The popularity of horror is unquestionable. The genre that Hollywood loves to hate is always guaranteed to bring in new and old fans, regardless of the subgenre, and the horror community is the tightest there is. There are more podcasts about horror than about other genres in cinema, and scary movies are a good place to start for new filmmakers.
It is popular among audiences but also among those behind the camera who seek to make a profit out of films that frankly don’t even cost much money. In the case of the following blockbusters, they are definitive proof that horror movies, especially those with a supernatural or ghost theme, are very successful. These are the highest-grossing movies about ghostly spirits and demons.
10 The Ring (2002)
Total Box Office Performance: $249.3 Million
- Release Date
- October 18, 2002
The Ring follows Rachel Keller, a ruthless journalist who comes upon an urban legend during her niece’s funeral. A videotape is rumored to be passed around, and it contains a curse that supposedly killed Katie; she was literally scared to death. The skeptic Rachel finds the tape and sees its content: an abstract series of images that precede a phone call from a creepy voice announcing that the viewer will die in seven days.
The success of The Ring was a beautiful coincidence. Asian horror had made a dent in popular culture, and here was the first movie that made great use of the original narrative while adapting it for American audiences. Based on the Japanese film of the same name, this American version is arguably scarier, and definitely more popular than the original as it made almost $250 million at the box office. The Ring is also one of the highest-grossing horror remakes of all time.
9 Annabelle (2014)
Total Box Office Performance: $257.6 Million
- Release Date
- October 3, 2014
- Director
- John R. Leonetti
In Annabelle, a young couple are expecting their first child. John decides to buy his daughter a porcelain doll for when she’s born. But the same night the doll arrives, the couple are attacked in a break-in. The man is killed by the police, but the woman dies by suicide while holding the doll. It’s the beginning of a curse involving the Annabelle doll and the evil entity trapped inside her.
After The Conjuring was released, one year later Annabelle arrived in theaters (it was actually a prequel), making great use of the narrative device of “based on a true story.” The film was extremely successful, and it confirmed a new franchise had been born. However, it wasn’t very popular among critics, who deemed it an “unmemorable” piece that had an excess of jump scares. The movie is part of The Conjuring Universe, created by James Wan in 2013, and undoubtedly the most successful horror franchise of all time.
13 Modern Ghost Stories That Completely Flip the Script
As the horror and thriller genres expand, creators are redefining what it means to be "haunted."
8 The Nun II (2023)
Total Box Office Performance: $269.5 Million
- Release Date
- September 8, 2023
The Nun II follows Sister Irene from the first movie as she’s assigned to move across Europe in order to investigate a series of deaths that resemble those caused by the demon Valak. Upon investigating, and meeting Valak again, Sister Irene expands her knowledge about the demon and actually finds a way to control it.
The film is the eighth entry in The Conjuring Universe, but its success proves people are not exactly getting tired of the characters created by James Wan and Gary Dauberman. It is actually a better movie than the first one, proving sequels are more effective in the Conju-verse. It holds a 52% score on Rotten Tomatoes and even though The Nun II wasn’t as successful as the first movie, it paved the way for the next Conjuring film, currently in production.
7 Ghostbusters (1984)
Total Box Office Performance: $296.6 Million
Ghostbusters (1984)
Ghostbusters follows a group of misfit parapsychologists who decide to put their knowledge of the paranormal to the test, and they form a gang of ghost hunters. Venkman, Ray, and Egon are the Ghostbusters, and they defend New York City against rowdy spirits. The problem is that the city houses a perfect portal for ancient deities to enter our realm and begin the end of times.
The 1980s classic Ghostbusters is very different from its peers on the list, but it’s still technically a ghost film. It even has the word in its title. The horror comedy that’s more comedy than horror launched a franchise in 1984 that’s still going on. It was the second highest-grossing film of the year, and the reception by critics was very, very good. In regard to legacy, Ghostbustersmight be the most important film on this list.
6 Annabelle: Creation (2017)
Total Box Office Performance: $306 Million
- Release Date
- August 11, 2017
Annabelle: Creation follows the Mullins family, a couple who are still grieving the death of their young daughter, Annabelle, in tragic circumstances. Thinking it could help them overcome their sadness, they accept to host a nun and six orphans who are homeless. Samuel Mullins is a dollmaker, and soon the girls realize one of his creations may be harboring an evil entity.
Directed by David F. Sandberg, the genius behind Lights Out, Annabelle: Creation is one of the best horror prequels there is. Annabelle: Creation is the most underrated entry of The Conjuring Universe, and it proved that the evil doll portion of the universe could be saved, especially after the first movie was met with absolute disgust from critics. The prequel brought in over $300 million and earned a 70% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
5 The Conjuring (2013)
Total Box Office Performance: $319.5 Million
- Release Date
- March 20, 2013
The Conjuring is the story of the Perron family, a group of seven who move to an old house in a small town in Rhode Island. Early on, they fall prey to violent poltergeist activity, and they decide to seek some help. Ed and Lorraine Warren, famed specialists, arrive, and they realize the ghost haunting the family isn’t just a regular demonic entity. It’s the spirit of a satanist who won’t stop until getting rid of the Perrons.
