The holiday season is often a time to settle in with the family and watch beloved classic films featuring warm-hearted messages of joy, peace on earth and morals meant to fill the audience with that fuzzy sentimental feeling. As this season draws to a close however, many viewers wish to replace those sanguine visions of sugarplums and fairies with tense heart-pounding images of horror and thrills. Sappy sentimentalism can only go so far, and time and time again the biggest hits of the holiday season are horror flicks which counter warm fuzzies with ice-cold dripping tension and heart-racing excitement.
With Nosferatu doing great business this winter and 2024 previously hosting horror smash hits like A Quiet Place: Day One and Alien: Romulus, it is worth remembering that the darker side of cinema often outperforms its softer, kinder side. Viewers go to the theater to feel, and no feeling is more visceral and lasting than pulse-pounding, sweat-inducing monsters like Dracula, real world horrors like sharks or serial killers, or the psychological fear of the unknown. This past year featured many such horrors, but these universal feelings are felt around the globe which has led to many horror films featuring staggering worldwide box-office returns. The following numbers have been adjusted for inflation using CPI calculation, and should be considered estimates.
10
‘The Blair Witch Project’ (1999)
Worldwide Gross After Inflation: $470,851,000
One film that tapped into the fear of the unknown better than possibly any other in the history of cinema was 1999’s The Blair Witch Project. Made on a minuscule budget, and with no-name actors, this instant classic indie horror film told the story of four young documentarians trapped in the woods by mysterious and haunting forces of evil, and terrified audiences with its unique gimmick and willingness to present itself as a record of true events. The film is single handedly responsible for thrusting the found footage style into mainstream popularity and has become an icon of the horror genre even as its facade of authenticity has faded over the years.
Coming out during a resurgence of horror, and just as handheld cameras were becoming mainstream The Blair Witch Project became a zeitgeist-capturing behemoth upon its release and was praised by critics and audiences alike. The film was praised for its ‘less is more’ philosophy and willingness to break genre conventions and its box office numbers reflect this acclaim. The Blair Witch Project grossed over 470 million dollars by 2024 standards, a massive success made all the more jaw-dropping when the film’s minuscule sixty-thousand dollar budget is taken into account. This combination of low budget, critical success, and inventive genre bending made The Blair Witch project not just one of the highest-grossing horror films, but one of the most profitable films of all time.
- Release Date
-
July 30, 1999
- Director
-
Eduardo Sánchez
, Daniel Myrick - Cast
-
Joshua Leonard
, Michael C. Williams
, Heather Donahue
9
‘Interview With the Vampire’ (1994)
Worldwide Gross After Inflation: $476,144,000
Based on The Vampire Chronicles, Anne Rice‘s famed series of gothic horror novels, Interview With the Vampire burst onto the scene with a built-in audience thirsty for an adaptation of their favorite blood suckers. While a rabid fan base can come with its own critical challenges as fans bring their own expectations, ideas, and built-in vision for their favorite work, it has undeniably been a boon to the financial end of filmmaking. Interview with the Vampire managed to exceed both of these trends, garnering widespread and immortal acclaim from fans alongside Oscar nominations, while becoming an undeniable box office smash even outside its baked-in viewers.
Grossing over 475 million dollars by today’s standards, Interview With the Vampire cemented itself a legacy in horror’s most historical and competitive genre. The vampire is an icon of horror, and cinema has been awash in depictions of these mythical creatures since the original Nosferatu. Interview with the Vampire uses its fantastic actors (Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Kirsten Dunst, Christian Slater, Antonio Banderas) and adaptation of Rice’s melodramatic and compelling characters to stand apart from the sea of other bloodsuckers and make a breakthrough to mainstream audiences. Even though this critical and financial success wasn’t enough to generate a sequel, the iconic series would rise from the dead years later as a similarly popular television series.
interview with a vampire
A vampire tells his epic life story: love, betrayal, loneliness, and hunger.
