#1 of 41 #1 horror movie of 2003
2003 · Mystery, Thriller
$141.6M worldwide · 15% of the chart's total
$59.7M US & Canada · 42% $81.9M elsewhere · 58%
Horror box office · 2003
Horror Box Office 2003: Highest-Grossing Horror Movies
Gothika (2003) is the highest-grossing horror movie released in 2003, with $141.6M worldwide, ahead of Freddy vs. Jason (2003) at $116.6M and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) at $107.4M. 41 horror films released in 2003 report a worldwide gross, $970.4M in all, 56% of it from the US & Canada. 3 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is down 15% on 2002, whose releases took $1.1B. By language, English leads with $926.1M across 22 horror releases.
- 2003 releases with a gross
- 41
- combined worldwide
- $970.4M
- films crossed $100M
- 3
- vs 2002
- −15%
#1 of 41 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Horror Hits of 2003?
Gothika (2003) leads with $141.6M, 15% of the total. The top 5 together took $546.8M, 56% of what all 41 films earned. Each bar splits a film's gross into the US & Canada and the rest of the world.
- Number 1
-
Number 2 -
Number 3 -
Number 4 -
Number 5
US & Canada (domestic) Rest of the world
The chart
Every Horror Release of 2003, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2003.
- 1 Nov 21, 2003 US and Canada: $59.7M Rest of the world: $81.9M Worldwide: $141.6M
- 2 Aug 15, 2003 US and Canada: $82.6M Rest of the world: $34M Worldwide: $116.6M
- 3 Oct 17, 2003 US and Canada: $80.6M Rest of the world: $26.8M Worldwide: $107.4M
- 4 Jan 31, 2003 US and Canada: $47M Rest of the world: $44M Worldwide: $90.9M
- 5 Apr 25, 2003 US and Canada: $52.2M Rest of the world: $38.1M Worldwide: $90.3M
- 6
Mar 21, 2003 US and Canada: $33.7M Rest of the world: $47.5M Worldwide: $81.2M - 7
Jun 27, 2003 US and Canada: $45.1M Rest of the world: $29.9M Worldwide: $74.9M - 8
Aug 29, 2003 US and Canada: $35.7M Rest of the world: $27.4M Worldwide: $63.1M - 9
Jan 24, 2003 US and Canada: $32.6M Rest of the world: $14.9M Worldwide: $47.5M - 10
Sep 12, 2003 US and Canada: $21.2M Rest of the world: $9.4M Worldwide: $30.6M - 11
May 30, 2003 US and Canada: $15.4M Rest of the world: $13.2M Worldwide: $28.7M - 12
Apr 11, 2003 US and Canada: $12.6M Rest of the world: $4.2M Worldwide: $16.8M - 13
Oct 10, 2003 US and Canada: $10.2M Rest of the world: $3.6M Worldwide: $13.8M - 14
Apr 18, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $13M - 15
Jun 6, 2003 US and Canada: $512K Rest of the world: $11.7M Worldwide: $12.2M - 16
Sep 5, 2003 US and Canada: $7.7M Rest of the world: $3.9M Worldwide: $11.6M - 17
Mar 14, 2003 US and Canada: $6.9M Rest of the world: $1.7M Worldwide: $8.6M - 18
Mar 8, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.8M - 19
Apr 19, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.7M - 20
Oct 3, 2003 US and Canada: $2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2M - 21
Nov 29, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.4M - 22
Jan 15, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.4M - 23
Jun 25, 2003 US and Canada: $132.3K Rest of the world: $1.2M Worldwide: $1.3M - 24
Sep 26, 2003 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.2M - 25
Feb 21, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.2M - 26
Oct 23, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1M - 27
Jul 4, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1M - 28
Nov 14, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $940.2K - 29
Sep 12, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $854.2K - 30
Jul 4, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $679.5K - 31
Apr 4, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $302.6K - 32
Sep 12, 2003 US and Canada: $168.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $168.4K - 33
Oct 17, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $137.9K - 34
Sep 26, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $107.1K - 35
Aug 14, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $70.3K - 36
Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary (2003)May 14, 2003 US and Canada: $55.4K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $55.4K
May 14, 2003 · English · Horror, Musical $55.4K worldwide - 37
Nov 7, 2003 US and Canada: $31K Rest of the world: $21.2K Worldwide: $52.2K - 38
Feb 7, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $20.3K - 39
Nov 5, 2003 US and Canada: $12.6K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $12.6K - 40
Aug 29, 2003 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $6.3K - 41
Aug 23, 2003 US and Canada: $1.3K Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.3K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2003?
