
Horror movies have the power to evoke visceral emotions in the viewers that can even be cathartic. It is one of the most intriguing genres and while many people try to avoid it, there are still many others who are die-hard fans. Here are 19 famous horror movies that were extremely popular and therefore garnered significant revenue. The data reflects the movie’s worldwide box office figures and has been taken from The Numbers website.
19. A Quiet Place: Day One

Directed by Michael Sarnoski and starring Lupita Nyong’o and Joseph Quinn, this spin-off and prequel to A Quiet Place, is an apocalyptic horror movie that revolves around the invasion of New York City by a group of extraterrestrial creatures. The movie features Lupita as a terminally ill woman, who meets other survivors as they try to remain safe. The acclaimed film grossed $261 million worldwide.
18. The Nun II

Starring Bonnie Aarons, Taissa Farmiga, and others, this gothic horror movie directed by Michael Chaves, is a part of The Conjuring franchise and is a sequel to The Nun. The movie is set in the 1950s and revolves around a demonic force that is terrifying Sister Irene (Farmiga). The popular movie went viral for its jump scares and garnered $269 million worldwide.
17. The Silence of the Lambs

Directed by Jonathan Demme and starring Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster, this psychological horror thriller revolves around a serial killer and a young FBI agent who is on his heels and must take the help of a genius but cannibalistic forensic psychiatrist. The movie has a lasting cultural impact and grossed $275 million at the worldwide box office.
16. Split

Starring James McAvoy and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, this psychological horror thriller is part of the Unbreakable trilogy and focuses on a man with dissociative identity disorder who imprisons three young girls inside an isolated facility. The movie was a critical and commercial success, even though it received some backlash for stigmatizing mental illness, and grossed above $278 million dollars worldwide.
15. Resident Evil: Afterlife

Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson and starring Milla Jovovich, this action horror movie based on the video game series and a part of the Resident Evil film series, revolves around Alice (Milla), who rescues survivors from the T-virus outbreak, and fights against the evil Umbrella corporation. The popular movie garnered $295 million dollars worldwide.
14. A Quiet Place: Part II

Starring Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, and others, this post-apocalyptic horror movie directed by John Krasinski, is a sequel to A Quiet Place, and revolves around Evelyn (Emily) and her children, as they try to survive in a destroyed world infested by aliens with an acute sense of hearing. The acclaimed movie garnered $296 million dollars at the worldwide box office.
13. Five Nights at Freddy’s

Based on a video game series, this horror movie directed by Emma Tammi and starring Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, and others, revolves around a security guard (Hutcherson) at an abandoned pizzeria, who is haunted by animatronics that come alive at night. Though the movie received negative reviews from critics, it was a commercial success and grossed $297 million dollars worldwide.
12. Annabelle: Creation

Directed by David F. Sandberg, this supernatural horror movie, is a part of The Conjuring franchise and is a prequel to Annabelle. Starring Stephanie Sigman, Lulu Wilson, and others, the film is about a group of girls in an orphanage, who are haunted by a terrifying doll with the spirit of a deceased girl. The film received positive reviews and grossed $305 million dollars worldwide.
11. The Conjuring 2: The Enfield Poltergeist

Starring Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, and others, this supernatural horror movie directed by James Wan, is a sequel to The Conjuring and revolves around paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, who travel to England to investigate a poltergeist activity, which is inspired by a real case. The movie was a critical and commercial success and garnered $310 million dollars at the worldwide box office.
10. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter

Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson and starring Milla Jovovich, this action horror movie is a part of the Resident Evil film franchise and is based on the video game series. In the movie, Alice (Milla), and her friends face a betrayal and continue to fight against the authoritarian Umbrella corporation that caused a virus outbreak and destroyed society. The film garnered $314 million dollars worldwide.
9. The Conjuring

Starring Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, this horror movie directed by James Wan, is the first film in the film franchise and revolves around paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren who assist a family that has newly moved into an isolated house and begin to experience a haunting. The movie was a blockbuster success and is a modern classic. The film earned $316 million dollars worldwide.
8. A Quiet Place

Directed by John Krasinski and starring Emily Blunt, this post-apocalyptic horror movie is set in a world where extraterrestrial creatures have dominated the Earth and hunt on the basis of sound. The film follows a family who struggle to stay safe and raise their children. The movie was a smash hit and received a number of nominations. It earned $334 million dollars worldwide.
7. Hannibal

Starring Anthony Hopkins, Julianne Moore, and others, this psychological horror thriller directed by Ridley Scott is a sequel to The Silence of the Lambs and is based on the novel by Thomas Harris. The film continues the story of FBI agent Clarice and cannibal forensic psychiatrist Hannibal, who engage in a cat-and-mouse chase. While the movie received mixed reviews, it went on to gross $350.1 million dollars worldwide.
6. Alien: Romulus

Directed by Fede Alvarez and starring Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, and others, this sci-fi horror movie is a part of the Alien franchise and is set between the events of Alien and Aliens. The movie revolves around a crew of space workers who come across a terrifying alien creature while scavenging an isolated space station. The movie received praise for its performances and effects and earned $350.8 million dollars worldwide.
5. The Nun

Starring Taissa Farmiga, Bonnie Aarons, and others, this gothic supernatural horror movie directed by Corin Hardy, is a part of The Conjuring franchise and is a spin-off to the series. The movie revolves around a Roman Catholic Priest and a Nun, who come across a haunted past secret and are followed by a ghostly Nun. The film received mixed reviews but went on to earn $362 million dollars worldwide.
4. The Exorcist

Directed by William Friedkin and based on a novel by William Peter Blatty, this iconic horror movie is a part of pop culture and is considered one of the most terrifying and influential horror movies. The film revolves around the demonic possession of a young girl and her subsequent exorcism. Bold and graphic for its time, the evergreen movie continues to attract audiences and has grossed $428 million dollars worldwide.
3. It: Chapter Two

Starring James McAvoy, Bill Skarsgard, and others, this supernatural horror movie directed by Andy Muschietti and based on a novel by Stephen King, is a sequel to It. The movie is set 27 years after the events of the previous movie and focuses on the characters from the first film as they try to reconnect and stop the evil clown, Pennywise. The movie was a box office success, despite mixed reviews, and earned $467 million dollars worldwide.
2. Jaws

Directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Roy Scheider, this horror thriller movie is based on a novel by Peter Benchley and revolves around a summer beach town, that begins to be infested by a great white shark that kills people. A police officer, a marine biologist, and a shark hunter risk their lives to hunt the creature. The iconic movie is an endearing part of pop culture and was a smash hit. The movie has earned $484 million dollars worldwide.
1. It

Starring Bill Skarsgard and directed by Andy Muschietti, this supernatural horror movie is based on a novel by Stephen King and revolves around a group of outcast children, who form The Loser’s Club and are haunted by an evil presence, in the form of the clown, Pennywise. The movie received praise for its performances and direction and is considered a modern classic. It earned $701 million dollars worldwide.

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