Since the beginning of the year, the main winners of the box office have not been Pedro Pascal or even Florence Pyu. In the first half of 2025, Ryan Kugler, Danny Boyle and Alex Garland dominated, whose horror films seduced lovers. Explanations.
2025 was awarded a series of terrifying successes with exceptional recipes. So FishermenFrench version Sinnersproduced by Ryan Kugler (opened it Black Panther Et Religion) April 18 brought 364.5 million dollars. The United States as a global income with the alleged production budget is only $ 25 million. USA, that the income to investment is more than … 1400%! Michel B. Jordan, the actor found his favorite director for this ambitious project recognized as moviegoers.
On the side of the excellent 28 years later (28 years later In VO) The film noted the reunification of director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland, duet for the original film 28 days laterHe arrived in cinemas in 2002 and became the cultural phenomenon that we know. Released on June 20 and released for $ 50 million, he raised $ 151.2 million at the world cash desk, partly thanks to his Casting Impressive, especially Jody Comer (The last duel) and Aaron Taylor-Johnson (also playing this year with Flop Kraven Hunter)
Success The final destination: bloody ties (The final destination: pedigree In VO) proved the untouched attraction of the franchise, becoming the most profitable episode – of course – a series of feature film. Released on May 16, with a budget of about 40 million dollars. USA and 283.2 million dollars. The United States in the form of global income, it sprayed the results of previous films, the first five opuses, which reported about $ 112.9 million, $ 90.9 million, 187.3 million US dollars, 157.8 million US dollars and 313.03 million dollars, respectively. This new version, revival (Reload) With new persons, such as Bred Bassinger and Teo Brones, allowed the whole franchise to flirt with an impressive cover of a billion dollars of total income at the world box office (the franchise attracted $ 981.01 million). AND Final destination So became the third largest frankness of horror, behind This Et Put it!
Photo provided by Warner Bros.
Returning to school, the genre did not slow down. Released on September 5, Application: The last rites (Spell: the last rites In VO) came to the closure of one of the most popular horror sagas. With the return of the main team, including director Michael Chavez and actors Vera Farmig and Patrick Wilson, the film was able to attract long -standing fans. Produced on a budget of $ 40 million and advertising expenses in the amount of $ 60 million, this ninth opus has already accumulated $ 400 million at the world cash desk, confirming the status of this universe as a terrible franchise with an inexhaustible success.
Warner Bros is kindly provided with a photo.
Failures …
However, this wave of success has experienced some drawback. While horror films benefit from exceptional profitability, certain consequences have received more modest, even disappointing assessments. This is so s M3gan 2.0, Released on June 27 with the participation of Ellison Williams. Director Gerard Johnston, the film confirmed the participation of the actress in ambitious horror projects after her participation in Get out Jordan drank in 2017. But, despite the marketing campaign, it was estimated at $ 30 million, M3gan 2.0 Only 39.1 million dollars. The United States at the world box office disappointing recipes for studios, which made bets on an unusual tone of this set, as well as a show to the detriment of waiting. This became a speech found an echo in Reload cult franchise of the 1990s, Silence pact (I know what you did last summer in VO) released July 18, film Slasher generated a very modest $ 64.7 million at the world box office. Due to its budget of $ 20 million and an advertising budget of $ 25 million, this continuation was certainly profitable, but illustrates the boundaries of nostalgia. Because, unlike Final destinationIN Silence pact It was not possible to seduce the new generation, thus emphasizing the complexity that arises in repeated franchises, regarded as a classic of the genre.
Photo provided by Sony Pictures
The success of horror is not limited to its profit. The genre reacts to a deep desire for cinema lovers, living in collective and visceral experience. Horror “remains a genre that has the best economic efficiency in Hollywood,” according to Scott Mendelssohn, an analyst in financial publication. ForbesWhich adds that “we not only pay for the film, we pay to scream with the audience.” The horror of the uniformity of superheroes, horror offers the breath of fresh air, focusing on the originality and surprise of the narrative. As the director Jordan saw on the pages explained Hollywood reporter“A terrible cinema is the best genre to talk about truth. You can embody any idea into a horror film, and people will be ready to accept it if they are in horror. ” In addition, modern horror films go beyond a simple shock to get closer to deep social and psychological topics. Danny Boyle, thus, describes in detail on the pages General film This “horror” works when it is based on a tangible fear (and allows us) to explore fears that we cannot call in real life. ”
Tired super -heroes … and tedious
This success greatly contrasts with the disappointing recipes of certain blockbusters Superheroes that are much more expensive than horror films from -with special effects. Thus, Thunderbolts* Marvel Studios, with his budget, estimated at more than 180 million dollars and an advertising campaign at the same price, tried his best to reach global revenues of $ 380 million, despite the presence of actors such as Florence (Black widow) and Sebastian Stan (Captain America) Also, Kraven HunterAbout 110 million dollars were produced and carries Aaron Taylor-Johnson, brought only 62 million dollars. USA, which is more than a loud failure.
Photo provided by Marvel Studios
This trend continued with the expected expectation, however Fantastic four: first steps (Fantastic four: first steps in VO), released on July 25. The colossal production budget is $ 250 million and a budget for promoting $ 180 million, Marvel's Film, director Matt Shakman (known for his series Vandavia), only generated disappointing $ 535 million at the world box office. The failure is all the more noticeable (and marking), since the film carries as a result of distribution with a significant weight and which was supposed to ensure the success of the feature film, in particular with Pedro Pascal (The last of us), Vanessa Kirby (Mission: impossible) and Julia Garner (opened by the series Ozark) Despite the relatively positive critical reception, the film could not go beyond the expectations of studios and confirmed the “fatigue” of moviegoers against superheroes.
Photo Jay MaidmentFournie Par 20th Century Studios/Marvel
Will enthusiasts of the films “Fear” continue to make this genre, previously considered insignificant? We will have an answer in the coming weeks with the release of October 17 Black phone 2 (From Scott Derrickson with Itan Hawk, got used to the terrible genre since the excellent first Cleaning)
