of The Conjuring 2 had Taissa Farmiga in the lead role, as she played a nun in her novitiate trying to get to the bottom of an unholy secret in 1952 Romania.
While criticized for its weak plot, The Nun garnered praise for its eerie atmosphere and excellent performances. Despite the criticism, though, audiences flocked to the theater to see what the demonic nun, Valak, would do next, causing The Nun to be the highest-grossing film in the entire franchise thus far. With its sequel, The Nun II, currently topping the box office, the original might have some stiff competition on its hands.
8 Prometheus (2012) - $403,354,469
Number eight on the list is the sci-fi horror blockbuster Prometheus, which was directed by Ridley Scott and hit theaters on June 8, 2012. A somewhat quasi-prequel to the 1979 hit Alien, Prometheus carved its own path and story, separating itself from those that came before it despite being set in the same universe.
Nominated for Best Visual Effects at the Academy Awards, the film follows a crew of space explorers trying to uncover the origins of humanity, but instead, they discover a terrifying threat that could spell the end of our species. Though it failed to meet studio expectations, Prometheus was a hit with audiences and was followed up with a sequel, Alien: Covenant, in 2017.
7 Signs (2002) - $408,247,917
Coming in at number seven on the list is the M. Night Shyamalan movie Signs, which hit theaters on August 2, 2002. Starring Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix, the film follows a former priest and his family as they discover a series of crop circles leading up to an alien invasion of Earth.
Expertly paced, peppered with humor, and filled with enough suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat, Signs was the biggest opening weekend of Mel Gibson's acting career, grossing over $60 million dollars. It has gone on to be largely remembered for the birthday party scene, which has made several lists for one of the scariest moments in movie history.
6 The Exorcist (1973) - $441,306,145
Our number sixth entry is the very first horror film to ever be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, The Exorcist. Directed by the late great William Friedkin and based on the book by William Peter Blatty (who also penned the screenplay), The Exorcist tells the terrifying tale of a little girl possessed by demons and her subsequent exorcism by two Catholic priests.
Heralded as one of the scariest horror films ever made, it held the top spot as the highest-grossing R-rated horror film for nearly 45 years before it was dethroned in 2017. The cultural effects of The Exorcist can still be felt today, and it set the standard for every demonic possession film to follow. Audiences are eagerly awaiting The Exorcist: Believer, which is set to open in theaters on October 6, 2023.
5 IT: Chapter Two (2019) - $473,093,228
Set 27 years after the events in the previous film, IT: Chapter Two comes in at number five on the list. Directed by Andy Muschietti and based on the gargantuan Stephen King novel, It Chapter Two tells the story of the Loser's Club, now all grown up, as they look to finally rid Derry of the menacing force known as It.
With Bill Skarsgård returning to play Pennywise, the movie also starred the likes of James McAvoy, Bill Hader, Jessica Chastain, and Isaiah Mustafa. With the success of the first film, it's no surprise that audiences were clamoring to see the sequel, bringing its opening weekend total to a massive $91 million dollars. Thankfully, this isn't the end for the franchise, as a prequel series is in the works for Max, which will explore the origins of Pennywise the Clown.
4 World War Z (2013) - $540,007,876
At number four on the list, we have the Marc Foster zombie epic, World War Z, which premiered in theaters on June 21st of that year. Based on the Max Brooks novel of the same name, there was actually a bidding war between Leonardo DiCaprio's production company, Appian Way, and the production company owned by Brad Pitt, Plan B Entertainment. Pitt secured the rights, paving the way for him to star in the movie, which follows a former United Nations investigator traveling the world in order to find a cure for the zombie apocalypse.
Despite complaints from die-hard fans that the film deviated from the source material, World War Z was a huge hit. It scared up $66.4 million dollars in its opening weekend, making it the biggest opening for a Brad Pitt film ever. That was enough to secure a win at the Saturn Awards, where it won Best Thriller of the Year.
3 I Am Legend (2007) - $585,349,101
Loosely based on the 1954 novel by Richard Matheson, I Am Legend hit theaters on December 14, 2007, and takes the number three spot on the list. The film stars Will Smith as virologist Robert Neville, trying to find the cure for a virus that has left him the last human alive in New York...or has it? With his trusty German Shepard, Sam, by his side, he battles nocturnal mutants in this apocalyptic thriller that earned $77.2 million dollars in its opening weekend.
While I Am Legend diverged from the source material quite a bit, there was no denying Will Smith's effortless performance in the lead role. As of right now, a sequel is in the works, but no details are available other than confirmation that it will feature Creed star Michael B. Jordan.
2 The Sixth Sense (1999) - $672,806,292
Sliding into the number two spot is the second M. Night Shyamalan film on the list, The Sixth Sense. Released on August 6, 1999, and nominated for six Academy Awards, the movie stars Bruce Willis as a child psychologist who takes on Haley Joel Osment as a patient who can see dead people.
Praised for its ghostly frights and a twist ending that no one saw coming (and if anyone says they did, they're lying), The Sixth Sense solidified Shyamalan as a box office draw and a writer/director that would take audiences on a wild ride, only to pull the rug out from under them at the very end. Receiving several accolades for its script and performances, it's not only remembered for its ending but the often uttered line, "I see dead people," which has become part of pop culture vernacular.
1 IT: Chapter One (2017) - $700,381,759
Taking the top spot on the list is IT: Chapter One, the bona fide blockbuster which premiered on September 8, 2017. Earning a staggering $123.4 million dollars worldwide in its opening weekend, this one sees the Loser's Club as children terrorized by the evil entity known as It while at the same time dealing with their own personal demons at home. Like the sequel, this one was directed by Andy Muschietti and features Bill Skarsgård in the role of Pennywise the Clown, but this time, we're treated to performances from such young actors as Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Jaeden Lieberher, and Chosen Jacobs.
Praised for its scares, atmosphere, cinematography, and cast, It Chapter One might just be the perfect horror film. Audiences certainly thought so, and while the sequel doesn't get enough love when watched as one long cinematic experience, the It saga is one of the best Stephen King adaptations of all time.