#1 of 3,651 Highest-grossing horror movie ever
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
2022 · Action, Adventure
$955.8M worldwide
$411.3M US & Canada · 43% $544.4M elsewhere · 57%
Horror box office · All time
Highest-Grossing Horror Movies of All Time
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) is the highest-grossing horror movie in our database, with $955.8M worldwide, ahead of Venom (2018) at $856.1M and It (2017) at $704.2M. 3,651 horror films in our database report a worldwide gross, $59.7B in all, 48% of it from the US & Canada. 168 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. By language, English leads with $53.5B across 2,393 horror releases.
- films with a reported gross
- 3,651
- combined worldwide
- $59.7B
- films crossed $100M
- 168
- earned in the US & Canada
- 48%
#1 of 3,651 Top 5
What Are the Highest-Grossing Horror Movies Ever?
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) leads with $955.8M, $99.7M ahead of Venom (2018). The top 5 were released between 2013 and 2022 and took $3.6B together; every one of them earned more than half of their gross outside the US & Canada.
- Number 1 $955.8M Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)$411.3M US & Canada · 43% $544.4M elsewhere · 57%
-
Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
All 3,651 Horror Movies, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 3,651. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada.
- 1 Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)May 6, 2022 US and Canada: $411.3M Rest of the world: $544.4M Worldwide: $955.8M
May 6, 2022 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $955.8M worldwide - 2 Oct 5, 2018 US and Canada: $213.5M Rest of the world: $642.6M Worldwide: $856.1M
- 3 Sep 8, 2017 US and Canada: $328.9M Rest of the world: $375.4M Worldwide: $704.2M
- 4 Jun 21, 2013 US and Canada: $202.8M Rest of the world: $337.6M Worldwide: $540.5M
- 5 Aug 10, 2018 US and Canada: $145.5M Rest of the world: $383.8M Worldwide: $529.3M
- 6
Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)Oct 1, 2021 US and Canada: $213.6M Rest of the world: $293.3M Worldwide: $506.8M Oct 1, 2021 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $506.8M worldwide - 7
The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025)Sep 5, 2025 US and Canada: $177.8M Rest of the world: $321.5M Worldwide: $499.3M Sep 5, 2025 · English · Horror, Mystery, Thriller $499.3M worldwide - 8
Jun 20, 1975 US and Canada: $267.3M Rest of the world: $210.7M Worldwide: $477.9M - 9
Sep 6, 2019 US and Canada: $211.6M Rest of the world: $261.5M Worldwide: $473.1M - 10
Sep 6, 2024 US and Canada: $294.1M Rest of the world: $157.9M Worldwide: $452M - 11
Dec 26, 1973 US and Canada: $233M Rest of the world: $197.9M Worldwide: $430.9M - 12
Jun 9, 2017 US and Canada: $80.2M Rest of the world: $329M Worldwide: $409.2M - 13
Aug 2, 2002 US and Canada: $228M Rest of the world: $180.3M Worldwide: $408.2M - 14
Jun 8, 2012 US and Canada: $126.5M Rest of the world: $276.9M Worldwide: $403.4M - 15
May 29, 2026 US and Canada: $197.5M Rest of the world: $203.1M Worldwide: $400.6M - 16
Aug 4, 2023 US and Canada: $82.6M Rest of the world: $315.9M Worldwide: $398.5M - 17
Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)May 31, 2019 US and Canada: $110.5M Rest of the world: $276.8M Worldwide: $387.3M May 31, 2019 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $387.3M worldwide - 18
Sep 18, 2026 US and Canada: $155.6M Rest of the world: $230.3M Worldwide: $385.9M - 19
May 19, 1998 US and Canada: $136.3M Rest of the world: $242.7M Worldwide: $379M - 20
Apr 18, 2025 US and Canada: $280M Rest of the world: $91.6M Worldwide: $371.6M - 21
Sep 7, 2018 US and Canada: $117.5M Rest of the world: $248.6M Worldwide: $366.1M - 22
Aug 16, 2024 US and Canada: $105.3M Rest of the world: $245.6M Worldwide: $350.9M - 23
Apr 6, 2018 US and Canada: $188M Rest of the world: $152.9M Worldwide: $341M - 24
