Oh the Horror of it all!
- Sterling Toews Finishing Ltd.
- Aug 1
- 2 min read
The Hollywood Reporter, July 23, 2025, released this headline:
So I read the article, to see what criteria was used to determine a rank in the list. Then did some searches using Gross Box Office, Rotten Tomato ranking and number of tickets sold. My list was a little different.
What would be on yours?
🎬 The Evolution of Horror: From Shadows to Shocks
The horror genre has undergone a dramatic transformation since the 1960s. What began as psychological thrillers and gothic tales has evolved into a diverse cinematic landscape filled with supernatural entities, slasher icons, and psychological torment.
1960s–1970s: The Birth of Modern Horror
Psycho (1960) redefined horror with its psychological depth and shocking narrative.
Night of the Living Dead (1968) introduced zombies as a cultural phenomenon.
The Exorcist (1973) and Jaws (1975) brought horror into the mainstream, blending terror with blockbuster appeal. Even after 50 yrs, JAWS is still ranked #1 in ticket sales in the Horror Genre, and who does not know that music!
1980s: The Slasher Boom
The rise of franchises like Halloween, Friday the 13th, and A Nightmare on Elm Street turned masked killers into pop culture icons.
Practical effects and gore became staples of the genre.
1990s: Psychological and Meta-Horror
Films like The Silence of the Lambs (1991) and Se7en (1995) leaned into psychological horror.
Scream (1996) revived slasher films with self-aware humor and genre deconstruction.
2000s: Found Footage and Global Influence
The Blair Witch Project (1999) and Paranormal Activity (2007) popularized found footage.
Asian horror remakes like The Ring (2002) and The Grudge (2004) brought new styles to Western audiences.
2010s–Present: Elevated Horror and Franchise Dominance
Directors like Jordan Peele and Ari Aster introduced “elevated horror” with films like Get Out (2017) and Hereditary (2018).
Franchises like The Conjuring Universe and It dominated box offices.
Streaming platforms have expanded horror’s reach, with hits like Bird Box and Fear Street.
🎟️ Top 10 Horror Movies Ranked by Box Office Gross, Ticket Sales & Rotten Tomatoes Score [1] Wikipedia
Rank | Movie | Year | Worldwide Gross | Tickets Sold (Est.) | Rotten Tomatoes |
1 | It | 2017 | $704M | ~90M | 86% |
2 | The Sixth Sense | 1999 | $673M | ~85M | 86% |
3 | I Am Legend | 2007 | $586M | ~75M | 68% |
4 | World War Z | 2013 | $540M | ~70M | 66% |
5 | Jaws | 1975 | $484M | ~128M | 97% |
6 | It Chapter Two | 2019 | $473M | ~60M | 62% |
7 | The Exorcist | 1973 | $431M | ~110M | 84% |
8 | Signs | 2002 | $408M | ~55M | 74% |
9 | Prometheus | 2012 | $403M | ~50M | 73% |
10 | A Quiet Place | 2018 | $341M | ~45M | 96% |
Ticket sales are included as prices changed over the years so Box Office Gross is not always the best variable to determine popularity. Online streaming today also adds another variable that does not necessarily add to Worldwide Gross.
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