There are a surprising number of horror movies that beat the odds by outdoing themselves at the box office. Some horror films are guaranteed to be huge successes— so much so that even theremakes of these horror films become successful.The Conjuringhad a $20 million budget and a large promotional campaign leading up to its release, whileThe Texas Chain Saw Massacrehad a low budget, but promoting it as a true story anticipated higher box office expectations.
There are also horror movies that were expected to fail abysmally and did, such asThe Hills Have Eyes Part II,which closed production early because of the lack of funds. When the film was released, it was only for a short time in select theaters. However,the horror movies that outperformed the box office expectations are perhaps the most satisfying. These films are oftenlow-budget movies that strike gold at the box office, surpassing all initial predictions.
10Psycho (1960)
Directed By Alfred Hitchcock
Psychois one ofthe best horror movies of all time, with an iconic impact that shaped the genre into what it is today. The film’s budget was under a million dollars, but more importantly,Alfred Hitchcock was very particular about promotingPsycho. Hitchcock was the only party to promote the film, and critics were not allowed advanced screenings. Despite Hitchcock’s rigidity,Psychodefied all box office expectations and became a legacy horror movie.
9Friday The 13th (1980)
Directed By Sean S. Cunningham
Friday the 13this one of the most successful horror franchises ever,making it a small shock to learn that the film was originally independent. Even after Paramount Pictures acquired it, the studio still did not expect it to become the phenomenon it is now. Paramount only spent half a million dollars promoting the movie, but it went on to spawn several sequels. More recently, aFriday the 13thprequel titledCrystal Lakeis in production.
Directed By Sam Raimi
While TheEvil Deadsurpassed box office expectations, it did not do so right away. Sam Raimi revealed onBobbie Wygant’s showthat the budget was only $375 thousand, and he had to campaign to raise a portion of that money.The Evil Deadwas a surprising success internationally, making over five times the initial budgetin profits. Furthermore,The Evil Deadeventually garnered a wider audience in theaters despite the initial low profits from the first weekend.
7The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Directed By Daniel Myrick & Eduardo Sánchez
The Blair Witch Projectis one of the best examples of horror films that defied all expectations. According toThe Hollywood Reporter, the budget was just over $200 thousand, but the film grossed hundreds of millions. It was initially a selection at the Sundance Film Festival before expanding to select theaters and then spreading across the United States. While it was almost entirely marketed on the Internet, it wasthe Sundance appearance that ultimately changedThe Blair Witch Project’s trajectory.
6Saw (2004)
Directed By James Wan
Another horror movie largely considered to have been a box office hit because of the Sundance Film Festival is the originalSaw.Sawwas never supposed to be released in theaters until the film was previewed at Sundance, prompting production company Lionsgate to endure a theatrical release instead. Now, there are more than 10Sawmovies and a potential TV show in the works, according toDeadline.
5Paranormal Activity (2007)
Directed By Oren Peli
Paranormal Activityhad a budget of $15 thousand, making it extremely shocking that it garnered hundreds of millions of dollars at the box office. Paramount eventually acquired the film after it screened at a couple of movie festivals, which led to additional screenings and eventually a worldwide release. Now, there are sevenParanormal Activitymovies altogether.
Paranormal Activity Movies In Order: How (& Where) To Watch By Release Date & Chronologically
There’s more than one way to watch the Paranormal Activity franchise, with its complex timeline of prequels, time travel, and a standalone sequel.
4The Purge (2013)
Directed By James DeMonaco
The Purgeis another film that surprised many when it ended up establishing a franchise.The Purgehad a small budget, andJames DeMonaco did not even know if it would be released at all or what the release plan would look like because it had not initially been responded to well. In the end,The Purgemade almost $100 million. The movie now has several sequels, with its most recent beingThe Forever Purge, released in 2021.
3Get Out (2017)
Directed By Jordan Peele
Get Outwas one of the most profitable movies of 2017, breaking many records as Jordan Peele’s directorial debut.Get Outwas not necessarily expected to perform poorly,but the almost immediate massive success was still a surprise.Get Outmade $100 million in only its third week, with its viewership only increasing, which is not something that typically occurs with theatrical horror releases. SinceGet Out, Peele has directed or written several other successful movies, includingUsandNope.
2Smile (2022)
Directed By Parker Finn
Smileis another hit that was not expected to do well at all, given thatit was only supposed to be released on Paramount Plus. However, advanced screenings proved that the film was worth a shot in theaters, andSmileended up being very successful, grossing over $200 million.Smile 2was recently released in theaters, and there are now fervent discussions aboutSmile 3.
1Terrifier 3 (2024)
Directed By Damien Leone
Terrifier 3is the most recent example of a horror movie that surpassed box office expectations. Initially,Terrifier 3was expected to fail financially, with a disappointing projected opening weekend. However, in a surprising twist,Terrifier 3made almost $20 million in its opening weekend, when it was initially projected to only make $10 million. It is an impressive achievement, especially when the movie went up againstJoker: Folie à Deux.
