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List of box office top ten horror films in the United States

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This article lists all of the horror films rated from #2 to #10 for the weekend box office from c. 1982 to the present-day, while films prior to 1982 are mostly taken from ''Variety's top 50 weekly grossing films charts, which ran from 1969 up to 1990. #1 movies are not included on this page, but are listed separately at List of box office number-one horror films in the United States.

The history of the U.S. box office can be a very tricky situation for horror movie fans to delve into in full, as it's very hard to find comprehensive data for many years prior to the early 1980s. Box office receipts began being recorded from the date of 3 March, 1922. Variety started tracking film grosses from certain theatres and cities, starting on 22 February of that year. While Variety never composed these grosses as a chart until much later on, a chart format is used in Leonidas Fragias' chart books.

After 1982, studios widely report on the weekend grosses, which has been a tradition by the IMDb owned Box Office Mojo ever since, and makes up the bulk of a film's earnings. Prior to 1969, Variety had other ways of ranking box office earnings since 1922, but it wasn't compiled as a chart until 1969; It was more an indicator of the top films via key cities, and their estimated grosses.

"The Ghost Breaker", "The Gorilla", "The Wizard", "A Blind Bargain" and "The Cat Creeps" are all lost films, from the 1920s and the 1930s.

Canadian dollars also factor into the North American box office.

1920s

  • Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (note: inaugural US top ten horror film; re-issue of 1920 release, and peaked on 28 June, 1922)
  • One Exciting Night
  • The Cat and the Canary
  • The Headless Horseman
  • The Hound of the Baskervilles
  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame
  • The Unknown
  • The Magician
  • Dante's Inferno
  • The Penalty
  • Faust

1930s

  • Bride of Frankenstein
  • Son of Frankenstein
  • Werewolf of London
  • White Zombie
  • Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
  • Mad Love
  • Island of Lost Souls
  • Murders in the Rue Morgue
  • Murder by the Clock
  • Secret of the Blue Room
  • The Mad Genius
  • The Gorilla
  • The Bat Whispers
  • The Raven
  • The Ghost Goes West
  • The Mask of Fu Manchu
  • Behind the Mask
  • Mystery of the Wax Museum
  • Doctor X
  • The Devil Doll
  • Murders in the Zoo
  • Dracula
  • The Invisible Man
  • The Mummy
  • The Hound of the Baskervilles
  • Freaks
  • Svengali

1940s

  • The Ghost of Frankenstein
  • Dr. Cyclops
  • The Uninvited
  • The Ghost Breakers
  • The Lodger
  • The Spiral Staircase
  • You'll Find Out
  • Phantom of the Opera
  • The Picture of Dorian Gray

1950s

  • The Fly / Space Master X-7
  • The Curse of Frankenstein / X the Unknown
  • Attack of the Crab Monsters / Not of this Earth
  • Revenge of the Creature / Cult of the Cobra
  • Earth vs. The Flying Saucers / The Werewolf
  • It Came from Beneath the Sea / Creature with the Atom Brain
  • Horror of Dracula / The Thing That Couldn't Die
  • I Was a Teenage Werewolf / Invasion of the Saucer Men
  • Zombies of Mora Tau / The Man Who Turned to Stone
  • Curucu, Beast of the Amazon / The Mole People
  • Rodan! The Flying Monster
  • Invasion of the Body Snatchers
  • Creature from the Black Lagoon
  • Diabolique
  • Them!
  • Tarantula
  • House on Haunted Hill
  • The Incredible Shrinking Man
  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame
  • The Strange Door
  • The Black Scorpion
  • The Maze
  • The Mad Magician
  • The Bad Seed
  • This Island Earth
  • Macabre
  • Phantom of the Rue Morgue
  • The Thing from Another World
  • Scared Stiff
  • Cat Girl [pertains to double bill w/ The Amazing Colossal Man]

1960s

  • The Brides of Dracula / The Leech Woman
  • The Phantom of the Opera / Night Creatures
  • Psycho
  • Circus of Horrors
  • The Innocents
  • Scream of Fear
  • Lady in a Cage
  • Strait-Jacket
  • Gorgo
  • Homicidal
  • The Mask
  • The Haunting
  • The Pit and the Pendulum
  • What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
  • Fall of the House of Usher

Note: Beginning from April of 1969, these films are taken from Variety's top 50 grossing films charts.

