Horror movies are a lucrative business in Hollywood – many are made on shoestring budgets but go on to earn millions at the box office.

With subgenres ranging from paranormal and slasher to zombies and even horror-comedies, there’s something in the genre to suit every taste. But which freaky flicks have been the most successful?

Read on as we count down the 20 highest-grossing horror movies of all time, based on their original global box office grosses, which we've adjusted for inflation. 

Figures are based on original release grosses and do not take into account lifetime grosses. All dollar amounts in US dollars. 

The Village (2004), directed by M. Night Shyamalan, follows the residents of a secluded, 19th-century-style community who live in fear of mysterious creatures lurking in the woods. The film grossed $256 million worldwide against an estimated $60 million production budget, or approximately $460 million (£344m) against a $107 million (£80m) budget in today’s money.

Famed for his twisty psychological thrillers, M. Night Shyamalan is one of the biggest names in modern horror – and The Village isn’t his only film to make our round-up. Stay tuned...

The Conjuring series is one of the most successful horror franchises ever, consisting of four main films and six spin-offs, all set within the same shared universe. Directed by James Wan, the first entry in the spooky saga, The Conjuring (2013), follows real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) as they help a family terrorised by a paranormal presence in their farmhouse. 

The movie grossed $319 million worldwide against a $20 million production budget. Adjusted for inflation, that’s $461 million (£345m) with a $29 million (£22m) budget. 

Based on the popular video game series, the Resident Evil sci-fi horror franchise is a major money-spinner. The series consists of six films (and two subsequent reboots), starring Milla Jovovich as Alice, a survivor in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a deadly zombie virus. Four of the six films were directed by Jovovich’s real-life husband Paul W. S. Anderson, including the fifth entry Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010).

The high-adrenaline flick earned $300 million globally against a production budget of $60 million. In today’s money, that’s around $464 million (£347m) on a budget of $93 million (£70m). 

Directed by Gore Verbinski, The Ring (2002) is a Hollywood remake of the Japanese horror hit Ringu (1998). The chilling paranormal flick stars Naomi Watts as a journalist investigating a mysterious videotape that causes the death of anyone who watches it. 

It grossed $249 million worldwide against a budget of $48 million. When adjusted for inflation, that’s $466 million (£348m) against a budget of $90 million (£67m). 

Tim Burton’s long-awaited sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) hit screens 36 years after the original cult classic. Michael Keaton returned as the titular mischievous poltergeist, with Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara also reprising their roles as Lydia and Delia Deetz, who once again find themselves tormented by Beetlejuice. They were joined by Jenna Ortega as Astrid, Lydia’s teenage daughter.

The horror-comedy flick grossed $452 million globally against a production budget of $100 million. When adjusted for inflation, that’s $485 million (£363m) on a budget of $107 million (£80m). As for the original Beetlejuice (1988), it earned an inflation-adjusted sum of $211 million (£158m). 

Supernatural horror The Nun (2018) is part of the previously mentioned Conjuring Universe. Directed by Corin Hardy, the film follows a young nun (portrayed by Taissa Farmiga), sent to investigate a mysterious death at a remote Romanian abbey.

Another hit for the franchise, the movie grossed $366 million worldwide, or approximately $491 million (£367m) when adjusted for inflation. That figure is even more impressive considering the film had a modest $22 million budget (around $30m/£22m today).

Widely credited with popularising the found footage genre of horror, The Blair Witch Project (1999) became a cultural phenomenon upon its release. The movie follows three student filmmakers who venture into the Maryland woods to investigate the local legend of the Blair Witch. Crafted on a shoestring budget of just $60,000 (around $121k/£90k today), the film was supported by a groundbreaking marketing campaign that led many viewers to believe the footage was real and the events had actually occurred.

The paranormal horror grossed $248 million globally, or around $502 million (£375m) in today's money.

The Conjuring: Last Rites became one of the highest-grossing horror movies ever on its release in 2025, raking in $499 million worldwide, or $522 million (£390m) when inflation-adjusted.

The ninth instalment in the spooky series was also the most successful, making $84 million (£63m) in the US alone on its opening weekend. A prequel, The Conjuring: First Communion, is slated for release in 2027.

Produced on a shoestring budget of just $750,000, 2026's Obsession is one of the most profitable low-budget films of all time, having grossed an astonishing $523 million (£391m) worldwide, driven by its wildfire word-of-mouth success.

Curry Barker's second full-length movie, this tale of love, devotion, and a supernatural wish also drew praise from critics and has picked up awards at multiple indie movie festivals. Unsurprisingly, Barker has suggested a sequel or an anthology TV series could eventually see the light of day.

Directed by Stephen Sommers, Van Helsing (2004) stars Hugh Jackman as the titular legendary monster hunter, battling iconic horror figures like Dracula and Frankenstein’s monster. It stands as one of the most expensive horror movies ever made when accounting for inflation, with a budget of $160 million, or $285 million (£213m) today.