Jun 10, 2016 US and Canada: $102.5M Rest of the world: $220.3M Worldwide: $322.8M - 25
Jul 19, 2013 US and Canada: $137.4M Rest of the world: $183M Worldwide: $320.4M - 26
May 16, 2025 US and Canada: $138.3M Rest of the world: $179.6M Worldwide: $317.9M - 27
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2017)Jan 27, 2017 US and Canada: $26.8M Rest of the world: $285.4M Worldwide: $312.2M Jan 27, 2017 · English · Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller $312.2M worldwide - 28
Aug 11, 2017 US and Canada: $102.1M Rest of the world: $204.5M Worldwide: $306.6M - 29
Sep 10, 2010 US and Canada: $60.1M Rest of the world: $240.1M Worldwide: $300.2M - 30
May 28, 2021 US and Canada: $160.1M Rest of the world: $137.3M Worldwide: $297.4M - 31
Oct 27, 2023 US and Canada: $137.3M Rest of the world: $154.3M Worldwide: $291.6M - 32
Jul 21, 2000 US and Canada: $155.5M Rest of the world: $136M Worldwide: $291.4M - 33
Jan 20, 2017 US and Canada: $138.3M Rest of the world: $140.2M Worldwide: $278.5M - 34
Jun 5, 2026 US and Canada: $157M Rest of the world: $121M Worldwide: $278M - 35
Aug 8, 2025 US and Canada: $151.6M Rest of the world: $118.5M Worldwide: $270.1M - 36
Sep 8, 2023 US and Canada: $86.3M Rest of the world: $183.4M Worldwide: $269.7M - 37
Jun 28, 2024 US and Canada: $139.1M Rest of the world: $122.9M Worldwide: $261.9M - 38
Oct 19, 2018 US and Canada: $159.3M Rest of the world: $100.6M Worldwide: $259.9M - 39
Dec 18, 2015 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: $258.1M Worldwide: $259.4M - 40
Oct 3, 2014 US and Canada: $84.3M Rest of the world: $173.3M Worldwide: $257.6M - 41
Mar 22, 2019 US and Canada: $175.1M Rest of the world: $81M Worldwide: $256.1M - 42
Feb 24, 2017 US and Canada: $176.2M Rest of the world: $79.6M Worldwide: $255.8M - 43
Oct 18, 2002 US and Canada: $129.1M Rest of the world: $120.2M Worldwide: $249.3M - 44
Jul 16, 1999 US and Canada: $140.5M Rest of the world: $108.1M Worldwide: $248.6M - 45
Jan 18, 2019 US and Canada: $111M Rest of the world: $136M Worldwide: $247M - 46
May 11, 2012 US and Canada: $79.7M Rest of the world: $165.8M Worldwide: $245.5M - 47
May 19, 2017 US and Canada: $74.3M Rest of the world: $166.6M Worldwide: $240.9M - 48
Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)Sep 14, 2012 US and Canada: $42.3M Rest of the world: $197.8M Worldwide: $240.2M Sep 14, 2012 · English · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $240.2M worldwide - 49
Five Nights at Freddy's 2 (2025)Dec 5, 2025 US and Canada: $127.7M Rest of the world: $110.8M Worldwide: $238.6M Dec 5, 2025 · English · Horror, Mystery, Thriller $238.6M worldwide - 50
Jun 26, 2019 US and Canada: $74.2M Rest of the world: $157.1M Worldwide: $231.3M
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Biggest Horror Movies Make Their Money?
Of the top 10, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) earned the biggest share at home (65% in the US & Canada), while Venom (2018) made 75% of its gross abroad. Across all 3,651 films, $28.8B (48%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) $955.8M $411.3M US & Canada · 43% $544.4M elsewhere · 57%
- 2 Venom (2018) $856.1M $213.5M US & Canada · 25% $642.6M elsewhere · 75%
- 3 It (2017) $704.2M $328.9M US & Canada · 47% $375.4M elsewhere · 53%
- 4 World War Z (2013) $540.5M $202.8M US & Canada · 38% $337.6M elsewhere · 62%
- 5 The Meg (2018) $529.3M $145.5M US & Canada · 27% $383.8M elsewhere · 73%
- 6 Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) $506.8M $213.6M US & Canada · 42% $293.3M elsewhere · 58%
- 7 The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025) $499.3M $177.8M US & Canada · 36% $321.5M elsewhere · 64%
- 8 Jaws (1975) $477.9M $267.3M US & Canada · 56% $210.7M elsewhere · 44%
- 9 It: Chapter Two (2019) $473.1M $211.6M US & Canada · 45% $261.5M elsewhere · 55%
- 10 Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) $452M $294.1M US & Canada · 65% $157.9M elsewhere · 35%
Gross bands
How Many Horror Movies Crossed $100 Million?