  • Nightmare in Wax / Blood of Dracula's Castle (re-issue)
  • Eye of the Cat
  • Mondo Cane
  • Spirits of the Dead
  • The Green Slime
  • The Oblong Box
  • The Creature with the Blue Hand (re-issued in the 1970s, with Beast of the Yellow Night)
  • The House That Screamed
  • The War of the Gargantuas
  • Curse of the Vampires (re-issued in the 1970s, with Beast of Blood)

1970s

  • Sssssss / The Boy Who Cried Werewolf
  • Countess Dracula / Vampire Circus
  • Dracula A.D. 1972 / Crescendo
  • The Brotherhood of Satan / Fragment of Fear
  • Don't Look in the Basement / The Last House on the Left
  • Reflection of Fear / The Creeping Flesh
  • Beast of Blood
  • Beast of the Yellow Night
  • Frogs
  • The Terminal Man
  • The Devil's Rain
  • Prophecy
  • Let's Scare Jessica to Death
  • The Hills Have Eyes
  • The House by the Lake
  • The House of Exorcism
  • The Reincarnation of Peter Proud
  • Scum of the Earth
  • The Legend of Boggy Creek
  • Cry of the Banshee
  • Night of Dark Shadows
  • Bug
  • Flesh for Frankenstein
  • Black Magic
  • The Town That Dreaded Sundown
  • The House That Vanished
  • The Sentinel
  • The Other
  • The Legacy
  • The Possession of Joel Delaney
  • Night Watch
  • Exorcist II: The Heretic
  • Rabid
  • Piranha
  • Deep Red
  • Orca
  • Squirm
  • Zombie Flesh Eaters
  • Dogs
  • Grizzly
  • Snuff
  • The Food of the Gods
  • Abby
  • Ruby
  • Day of the Animals
  • Phantasm
  • Mansion of the Doomed
  • Tales That Witness Madness
  • Ben
  • The Medusa Touch
  • The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue
  • Theatre of Blood
  • Tower of Evil (re-issued in the 1980s)
  • Black Christmas
  • Halloween
  • The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
  • Dawn of the Dead
  • Alice, Sweet Alice
  • Old Dracula
  • Race with the Devil
  • The Incredible Melting Man
  • The Monster
  • Demon Seed
  • Laserblast
  • The Cat O'Nine Tails
  • Embryo
  • The Mephisto Waltz
  • The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave
  • Goodbye Gemini
  • Scream and Scream Again
  • Shadow of the Hawk
  • The Island of Dr. Moreau
  • Torso
  • Audrey Rose
  • It Lives Again
  • Scream Blacula Scream
  • Suspiria
  • The Stepford Wives
  • The Asphyx
  • The Swarm
  • Count Yorga, Vampire
  • House of Dark Shadows
  • You'll Like My Mother
  • Nightwing
  • The Abdominable Dr. Phibes
  • The House That Dripped Blood
  • Asylum
  • Tales from the Crypt
  • From Beyond the Grave
  • The Vault of Horror
  • The Car
  • Mark of the Devil
  • Mark of the Devil II
  • Invasion of the Body Snatchers
  • Patrick
  • Beyond the Door
  • Beyond the Door II
  • Sisters
  • Don't Go in the House

1980s

The following are Variety magazine related weekly films, for releases before the weekend box office began in 1982. Films released from 1983 onward are from the weekly top 50 grossing films charts.

  • Maniac
  • He Knows You're Alone
  • Terror Train
  • The Godsend
  • Don't Answer the Phone!
  • Schizoid
  • Fear No Evil
  • Final Exam
  • The Fan
  • The Hearse
  • The Children
  • The Funhouse
  • Without Warning
  • Ghost Story
  • Mother's Day
  • Deadly Blessing
  • Saturn 3
  • Hell Night
  • Night School
  • Galaxy of Terror
  • Demonoid: Messenger of Death
  • Blood Beach
  • Humanoids from the Deep
  • Death Ship
  • Nightmares in a Damaged Brain
  • Fade to Black
  • The Shining
  • The Boogey Man
  • The Changeling
  • Prom Night
  • Altered States
  • My Bloody Valentine
  • Motel Hell
  • Eyes of a Stranger
  • Wolfen
  • The Hand
  • The Awakening

The weekend box office began in early 1982.

