#1 of 181 #1 horror movie of 2023
2023 · Action, Adventure
$398.5M worldwide · 15% of the chart's total
$82.6M US & Canada · 21% $315.9M elsewhere · 79%
Horror box office · 2023
Horror Box Office 2023: Highest-Grossing Horror Movies
Meg 2: The Trench (2023) is the highest-grossing horror movie released in 2023, with $398.5M worldwide, ahead of Five Nights at Freddy's (2023) at $291.6M and The Nun II (2023) at $269.7M. 181 horror films released in 2023 report a worldwide gross, $2.7B in all, 41% of it from the US & Canada. 11 films crossed $100 million; none reached $1 billion. That is up 4% on 2022, whose releases took $2.6B. By language, English leads with $2.5B across 119 horror releases.
- 2023 releases with a gross
- 181
- combined worldwide
- $2.7B
- films crossed $100M
- 11
- vs 2022
- +4%
#1 of 181 Top 5
What Were the Biggest Horror Hits of 2023?
Meg 2: The Trench (2023) leads with $398.5M, 15% of the total. The top 5 together took $1.3B, 50% of what all 181 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 2023, Ranked by Worldwide Gross
Ranks 1 to 50 of 181. Lifetime worldwide grosses in US dollars, not adjusted for inflation; domestic means the US & Canada. Films are grouped by their release date in 2023.
- 1 Aug 4, 2023 US and Canada: $82.6M Rest of the world: $315.9M Worldwide: $398.5M
- 2 Oct 27, 2023 US and Canada: $137.3M Rest of the world: $154.3M Worldwide: $291.6M
- 3 Sep 8, 2023 US and Canada: $86.3M Rest of the world: $183.4M Worldwide: $269.7M
- 4 Jul 7, 2023 US and Canada: $82.2M Rest of the world: $106.9M Worldwide: $189.1M
- 5 Jan 6, 2023 US and Canada: $95.2M Rest of the world: $84.9M Worldwide: $180.1M
- 6
Apr 21, 2023 US and Canada: $67.2M Rest of the world: $79.9M Worldwide: $147.1M - 7
Oct 6, 2023 US and Canada: $65.5M Rest of the world: $70.8M Worldwide: $136.3M - 8
Sep 15, 2023 US and Canada: $42.5M Rest of the world: $79.8M Worldwide: $122.3M - 9
Jul 28, 2023 US and Canada: $67.7M Rest of the world: $49.8M Worldwide: $117.4M - 10
Dec 1, 2023 US and Canada: $57.1M Rest of the world: $56.8M Worldwide: $113.9M - 11
Sep 29, 2023 US and Canada: $53.6M Rest of the world: $59.2M Worldwide: $112.8M - 12
Jul 28, 2023 US and Canada: $48.3M Rest of the world: $43.9M Worldwide: $92.2M - 13
Apr 14, 2023 US and Canada: $20M Rest of the world: $57M Worldwide: $77M - 14
Feb 3, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $69.9M - 15
Jun 2, 2023 US and Canada: $43.2M Rest of the world: $24.1M Worldwide: $67.3M - 16
Feb 3, 2023 US and Canada: $35.4M Rest of the world: $19.4M Worldwide: $54.8M - 17
Nov 17, 2023 US and Canada: $31.9M Rest of the world: $14.6M Worldwide: $46.6M - 18
Apr 14, 2023 US and Canada: $17.3M Rest of the world: $9.2M Worldwide: $26.5M - 19
Aug 11, 2023 US and Canada: $13.6M Rest of the world: $8.1M Worldwide: $21.8M - 20
Jun 16, 2023 US and Canada: $17.7M Rest of the world: $462.2K Worldwide: $18.2M - 21
Nov 10, 2023 US and Canada: $5.7M Rest of the world: $6.7M Worldwide: $12.5M - 22
Jul 21, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $10.1M - 23
Feb 14, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $8.2M - 24
Feb 16, 2023 US and Canada: $2.1M Rest of the world: $5.6M Worldwide: $7.7M - 25
Sep 22, 2023 US and Canada: $4.7M Rest of the world: $2.7M Worldwide: $7.4M - 26
