The 1980’s gave some truly unique horror movies, and a lot of those successful films were turned into franchises. Most had a great starting film, but somewhere down the line things became formulaic and created horror clichés. Eventually, most of the franchises had a film that breathed new life into the series. In fact, a lot of the films on this list were even rebooted in an attempt to recreate the magic that enchanted audiences so many years before. Even 30 to 40 years after these films premiered, there are still movies being added to the canon. Not all movies that got a franchise deserved it, looking at you Leprechaun, but some movies became classics with extremely successful sequels. This list takes a look at a handful of the most successful horror franchises of all time.
A few things to note; these numbers have not been changed to reflect inflation, and while some films like Alien would make the list, not every movie in those franchises are specifically horror.
Child’s Play
126.1 million | 6 films
Through 6 movies, soon to be 7, the serial killer possessed Chucky doll, tries to get into a human body. Curse of Chucky was not theatrically released.
Highest Grossing
Child’s Play (1988) | $33.2 million
Lowest Grossing
Child’s Play 3 (1991) | $15 million
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
197.1 million | 7 films
Following Leatherface, the human mask wearing, chainsaw wielding murderer. There are currently 7 movies in the series, but a new theatrical release is scheduled for October.
Highest Grossing
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) |
$80.6 million
Lowest Grossing
Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1994) | $185.9 thousand
Final Destination
263.5 million | 5 films
When a group of young adults escape death, death tracks them, picking off the would-be-victims one by one in elaborate ways.
Highest Grossing
The Final Destination (2009) | $66.5 million
Lowest Grossing
Final Destination 5 (2011) | $42.6 million
Halloween
308.5 million | 10 films
Serial killer Michael Myers stalks what’s left of his family, killing everyone in his way….most of the movies anyway.
Highest Grossing
Halloween (2007) | $58.3 million
Lowest Grossing
Halloween 5 (1989) | $11.6 million
The Exorcist
331.6 million | 6 films
A series of films based around the novel The Exorcist mixing spinoffs, sequels, and prequels.
Highest Grossing
Exorcist: The Beginning (2004) |
$41.8 million
Lowest Grossing
Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (2005) | Limited Release
Scream
331.7 million | 4 films
Wes Craven’s series follows the “serial killer” Ghostface, while expertly picking apart the horror movie genre.
Highest Grossing
Scream (1996) | $103 million
Lowest Grossing
Scream 4 (2011) | $38.2 million
A Nightmare on Elm Street
370.5 million | 9 films
The series follows Freddy Krueger as he jumps from nightmare to nightmare murdering children.
Highest Grossing
Freddy vs. Jason (2003) | $82.6 million
Lowest Grossing
Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994) | $18.1 million
Friday the 13th
383.3 million | 12 films
Jason Voorhees died at Camp Crystal Lake because the camp counselors neglected him. His mother avenged his death, and now Jason avenges her death, at least that’s how the series started.
Highest Grossing
Freddy vs. Jason (2003) | $82.6 million
Lowest Grossing
Jason X (2001) | $13.1 million
Paranormal Activity
401.4 million | 6 films
A family is haunted with some possessions by a demon and a cult. Starting out simple, the series became more complicated.
Highest Grossing
Paranormal Activity (2007) |
$107.9 million
Lowest Grossing
Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension (2015) | $18.3 million
Saw
415.9 million | 7 films
A series of graphic, gruesome traps set by serial killer Jigsaw and a friend. The film had a final chapter, but in October another entry in the series will test the limits of its audience again.
Highest Grossing
Saw II (2005) | $87 million
Lowest Grossing
Saw VI (2009) | $27 million
There are 6 Child’s Play films with Cult of Chucky being the 7th