2024 has proven to be an outstanding year for horror films releasing many critically praised titles and offering audiences a great variety within the genre. Several movie s that stood out include new arrivals like Longlegs, to iconic franchises such as Alien showing the wide reach the horror film space has created. These releases proved that horror could produce great quality, scare audiences, and produce good profits within Hollywood and across the global market in movie and streaming.
The Commercial Successes Of Horror: "First Omen" To "Night Swim" Despite Differences In Review
The First Omen acts as a prequel to Richard Donner’s 1976 film The Omen and it was directed by Arkasha Stevenson showcasing a nun discovering an evil conspiracy. The film boasts an 81% rating on Rotten Tomatoes demonstrating solid performances by Nell Tiger Free Charles Dance and Bill Nighy while also making over 53 million globally. The movie successfully expanded on its source material showing prequels can successfully honor source material. However despite the positive press in many cases some box office hits were not as favored by critics. Night Swim directed by Bryce McGuire and starred Kerry Condon with Wyatt Russell follows a family haunted by an evil spirit through their swimming pool. While it only had 20% on Rotten Tomatoes and many critiques the low budget film made 55 million dollars proving some successful returns do not require excellent reviews. The box office is sometimes not completely related to movie critic opinions.
Critical Acclaim & Commercial Success: "Speak No Evil" And "The Substance" Show the Potential of Horror Films
Speak No Evil a remake of a Dutch horror film was directed by James Watkins and featured James McAvoy that resulted in a critical hit with strong audience response as the film showcased Tension plus twists. James Watkins film grossed 76 million with a budget of just 15 million demonstrating its overall popularity to viewers. The Substance starring Demi Moore had stellar critical reception showing body horror and dark humor. It made approximately 77.6 million dollars with a budget of just 17.5 million furthering demonstrating the profit margin within this genre of film.
"Terrifier 3," "Exhuma", & "Longlegs" Create Unique And Notable Film Experiences Across The Global Market
Terrifier 3 directed by Damien Leone brought Art the Clown to life once again but against the backdrop of the Christmas season with it becoming one of the most positively reviewed within series earning 90 million at box office with only 2 million for production. Exhuma a South Korean supernatural horror film directed by Jang Jae-Hyun achieved a Rotten Tomatoes score of 95% and became the highest-grossing South Korean movie of 2024. Exhuma brought in 93 million showing global tastes in horror are continuing to broaden. Longlegs directed by Osgood Perkins earned approximately 127 million and featured Nicolas Cage and Maika Monroe bringing in unique performances. The film created hype before its release demonstrating positive advertising impact with strong revenue which also established itself as Neon's highest grossing movie and the highest indie project of 2024.
'Smile 2' And 'A Quiet Place Day One' Lead As Franchise Continuations That Maintain Audience Interest
Smile 2 director Parker Finn builds on the 2022 version of the same title led by Naomi Scott earning a rating of 86% on Rotten Tomatoes making over 138 million demonstrating great potential for the continuing Smile franchise. A Quiet Place: Day One directed by Michael Sarnoski was the spin-off featuring Lupita Nyongo and Joseph Quinn that grossed more than 261 million globally showing the high potential this franchise has created during 2024. Djimon Hounsou's character from the original A Quiet Place title also features briefly demonstrating an effort in continuity.
'Alien: Romulus' A Standalone Film Becomes a Global Highest-Grossing Horror Film for 2024
Alien: Romulus directed by Fede Alvarez occurs between Alien and Aliens within the franchise and earned 350 million at global box office showings proving popularity. The project offered a refreshing take on space based claustrophobia with Cailee Spaeny providing a great leading role as the project earned title as the highest grossing horror movie globally in 2024 showing high interest within franchise with an approach focusing on new perspectives that offer audiences something new within something familiar.
Top Rated Horror Titles by Rotten Tomatoes Demonstrate New Talent within Horror Film space
Several high ranking horror films on Rotten Tomatoes also emerged throughout the year. Abigail which had directors Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin reimagining Dracula’s Daughter is currently available on Prime and also held an 83% score on Rotten Tomatoes with several actors playing as kidnapping crew in storyline. Speak No Evil also received the same rating of 83% starring James McAvoy currently available on Peacock. Longlegs directed by Osgood Perkins garnered a Rotten Tomatoes approval score of 85%. The movie is available through premium video on demand for streaming.
Notable Horror Film Sequels And Remakes Provide Intense And Original Performances
Smile 2 starring Naomi Scott continued in the horror space earning 86% approval on Rotten Tomatoes it’s available currently streaming on Paramount+ showing strong staying power for franchise. Nosferatu with Bill Skarsgård Lily-Rose Depp directed by Robert Eggers achieved 87% on Rotten Tomatoes and is presently in theatres creating the second successful film made of this historic storyline. Both Heretic starring Hugh Grant and The Substance with Demi Moore created fresh approaches using both well established veteran talent while showing their respective roles earning 90% on Rotten Tomatoes making it a stand out in performances. The Substance is available via Mubi streaming platform.
High Ranking Indie Horror With ‘Strange Darling’,’Oddity’ And ‘Late Night with the Devil’ Make Mark on Audience Viewership
Strange Darling directed by JT Mollner received 95% on Rotten Tomatoes highlighting stellar talent and new voices within the industry currently on premium video. Oddity which earned 96% directed by Damian McCarthy is streaming on Shudder and AMC+ presenting a spooky storyline and a different narrative approach. Late Night with the Devil directed by Cameron Cairnes and Colin Cairnes received 97% and currently available for streaming through Shudder Hulu and AMC+ becoming the highest-rated horror movie with a very unique narrative presentation.
Unforgettable Chills in Horror: 'Infested', 'Stopmotion', and 'You'll Never Find Me' and Their Unique Elements
Infested a French horror movie co-written and directed by Sébastien Vanicek created a memorable spider themed movie using claustrophobic elements with spiders in tight quarters showing new takes on horror film tropes. Stopmotion directed by Robert Morgan is British horror using unique mixed media elements with body horror plus phycological scares . The Shudder title You’ll Never Find Me directed by Australian film makers Josiah Allen and Indianna Bell showcased a unique suspenseful trailer style set up in an enclosed space.
Franchise Continuity With New Story Arcs: 'First Omen', 'Alien Romulus' and 'Daddy's Head' As Memorable Viewership
The First Omen served to reimagine parts of the older 1976 The Omen with great effect by capturing the core elements of tension and dread while keeping its own unique style of character development as part of the storyline. The project was made for Hulu Streaming as an original title. Alien Romulus directed by Fede Alvarez is set as an interesting and unique new take on familiar Alien storylines with brutal style of storytelling. Daddy’s Head a British movie directed by Benjamin Barfoot showed different sides of psychological horror utilizing elements of trauma within a single family dynamic that are sure to make fans uneasy following initial viewings on AMC+. V/H/S Beyond further cemented horror anthology and is presently available for viewing on AMC+ proving creative approach with scifi elements that provided something unique in the horror film arena of 2024.