Apr 14, 2023 US and Canada: $5.4M Rest of the world: $582.8K Worldwide: $6M - 27
Jan 27, 2023 US and Canada: $5.1M Rest of the world: $123.9K Worldwide: $5.2M - 28
Jan 13, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $3.1M - 29
The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGe (2023)Nov 17, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $2.6M
Nov 17, 2023 · Japanese · Horror, Fantasy, Mystery $2.6M worldwide - 30
Feb 10, 2023 US and Canada: $538.6K Rest of the world: $1.9M Worldwide: $2.4M - 31
Jan 13, 2023 US and Canada: $2.1M Rest of the world: $64K Worldwide: $2.1M - 32
Jan 27, 2023 US and Canada: $2.1M Rest of the world: Worldwide: $2.1M - 33
Oct 6, 2023 US and Canada: $546.6K Rest of the world: $1.5M Worldwide: $2.1M - 34
Jul 14, 2023 US and Canada: $15.1K Rest of the world: $2.1M Worldwide: $2.1M - 35
Apr 6, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.8M - 36
Feb 10, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.7M - 37
Jun 16, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.7M - 38
Mar 17, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.6M - 39
May 15, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.5M - 40
Sep 1, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.5M - 41
Feb 1, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.3M - 42
Nov 10, 2023 US and Canada: $811.8K Rest of the world: $490.9K Worldwide: $1.3M - 43
Aug 9, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.2M - 44
Mar 31, 2023 US and Canada: $64.5K Rest of the world: $1.1M Worldwide: $1.2M - 45
Dec 8, 2023 US and Canada: $3.7K Rest of the world: $1.1M Worldwide: $1.1M - 46
Oct 3, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1.1M - 47
Dec 26, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $1M - 48
Mar 31, 2023 US and Canada: $189.6K Rest of the world: $824.4K Worldwide: $1M - 49
Jan 13, 2023 US and Canada: $765.2K Rest of the world: $219.1K Worldwide: $984.3K - 50
Sep 1, 2023 US and Canada: – Rest of the world: – Worldwide: $875.2K
US & Canada vs the world
Where Did the Money Come From in 2023?
Of the top 10, Haunted Mansion (2023) earned the biggest share at home (58% in the US & Canada), while Meg 2: The Trench (2023) made 79% of its gross abroad. Across all 181 films, $1.1B (41%) came from the US & Canada.
- 1 Meg 2: The Trench (2023) $398.5M $82.6M US & Canada · 21% $315.9M elsewhere · 79%
- 2 Five Nights at Freddy's (2023) $291.6M $137.3M US & Canada · 47% $154.3M elsewhere · 53%
- 3 The Nun II (2023) $269.7M $86.3M US & Canada · 32% $183.4M elsewhere · 68%
- 4 Insidious: The Red Door (2023) $189.1M $82.2M US & Canada · 43% $106.9M elsewhere · 57%
- 5 M3GAN (2023) $180.1M $95.2M US & Canada · 53% $84.9M elsewhere · 47%
- 6 Evil Dead Rise (2023) $147.1M $67.2M US & Canada · 46% $79.9M elsewhere · 54%
- 7 The Exorcist: Believer (2023) $136.3M $65.5M US & Canada · 48% $70.8M elsewhere · 52%
- 8 A Haunting in Venice (2023) $122.3M $42.5M US & Canada · 35% $79.8M elsewhere · 65%
- 9 Haunted Mansion (2023) $117.4M $67.7M US & Canada · 58% $49.8M elsewhere · 42%
- 10 Godzilla Minus One (2023) $113.9M $57.1M US & Canada · 50% $56.8M elsewhere · 50%
Gross bands
How Many 2023 Releases Crossed $100 Million?
11 of 181 films crossed $100M and took $2.1B between them, 78% of the total. 159 films, 88% of the list, earned under $10M.