The original could be descried as the best in the series, but opinions vary on the matter. However, what people can’t deny is that The Conjuring was a game-changer in the horror spectrum. It was scary and very violent, and it presented compelling characters that were supposedly based on true personalities of the ghost-hunting world. Its 86% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and box office performance of nearly $320 million was enough for Warner Bros. to see an ally in director James Wan.
4 The Conjuring 2 (2016)
Total Box Office Performance: $321.8 Million
The Conjuring 2
- Release Date
- June 10, 2016
The Conjuring 2 tells the story of the Hodgsons, a London-based family who begin experiencing strange phenomena in their house in Enfield (if “Enfield” sounds familiar, it's because it's loosely based on a real case, just like the first film). They summon the Warrens, who take a trip across the continent and realize they may be facing an ancient demon named Valak. This is the introduction of the nastiest nun in cinema.
James Wan comes back to direct the sequel to the film that started it all, and what a great film it is. It actually depicts one of the most famous and documented cases of poltergeist in modern times, the case of the Enfield poltergeist, one that’s been depicted in numerous dramatic recreations and documentaries. The movie has an 80% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and it’s a very underrated ghost film. The Conjuring 2 has the best performances of the three Conjuringfilms.
3 The Nun (2018)
Total Box Office Performance: $366 Million
- Release Date
- September 5, 2018
The Nun follows Father Burke and Sister Irene, both Vatican representatives in an investigation involving two nuns who have died under mysterious circumstances. Soon after they arrive they encounter the evil entity posing as a nun and they confirm it’s actually a demon named Valak who was able to cross over to our realm in a portal that’s located in the Romanian monastery.
The Nun is the highest-grossing film in The Conjuring Universe, proving people are all in when exposed to religious horror. Or perhaps it’s just that the villain in this one is extremely scary. In terms of reception by critics, The Nun wasn’t exactly well-received, and it still holds a lowly 24% score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, $366 million at the box office from a $22 million production budget was the result needed to approve the sequel.
You can stream The Nun on Netflix.
10 Spooky R-Rated Horror Movies About Ghosts
Horror is sometimes safe for the little ones. But in the case of the following R-rated ghosts horror gems, you might want to send them to bed.
2 Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)
Total Box Office Performance: (2024) - $441.7 Million
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the sequel to the original Tim Burton classic that starred Michael Keaton and Wynona Rider in a horror-comedy that involved ghosts trying to scare off new homebuyers from taking their house. The sequel brings back Michael Keaton as the hilarious and sleazy ghost with selfish intentions, now joined by Jenna Ortega in a new role.
- Release Date
- September 6, 2024
- Cast
- Michael Keaton , Winona Ryder , Catherine O'Hara , Jenna Ortega , Justin Theroux , Willem Dafoe , Monica Bellucci , Arthur Conti , Nick Kellington , Santiago Cabrera , Burn Gorman , Danny DeVito , Sami Slimane , Amy Nuttall , Mark Heenehan , Charlie Hopkinson , Liv Spencer , Skylar Park , Matthew Lyons , Jane Leaney , David Ayres , Sophie Holland , Walles Hamonde
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice continues the story more than three decades after the last time we saw the Deetzes accepting they could live with ghosts. Now Lydia is a widow whose daughter is an extreme skeptic. After Lydia’s father dies, they gather in Winter River, and Astrid, Lydia’s daughter, is taken to the other realm. Naturally, she’s forced to summon the Ghost with the Most for help.
The most recent film on the list, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice heavily capitalizes on nostalgia elements that Tim Burton cleverly administers. The film features the famous bio-exorcist in ways that nobody could have imagined. A third film is only theoretical for now, but considering the wordplay of the title and the fact that it made close to half $1 billion, this is likely not the last we'll see of this series.
1 The Sixth Sense (1999)
Total Box Office Performance: $672.8 Million
- Release Date
- August 6, 1999
The Sixth Sense is the story of Cole, a nine-year-old boy who’s very shy and lonely. A child psychologist arrives to help him, but Malcolm realizes Cole is actually very special. He doesn’t behave like the other kids, and he has a complicated relationship with his single mother. Cole finally admits that he can “see dead people,” and while Malcolm is not very receptive to this, he comes upon the fact that Cole may be telling the truth.
M. Night Shyamalan’s modern classic is one of a kind. The Sixth Sense was a groundbreaking film for the director, the performers, and the horror genre in general. It only fell behind Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace for obvious reasons, but a modern horror movie that wasn’t part of a franchise winning second place was a huge event in terms of box office. Its legacy is unquestionable, and back then it got the reception it deserved with six Academy Award nominations, although it failed to win in any category.
Comments
Post a Comment