However, the fantasy-horror film was considered a major flop due to negative reviews and a worldwide gross of $300 million, or approximately $535 million (£400m) today.

Directed by Ridley Scott, Prometheus (2012) is a prequel to the sci-fi horror classic Alien (1979). The film follows a team of scientists who journey to a distant planet in search of humanity’s origins, only to encounter terrifying creatures.

The highest-grossing entry in the Alien franchise, it earned $403 million worldwide against a $130 million budget. Adjusted for inflation, that’s approximately $591 million (£442m) on a budget of $190 million (£142m). 

Based on the spine-chilling novel by Stephen King, horror sequel It: Chapter Two (2019) is a modern-day horror classic. Directed by Andrés Muschietti, Bill Skarsgård reprises his role as Pennywise the Dancing Clown. The film follows the now-adult members of the Losers’ Club as they return to their hometown of Derry to confront the entity that terrorised them as children.

The movie banked $473 million globally against its $79 million production budget, or approximately $623 million (£466m) against a $104 million (£78m) budget in today's money, making it one of the most successful Stephen King adaptations ever.

Directed by Ridley Scott, Hannibal (2001) is the third entry in the Hannibal Lecter film series, based on the grisly horror novels by Thomas Harris. Anthony Hopkins reprises his iconic role as the sadistic cannibal Dr Hannibal Lecter, with Julianne Moore replacing Jodie Foster as FBI agent Clarice Starling.

The most successful entry in the saga, Hannibal pulled in $351 million worldwide, or $668 million (£499m) when adjusted for inflation. Its production budget was a hefty $87 million (about $166m/£124m today).

M. Night Shyamalan's Signs (2002) stars Mel Gibson as a widowed farmer whose life is turned upside down when mysterious crop circles begin appearing in his fields.

A blockbuster hit, it grossed $408 million worldwide against a $72 million budget. Adjusted for inflation, that’s a phenomenal $764 million (£571m) on a $135 million (£101m) budget.

The zombie subgenre of horror is one of the most lucrative, as demonstrated by the blockbuster hit World War Z (2013), based on the novel by Max Brooks. Directed by Marc Forster and starring Brad Pitt as a former UN investigator racing against time to stop a deadly virus from destroying humanity, the action-packed flick had a massive $190 million budget (around $275m/£206m today), making it one of the most expensive horror films ever made.

Fortunately, the gamble paid off: it grossed $540 million worldwide, or around $781 million (£584m) in today's money.

Directed by Francis Lawrence, I Am Legend (2007) stars Will Smith as the sole survivor in a post-apocalyptic New York City, searching for a cure to a virus that turns humans into monsters.

A screaming success, the film banked $585 million worldwide against a production budget of $150 million. Adjusted for inflation, that’s a gross of $951 million (£711m) against a $244 million (£182m) budget. A highly anticipated sequel is currently in the works, with Will Smith set to return.

We’ve already covered It Chapter Two (2019), but the first entry It (2017) outshone its sequel at the box office. The film follows a group of kids in the town of Derry as they battle a sinister entity. Like the sequel, it was directed by Andrés Muschietti and stars Bill Skarsgård as the terrifying Pennywise.

With a modest budget of $35 million (around $48m/£36m today), the film banked $702 million worldwide, or $965 million (£722m) in today's money. The sensational gross makes it the most successful Stephen King adaptation ever.

Helmed by horror aficionado M. Night Shyamalan, The Sixth Sense (1999) stars Bruce Willis as a child psychologist trying to help a young boy plagued by chilling visions of the undead.

The twisty psychological thriller became a surprise blockbuster, grossing $672 million against its modest $40 million budget (about $81m/£61m today). Adjusted for inflation, it banked a whopping $1.4 billion (£1.1bn) globally. This makes it the most successful M. Night Shyamalan movie ever.

Directed by William Friedkin, The Exorcist (1973) is one of the most iconic horror movies of all time. It stars Linda Blair in a spine-chilling performance as a young girl possessed by a demon.

With a budget of $11 million (around $83m/£62m today), the frightening flick grossed $193 million worldwide, or a staggering $1.5 billion (£1.1bn) in today's money. Several sequels have followed over the years, but none have come close to matching the money-making feats of the original.

Swimming in open water was never the same after Steven Spielberg released his chilling creature feature Jaws (1975). The film follows a small-town police chief, a marine biologist and a shark hunter as they team up to stop a massive great white shark from terrorising the beachgoers of Amity Island.

The movie made a massive splash at the box office. With a modest budget of just $7 million (around $44m/£33m today), it grossed $261 million upon its original release. That’s a staggering $1.6 billion (£1.2bn) today – making it not only one of the scariest horror films ever made, but also the most commercially successful. 

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