- Release Date
-
November 11, 1994
- Director
-
Neil Jordan
- Runtime
-
123
8
‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula’ (1992)
Worldwide Gross After Inflation: $485,411,000
While vampire’s may be a saturated genre within horror, one name that always sends chills down the spine of viewers is that of Dracula, the most classical of monsters and an icon of cinema in his own right. Adaptations of this influential monster always come with an added level of expectation from audiences, and while many try to downplay this extra weight. Francis Ford Coppola‘s 1992 film leaned into its illustrious origins by bearing the title Bram Stoker’s Dracula. This choice and the film’s marketing painted the film as the one true authentic adaptation of Bram Stoker‘s seminal work and while the final product may not be entirely faithful, the promise of the definitive Dracula film was more than enough to pack theaters in droves.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula combines its sales pitch with an all-star cast of Anthony Hopkins, Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder, Sadie Frost, and others, including Gary Oldman as the iconic vampire himself. These factors and the excellent gothic atmosphere provided by Coppola and his team made the film the definitive Dracula project at the box office, if not in accuracy. Bram Stoker’s Dracula went on to gross over 485 million dollars in ticket sales, and has gone down as one of the best adaptations of one of cinema’s most iconic characters.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula
- Release Date
-
November 13, 1992
- Director
-
Francis Ford Coppola
- Cast
-
Gary Oldman
, Winona Ryder
, Anthony Hopkins
, Keanu Reeves
, Sadie Frost
, Cary Elwes
, Richard E. Grant
, Billy Campbell
, Tom Waits
, Monica Bellucci
, Florina Kendrick
, Michaela Bercu
, Jay Robinson
, I.M. Hobson
, Laurie Franks
, Maud Winchester
, Octavian Cadia
, Robert Getz
, Dagmar Stansova
, Eniko Öss
, Nancy Linehan Charles
, Tatiana von Furstenberg
, Jules Sylvester
, Hubert Wells
, Daniel Newman
, Honey Lauren
, Judi Diamond - Runtime
-
127 Minutes
7
‘It Chapter Two’ (2019)
Worldwide Gross After Inflation: $583,856,000
Stephen King‘s It is one of his most terrifying and recognizable works. Whether it be in the original novel form or the campy yet harrowing Tim Curry adaptation from the 90’s, the story of Derry’s Losers’ Club and their battle against supernatural forces has thrilled audiences for decades and instilled a fear of clowns in multiple generations. Following the runaway breakout success of 2017’s It which focused entirely on the young version of the Loser’s Club, viewers eagerly awaited the sequel, especially after its stacked cast of Bill Hader, Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, and others were announced for It Chapter Two.
Ultimately, the horror sequel would somewhat disappoint critics and audiences. While It Chapter Two had widely praised and celebrated performances the film’s direction, plot and atmosphere failed to deliver the same chilling thrills as the first part, and left many leaving the theater underwhelmed. There were, however, many leaving the theaters, as while It: Chapter Two may have underperformed critically, it was still a massive hit financially. The film grossed over half a billion dollars worldwide and has went on to be a massive streaming success every spooky season since release.
- Release Date
-
September 6, 2019
- Runtime
-
169 minutes
6
‘Hannibal’ (2001)
Worldwide Gross After Inflation: $626,872,000
Releasing ten years after Anthony Hopkins‘ first outing as the iconic Hannibal Lecter, 2001’s Hannibal was a hotly anticipated sequel to not only one of the greatest horror films of all time, but also an Oscar-award-winning box office juggernaut in The Silence of the Lambs. This decade of hype and buildup combined with the excitement of newcomers Mads Mikkelsen, Gary Oldman, and Julianne Moore (replacing Jodie Foster as clarice starling) led to Hannibal Lecter’s third on-screen adaptation becoming a massive box-office smash almost on par with the 1991 Best Picture winner it followed.
Hannibal devoured the box office, earning over 625 million dollars worldwide, adjusted for inflation, and created an appetite for even more Lecter films in the decade to come. While the financial success may have been on par with Silence of the Lambs, the film’s critical response failed to reach the same highs. Hannibal is considered one of the lesser entries in the cannibal killer’s filmography despite the praise that Hopkins generated for his reprisal of the classic character.
Hannibal
- Release Date
-
February 9, 2001
- Runtime
-
132 Minutes
5
‘Silence of the Lambs’ (1991)
Worldwide Gross After Inflation: $631,780,000
A critical and commercial smash, The Silence of the Lambs was met with rapturous applause upon its release in 1991, winning all five major categories at the Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay, and earning 2 additional nominations for good measure. Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster‘s riveting chemistry as the villainous Hannibal Lecter and the determined Clarice Starling resonated deeply with audiences, creating a must-see horror thriller which would spread through rave reviews and word of mouth to ultimately gross over 630 million dollars by today’s standards.
Much has been said about The Silence of the Lambs in the thirty-plus years since its release. Jonathan Demme‘s psychological and intense direction in concert with the films’ pitch-perfect acting performances have created one of the most durable and consistent films of all time. The Silence of The Lambs spawned the Hannibal craze that would continue in future films such as Red Dragon, and Hannibal Rising, as well as tv series such as Clarice, and the acclaimed Hannibal. The Silence of The Lambs remains one of the best psychological thrillers of all time and is more than worthy of its monstrous box office returns.
The Silence of the Lambs
A young F.B.I. cadet must receive the help of an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims.
- Release Date
-
February 14, 1991
- Runtime
-
118 Minutes
- Character(s)
-
Clarice Sterling
, Dr. Hannibal Lecter
, Jack Crawford
, Jame Gumb
, Dr. Frederick Chilton
, Catherine Martin
, Senator Ruth Martin
, Ardelia Mapp - Writers
-
Thomas Harris
, Ted Tally
4
‘Alien’ (1979)
Worldwide Gross After Inflation: $802,365,000
Coming out a decade after the moon landing captured minds worldwide, and two years after Star Wars made science fiction the prevailing box office force, 1979’s Alien presented audiences with a new and less optimistic version of space, one in which no one can hear you scream. The shear novelty of the original Alien can not be overstated. Ridley Scott’s mastery of tone, when combined with a pessimistic neo-capitalist vision of the future and H.R. Geiger’s haunting, abstract creature designs, melded together in perfect harmony to create a terrifying experience unlike anything audiences had ever seen before. Audiences ate up Alien’s originality and inventiveness, earning the movie true blockbuster status with a worldwide gross of over 800 million dollars when adjusted for inflation.