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge
  • Critters
  • Critters 2
  • The Hidden
  • Silent Rage
  • Silver Bullet
  • Bad Dreams
  • Angel Heart
  • Deadly Friend
  • Halloween III: Season of the Witch
  • Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
  • Maximum Overdrive
  • Twilight Zone: The Movie
  • Nightmares
  • Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
  • Visiting Hours
  • A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Child
  • A Nightmare on Elm Street
  • Little Shop of Horrors
  • Dead Heat
  • The Unholy
  • Christine
  • Class Reunion
  • Night of the Comet
  • Cat People
  • Phantasm II
  • Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives
  • Cat's Eye
  • Creepshow 2
  • Poltergeist
  • Poltergeist II: The Other Side
  • Poltergeist III
  • The Gate
  • Trick or Treat
  • Firestarter
  • Children of the Corn
  • The Seventh Sign
  • Witchboard
  • Videodrome
  • Psycho II
  • Jaws: The Revenge
  • Gremlins
  • Silent Night, Deadly Night
  • The Thing
  • Fright Night
  • The Company of Wolves
  • The Lost Boys
  • Cujo
  • The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2
  • Troll
  • Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II
  • Shocker
  • House II: The Second Story
  • The Serpent and the Rainbow
  • April Fool's Day
  • The Dead Zone
  • Prince of Darkness
  • Invaders from Mars
  • Hellraiser
  • Hellbound: Hellraiser II
  • The Return of the Living Dead
  • Return of the Living Dead Part II
  • The Blob
  • My Demon Lover
  • Lifeforce
  • The Entity
  • The Phantom of the Opera
  • The Hunger
  • Dead Calm
  • Transylvania 6-5000
  • The Incubus
  • The Sender
  • Deepstar Six
  • The Believers
  • Leviathan
  • Venom
  • Dreamscape
  • Psycho III
  • Lisa
  • The Curse
  • The Wraith
  • Terror in the Aisles

1990s

  • Tremors
  • Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
  • Species
  • Tales from the Darkside: The Movie
  • Alien: Resurrection
  • Predator 2
  • Alien 3
  • Mary Reily
  • Hideaway
  • I Still Know What You Did Last Summer
  • Urban Legend
  • Scream
  • Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday
  • End of Days
  • Bride of Chucky
  • Child's Play 3
  • The Puppet Masters
  • Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth
  • Candyman
  • Brainscan
  • In the Mouth of Madness
  • Village of the Damned
  • Dark Angel
  • Vampire in Brooklyn
  • Dracula: Dead and Loving It
  • Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh
  • Phantoms
  • Wishmaster
  • Warlock: The Armaggedon
  • Gremlins 2: The New Batch
  • Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers
  • Halloween H20
  • Hellraiser: Bloodline
  • The Devil's Advocate
  • The Faculty
  • Spawn
  • Psycho
  • The First Power
  • The Lawnmower Man
  • The Dark Half
  • Leprechaun
  • Species II
  • The Rage: Carrie 2
  • Stir of Echoes
  • Mimic
  • Lake Placid
  • Bats
  • Screamers
  • An American Werewolf in Paris
  • Children of the Corn II: The Sacrifice
  • Army of Darkness
  • Virus
  • Idle Hands
  • Sleepy Hollow
  • The Blair Witch Project
  • Tales from the Hood
  • Demon Knight
  • Lord of Illusions
  • Disturbing Behavior
  • Deep Rising
  • Beloved
  • Raising Cain
  • Split Second
  • Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
  • Dr. Giggles
  • Body Bags
  • Ghost in the Machine
  • The Vanishing
  • Man's Best Friend
  • Bordello of Blood
  • The Frighteners
  • Thinner
  • Diabolique
  • Body Parts
  • Popcorn
  • Night of the Living Dead
  • The Guardian
  • Arachnophobia
  • Nightbreed

