Can you guess which horror movie grossed the most money ever? Both 1st and 2nd are in our top ten list below.
Horror is a genre close to our hearts, and is a theme on t-shirts that we sell a lot of around Halloween and the dark months of the year.
Brief background to horror films
The first horror films drew inspiration from ancient myths and legends where supernatural phenomena and mythical creatures were used to frighten the audience. Belief in ghosts, spirits and demons can be found in almost all cultures and are central elements in religions, which soon became the background for the horror genre.
As a genre, horror emerged in people's consciousness as a unique type of films in 1931 when the film Dracula became a huge box office success in cinemas and spawned several sequels on the same gothic theme. Books such as Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Dracula by Bram Stoker are the background to some of the big hits on the big screen in the 30s and 40s until today.
The Shining (1980)
In Stanley Kubrick's iconic masterpiece, we get to follow a family who takes a job as winter manager at a remote hotel. Isolated in the snow, they are affected by supernatural forces, and the father begins to develop a mental disorder that is fatal to the family.
The Exorcist (1973)
In this horror classic, directed by William Friedkin, we follow a young girl's haunting by a demonic entity. To save her, her mother seeks the help of two Catholic priests and a fatal spiritual battle is fought.
The 'Dracula' Mystery (1931)
This early horror film introduced Bela Lugosi as the vampire Count Dracula. The plot follows his terrifying quest to find new victims in London after casting a spell on a naïve estate agent.
Nosferatu (1922)
F. W. Murnau's silent horror film is one of the first vampire films. The plot revolves around the infamous vampire Count Orlok who is attracted to a new home and its inhabitants.
Carrie (1976)
Brian De Palma's film is based on Stephen King's novel and tells the story of an outcast teenager with telekinetic powers. After being humiliated at her prom, Carrie takes revenge on her tormentors.
The Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
We follow a group of friends who happen upon a rare hospitable family on their journey to a remote farm. What they don't know is that the family has a dark secret and a fondness for using chainsaws.
Suffer (1990)
In this psychological horror film based on a novel by Stephen King, an author is saved from a car accident by a fan of his books. But soon he realizes that his rescue is the beginning of a nightmare of captivity and torture.
The Omen (1976)
When mysterious deaths begin to surround an American ambassador, he suspects that his adopted son may be the devil himself.
The Conjuring (2013)
Based on true events, in this horror film we follow paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren as they help a family plagued by a dark spirit in their home. If you like The Exorcist, you will like the intense and eerie action.
JAWS (1975)
In Steven Spielberg's classic horror film, we follow the people in a small coastal town that is terrorized by a giant great white shark. A group of men embark on a dangerous hunt to stop the beast before it can cause more death and destruction. br>br> Adjusted for inflation, The Exorcist is the highest-grossing film of all time. Released in 1973, the film grossed $428 million at the box office ($2.8 billion today), closely followed by The Shark I ($2.6 billion)
What is your favorite horror movie?
