Fear isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it definitely brings in the cash. Where some revel in the morbid curiosity and adrenaline rush, others stay away from it altogether, but there’s no denying the appeal of horror films — be it monster, psychological, slasher, supernatural, and more. From exploring social anxieties to offering jump scares, the genre has consistently drawn audiences to the theatres and continues to enjoy a cult following; safe to say, it’s very much alive, unlike its mostly dead subjects, such as zombies, vampires, ghostly entities, and the like.
The renaissance has only picked up, now that horror movies are no longer confined to Halloween releases. 2025’s slate saw strong box-office performances from original and legacy titles alike, including Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu and Ryan Coogler’s Sinners at the start of the first quarter, followed by Final Destination: Bloodlines in May, which scored a franchise-best haul, and more recently, Zack Cregger’s Weapons and The Conjuring: Last Rites leading into September.
Then, there are other pics scattered amid the spills and thrills, extending to 28 Years Later, I Know What You Did Last Summer, M3GAN 2.0, and, more recently, Dave Franco and Alison Brie’s indie body horror hit, Together. As it stands, the industry looks to be heading towards a new golden age of screen terror, and there’s never been a better time to be a horror enthusiast.
Yet, it can be a little difficult to navigate the definition of “horror” as the classification spans multiple sub-genres like gore, slasher flicks, psychological thrillers, and more, leading to situations where someone is a fan of one or some, but not all. For those who lean more into supernatural horror, ghosts, spiritual possessions, and even demons are the staple sights, cemented through decades of on-screen appearances.
With the recent success of The Conjuring: Last Rites, which marks the final chapter of the first phase of The Conjuring cinematic universe, here are the six most popular paranormal horror franchises of all time that paved the way for modern-day scares, and whose influence still permeates the scene.
1) The Conjuring (2013 – present)
Combined gross: US$2.4 billion
Considering its status as the highest-grossing series in history, The Conjuring is a no-brainer addition to the list. Following the release of its first movie in 2013, The Conjuring Universe has grossed US$2.4 billion across nine films (as of the time of writing), comprising four mainline titles and The Nun and Annabelle spin-offs. The latest entry, The Last Rites, stars Vera Farmiga (Bates Motel) and Patrick Wilson (Fargo) in their final outing as paranormal investigators Lorraine and Ed Warren, respectively, bringing an end to Phase One (not the entire franchise!).
The shared universe framework presents a storytelling platform that isn’t as readily available for other horror works, with the main series following the Warrens’ attempts to assist individuals harassed by spirits, and the offshoots focusing on the origins of some of the entities they have encountered. Apart from its accessible nature, each movie also serves as a dramatisation of the Warrens’ real-life investigations, playing into audience fears of a potential haunting. Throw well-executed practical effects and effective, blood-pumping tension into the mix, and it’s no wonder The Conjuring has won over the hearts of many. Oh, let’s not forget the fun in spotting easter eggs across the movies.
2) Paranormal Activity (2007 – 2021)
Combined gross: US$890 million
It’s human nature to fear the unknown, and Paranormal Activity weaponises it to great effect. Instead of lifting the veil on the haunting presence, it thrives on imagination, inviting viewers to fill in the blank themselves. The primal trepidation is further accentuated through found footage, an intimate, domestic setting, and the manifestation of everyday fears, which not only adds to the immersion but also suggests the possibility that on-screen happenings can become reality.
More notably, Paranormal Activity has grossed over thirty times the overall budget since its debut in 2009 (as of the time of writing). There are currently seven instalments, with the latest one being 2021’s Next of Kin, all based around various families who become haunted by an evil demon known as “Tobi” that stalks, terrifies, and ultimately murders several members of said family, alongside other bystanders. Nothing like some old-school frights to feed the appetite, indeed.
3) Insidious (2010 – present)
Combined gross: US$732 million
Both hailing from horror auteur James Wan, Insidious and The Conjuring share some similarities. The first is Patrick Wilson’s casting, who appears in three of the five films (and one of which he directed) in this series, and second, an impressive profit margin (US$731 million worldwide on a combined budget of US$42.5 million) that proved that smaller outings can be successful, and lastly, a potent blend of atmospheric suspense and well-timed jump scares.
