Unfortunately, there’s been a lack of #1 horror films at the box office within the last two years. Is this because the quality of movies in this particular genre has gone down or because fans aren’t massing at the theaters like they used to anymore. This notion got me wondering…
How many horror films have hit #1 in the last 15 years? Answer: 26. That’s an extremely horrible figure when you realize that 752 weeks have passed between January 1, 2000 and today.
Are you wondering which films actually took the top spot at the box office? How about which films were repeat offenders? How about which months have the highest rate of success?
Did you know Freddy vs. Jason, The Final Destination, The Grudge, Jeepers Creepers 2, The Possession and Scream 3 all held the number one spot for two weeks in a row? Did you know that August, October and February are the best months to release a horror film if you want it to land at #1 after opening week?
Take a gander at horror history below with a list of horror films that hit #1 during their opening week, according to boxofficemojo.com.
*I included some titles that aren’t “horror-horror” just for the sake of the chart…*
2014
October 24 – 30: Ouija
May 16 – 22: Godzilla
2013
Sept 13 – 19: Insidious 2
July 19 – 25: The Conjuring
June 7 – 13: The Purge
April 5 – 11: Evil Dead
Jan 18 – 24: Mama
2012
Oct 19 – 25: Paranormal Activity 4
Sept 14 – 20: Resident Evil: Retribution
Sept 7 – 13: The Possession
Aug 31 – Sept 6: The Possession
Jan 20 – 26: Underworld Awakening
Jan 6 – 12: The Devil Inside
2011
Oct 21 – 27: Paranormal Activity 3
Feb 4 – 10: The Roommate
Jan 28 – Feb 3: The Rite
2010
Oct 29 – Nov 4: Saw 3D
Oct 22 – 28: Paranormal Activity 2
Sept 10 – 16: Resident Evil: Afterlife
April 30 – May 6: A Nightmare on Elm Street
2009
Oct 23 – 29: Paranormal Activity
Oct 2 – 8: Zombieland
Sept 4 – 10: The Final Destination
Aug 28 – Sept 3: The Final Destination
Feb 13 – 19: Friday the 13th
2008
Dec 12 – 18: The Day the Earth Stood Still
April 11 – 17: Prom Night
Jan 18 – 24: Cloverfield
2007
Dec 14 – 20: I Am Legend
Oct 26 – Nov 1: Saw IV
Oct 19 – 25: 30 Days of Night
Sept 21 – 27: Resident Evil: Extinction
Aug 31 – Sept 6: Halloween
Feb 2 – 8: The Messengers
2006
Oct 27 – Nov 2: Saw 3
April 21 – 27: Silent Hill
April 14 – 20: Scary Movie 4
Feb 10 – 16: Final Destination 3
Feb 3 – 9: When A Stranger Calls
Jan 20 – 26: Underworld: Evolution
Jan 6 – 12: Hostel
2005
Dec 16 – 22: King Kong
Oct 28 – Nov 3: Saw 2
Sept 9 – 15: The Exorcism of Emily Rose
July 1 – 7: War of the Worlds
April 15 – 21: The Amityville Horror
March 18 – 24: The Ring 2
Feb 4 – 10: Boogeyman
2004
Oct 29 – Nov 4: The Grudge
Oct 22 – 28: The Grudge
Sept 24 – 30: The Forgotten
Sept 10 – 16: Resident Evil: Apocalypse
Aug 20 – 26: Exorcist: The Beginning
Aug 13 – 19: Alien vs. Predator
July 30 – Aug 5: The Village
March 19 – 25: Dawn of the Dead
2003
Oct 24 – 30: Scary Movie 3
Oct 17 – 23: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Sept 19 – 25: Underworld
Sept 5 – 11: Jeepers Creepers 2
Aug 29 – Sept 4: Jeepers Creepers 2
Aug 22 – Aug 28: Freddy vs. Jason
Aug 15 – 21: Freddy vs. Jason
Jan 24 – Jan 30: Darkness Falls
2002
Oct 18 – 24: The Ring
Oct 11 – 17: Red Dragon
Oct 4 – 10: Red Dragon
Aug 30 – Sept 5: Signs
Aug 23 – 29: Signs
Aug 2 – 8: Signs
Feb 22 – 28: Queen of the Damned
2001
Oct 19 – 25: From Hell
Aug 31 – Sept 6: Jeepers Creepers
Feb 23 – March 1: Hannibal
Feb 16 – 22: Hannibal
Feb 9 – 15: Hannibal
2000
Aug 18 – 24: The Cell
Aug 11 – 17: Hollow Man
Aug 4 – 10: Hollow Man
July 7 – 13: Scary Movie
Feb 11 – 17: Scream 3
Feb 4 – 10: Scream 3
