#1 of 141 #1 horror movie of 2016
2016 · Mystery, Thriller
$322.8M worldwide · 17% of the chart's total
$102.5M US & Canada · 32% $220.3M elsewhere · 68%
Horror box office · 2016
Horror Box Office 2016: Highest-Grossing Horror Movies
The Conjuring 2 (2016) is the highest-grossing horror movie released in 2016, with $322.8M worldwide, ahead of Don't Breathe (2016) at $157.8M and Lights Out (2016) at $149.4M. 141 horror films released in 2016 report a worldwide gross, $1.9B in all, 41% of it from the US & Canada. 6 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 24% on 2015, whose releases took $1.6B. By language, English leads with $1.5B across 77 horror releases.
- 2016 releases with a gross
- 141
- combined worldwide
- $1.9B
- films crossed $100M
- 6
- vs 2015
- +24%
#1 of 141 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Horror Hits of 2016?
The Conjuring 2 (2016) leads with $322.8M, 17% of the total. The top 5 together took $867.6M, 45% of what all 141 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 2016, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 141. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2016.
- 1 Jun 10, 2016 US and Canada: $102.5M Rest of the world: $220.3M Worldwide: $322.8M
- 2 Aug 26, 2016 US and Canada: $89.2M Rest of the world: $68.5M Worldwide: $157.8M
- 3 Jul 22, 2016 US and Canada: $67.3M Rest of the world: $82.1M Worldwide: $149.4M
- 4 Jun 24, 2016 US and Canada: $55.1M Rest of the world: $64M Worldwide: $119.1M
- 5 Jul 1, 2016 US and Canada: $79.2M Rest of the world: $39.4M Worldwide: $118.6M
- 6
Mar 11, 2016 US and Canada: $72.1M Rest of the world: $38.1M Worldwide: $110.2M - 7
Jul 22, 2016 US and Canada: $2.1M Rest of the world: $90.6M Worldwide: $92.8M - 8
Jul 25, 2016 US and Canada: $6M Rest of the world: $76.1M Worldwide: $82.1M - 9
Oct 21, 2016 US and Canada: $35.1M Rest of the world: $46.6M Worldwide: $81.7M - 10
Shin Godzilla (Godzilla Resurgence) (2016)Oct 11, 2016 US and Canada: $1.9M Rest of the world: $76.1M Worldwide: $78.1M
Oct 11, 2016 · Japanese · Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi $78.1M worldwide - 11
Oct 21, 2016 US and Canada: $73.2M Rest of the world: $1.6M Worldwide: $74.8M - 12
Jan 22, 2016 US and Canada: $35.8M Rest of the world: $38.1M Worldwide: $73.9M - 13
Jun 3, 2016 US and Canada: $786.6K Rest of the world: $49.1M Worldwide: $49.9M - 14
Sep 16, 2016 US and Canada: $20.8M Rest of the world: $24.4M Worldwide: $45.2M - 15
Feb 19, 2016 US and Canada: $25.1M Rest of the world: $15.3M Worldwide: $40.4M - 16
Jan 8, 2016 US and Canada: $26.6M Rest of the world: $13.1M Worldwide: $39.7M - 17
Sep 9, 2016 US and Canada: $29.7M Rest of the world: $910.8K Worldwide: $30.7M - 18
Jan 8, 2016 US and Canada: $52.4K Rest of the world: $27.5M Worldwide: $27.6M - 19
Death Note: Light Up the NEW World (2016)Oct 29, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $19.1M Oct 29, 2016 · Japanese · Horror, Sci-Fi, Crime $19.1M worldwide - 20
Feb 5, 2016 US and Canada: $55K Rest of the world: $17.6M Worldwide: $17.7M - 21
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016)Feb 5, 2016 US and Canada: $10.9M Rest of the world: $5.5M Worldwide: $16.5M
Feb 5, 2016 · English · Action, Thriller, Horror $16.5M worldwide - 22
Mar 4, 2016 US and Canada: $3M Rest of the world: $11.3M Worldwide: $14.3M - 23
May 6, 2016 US and Canada: $44K Rest of the world: $13.5M Worldwide: $13.5M - 24
May 13, 2016 US and Canada: $10.8M Rest of the world: $144.7K Worldwide: $10.9M - 25
