The Top Grossing Horror Movies Of The 2010s
Highlights
- The horror genre had a successful decade in the 2010s, with high-earning films such as It , The Nun , and A Quiet Place , which grossed hundreds of millions of dollars worldwide.
- Horror movies are popular due to their ability to yield profits at the box office and on streaming services. They are often more economical to produce and have a devoted fan base eager to see the action.
- The top grossing horror films of the 2010s include It , which was the highest grossing horror movie of 2017 and of the entire decade, and The Nun , which despite receiving mixed reviews, still earned $365 million worldwide.
The 2010s were a successful decade in film, marked by a litany of impressive yet terrifying horror movies.
Not only did these films frighten audiences worldwide, they also earned sizable profits at the box office (and on streaming services). From innovative thrillers to sequel follow-ups, the 2010s witnessed some of the best and high-earning horror films in then-recent decades.
Of all the movie genres, horror movies continue to be popular, and are an incredible way to yield profits in the film industry. Compared to other movie genres, horror films are more economical to produce – and they have a devoted fan base eager to see the action, whether it’s via streaming or in theaters.
Some of the horror films that dominated the industry during this decade include It, The Nun, and A Quiet Place. Keep reading to explore the top grossing horror movies of the 2010s.
It: $700 Million
It dominated the horror genre in the 2010s. The movie grossed more than $700 million worldwide at the box office, earning it the title of the highest grossing horror movie of 2017.
It was also named the highest grossing movie of the 2010s in its entirety. This top-earning flick earned monumental success, spending eight weeks in the top ten and scoring 86 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
In the film, the small town of Derry is plagued by the mysterious disappearances of local children. A group of kids (“The Losers Club”) came together to destroy an evil clown (Pennywise), after experiencing unusual encounters of their own.
The evil clown is a shape-shifting demonic spirit who returns to the town every 27 years, feeding off personal fears.
It Chapter Two: $473 Million
The 2010s proved there was no stopping the It movie franchise from continuing its successful run and in this sequel, Pennywise returned to reign terror on the small town of Derry once again after 27 years.
This time, the members of "The Losers Club” are all grown up, and had gone on to live separate lives. When locals once again begin disappearing, the traumatized group reunite to overcome their innermost fears – and to ultimately demolish Pennywise, who returned bloodthirstier than ever.
The Nun: $365 Million
Even though The Nun only scored 25 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie proved successful, grossing $365 million worldwide.
While under normal circumstances, a nun is considered to be a devout and compassionate individual, this nun is downright creepy. As a spin-off of The Conjuring franchise, The Nun focuses on a priest with a storied past, and a fledging nun who visit Romania to investigate the demise of a young nun.
They go on to unearth a wicked secret – and put both their lives at risk when they go head-to-head with a menacing and demonic spirit taking the shape of a nun.
A Quiet Place: $340 Million
A Quiet Place was among the most beloved original horror films of the 2010s. This Paramount movie enjoyed massive success, debuting in the number-one spot with a $50 million opening.
After eight weeks spent in the top ten, the movie grossed $189 million in the United States and $152 million internationally, bringing the total gross to $340 million.
A Quiet Place centers on a family's quest for survival in a post-apocalyptic world – where they can easily be killed by creatures with a supersonic sense of hearing. The only way the family can safely communicate is through sign language.
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This is the movie that started The Conjuring franchise, and it was instantly loved by audiences and critics alike. By its opening weekend, The Conjuring had already grossed $41 million.
Remaining in the top ten for four weeks, The Conjuring brought in a total gross of $319 million worldwide. The movie was based on real-life events at an old farm home in Rhode Island.
Contacted by film's the Perron family, protagonists Ed and Lorraine Warren work to help them understand a dark presence in their home, and assist the family in a battle to fend it off.
The Conjuring 2: $320 Million
The Conjuring 2 earned a bit more than the original movie, at $320 million.
Six years after the events of the first film, lead characters and paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren continued their quest to ward off evil. In this sequel, the Warrens traveled to London to help a mother (Peggy) who believed there was something sinister in her home.
Alarm bells went off when Peggy’s youngest daughter started showing signs of being possessed by a demonic force. When Ed and Lorraine Warren attempted to release Peggy's daughter from its thrall, demonic spirits began targeting the couple as well.
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter: $312 Million
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter fared extremely well from its opening, grossing $312 million. In the movie, the Umbrella Corporation made its final strike by releasing its T-virus to every square inch of the world.
As the plot progresses, the virus penetrates the globe with a bevy of creatures, from demons to monsters and zombies. Protagonist Alice unites with her friends to toe-to-toe with the company’s headquarters in a final battle.
Annabelle: $257 Million
Annabelle is another installment of The Conjuring franchise, a series that was dominant in this decade.
The movie grossed $257 million, and was named the highest grossing horror movie of 2014. Set in the 1950s, the movie tells the tale of a seemingly innocent gift gone wrong.
A character (John) gave his pregnant wife a vintage porcelain doll (Annabelle), but after the couple’s home was invaded by satanic cult members, an evil spirit chose to inhabit the doll. The couple began to experience horrifying paranormal incidents, kicking off the events of the film.
Annabelle: Creation: $306 Million
Released in 2017, Annabelle: Creation is a direct sequel to the original Annabelle movie. While the first Annabelle earned $257 million, Annabelle: Creation grossed a great deal more at $306 million.
The movie centers on a doll maker and his wife, who take a nun and several girls from a closed orphanage into their house. Eventually, the girls became targets of the evil Annabelle.
Paranormal Activity 3: $207 Million
Paranormal Activity 3 is the third installment of the Paranormal Activity franchise. With a scant $5 million budget, the film brought in $207 million worldwide and was named the highest grossing horror movie in 2011.
This chapter of the franchise is a prequel set in 1988, which sheds light on the origins of the evil entity that wreaked havoc in parts one and two. The movie focuses on two sisters who befriend an evil spirit named Toby.
Unusual things began to take place inside the family home, leading the mother’s boyfriend (Dennis) to install cameras and catch what happens throughout the night. Before long, it becomes clear Toby is not an innocent imaginary friend (as the sisters originally thought) – the entity was a malevolent presence, potentially connected to a witches’ coven and its agreements with demons.
Insidious Chapter 3: $112 Million
While Insidious Chapter 3 was one of the least financially successful films in the franchise, it earned $112 million, and ranked as the highest grossing horror movie in 2015.
The movie serves as a prequel to the Lambert family's haunting in the previous two chapters. In this chapter, it revealed how psychic Elise Rainer cautiously put her gifts to use by communicating with the deceased, to help a teenage girl who was being targeted by a demonic spirit.
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