168 of 3,651 films crossed $100M and took $35.7B between them, 60% of the total. 2,915 films, 80% of the list, earned under $10M.
53% 35%
- $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $500M to $1B 6 films, <1% of the list $4.1B · 7% of the gross
- $100M to $500M 162 films, 4% of the list $31.6B · 53% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 568 films, 16% of the list $21.1B · 35% of the gross
- Under $10M 2,915 films, 80% of the list $3B · 5% of the gross
By decade
Which Decade's Horror Movies Earned the Most?
Films released in the 2010s lead with $22.6B from 1,350 titles, led by Venom (2018). Each column links to the decade's biggest year.
- 1930s 1930s Peak year 1931 Drácula (1931) $168.1K Drácula (1931)
- 1940s 1940s Peak year 1945 Dead of Night (1945) $42.7K Dead of Night (1945)
- 1950s 1950s Peak year 1953 House of Wax (1953) $24.4M House of Wax (1953)
- 1960s 1960s Peak year 1960 Psycho (1960) $33M Psycho (1960)
- 1970s 1970s Peak year 1975 Jaws (1975) $1.7B Jaws (1975)
- 1980s 1980s Peak year 1987 Gremlins (1984) $2.5B Gremlins (1984)
- 1990s 1990s Peak year 1999 Godzilla (1998) $5.4B Godzilla (1998)
- 2000s 2000s Peak year 2005 Signs (2002) $12.1B Signs (2002)
- 2010s 2010s Peak year 2018 Venom (2018) $22.6B Venom (2018)
- 2020s 2020s Peak year 2025 Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) $15.4B Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
Biggest years
Which Years Had the Highest-Grossing Horror Movies?
2018 releases earned the most: $3.7B from 169 films, led by Venom (2018). The 10 biggest years, each linking to its chart.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 169 films | 169 | $3.7B | Venom (2018) $856.1M |
| 2017 166 films | 166 | $3.5B | It (2017) $704.2M |
| 2019 227 films | 227 | $3.1B | It: Chapter Two (2019) $473.1M |
| 2012 97 films | 97 | $2.7B | Prometheus (2012) $403.4M |
| 2025 139 films | 139 | $2.7B | The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025) $499.3M |
| 2023 181 films | 181 | $2.7B | Meg 2: The Trench (2023) $398.5M |
| 2024 208 films | 208 | $2.6B | Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) $452M |
| 2022 205 films | 205 | $2.6B | Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) $955.8M |
| 2026 71 films | 71 | $2.5B so far | Backrooms (2026) $400.6M |
| 2013 109 films | 109 | $2.2B | World War Z (2013) $540.5M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Horror Movies Speak?
English-language horror films took $53.5B across 2,393 films, 90% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language horror films ($1.1B) and Korean-language horror films ($774.2M).
All-Time Horror Box Office by Language
- English $53.5B2,393 films · #1 Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
-
Japanese $1.1B145 films · #1 Godzilla Minus One (2023) -
Korean $774.2M96 films · #1 Exhuma (2024) -
Spanish $404.7M152 films · #1 The Orphanage (2007) -
French $206.7M71 films · #1 The Devil Inside (2012) -
Thai $177.6M109 films · #1 Ghost Ship (2002) -
Hindi $144.1M50 films · #1 Stree (2018) -
Chinese $123.1M39 films · #1 The House That Never Dies II (2017) - Malayalam $102.5M12 films · #1 Romancham (2023)
-
Russian $76.6M36 films · #1 Forbidden Empire (2014)
Archive
Horror Box Office Year by Year
Every year from 1920 to 2026 with its total and its biggest film. 2018 leads with $3.7B, led by Venom (2018).
