7 Horror Movie Franchises With The Biggest Box Office of All Time

Over the years, several horror movie franchises have not only had an impact on audiences but also on the box office.

Here are 7 of the most successful horror movie franchises that have left an indelible mark on the genre as well as the box office records.

7. Final Destination — $665 Million

Mayhem and destruction draw audiences as much as scares, which is why The Final Destination franchise, which follows teenagers trying to escape death after a premonition, is one of the most successful of all time.

While survival is rare in the series, the creatively brutal deaths are unforgettable, and the franchise has made a lasting impact even after a long hiatus.

6. Halloween — $885 Million

With various reboots and sequels contributing to its impressive box office earnings, the Halloween franchise, along with its memorable villain, Michael Myers, has become an iconic horror slasher that has stayed strong in the game since 1978.

Despite its long run, the franchise's success continues, as evidenced by its billion-dollar achievement with the release of the 13th film last year.

5. Paranormal Activity — $890 Million

The found-footage horror trend gained a lot of momentum with the Paranormal Activity series. Each film delves deeper into the eerie events plaguing various characters as the series explores supernatural occurrences through the lens of surveillance cameras and personal footage.

With its low-budget approach and effective scares, the franchise has become a financial powerhouse in the horror genre.

4. Scream — $900 Million

Launched in 1996, the Scream franchise is celebrated for its unique blend of humor and horror. Featuring the iconic Ghostface killer, the series revolves around a group of characters, most notably Sydney Prescott, who find themselves in the crosshairs of the masked killer.

With six installments released so far and a seventh on the horizon, this revolutionary slasher continues to leave an indelible mark on the horror genre.

3. Saw — $1 Billion

With its intricate, often gruesome traps and puzzles, the Saw franchise revolutionized the horror genre in 2004. With a nine-film series featuring a cycle of victims fighting for redemption through painful trials, and the success of the Spiral reboot in 2021, the Jigsaw franchise is one of the highest-grossing in the horror genre universe.

2. It — $1.1 Billion

Born out of Stephen King 's imagination, the story of Pennywise the Dancing Clowns is originally an '80s miniseries that was remade into two films: in 2017 and 2019. The popularity of the two installments has secured its place among the multi-movie franchises with the highest box office receipts.

With a popular HBO Max prequel series in development, Pennywise's return could see the franchise switch places and take the top spot.

1. The Conjuring — $2.1Billion

Beginning with the original film, The Conjuring, this franchise has expanded to include spin-offs such as Annabelle and The Nun. Featuring the interconnected stories of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, the franchise has consistently delivered scares and box office hits that continue to dominate the horror movie world.