Feb 12, 2016 US and Canada: $5.9M Rest of the world: $4.9M Worldwide: $10.8M - 26
Aug 5, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10.4M - 27
Jun 18, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $9.3M - 28
Apr 1, 2016 US and Canada: $9.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $9.1M - 29
Dec 2, 2016 US and Canada: $4.8M Rest of the world: $4.2M Worldwide: $9M - 30
Sep 2, 2016 US and Canada: $3.9M Rest of the world: $4.9M Worldwide: $8.8M - 31
Aug 31, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $7.6M - 32
Dec 21, 2016 US and Canada: $10.5K Rest of the world: $6.2M Worldwide: $6.2M - 33
Sep 9, 2016 US and Canada: $2.4M Rest of the world: $3.3M Worldwide: $5.7M - 34
Apr 29, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.5M - 35
Apr 22, 2016 US and Canada: $118.9K Rest of the world: $5.4M Worldwide: $5.5M - 36
The Legend of the Chupacabras (2016)Oct 21, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.1M
Oct 21, 2016 · Spanish · Animation, Fantasy, Family $5.1M worldwide - 37
Oct 21, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $5.1M - 38
Oct 14, 2016 US and Canada: $2M Rest of the world: $2.9M Worldwide: $4.9M - 39
Apr 15, 2016 US and Canada: $3.2M Rest of the world: $547K Worldwide: $3.8M - 40
Jun 24, 2016 US and Canada: $1.3M Rest of the world: $1.7M Worldwide: $3.1M - 41
Queen of Spades: The Dark Rite (2016)Jun 10, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.3M
Jun 10, 2016 · Russian · Mystery, Thriller, Horror $2.3M worldwide - 42
May 6, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.2M - 43
Apr 5, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2M - 44
Jul 15, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2M - 45
Oct 27, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.9M - 46
Nov 4, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.7M - 47
Jul 8, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.3M - 48
Dec 9, 2016 US and Canada: $1.2M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $1.2M - 49
Feb 26, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $907.8K - 50
Jun 24, 2016 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $868K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2016?
Of the top 10, The Purge: Election Year (2016) earned the biggest share at home (67% in the US & Canada), while Train to Busan (2016) made 98% of its gross abroad. Across all 141 films, $784M (41%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 The Conjuring 2 (2016) $322.8M $102.5M US & Canada · 32% $220.3M elsewhere · 68%
- 2 Don't Breathe (2016) $157.8M $89.2M US & Canada · 57% $68.5M elsewhere · 43%
- 3 Lights Out (2016) $149.4M $67.3M US & Canada · 45% $82.1M elsewhere · 55%
- 4 The Shallows (2016) $119.1M $55.1M US & Canada · 46% $64M elsewhere · 54%
- 5 The Purge: Election Year (2016) $118.6M $79.2M US & Canada · 67% $39.4M elsewhere · 33%
- 6 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) $110.2M $72.1M US & Canada · 65% $38.1M elsewhere · 35%
- 7 Train to Busan (2016) $92.8M $2.1M US & Canada · 2% $90.6M elsewhere · 98%
- 8 Shin Godzilla (2016) $82.1M $6M US & Canada · 7% $76.1M elsewhere · 93%
- 9 Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016) $81.7M $35.1M US & Canada · 43% $46.6M elsewhere · 57%
- 10 Shin Godzilla (Godzilla Resurgence) (2016) $78.1M $1.9M US & Canada · 2% $76.1M elsewhere · 98%
Gross bands
How Many 2016 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
6 of 141 films crossed $100M and took $977.8M between them, 51% of the total. 115 films, 82% of the list, earned under $10M.
