Why 2025 Is Big for Horror Films
Horror movies are dominating box offices globally in 2025. We explore what’s driving audiences back to theatres and how social media is fuelling the surge.
Box Office Boom
In 2025, horror films are enjoying unprecedented success at the cinema. In the UK, Sinners, Final Destination: Bloodlines and 28 Years Later have grossed a combined £41.3m ($55.6m)—surpassing the £39.5m ($53m) earned by last year’s nine biggest horror releases, Box Office Mojo reports. In North America, the genre now accounts for 17% of ticket sales, up from 11% in 2024 and just 4% a decade ago, according to Reuters.
Social Media Surge
TikTok data shows a 38% rise in posts tagged #horror over the past year, with 10.7m uses, while #HorrorTok videos increased 40% to 2.6m. The platform noted a spike in horror content during the Cannes Film Festival in May.
Critical and Commercial Growth
Ash Millman, a journalist specialising in horror, says the genre’s rise has been gradual. She credits both art-house hits like Hereditary from A24 and mainstream successes from Blumhouse for paving the way. "This year has something for everyone—sequels and fresh titles like Sinners. 2025 will be a landmark year," Millman says. "Blockbuster horror is back, and audiences want the big-screen thrill."
Return to Theatres
After the pandemic-driven streaming boom, Hollywood has struggled to lure viewers back to cinemas. Horror, with its modest budgets and collective scare factor, is bucking that trend. Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, director of the new I Know What You Did Last Summer, argues the shared experience of fear is irreplaceable. "Everyone wants to jump and scream together," she says.
The remake of the 1997 slasher sees a group of friends haunted by the Fisherman. Released in July instead of the usual October window, star Jonah Hauer-King says the film "feels like a summer popcorn ride with scares and thrills."
The Appeal of Fear
Actors and experts agree that horror’s pull lies in escapism. "In times of uncertainty, horror lets us confront fears in a controlled setting," Millman notes. "You see evil vanquished, giving that satisfying resolution audiences crave."
Global Phenomenon
From indie cult hits to studio tentpoles, horror’s diversity is driving its global resurgence. As TikTok trends and box office tallies show, the genre has firmly cemented its place in 2025’s entertainment landscape.
Horror’s blend of communal thrills and escapist catharsis has transformed 2025 into its biggest year at the box office in over a decade.
This topic was reported by BBC News.
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