How films like Terrifier 3 are a huge hit at the box office

How this continues is another matter. This year's “Longlegs” grossed $109 million at the box office against a budget of $10 million. Talk To Me, released in 2023, grossed $92 million, up from $4.45 million. Then there was 2022's “Barbarian” ($45 million vs. $4.5 million). Get Out, It Follows, The Babadook and beyond. Every year, little-noticed horror films like serial killers seem to emerge from the shadows and penetrate the zeitgeist in ways few analysts believe possible. And they're doing it while the multiplex cash registers are ringing, while the rest of Hollywood is flailing and fighting to keep moviegoers off streaming and social media.

“Other genres are becoming more and more popular,” says Mike Muncer, host of the Evolution of Horror podcast. “Romcoms, superhero movies and so on all have their ups and downs, but horror continues to draw viewers.” He points out that these genres “usually rely on big names to sell them.” In horror, that is the sellout genre.” It’s an observation that proves to be correct when you look at the IMDB cast lists for Terrifier 3 and Longlegs.

In the latter, Nicolas Cage can be seen as a supporting actor, but otherwise genre actors such as “It Follows” star Maika Monroe can be seen, while the cast of the “Terrifier” series consists of relatively unknowns. Compare that to a film like Jon Watts' Wolfs – a recent crime film in which two of the world's greatest actors, George Clooney and Brad Pitt, play two detectives. Or maybe “Fly Me to the Moon” – a romantic comedy starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum that only grossed $42 million. You may have never heard of these films.