There’s more to the Insidious experience, from strong sound design and memorable imagery to paying homage to classic horror. The first two instalments were helmed by Wan, centring on a couple who are continuously haunted by demons after their son mysteriously enters a comatose state and becomes a vessel for ghosts in an astral plane, while the next two follow the psychic who helped the family in the former. The fifth, The Red Door, marked Wilson’s directorial debut, and a sixth is currently slated for release on 21 August 2026.
4) The Exorcist (1973 – 2023)
Combined gross: US$661 million
As a pioneer of possession-related films, it wouldn’t be fair to exclude The Exorcist from the list. Dating back to 1973, the long-running franchise follows fictional accounts of individuals possessed by mainstay antagonist Pazuzu, and the efforts of religious authorities to counter this possession.
The blend of supernatural themes and elements of faith, doubt, and mental health was largely considered revolutionary in a time when emotional storytelling and horror didn’t go hand in hand. Anchored by slow-burning tension and unsettling mood, the landmark original earned a genre-first nomination for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, ultimately winning two of its 10 nods. It went on to spawn five sequels, all of which failed to recreate the magic, but the onboarding of Mike Flanagan (Midnight Mass) for an upcoming reboot may just be the franchise’s saving grace.
5) The Ring (1995 – 2022)
Combined gross (US only): US$430 million
Based on Koji Suzuki’s 1991 novel of the same name, The Ring has been credited with the western popularisation of Japanese horror – and rightly so, because Asian horror cinema poses a bigger threat to one’s scare tolerance – and renewed interest in Japanese horror films such as Ju-On and The Grudge.
In Japan alone, there have been eight movies in the series, including prequels, sequels and spin-offs, and even a TV series. Naturally, Hollywood wanted a piece of the well water, and the 2002 Tinselftown adaptation follows journalist Rachel Keller as she discovers a cursed videotape that causes its viewers to die seven days later.
Praised for its visual storytelling, eerie cinematography, a strong lead performance by Naomi Watts (Mulholland Drive), and faithfulness to the core elements of the Japanese source material, it received two feature-length sequels and a short film, becoming the driving force for subsequent American remakes of other Asian and Japanese horror movies, including 2005’s Dark Water, alongside 2008’s Shutter and The Eye.
6) Poltergeist (1982 – 2015)
Combined gross: US$306 million
Another timeless classic steeped in thematic exploration far beyond its time, the original Poltergeist married emotionally resonant elements of family with cutting-edge technology that extends to creature effects. The suburban setting brings the chills closer to home, while the psychological aspect taps into the deep-seated fears of parenting.
Steven Spielberg contributed to the screenplay for the 1982 film, which revolved around the Freeling family and their encounter with malevolent ghosts that abduct their daughter. Like The Exorcist, plans were made to restore the franchise to its former glory, but two follow-ups in 1986 and 1988, as well as a 2015 remake, fell short of expectations.
BONUS: Final Destination (2000 – present)
Combined gross: US$975 million
While the Final Destination movies are billed as supernatural horror on paper, they feature heavier thriller and slasher influences as well, so the franchise earns a special mention here. Known for an innovative premise that depicts Death as a villain instead of the usual slasher figure, its standalone plots follow a small group of people who escape impending death after one visionary individual warns them of a premonition.
So turn the wheels of fate, and the survivors are later killed off one by one in bizarre, everyday incidents caused by an unseen force: Death itself. It’s never a painless demise, either – these sequences are often convoluted, violent, and uncomfortable to watch, but have become a core part of the Final Destination experience. Like it or not, it must be doing something right, as the six films have grossed US$975 million in total to date.
The increasing demand for chills, thrills, and spills bodes well for a genre previously confined to a niche, with horror movies making strides in the mainstream market. As the upward trajectory continues, it’s important to look back and honour the works that have left their mark on the industry, offering proof of just how far the supernatural horror genre has evolved over the years.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
