The highest-grossing horror movies in history

M. Night Shyamalan's psychological thriller is renowned for its shocking twist ending and profound emotional depth, sparking widespread discussion and solidifying its status as a horror classic. It demonstrated the genre's capacity for both critical acclaim and massive commercial success.

Often credited with inventing the summer blockbuster, 'Jaws' is a masterpiece of suspense that terrified audiences and revolutionized Hollywood's approach to film releases. Its iconic score and effective, slow-burn horror have given it timeless appeal and massive financial success.

One of the most controversial and influential horror films ever made, 'The Exorcist' shocked audiences with its disturbing content and achieved massive financial success. Its enduring popularity, multiple theatrical releases, and critical acclaim make it a foundational horror film.

Starring Will Smith, this post-apocalyptic horror film successfully blended sci-fi elements with a bleak, emotional narrative. Its compelling premise and Smith's powerful solo performance resonated widely, making it a significant box office success.

Another successful M. Night Shyamalan film, 'Signs' delivered suspense and supernatural thrills, proving his continued ability to draw large audiences to the horror genre. Its unique take on an alien invasion story resonated with viewers globally.

This zombie apocalypse film achieved a massive worldwide gross by successfully combining large-scale action with horror elements, appealing to a broad audience. It was marketed as a big, action-oriented summer blockbuster, which contributed to its significant financial success.

This sci-fi horror prequel to the 'Alien' franchise achieved a strong worldwide gross, demonstrating the continued draw of the 'Alien' universe and Ridley Scott's directorial vision. It expanded the lore of the iconic series while delivering its own unique scares.

This adaptation of Stephen King's novel became the highest-grossing horror film of all time, captivating audiences with its terrifying portrayal of Pennywise and a compelling coming-of-age story. Its blend of nostalgia, strong performances, and effective scares made it a cultural phenomenon.

This critically acclaimed film redefined creature-feature horror with its innovative use of sound and suspense, becoming a major box office hit and spawning a successful franchise. Its unique premise and intense atmosphere captivated audiences globally.

This original film launched 'The Conjuring' universe, praised for its effective scares and compelling story based on real-life paranormal investigators. Its success established a new benchmark for modern supernatural horror and initiated a highly profitable franchise.

The highly anticipated sequel to 'It' continued the story of the Losers' Club, delivering on the scale and spectacle expected after the first film's success. It further solidified the 'It' franchise as a major horror powerhouse, drawing significant box office returns.

The sequel continued the popular 'Conjuring' series, further expanding its cinematic universe and maintaining strong audience engagement. Its effective scares and compelling story, based on real-life paranormal investigators, contributed to its high gross.

The sequel to 'The Silence of the Lambs,' this film continued the story of Hannibal Lecter, drawing significant interest due to the iconic character and the success of its predecessor. Its dark psychological themes and suspenseful narrative contributed to its high box office performance.

Another successful entry in the long-running 'Alien' franchise, 'Romulus' demonstrates the enduring appeal of the xenomorph and the sci-fi horror subgenre. Its strong performance in 2024 highlights the continued relevance of the iconic creature and universe.

This long-awaited sequel to the beloved 1988 film demonstrated significant audience interest, proving the enduring appeal of classic horror-comedy properties. Its strong box office performance in 2024 highlights the power of nostalgia and established characters.

As a recent entry in the highly successful 'Conjuring' universe, this film capitalized on years of audience investment in the fictionalized accounts of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. Its strong performance in 2025 indicates the continued power of established horror franchises.

As a prequel within 'The Conjuring' universe, 'The Nun' capitalized on the franchise's popularity, proving the strength of interconnected horror narratives. Its focus on a terrifying demonic entity resonated with audiences, contributing to its high gross.

An R-rated horror film that also functions as a gangster film and musical, 'Sinners' defied expectations to become a box office phenomenon in 2025. Its success highlights that original concepts can still achieve massive success in the horror genre.

The latest installment in the popular 'Final Destination' franchise, this film shows the continued draw of its unique premise where characters try to cheat death. Its anticipated release in 2025 demonstrates the enduring appeal of the series' inventive death sequences.