2000s

  • The Abandoned (part of the "8 Films to Die For" special event)
  • Nobby and the Burner Phone go to Hollywood
  • The Gravedancers (part of the "8 Films to Die For" special event)
  • Penny Dreadful (part of the "8 Films to Die For" special event)
  • Dark Ride (part of the "8 Films to Die For" special event)
  • The Hamiltons (part of the "8 Films to Die For" special event)
  • Reincarnation (part of the "8 Films to Die For" special event)
  • Wicked Little Things (part of the "8 Films to Die For" special event)
  • Unrest (part of the "8 Films to Die For" special event)
  • Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horror (bonus film at the "8 Films to Die For" special event)
  • The Gift
  • Shadow of the Vampire
  • Supernova
  • Lost Souls
  • Pitch Black
  • Dracula 2001
  • Bless the Child
  • Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2
  • Final Destination
  • The Forsaken
  • Bones
  • Ghosts of Mars
  • Valentine
  • Jason X
  • Thir13en Ghosts
  • Feardotcom
  • The Others
  • They
  • Darkness
  • American Psycho
  • Cabin Fever
  • Ghost Shop
  • Halloween: Resurrection
  • The Mothman Prophecies
  • The Stepford Wives
  • Exorcist: The Beginning
  • Resident Evil: Apocalypse
  • Seed of Chucky
  • Suspect Zero
  • Shaun of the Dead
  • Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid
  • Club Dread
  • Gothika
  • Final Destination 2
  • Dreamcatcher
  • Open Water
  • House of 1000 Corpses
  • Willard
  • Wrong Turn
  • High Tension
  • House of the Dead
  • The Sin Eater
  • Resident Evil
  • 28 Days Later...
  • Paradise Lost
  • The Return
  • Constantine
  • White Noise
  • The Skeleton Key
  • House of Wax
  • The Descent
  • Cursed
  • Dark Water
  • Land of the Dead
  • An American Haunting
  • The Devil's Rejects
  • Cry Wolf
  • The Cave
  • Mindhunters
  • Bug
  • See No Evil
  • Slither
  • Pulse
  • Stay Alive
  • The Wicker Man
  • The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
  • The Hills Have Eyes
  • Final Destination 3
  • Saw V
  • Saw VI
  • P2
  • The Orphanage
  • Dead Silence
  • Hostel: Part II
  • Vacancy
  • The Hills Have Eyes II
  • Grindhouse
  • The Mist
  • 28 Weeks Later
  • The Reaping
  • The Unborn
  • Drag Me to Hell
  • Halloween II
  • The Last House on the Left
  • Orphan
  • The Uninvited
  • Splice
  • Jennifer's Body
  • The Fourth Kind
  • Sorority Row
  • Pandorum
  • Whiteout
  • Case 39
  • Quarantine
  • The Strangers
  • The Eye
  • One Missed Call
  • Mirrors
  • Shutter
  • The X Files: I Want to Believe
  • The Haunting of Molly Hartley
  • The Ruins
  • 1408
  • Godsend
  • Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
  • The Haunting in Connecticut
  • My Bloody Valentine
  • The Night Listener
  • The Fourth Kind

2010s

2020s

COVID-19 Pandemic

While no longer considered to be chart hits, due to most cinemas being closed, these films were very popular during the pandemic in 2020, and are documented on Box Office Mojo and similar box office chart sites.

  • Followed
  • The Other Lamb
  • The Wretched
  • Relic
  • We Summon the Darkness
  • She Dies Tomorrow
  • Horror Nights

Trivia

  • Box Office Mojo and The Numbers track US and Canadian box office data, as Canada is included in reports.
  • Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, the U.S. film industry was forced to put most of the box office data on hold in March of that year, also postponing releases and/or making movies available through early access rentals. Movies shown in select theaters earned a relatively little amount of money. A degree of normality did return by September, although social distancing restrictions still applied for all entertainment venues, and some venues had to close.


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