"Not only did The Conjuring: Last Rites have the largest opening for a horror movie in history over the weekend, earning $194 million worldwide, but it was just the latest example of a scary movie surpassing industry expectations this year. At a time when even superhero tentpoles no longer reliably turn out filmgoers, horror has become the closest thing to a safe bet that studios can hope for these days-the final girl of the box office."
"Horror stumbled out of the gate in 2025, with Universal's Wolf Man taking in just $34 million worldwide on a $25 million budget. Director Leigh Whannell's previous stab at reviving a Universal monster property, The Invisible Man, brought in a much-more-lethal $144 million back in February 2020, making it tempting to view the two films as a case study in pre- and post-pandemic box office. Luckily, it turned out to be a fluke."
The Conjuring: Last Rites opened to $194 million worldwide, marking the largest opening for a horror movie. Horror films this year have routinely exceeded industry expectations and provided reliable box-office returns while other tentpoles faltered. Early 2025 included missteps such as Universal's Wolf Man, which grossed $34 million against a $25 million budget, and a contrast with 2020's The Invisible Man, which earned $144 million. Low-budget horror remained low-risk; Steven Soderbergh's Presence grossed $10 million on a $2 million cost, and Companion nearly quadrupled its $10 million budget. The genre succeeded through a mix of franchises, reboots, and original projects.
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