Horror movies have long been a staple in Hollywood, and while they often have a loyal audience, they can also be made on a shoestring budget, making them a good investment. At the box office, success is relative, and that means the bar for success is lower. This often leads to sequels and, in some cases, franchises that last for years. Only six horror movie franchises have managed to cross the $1 billion mark at the box office. The Conjuring Universe, which includes spin-offs like Annabelle, is far above the rest. But what does the full list look like? The Conjuring has made $2.77 billion, Alien has made $1.98 billion, Resident Evil has made $1.28 billion, It has made $1.17 billion, Saw has made $1.14 billion, and Scream has made $1.1 billion. The Conjuring is a complicated case. The first four Conjuring movies have made $1.34 billion. When we count spin-offs like Annabelle and The Nun, that number grows to $2.77 billion. If we count The Curse of La Llorona, a $123 million box office hit that The Conjuring Universe didn't want, that number grows to $2.9 billion. Warner Bros/New Line and the producers insist that the movie isn't officially part of the franchise, though. Alien is the most broadly popular franchise on this list. It's just as much sci-fi/action as it is horror, which makes it an easier sell to the masses. That's probably why Alien was named the greatest horror franchise ever in /Film's Tournament of Terror in 2021. The leaders in the clubhouse make a lot of sense. That's not to say the other entries on this list don't make sense, but there are probably quite a few horror fans who are surprised to see some of these names above the likes of Halloween or other franchises more generally associated with the genre. It is a particularly unique case. Based on Stephen King's hulking novel of the same name, It became the biggest horror hit ever in 2017, taking in more than $700 million. Its lifetime total stands at $719.7 million. It: Chapter Two, though not as big, took in a massive $473.1 million. That's $1.17 billion across just two movies. Every other franchise on this list has at least seven theatrical entries. That's what makes it so surprising. Scream is the most recent addition to the distinct group, with Scream 7 killing it at the box office and ensuring the franchise's future. It's going to be the first and only movie in the series to make $200 million or more and will undoubtedly pass Saw before all's said and done. Ghostface is as popular now as he's ever been. Resident Evil is equal parts action and horror and is not necessarily considered part of the horror movie franchise pantheon. But Resident Evil beat the video game movie curse at the box office and resonated with audiences worldwide. Zach Cregger's reboot of the series hits screens later this year and will push its total even higher. Saw is the biggest horror franchise born in the 2000s. Across ten movies, it's remained remarkably consistent. The original version of Saw 11 was canceled, and Blumhouse now has the franchise rights. What other horror franchises will join the $1 billion club? Rest assured, Jigsaw will return, and the Saw franchise's total will grow as well in the coming years. One thing to note is that most of the franchises on this list currently have new movies in the works. Fede Alvarez isn't directing the Alien: Romulus sequel, but it's happening all the same. That will push the franchise past the $2 billion mark. A Conjuring prequel movie is on the way. These franchises all still make money, and the studios that control them have no incentive to stop churning out more entries. By that same token, several other big horror franchises that are dangerously close to the $1 billion mark also have new movies coming our way in the next several years. Paramount has A Quiet Place 3 from writer/director John Krasinski on deck for 2027. Currently, that franchise sits at $900 million through three movies. Barring disaster, the forthcoming sequel will put this series over the top. Similarly, after Final Destination Bloodlines killed it at the box office last year, that franchise sits at $984 million. Naturally, Warner Bros. and New Line are making another sequel, meaning this series will also join the $1 billion club before long. Paranormal Activity also sits at $891 million with a new movie in the works, while Predator is at $935 million. Further off but not totally out of the game is Halloween, sitting pretty at $886 million. While no new movies are currently in the works, Michael Myers is likely only going to stay dead for so long. One or two more movies and he'll join this exclusive list as well.
