As 2022 began, horror fans were excited to seeHalloween Ends, anticipating the final film in the trilogy by David Gordon Green that seemed like it would include a Laurie Strode vs. Michael Myers storyline. Audiences got something that they didn’t expect, which has led to debates over the movie. While it makes sense that sequels and new entries in slasher franchises do well at the box office, the past year has proven that original horror has its place in the industry.
From Blumhouse’sThe Black Phoneto the recent hitSmile, there are several examples of brand new horror films that aren’t part of an existing franchise that have pleased audiences with their storytelling power and also grossed high amounts.
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2022 has proven that there are many original horror movies that will make a lot of money. In June 2022, Jason Blum toldThe Wrapthat he was watching the box office success ofThe Black Phoneclosely to see how original horror films would do in the future. Blum said, “We know IP horror works, but we don’t know if original horror is working well, and I think the industry is looking at ‘Black Phone’ to see if the marketplace going to accept original horror now." If the movie didn’t get good numbers, he added, “that does not bode well for original horror that’s theatrically released.”
The Black Phoneand its creepy villaindid incredibly well, grossing $159,568,230 worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo.Smileis another 2022 release that has been a massive hit, grossing $185,987,000 worldwide.Smilegrossed $22 million its opening weekend, which was another huge win. These movies are particularly interesting because they are brand new but have elements familiar to horror fans since they are about a villain who wears several different masks and a curse that is passed on to various characters.
While there will be an audience for sequels and new entries inslasher franchises, as those offer a comfort and familiarity along with the excitement of seeing the next part of the story, it’s nice and refreshing to know that original stories can make good money. The future of horror is likely going to see more and more fresh tales being told, especially as franchises start to lose their power.Halloween KillsandScream (2022)did well at the box office, butHalloween Endshas gotten criticismas fans aren’t sure why the movie took a certain direction. Franchises will continue to make money, but audiences aren’t always pleased with the results creatively.
2022 has been a great year for horror fansthanks to the new takes on tropes and the artistic storytelling. Fans have been fascinated by Ti West’sXand theprequelPearl, and these movies haven’t made as much asA24’s highest-grossing horror films, but they have done pretty well. They also get fans of the genre excited for the different, creative films that A24 releases, which is important, too.
When looking back at the movies that have come out this year, such asThe Black Phone, Smile, andNope, which Box Office Mojo puts at $170,823,080 worldwide, it’s clear that audiences are hungry for original horror and that isn’t going to change anytime soon.Bodies Bodies Bodieswas also a success for A24, grossing just over $13,626,740 worldwide.
There’s something so exciting about seeing a movie that has unique characters andsurprising plot twistsand, best of all, is able to move beyond typical tropes. The films released in 2022 are about characters finding an alien presence on a ranch, an elderly woman (and her younger self) coming to terms with aging and beauty and death, and a group of young adults playing a game during stormy weather that changes when someone is killed.
Instead of watchingiconic slasher villainskill people in similar ways, these original films take the genre to new storytelling depths. Fans will never stop rewatching favorites likeHalloweenandA Nightmare On Elm Street, but it’s nice that new filmmakers are being given the chance to tell their stories and that there are many fans who are more than happy to head to their local theater to be entertained and excited.
For a long time, horror fans talked among themselves about underrated films and new twists on subgenres and tropes, but a huge hit would only come around once in a while. In 2022, original horror continues to do really well at the box office, which is especially great given that action movies have often been the biggest successes. In a year whereTop Gun: Maverickhas grossed over $1 billion and become theseventh-biggest film at the domestic box office, it’s incredibly impressive that original horror is grossing such high numbers. It will be exciting to see what’s in store for 2023.