51% 43%
- $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 6 films, 4% of the list $977.8M · 51% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 20 films, 14% of the list $830M · 43% of the gross
- Under $10M 115 films, 82% of the list $120.3M · 6% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2016 Earned the Most?
June releases took the most, $508.9M from 12 films, led by The Conjuring 2 (2016). November was the quietest month ($2.2M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan The Boy (2016) $142.1M The Boy (2016)
- February Feb The Witch (2016) $86.6M The Witch (2016)
- March Mar 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) $126.4M 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
- April Apr Meet the Blacks (2016) $28.2M Meet the Blacks (2016)
- May May Phantom of the Theatre (2016) $26.7M Phantom of the Theatre (2016)
- June Jun The Conjuring 2 (2016) $508.9M The Conjuring 2 (2016)
- July Jul Lights Out (2016) $448M Lights Out (2016)
- August Aug Don't Breathe (2016) $177.1M Don't Breathe (2016)
- September Sep Blair Witch (2016) $91.2M Blair Witch (2016)
- October Oct Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016) $273.7M Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016)
- November Nov Km 31-2 (2016) $2.2M Km 31-2 (2016)
- December Dec Incarnate (2016) $17.2M Incarnate (2016)
Last 10 years
How Does 2016 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2012 earned the most: $2.7B from 97 films, led by Prometheus (2012). 2016 took $1.9B.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 112 films | 112 | $1.6B | – | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) $153.4M |
| 2008 78 films · −59% | 78 | $661.8M | −59% | Saw V (2008) $113.9M |
| 2009 98 films · +116% | 98 | $1.4B | +116% | The Final Destination (2009) $186.2M |
| 2010 81 films · −11% | 81 | $1.3B | −11% | Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010) $300.2M |
| 2011 92 films · −13% | 92 | $1.1B | −13% | Paranormal Activity 3 (2011) $207M |
| 2012 97 films · +148% | 97 | $2.7B | +148% | Prometheus (2012) $403.4M |
| 2013 109 films · −22% | 109 | $2.2B | −22% | World War Z (2013) $540.5M |
| 2014 133 films · −33% | 133 | $1.4B | −33% | Annabelle (2014) $257.6M |
| 2015 135 films · +9% | 135 | $1.6B | +9% | Mojin: The Lost Legend (2015) $259.4M |
| 2016 141 films · +24% | 141 | $1.9B | +24% | The Conjuring 2 (2016) $322.8M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Horror Movies Speak in 2016?
English-language horror films took $1.5B across 77 films, 77% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language horror films ($199.1M) and Korean-language horror films ($147.6M).
2016 Horror Box Office by Language
- English $1.5B77 films · #1 The Conjuring 2 (2016)
- Japanese $199.1M7 films · #1 Shin Godzilla (2016)
-
Korean $147.6M7 films · #1 Train to Busan (2016) -
Chinese $13.5M1 film · #1 Phantom of the Theatre (2016) - Spanish $13.2M13 films · #1 The Legend of the Chupacabras (2016)
- Russian $3M2 films · #1 Queen of Spades: The Dark Rite (2016)
-
Turkish $2.1M8 films · #1 Magi (2016) -
Hindi $2M2 films · #1 Great Grand Masti (2016) -
Thai $771K2 films · #1 Take Me Home (2016) -
Finnish $710.5K1 film · #1 Lake Bodom (2016)
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 2016: 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 141 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing horror movie in 2016?
The Conjuring 2 (2016) leads with $322.8M worldwide, $102.5M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Don't Breathe (2016) at $157.8M and Lights Out (2016) at $149.4M.
How much did horror movies released in 2016 earn?
141 horror films released in 2016 report a worldwide gross, $1.9B in all, or $13.7M per film on average. 2015 releases took $1.6B.
How many horror movies released in 2016 made $1 billion?
None. 6 films crossed $100 million, led by The Conjuring 2 (2016) with $322.8M.
How is the 2016 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 2016. 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 2016 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.