With back-to-back hits and more on the way, horror is outperforming superheroes and turning fear into box office gold. Boardroom examines how scary movies are leading the pack in ticket sales.
We’re six months into the year, and it feels like we’re living in a golden age of horror flicks again.
If the first half of 2025 is any indication, the genre isn’t just back; it’s leading the charge at the box office, with films like Sinners, Final Destination: Bloodlines, 28 Years Later, and M3GAN 2.0 generating significant revenue. I can’t remember a time when horror movies were released this frequently, and I have to admit, I’m enjoying it. Not only are they driving revenue, but they’re also generating the kind of social chatter and meme-worthy moments usually reserved for superhero franchises and Oscar bait.
To understand just how dominant horror has been, let’s break down the films that have defined the genre’s resurgence so far this year.
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Horror at the Box Office
Let’s start with Sinners, which hit theaters on April 18. The highly anticipated Southern Gothic vampire film generated $364.5 million worldwide during its two-month stint in theaters, with $278 million coming from domestic box offices, according to Box Office Mojo data. Of that total, Sinners earned an impressive $30.6 million from IMAX screenings alone. IMAX accounted for nearly 20% of the film’s domestic opening weekend, highlighting its massive appeal in premium formats. Sinners has officially cemented its place in horror history, breaking into the top five highest-grossing horror films of all time. The film surpassed The Nun (2018) and Alien: Romulus to take the No. 5 spot. Most notably, its domestic haul is the second-highest domestic total on the list, trailing only It (2017), which holds the top spot across the board.
Check out my full review of Sinners and its impact on the horror film category.
Released on May 16, Final Destination: Bloodlines marked the long-awaited return of the popular franchise. This reboot-prequel hybrid brought a fresh cast and a surprisingly emotional core that explores fate through a new lens. The film quickly became the highest-grossing installment in the franchise, generating $283.2 million worldwide and $136.7 million domestically to date. This film definitely sparked a renewed interest in horror IP revivals, especially since the last installment was released in August 2011.
28 Years Later opened on June 20 to both excitement and praise. Danny Boyle and Alex Garland reunited for the third chapter in the zombie franchise, with Boyle directing and Garland writing the screenplay. The film has grossed about 103.1 million worldwide and $50.4 million domestically so far. It seems like 28 Years Later is living up to its hype after the trailer for it became the second most-watched horror movie trailer ever, and the most-watched of 2024. It amassed a staggering 60.2 million views in its first 24 hours, ranking just behind 2019’s It: Chapter Two, which hit 96 million views in a day.
M3GAN 2.0, released on June 27, debuted to a modest $10.2 million domestically. The film has grossed $18.1 million worldwide thus far, but critics are divided on the film’s success. The film had high expectations but has sparked mixed reactions from critics. Some praise its campy tone and expanded sci-fi action, while others feel it strays too far from the intimate horror that made the original a hit. Early reviews describe it as entertaining but uneven, with debates over whether the sequel prioritized spectacle over suspense. Still, it may be too early to tell how audiences will respond long term, especially as the film continues its theatrical run.
Then and Now
Horror hasn’t always held the spotlight in this way. For decades, it was considered a niche genre — a low-risk, high-reward proving ground for emerging directors. Films were often produced on shoestring budgets, leaned into shock value, and were released in off-seasons to avoid clashing with tentpole blockbusters. But what the genre lacked in prestige, it often made up for in profitability.
That all began to shift in the 2010s. Filmmakers like James Wan (The Conjuring, Insidious) and Jordan Peele (Get Out, Us) brought a fresh perspective and elevated storytelling that helped horror cross over into critical acclaim. At the same time, studios like Blumhouse and A24 figured out the business model: keep budgets low, take creative risks, and let word of mouth do the rest. That approach turned films like Paranormal Activity, The Purge, Midsommar, and The Witch into cultural phenomena — and cash cows.
Fast forward to today, and horror is no longer just an entry point for first-time directors — it’s a genre where top-tier talent, experimental storytelling, and cinematic ambition collide. Horror films are now being crafted for IMAX screens, racking up hundreds of millions in global ticket sales, and launching shared universes and sequels at a pace similar to that of Marvel.
In other words, horror went from cult to cornerstone.
What’s Next?
The horror wave isn’t slowing down anytime soon, with a few anticipated films dropping this month. Together, a psychological horror-thriller starring Dave Franco and Alison Brie, hits theaters later this month and is already generating buzz for its unsettling take on intimacy and obsession. I Know What You Did Last Summer returns to the big screen this month with a legacy sequel that reunites original cast members for a new chapter of the franchise.
So, are horror films leading the box office in 2025? The numbers appear to agree so far this year. In an era when franchise fatigue is real and superhero movies are underperforming — take Thunderbolts and Kraven the Hunter, for example — horror is proving it still has some legs.
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