Horror movies have become a staple of American cinema. In fact, some horror movies have gone on to perform incredibly well at the box office. The following is a list of the 13 highest grossing horror movies of all time. It is important to note, while some lists only focus on the domestic earnings of each film, this list is based on the total worldwide gross revenue.
If you enjoy horror movies and are interested to know which have earned the most money, continue on. The below 13 highest grossing horror films list contains every movie that has performed well over the years in the horror genre. Many of these movies are considered classics and are usually enjoyed repeatedly, especially around the halloween season. All of these horror movies are considered certified blockbusters.
The List of the 13 Highest Grossing Horror Films Worldwide Ever
13. Godzilla vs. Kong
Box Office: $465,763,133
Year Released: 2021
Director: Adam Wingard
Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill
The Record Setting Box Office of Godzilla vs. Kong
Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) is the thirteenth highest grossing horror movie worldwide. The American monster film earned $465,763,133 at the box office. The film was directed by Adam Wingard and stars Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Shun Oguri, Eiza González, Julian Dennison, Lance Reddick, Kyle Chandler, and Demián Bichir.
Godzilla vs. Kong broke several pandemic box office records making it the eighth-highest-grossing film of 2021. It was released in the United States in theatres and HBO Max on March 31st, and internationally on March 24th. The film was also a streaming hit, becoming the most successful launch item on HBO Max with a sequel is in development.
12. Jaws
Box Office: $470,653,000
Year Released: 1975
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw
The Record Setting Box Office of Jaws
Jaws (1975) is the twelfth highest grossing horror movie worldwide. The American thriller film earned $470,653,000 at the box office. The film was directed by Steven Spielberg and stars Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary, and Murray Hamilton.
Jaws helped set the standard for the summer blockbuster and won several awards for its music and editing. It was one of the highest-grossing films of 1977. Jaws helped establish the Hollywood business model, releasing summer action adventure films in thousands of theaters and advertising heavily for huge return. Jaws had three sequels, with many movies attempting to imitate this thriller.
11. It Chapter Two
Box Office: $473,093,228
Year Released: 2019
Director: Andy Muschietti
Starring: Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy
The Record Setting Box Office of It Chapter Two
It Chapter Two (2019) is the eleventh highest grossing horror movie worldwide. The American supernatural horror film earned $473,093,228 at the box office. The film was directed by Andy Muschietti and stars Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, Jay Ryan, James Ransone, Andy Bean, and Bill Skarsgård.
In September 2017, the It sequel was announced, taking place 27 years after the events of the first film. It Chapter Two was theatrically released in North America on September 6, 2019. The film received mixed reviews from critics, but despite these reviews, the film was a box office success, It Chapter Two grossed over $473 million worldwide.
10. Demon Slayer: Mugen Train
Box Office: $503,048,471
Year Released: 2020
Director: Haruo Sotozaki
Starring: Natsuki Hanae, Akari Kitō
The Record Setting Box Office of Demon Slayer: Mugen Train
Demon Slayer: Mugen Train (2020) is the tenth highest grossing horror movie worldwide. The Japanese animated dark fantasy action film earned $503,048,471 at the box office. The film was directed by Haruo Sotozaki and stars Natsuki Hanae, Akari Kitō, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Hiro Shimono, and Satoshi Hino.
Demon Slayer: Mugen Train premiered on October 16, 2020 in Japan and late 2020 to mid-2021 internationally, setting a number of box office records. The film grossed over $505 million at the box office worldwide. It was the highest-grossing film of 2020, and the first non-Hollywood production to top the annual box office. It is currently the highest-grossing Japanese film of all time.
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9. Godzilla
Box Office: $529,076,069
Year Released: 2014
Director: Gareth Edwards
Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe
The Record Setting Box Office of Godzilla
Godzilla (2014) is the ninth highest grossing horror movie worldwide. The American monster film earned $529,076,069 at the box office. The film was directed by Gareth Edwards and stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen, Juliette Binoche, Sally Hawkins, David Strathairn, and Bryan Cranston.
Godzilla (2014) is the 30th film in the Godzilla franchise. It was theatrically released on May 16, 2014 and received generally positive reviews from critics. The film was a box office success and prompted the production of the sequels, Godzilla: King of the Monsters released on May 31, 2019, and Godzilla vs. Kong released on March 24, 2021.
8. The Meg
Box Office: $530,243,742
Year Released: 2018
Director: Jon Turteltaub
Starring: Jason Statham, Li Bingbing
The Record Setting Box Office of The Meg
The Meg (2018) is the eight highest grossing horror movie worldwide. The American science fiction action film earned $530,243,742 at the box office. The film was directed by Jon Turteltaub and stars Jason Statham, Li Bingbing, Rainn Wilson, Ruby Rose, Winston Chao, and Cliff Curtis.
After spending years in development hell, The Meg was green-lit in 2013 with filming ending in January 2016. The film is an American and Chinese co-production, being released in both countries on August 10, 2018. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the film was a box office success and grossed over $530 million worldwide.