While follow-ups have failed to reach the heights of the original audience’s hunger for, and fear of the instantly recognizable and iconic xenomorphs has stayed consistent. Even when presented in campier settings like 1997’s Alien Ressurection, the franchise still boasts one of the scariest creature designs of all time, and remains a consistent box office draw. Audiences were also thrilled with Sigourney Weaver‘s star making role as heroic survivor Ellen Ripley, and the franchise’s ability to tell grounded human stories admist all of their technical marvels. With Alien: Romulus reigniting the franchise’s engines with a massive box office haul of its own, it is likely that audiences will be seeing more of the xenomorph, and possibly more of Ripley, going forward.
- Release Date
-
June 22, 1979
- Runtime
-
117 minutes
3
‘It’ (2017)
Worldwide Gross After Inflation: $904,547,000
Whereas It: Chapter Two may have been met with mixed reactions from fan’s despite its massive box office numbers, its predecessor simply titled It upon release, was met with rave reviews and praised as one of the scariest horror films of it’s time. Accompanying this critical success was an even greater commercial success as It dominated the theatres, grossing over 900 million dollars adjusted for inflation. Even more impressive than that feat, however, is the fact that the Stephen King adaptation’s unadjusted gross of over 700 million dollars earns it the title of highest-grossing horror film of all time upon its 2017 release.
The horror film was praised for its adaptations of King’s classic work and the performances of its young leads, but it was Bill Skarsgard‘s performance as the antagonistic clown Pennywise that was the highlight for most. Following up Tim Curry’s campy yet terrifying take on the villainous clown from the 1990’s It miniseries, Skarsgård uses his unique talents alongside modern special effects wizardry to make the killer clown scary for a whole new generation. Skarsgård’s Pennywise is still celebrated to this day and is viewed by many to have even trumped Curry’s performance in many regards. It was a cultural force in the latter half of the 2010’s and while Pennywise returns every 27 years, the franchise is aiming to return much much sooner.
2
‘Jaws’ (1975)
Worldwide Gross After Inflation: $2,798,508,000
The breakthrough film by Steven Spielberg and the first true film to bear the moniker of blockbuster, Jaws is one of the most singularly recognized and celebrated films of all time. Often lost in the shuffle of the film’s biggest accomplishments, historical relevancy, and astonishing legacy, however, is just how truly terrifying the film was when it came out. Tapping into the hauntingly realistic fear of the ocean and the unknown Jaws permanently scared generations away from the beach and forever changed the way the world viewed sharks. While the latter Jaws films would shift more into thriller territory and downplay the horror the original shark remains terrifying even 50 years later.
This universal terror earned Jaws an astonishing 477 million dollars worldwide, a number that, when adjusted for five decades of inflation, comes out close to a staggering 2.8 billion dollars of box office gross. Jaws’ massive success led to not only more blockbusters in its mold to follow, but also contributed to Hollywood’s reliance on sequels such as Jaws 2 and 3 would also go to have impressive box office returns even if every film got worse as they went on. It would also cement director Steven Spielberg as not only a Hollywood legend, but a box office force unto himself as his films would go on to be the highest-grossing filmography of any director.
- Release Date
-
June 18, 1975
1
‘The Exorcist’ (1973)
Worldwide Gross After Inflation: $3,061,651,000
Released in 1973, and quickly becoming known as a terrifying boundary-pushing film, The Exorcist wasn’t just a smash hit film but a cultural moment that defined an entire year. The film quickly earned a reputation as the scariest film of all time, and its willingness to break cultural taboos by being associated with the Catholic church and showcasing children in jeopardy, only led to increased audience intrigue and critical acclaim. The Exorcist grossed over 440 million dollars worldwide when it was released, which when adjusted for inflation roughly translated to a mind-boggling box office haul of over 3 billion dollars.
Of course, alongside its terrifying imagery and novelty, The Exorcist is also an extremely well-crafted film, allowing for the horror flick to not only draw in curious moviegoers but to draw them in time and time again for more thrills. The Exorcist was such a cultural event that its iconic and haunting theme song “Tubular Bells” charted as a smash hit in 1974. Despite attempts to recreate the magic of the 1973 smash hit, none of them, including 2023’s The Exorcist Believer, have come close to replicating the utter magnitude of the original’s critical and financial success. The Exorcist has been widely recognized as not only one of the greatest horror films of all time but also one of the greatest films of all time, and is destined to go down as not only a box office juggernaut but a masterpiece.
- Release Date
-
December 26, 1973
- Runtime
-
122 minutes