Of the top 10, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) earned the biggest share at home (75% in the US & Canada), while Dreamcatcher (2003) made 58% of its gross abroad. Across all 41 films, $547.2M (56%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Gothika (2003) $141.6M $59.7M US & Canada · 42% $81.9M elsewhere · 58%
- 2 Freddy vs. Jason (2003) $116.6M $82.6M US & Canada · 71% $34M elsewhere · 29%
- 3 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) $107.4M $80.6M US & Canada · 75% $26.8M elsewhere · 25%
- 4 Final Destination 2 (2003) $90.9M $47M US & Canada · 52% $44M elsewhere · 48%
- 5 Identity (2003) $90.3M $52.2M US & Canada · 58% $38.1M elsewhere · 42%
- 6 Dreamcatcher (2003) $81.2M $33.7M US & Canada · 42% $47.5M elsewhere · 58%
- 7 28 Days Later... (2003) $74.9M $45.1M US & Canada · 60% $29.9M elsewhere · 40%
- 8 Jeepers Creepers II (2003) $63.1M $35.7M US & Canada · 57% $27.4M elsewhere · 43%
- 9 Darkness Falls (2003) $47.5M $32.6M US & Canada · 69% $14.9M elsewhere · 31%
- 10 Cabin Fever (2003) $30.6M $21.2M US & Canada · 69% $9.4M elsewhere · 31%
Gross bands
How Many 2003 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
3 of 41 films crossed $100M and took $365.6M between them, 38% of the total. 25 films, 61% of the list, earned under $10M.
38% 59%
- $1B or more 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $500M to $1B 0 films, 0% of the list No films
- $100M to $500M 3 films, 7% of the list $365.6M · 38% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 13 films, 32% of the list $574.6M · 59% of the gross
- Under $10M 25 films, 61% of the list $30.3M · 3% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2003 Earned the Most?
August releases took the most, $179.8M from 5 films, led by Freddy vs. Jason (2003). February was the quietest month ($1.2M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan Final Destination 2 (2003) $139.8M Final Destination 2 (2003)
- February Feb Dark Woods (2003) $1.2M Dark Woods (2003)
- March Mar Dreamcatcher (2003) $93.6M Dreamcatcher (2003)
- April Apr Identity (2003) $124.1M Identity (2003)
- May May Wrong Turn (2003) $28.7M Wrong Turn (2003)
- June Jun 28 Days Later... (2003) $88.4M 28 Days Later... (2003)
- July Jul Saaya (2003) $1.8M Saaya (2003)
- August Aug Freddy vs. Jason (2003) $179.8M Freddy vs. Jason (2003)
- September Sep Cabin Fever (2003) $44.5M Cabin Fever (2003)
- October Oct The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) $124.5M The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
- November Nov Gothika (2003) $144M Gothika (2003)
- December Dec No reported grosses – No reported grosses
Last 10 years
How Does 2003 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2000 earned the most: $1.3B from 31 films, led by What Lies Beneath (2000). 2003 took $970.4M.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 7 films | 7 | $368.5M | – | Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994) $223.7M |
| 1995 20 films · −23% | 20 | $283.3M | −23% | Species (1995) $113.4M |
| 1996 11 films · +26% | 11 | $357.9M | +26% | Scream (1996) $173M |
| 1997 14 films · +101% | 14 | $720.6M | +101% | Scream 2 (1997) $172.4M |
| 1998 21 films · +29% | 21 | $929.6M | +29% | Godzilla (1998) $379M |
| 1999 28 films · +36% | 28 | $1.3B | +36% | The Blair Witch Project (1999) $248.6M |
| 2000 31 films · +6% | 31 | $1.3B | +6% | What Lies Beneath (2000) $291.4M |
| 2001 34 films · −47% | 34 | $712.3M | −47% | The Others (2001) $210M |
| 2002 42 films · +61% | 42 | $1.1B | +61% | Signs (2002) $408.2M |
| 2003 41 films · −15% | 41 | $970.4M | −15% | Gothika (2003) $141.6M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Horror Movies Speak in 2003?
English-language horror films took $926.1M across 22 films, 95% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language horror films ($16.7M) and Cantonese-language horror films ($4.9M).
2003 Horror Box Office by Language
- English $926.1M22 films · #1 Gothika (2003)
-
Japanese $16.7M2 films · #1 Onmyoji: The Yin Yang Master (2003) -
Cantonese $4.9M2 films · #1 The Twins Effect (2003) -
French $3.4M2 films · #1 Evil Words (2003) -
Hindi $3.1M3 films · #1 Darna Mana Hai (2003) -
Norwegian $2M2 films · #1 Dark Woods (2003) -
Spanish $1.4M1 film · #1 Una de zombis (2003) -
Thai $940.2K1 film · #1 Rahtree: Flower of the Night (2003) -
Italian $107.1K1 film · #1 Bad Inclination (2003) -
Korean $76.6K2 films · #1 Into the Mirror (2003)
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 2003: 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 41 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing horror movie in 2003?
Gothika (2003) leads with $141.6M worldwide, $59.7M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Freddy vs. Jason (2003) at $116.6M and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) at $107.4M.
How much did horror movies released in 2003 earn?
41 horror films released in 2003 report a worldwide gross, $970.4M in all, or $23.7M per film on average. 2002 releases took $1.1B.
How many horror movies released in 2003 made $1 billion?
None. 3 films crossed $100 million, led by Gothika (2003) with $141.6M.
How is the 2003 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, and grouped by their release date in 2003. 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 2003 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.