bbc.com
2025 Horror Film Boom: Box Office Success and TikTok Trend
The 2025 horror film boom saw UK box office revenue reach £41.3 million ($55.6 million), exceeding 2024, while North American horror movie ticket sales rose to 17% in 2025 from 4% a decade earlier, driven by a combination of blockbuster releases and smaller productions.
- What factors contributed to the significant increase in horror movie viewership and revenue in 2025?
- In 2025, UK horror films grossed £41.3 million ($55.6 million), exceeding 2024's £39.5 million ($53 million) total. North American horror movie ticket sales reached 17% this year, a significant increase from 11% in 2024 and 4% a decade prior. This surge in popularity is reflected in TikTok's data, showing a 38% increase in horror-related hashtags.
- How does the success of 2025 horror films compare to previous years, and what are the contributing factors to this trend?
- The success of 2025 horror films builds upon a decade of growing critical and commercial acclaim for the genre, fueled by both arthouse hits like "Hereditary" and mainstream successes from Blumhouse. The current popularity isn't a sudden spike, but rather a culmination of consistent growth.
- What are the potential long-term implications of the current success of horror films for the movie industry and the genre itself?
- The resurgence of blockbuster horror movies in cinemas, coupled with the continued success of smaller-scale productions, suggests a sustained trend of horror's popularity. This may incentivize studios to invest more heavily in the genre, leading to even more high-budget releases in the future. The success of movies like "I Know What You Did Last Summer" demonstrates the genre's adaptability beyond the traditional spooky season.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames the success of horror films in 2025 very positively, emphasizing box office numbers and social media engagement. The headline itself, "Why 2025 is a scarily good year for horror movies," sets a celebratory tone. The use of phrases like "great year" and "renaissance of horror" reinforces this positive framing. While these statements are supported by data, the lack of counterpoints or critical perspectives creates a potentially skewed narrative.
Language Bias
The language used is generally positive and enthusiastic. Words like "scary," "thrilling," "fun," and "feel-good" create a sense of excitement and appeal. However, the repeated use of positive descriptors for the genre could be perceived as promotional rather than purely analytical. There are few negative or critical terms used to describe the movies or the trends. Neutral alternatives might include more descriptive and less evaluative language; for example, instead of "great year," one could use "commercially successful year.
Bias by Omission
The analysis focuses heavily on box office success and social media trends, potentially omitting discussions of critical reception, diversity of horror subgenres represented, or the impact of marketing campaigns on the perceived increase in popularity. There is no mention of any negative critical response to the films mentioned, which could offer a more balanced perspective. The piece also doesn't discuss the financial performance of smaller, independent horror films which could give a fuller picture of the genre's health.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat simplistic view of the horror genre's resurgence, suggesting a clear-cut increase in popularity without fully exploring potential complexities such as shifts in audience preferences, changes in distribution models, or the influence of specific marketing strategies. The framing of "blockbuster horror" becoming "a thing again" implies a binary opposition between past and present, overlooking nuances in the genre's history.
Gender Bias
The article features multiple male and female voices, which initially suggests balanced gender representation. However, a closer examination reveals that the focus on the female stars' opinions in relation to their roles in movies might perpetuate a stereotype associating women primarily with the acting side of filmmaking, rather than directing or producing. More balanced representation across gender in the expert opinions quoted would have strengthened this area.