In 1896, French filmmaker Georges Méliès created Le Manoir du Diable (The Haunted Castle), a three-minute short film often recognized as the first horror movie. In it, a devilish figure haunts a castle, marking the start of a genre that has evolved dramatically over the past 120+ years.
Fast forward to today, and horror movies like Barbarian, Smile, and M3GAN have dominated theaters in recent years. In October alone, films such as The Exorcist: Believer and Saw X are leading a fresh wave of terror to the box office, with more still to come.
Horror as a genre has splintered into numerous sub-genres—ranging from supernatural and slasher to psychological and horror-comedy. With such diversity, it’s tricky to pin down what truly defines “horror.” However, when all sub-genres are grouped together, certain films stand out for their massive box office impact.
So, which horror films have truly captured the attention of audiences? Below is a definitive list of the top-grossing horror films in U.S. box office history. To account for inflation, we’ll also present adjusted figures to provide a clearer view of the most successful horror movies of all time.
Top 25 Highest-Grossing Horror Movies (Unadjusted for Inflation) According to Box Office Mojo, here are the top 25 horror films by domestic box office gross:
It (2017) — $327.5 million The Sixth Sense (1999) — $293.5 million Jaws (1975) — $260 million Ghostbusters (1984) — $242.2 million The Exorcist (1973) — $232.9 million It: Chapter Two (2019) — $195.7 million Get Out (2017) — $176 million Halloween (2018) — $159.3 million Scary Movie (2000) — $159 million What Lies Beneath (2000) — $155.4 million Gremlins (1984) — $153.1 million The Meg (2018) — $145.4 million The Blair Witch Project (1999) — $140.5 million The Conjuring (2013) — $137.4 million The Ring (2002) — $129.1 million Ghostbusters (2016) — $128.4 million Shutter Island (2010) — $128 million Van Helsing (2004) — $120.2 million The Nun (2018) — $117.5 million The Village (2004) — $114.2 million Ghostbusters II (1989) — $112.5 million The Grudge (2004) — $110.4 million Scary Movie 3 (2003) — $110 million Paranormal Activity (2009) — $107.9 million Interview with the Vampire (1994) — $105.3 million Top 25 Highest-Grossing Horror Movies (Adjusted for Inflation)
To level the playing field, here’s a list that adjusts each film’s earnings to reflect 2024 ticket prices:
Jaws (1975) — $1.154 billion The Exorcist (1973) — $996.5 million Ghostbusters (1984) — $641.3 million The Sixth Sense (1999) — $518.8 million Gremlins (1984) — $409.8 million It (2017) — $328.9 million Jaws 2 (1978) — $312.8 million The Amityville Horror (1979) — $310.3 million Alien (1979) — $286.4 million Scary Movie (2000) — $262.5 million What Lies Beneath (2000) — $259.9 million The Omen (1976) — $257.7 million Ghostbusters II (1989) — $255.3 million The Blair Witch Project (1999) — $249.3 million Poltergeist (1982) — $234.8 million Interview with the Vampire (1994) — $226.4 million Aliens (1986) — $206.8 million Scream (1996) — $203.2 million The Ring (2002) — $200.1 million Scream 2 (1997) — $197.3 million It: Chapter Two (2019) — $195.7 million The Deep (1977) — $191.3 million Halloween (1978) — $181 million Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) — $179.2 million Get Out (2017) — $179.1 million A Genre That Continues to Evolve The horror genre’s capacity to innovate and adapt is reflected in these rankings. From Jaws redefining summer blockbusters in the ’70s to Get Out blending horror with social commentary in 2017, horror films continue to captivate audiences. As the genre keeps evolving, it’s only a matter of time before a new contender emerges to join these all-time greats. ,