2020s 7 years · $15.4B
- 2026 so far $2.5B #1 Backrooms (2026)
- 2025 $2.7B #1 The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025)
- 2024 $2.6B #1 Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)
- 2023 $2.7B #1 Meg 2: The Trench (2023)
- 2022 $2.6B #1 Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
- 2021 $1.6B #1 Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)
- 2020 $697.4M #1 The Invisible Man (2020)
2010s 10 years · $22.6B
- 2019 $3.1B #1 It: Chapter Two (2019)
- 2018 $3.7B #1 Venom (2018)
- 2017 $3.5B #1 It (2017)
- 2016 $1.9B #1 The Conjuring 2 (2016)
- 2015 $1.6B #1 Mojin: The Lost Legend (2015)
- 2014 $1.4B #1 Annabelle (2014)
- 2013 $2.2B #1 World War Z (2013)
- 2012 $2.7B #1 Prometheus (2012)
- 2011 $1.1B #1 Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)
- 2010 $1.3B #1 Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)
2000s 10 years · $12.1B
- 2009 $1.4B #1 The Final Destination (2009)
- 2008 $661.8M #1 Saw V (2008)
- 2007 $1.6B #1 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
- 2006 $1.2B #1 Saw III (2006)
- 2005 $1.7B #1 Constantine (2005)
- 2004 $1.3B #1 The Grudge (2004)
- 2003 $970.4M #1 Gothika (2003)
- 2002 $1.1B #1 Signs (2002)
- 2001 $712.3M #1 The Others (2001)
- 2000 $1.3B #1 What Lies Beneath (2000)
1990s 10 years · $5.4B
- 1999 $1.3B #1 The Blair Witch Project (1999)
- 1998 $929.6M #1 Godzilla (1998)
- 1997 $720.6M #1 Scream 2 (1997)
- 1996 $357.9M #1 Scream (1996)
- 1995 $283.3M #1 Species (1995)
- 1994 $368.5M #1 Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)
- 1993 $165M #1 The Good Son (1993)
- 1992 $571M #1 Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
- 1991 $285.2M #1 Cape Fear (1991)
- 1990 $450.5M #1 Flatliners (1990)
1980s 10 years · $2.5B
- 1989 $214.3M #1 Pet Sematary (1989)
- 1988 $284.7M #1 A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)
- 1987 $325.5M #1 The Witches of Eastwick (1987)
- 1986 $262.9M #1 The Fly (1986)
- 1985 $185.9M #1 A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985)
- 1984 $303.5M #1 Gremlins (1984)
- 1983 $243.8M #1 Jaws 3-D (1983)
- 1982 $289M #1 Poltergeist (1982)
- 1981 $209.9M #1 An American Werewolf in London (1981)
- 1980 $175M #1 The Shining (1980)
1970s 10 years · $1.7B
- 1979 $279.6M #1 Alien (1979)
- 1978 $286.6M #1 Jaws 2 (1978)
- 1977 $45.7M #1 Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)
- 1976 $149.4M #1 The Omen (1976)
- 1975 $481.8M #1 Jaws (1975)
- 1974 $32.1M #1 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
- 1973 $431.3M #1 The Exorcist (1973)
- 1972 $1.6K #1 Images (1972)
- 1971 $2.7M #1 THX 1138 (1971)
- 1970 $40.6K #1 Multiple Maniacs (1970)
1960s 10 years · $33M
- 1969 $171 #1 Night of the Bloody Apes (1969)
- 1968 $242.2K #1 Night of the Living Dead (1968)
- 1967 $240.1K #1 Night of the Big Heat (1967)
- 1966 $5.6K #1 Eye of the Devil (1966)
- 1965 $34.7K #1 Repulsion (1965)
- 1964 $1.2K #1 Onibaba (1964)
- 1963 $55.4K #1 The Birds (1963)
- 1962 $4.5K #1 What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)
- 1961 $30.2K #1 The Innocents (1961)
- 1960 $32.4M #1 Psycho (1960)
1950s 7 years · $24.4M
1940s 5 years · $42.7K
1930s 6 years · $168.1K
FAQ
Horror Box Office All Time: Questions & Answers
The chart's numbers in short: the #1 film, the total, the billion-dollar hits and the US & Canada share, answered from the same 3,651 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing horror movie of all time?
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) leads with $955.8M worldwide, $411.3M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Venom (2018) at $856.1M and It (2017) at $704.2M.
How much have horror movies earned at the box office?
3,651 horror films in our database report a worldwide gross, $59.7B in all, or $16.4M per film on average.
How many horror movies have made $1 billion?
None. 168 films crossed $100 million, led by Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) with $955.8M.
How is the all-time horror box office chart ranked and where do the numbers come from?
Films are ranked by lifetime worldwide gross in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation. The figures are the reported box office grosses in our database. A gross that looks misattributed, such as one figure shared by two unrelated films or a blockbuster total on an obscure title, is left out rather than shown as a fact.
How often is the all-time horror box office chart updated?
Grosses change while films are in theaters and whenever a new figure is reported; this chart reads the latest numbers in our database, so an older film can still move after a re-release.