7. World War Z
Box Office: $540,007,876
Year Released: 2013
Director: Marc Forster
Starring: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos
The Record Setting Box Office of World War Z
World War Z (2013) is the seventh highest grossing horror movie worldwide. The American action horror film earned $540,007,876 at the box office. The film was directed by Marc Forster and stars Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz, James Badge Dale, Ludi Boeken, Matthew Fox, Fana Mokoena, David Morse, Elyes Gabel, Peter Capaldi, Pierfrancesco Favino, Ruth Negga, and Moritz Bleibtreu.
World War Z premiered in London on June 2, 2013, New York and Los Angeles on June 14, and everywhere elsewhere in the United States on June 21. The film was given mixed reviews, but was still a commercial success, grossing over $540 million. It is the highest-grossing zombie film of all time. A sequel was announced, but later cancelled, reportedly due to budget issues.
6. King Kong
Box Office: $562,363,449
Year Released: 2005
Director: Peter Jackson
Starring: Naomi Watts, Jack Black
The Record Setting Box Office of King Kong
King Kong (2005) is the sixth highest grossing horror movie worldwide. The epic adventure monster film earned $562,363,449 at the box office. The film was directed by Peter Jackson and stars Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Colin Hanks, Jamie Bell, and Andy Serkis.
King Kong (2005) was released in the United States and Germany on December 14, 2005, and performed somewhat lower than expected at the box office. The film eventually made domestic and worldwide grosses that added up to $562 million and was the fifth-highest-grossing film of 2005. It also generated $100 million in DVD sales. King Kong received positive reviews from critics and won three Academy Awards.
5. Kong: Skull Island
Box Office: $566,652,812
Year Released: 2017
Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts
Starring: Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson
The Record Setting Box Office of Kong: Skull Island
Kong: Skull Island (2017) is the fifth highest grossing horror movie worldwide. The American monster film earned $566,652,812 at the box office. The film was directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts and stars Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, Brie Larson, Jing Tian, Toby Kebbell, John Ortiz, Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Shea Whigham, Thomas Mann, Terry Notary, and John C. Reilly.
Kong: Skull Island was released theatrically on March 10, 2017. The film received generally positive reviews from critics and grossed over $566 million worldwide. The film is the highest grossing installment in the MonsterVerse to date. The sequel Godzilla vs. Kong, was released in 2021.
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4. I Am Legend
Box Office: $585,349,010
Year Released: 2007
Director: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Will Smith, Alice Braga
The Record Setting Box Office of I Am Legend
I Am Legend (2007) is the fourth highest grossing horror movie worldwide. The American post-apocalyptic action thriller film earned $585,349,010 at the box office. The film was directed by Francis Lawrence and stars Will Smith, Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, and Dash Mihok.
I Am Legend received generally positive reviews. It was released on December 14, 2007, in the United States and Canada. It opened to the largest-ever box office for a non-Christmas film released in the U.S. in December. It was the seventh-highest-grossing film of 2007, earning $256 million domestically and $329 million internationally. In 2022, a sequel was revealed to be in development.
3. War of the Worlds
Box Office: $603,873,119
Year Released: 2005
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning
The Record Setting Box Office of War of the Worlds
War of the Worlds (2005) is the third highest grossing horror movie worldwide. The American science fiction action film earned $603,873,119 at the box office. The film was directed by Steven Spielberg and stars Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Miranda Otto, and Tim Robbins.
Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures released War of the Worlds in the United Kingdom on July 1, 2005 and in North America on June 29, 2005. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, though the ending was criticized. War of the Worlds was the fourth most successful film of 2005, also earning three Academy Awards nominations for Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Sound Editing.
2. The Sixth Sense
Box Office: $672,806,292
Year Released: 1999
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette
The Record Setting Box Office of The Sixth Sense
The Sixth Sense (1999) is the second highest grossing horror movie worldwide. The American supernatural film earned $672,806,292 at the box office. The film was directed by M. Night Shyamalan and stars Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Olivia Williams, and Haley Joel Osment.
The Sixth Sense was released by Buena Vista Pictures on August 6, 1999 with critics praising its performances, atmosphere and plot twist. It was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and was the second-highest-grossing film of 1999, taking about $293 million in the US and $379 million in other markets.
1. It
Box Office: $700,381,759
Year Released: 2017
Director: Andy Muschietti
Starring: Jaeden Lieberher, Bill Skarsgård
The Record Setting Box Office of It
It (2017) is the highest grossing horror movie worldwide. The American supernatural film earned $700,381,759 at the box office. The film was directed by Andy Muschietti and stars Jaeden Lieberher and Bill Skarsgård, with Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Wyatt Oleff, Chosen Jacobs, Jack Dylan Grazer, Nicholas Hamilton, and Jackson Robert Scott.
It was released in the United States on September 8, 2017 to great critical and commercial success. The movie set a number of box office records, becoming the fifth-highest-grossing R-rated film of all time and the highest-grossing horror film of all time. Many critics have called it one of the best Stephen King adaptations so far.
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