Highlights
- The 2020s have seen a surge in critically acclaimed and profitable horror movies that have captivated global audiences and made a splash at the box office.
- From A Quiet Place Part II to Smile and Insidious: The Red Door, these movies have showcased talented performances and clever storylines, proving that horror movies are here to stay and can deliver both entertainment and terror.
- With successful entries like Scream VI and The Invisible Man, the horror genre has thrived in the 2020s, breaking records and earning high box office numbers while offering unique approaches to slasher films and supernatural tales.
The 2020s brought in an unparalleled string of horror movies that have been critically acclaimed – and profitable. Not only have these movies captivated audiences worldwide, but they have also made substantial strides at the box office.
From A Quiet Place Part II and Halloween Kills to Smile and Insidious: The Red Door, these movies have made a statement with talented performances and clever storylines. Horror movies are not going anywhere anytime soon, as they provide entertainment (and can be downright terrifying).
Keep reading to learn more about the top grossing horror movies of the 2020s.
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As one of the past decade’s more original horror stories, A Quiet Place Part II grossed $296 million worldwide. Part II of the movie promised much more action and dialogue than the original.
The concept behind the film involves creatures who have hypersonic hearing, and are triggered to attack by the slightest sound. According to a summary on RottenTomatoes.com, the Abbott family is forced to contend with the horrors presented in the outside world as they continue a quest for their very survival in silence.
Halloween Kills
This nostalgic slasher sequel grossed over $50 million within three days of opening, and the movie gained the distinction of being the “highest R-rated opening of the pandemic era.”
According to one report, the Halloween Kills entry in the franchise grossed $159 million in the United States, and $255 million globally. While most of the world thought the Halloween saga was over in 2018, the fight wasn’t done just yet.
In Halloween Kills, Michael Myers continues his fury across Haddonfield, increasing his body count.
Smile
Released in 2022, Smileearned $216 million. With a cost of $17 million to produce, it garnered over $99 million within just the first six weeks.
In the movie, Sosie Bacon plays Dr. Rose Cotter, a therapist who witnessed a patient's suicide – which occurred in front of her, while the patient was smiling. Cotter soon became haunted by terrifying hallucinations, which led her to believe she was being haunted by an evil entity like no other.
This top grossing horror movie proves that something as simple as a smile can be the basis for something truly frightening.
Insidious: The Red Door
Directed by Patrick Wilson, Insidious: The Red Door is the top earning horror movie of the Insidious franchise – and is the top grossing horror movie of 2023, raking in over $182,000,000. As of October 2023, the Insidious franchise has earned more than $735 million worldwide.
A strong global presence in the United Kingdom and Mexico contributed to the film’s unmistakable success. Starring Ty Simpkins, Rose Bryne, and Lin Shaye, The Red Door is a continuation of the first two films.
It marks the final chapter of the Lambert family’s horrifying tale, as they put an end to the franchise's demons one final time.
M3GAN
As one of the top grossing horror movies of the 2020s, M3GAN grossed more than $95,000,000. According to The Hollywood Reporter, M3GAN is the first horror movie released in January to open with over $30 million since 2012.
Helmed by Gerard Johnstone, the movie takes a nostalgic doll named "M3GAN," and combines it with artificial intelligence. The life like doll, created by a clever robotics engineer (Gemma), becomes a child’s best friend.
Although the A.I. programming of M3GAN was meant for good intentions, the doll quickly turned from companion to chaotic.
Scream VI
Scream VI is the highest-earning sequel in the Scream franchise, earning nearly $104 million domestically. This top spot was previously in the hands of the first Scream installment, which was released nearly three decades prior.
Scream VI was up for multiple 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards, including Best Movie. Overall, the Scream franchise has long been known for its unique approach to slasher movies and its iconic boogeyman “Ghostface.”
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The Nun II, which is a spinoff from the successful Conjuring franchise, started off strong by grossing $88 million worldwide at the box office after its release. Part one of this film brought in over $360 million worldwide throughout its theatrical release.
Directed by Michael Chaves, the film focuses on a num named Sister Irene, whose quest to investigate the killing of a priest leads to pandemonium.
Evil Dead Rise
Evil Dead Rise by Warner Bros. held on strong at the box office, grossing over $100 million globally. Originally set for a streaming release on Max (formerly HBO Max), its impressive test scores influenced a theatrical release to more than 3,000 domestic theaters as of April 2023.
Directed by Lee Cronin, the movie focuses on two estranged sisters who are thrust into the most unimaginable family reunion. In it, the once distant siblings are forced to fight for their very survival, as they take on gruesome “flesh-possessing demons.”
Talk To Me
Beginning as a low-budget film, Talk To Me (which was created by first-time filmmakers and popular YouTubers Danny and Michael Philippou) has become A24’s top grossing horror film. The movie brought in more than $44 million in a span of four days.
Talk To Me made its premiere at the Sundance festival in 2023, where it received much acclaim from critics – who dubbed it “the next big horror breakout from Sundance.” According to IMDB, the movie is about a group of friends who uncovered a way to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand.
As is often the case in horror films, its protagonists welcomed their new discovery – until one of the friends took things too far and unlocked horrific supernatural entities.
The Invisible Man
In 2020, The Invisible Mangrossed $29 million when it first opened in theaters, surpassing an initial prediction of $20 million; the movie grossed just under $70 million. Starring Elisabeth Moss, the film focused on a woman named Celicia, whose sadistic ex-partner died by suicide.
Suspecting that his death was fake, she experiences a train of coincidental events that lead her on a journey to prove that she’s being tormented by an unseen entity.
Halloween Ends
Released in 2022, Halloween Ends grossed $63.45 million in the United States and $39.46 million internationally, bringing its worldwide earnings to more than $102 million. According to Variety.com, the movie made $5.4 million in box office previews.
Starring Jamie Lee Curtis (reprising her role as Laurie Strode), her character eventually faces-off with Michael Myers after what has been four years. While residing with her granddaughter, Laurie learns about a young man who has been accused of killing a boy that he was babysitting, prompting her to once again encounter what seems to be indestructible.
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