78% 19%
- $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 11 films, 6% of the list $2.1B · 78% of the gross
- $10M to $100M 11 films, 6% of the list $496.8M · 19% of the gross
- Under $10M 159 films, 88% of the list $91.8M · 3% of the gross
By release month
Which Month of 2023 Earned the Most?
September releases took the most, $515.7M from 21 films, led by The Nun II (2023). May was the quietest month ($2.8M). Each column is a release month and links to that month's chart.
- January Jan M3GAN (2023) $194.3M M3GAN (2023)
- February Feb Romancham (2023) $147.5M Romancham (2023)
- March Mar Leave (2023) $6.9M Leave (2023)
- April Apr Evil Dead Rise (2023) $260.1M Evil Dead Rise (2023)
- May May Remains (2023) $2.8M Remains (2023)
- June Jun The Boogeyman (2023) $88M The Boogeyman (2023)
- July Jul Insidious: The Red Door (2023) $412.6M Insidious: The Red Door (2023)
- August Aug Meg 2: The Trench (2023) $423.9M Meg 2: The Trench (2023)
- September Sep The Nun II (2023) $515.7M The Nun II (2023)
- October Oct Five Nights at Freddy's (2023) $434.4M Five Nights at Freddy's (2023)
- November Nov Thanksgiving (2023) $64.5M Thanksgiving (2023)
- December Dec Godzilla Minus One (2023) $116.7M Godzilla Minus One (2023)
Last 10 years
How Does 2023 Compare With Previous Years?
Of these 10 years, 2018 earned the most: $3.7B from 169 films, led by Venom (2018). 2023 took $2.7B.
| Year | Films | Worldwide | Change | Biggest film |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 133 films | 133 | $1.4B | – | 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 |
| 2017 166 films · +84% | 166 | $3.5B | +84% | It (2017) $704.2M |
| 2018 169 films · +4% | 169 | $3.7B | +4% | Venom (2018) $856.1M |
| 2019 227 films · −15% | 227 | $3.1B | −15% | It: Chapter Two (2019) $473.1M |
| 2020 144 films · −78% | 144 | $697.4M | −78% | The Invisible Man (2020) $144.5M |
| 2021 153 films · +136% | 153 | $1.6B | +136% | Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) $506.8M |
| 2022 205 films · +56% | 205 | $2.6B | +56% | Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) $955.8M |
| 2023 181 films · +4% | 181 | $2.7B | +4% | Meg 2: The Trench (2023) $398.5M |
By language
Which Languages Do the Biggest Horror Movies Speak in 2023?
English-language horror films took $2.5B across 119 films, 92% of the total, ahead of Japanese-language horror films ($127.4M) and Malayalam-language horror films ($69.9M).
2023 Horror Box Office by Language
-
English $2.5B119 films · #1 Meg 2: The Trench (2023) - Japanese $127.4M6 films · #1 Godzilla Minus One (2023)
-
Malayalam $69.9M1 film · #1 Romancham (2023) -
Spanish $5.5M10 films · #1 When Evil Lurks (2023) -
French $3.8M3 films · #1 Final Cut (2023) -
Thai $2.8M8 films · #1 Home for Rent (2023) -
Korean $2M4 films · #1 Marui Video (2023) -
Norwegian $1.6M1 film · #1 Leave (2023) -
Swedish $1.1M3 films · #1 Carousel (2023) -
Indonesian $707.4K7 films · #1 The Devil’s Lair (2023)
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 2023: 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 181 films as the chart.
What is the highest-grossing horror movie in 2023?
Meg 2: The Trench (2023) leads with $398.5M worldwide, $82.6M of it in the US & Canada. Next come Five Nights at Freddy's (2023) at $291.6M and The Nun II (2023) at $269.7M.
How much did horror movies released in 2023 earn?
181 horror films released in 2023 report a worldwide gross, $2.7B in all, or $14.7M per film on average. 2022 releases took $2.6B.
How many horror movies released in 2023 made $1 billion?
None. 11 films crossed $100 million, led by Meg 2: The Trench (2023) with $398.5M.
How is the 2023 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 2023. 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 2023 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.