The 12 Best Horror Films of the Decade Worldwide, Ranked by Box Office Earnings

      Here are the 12 leading horror films of the decade, ranked by their box office earnings.

      If you're in need of a thrilling scare that resonates with audiences, consider watching one of these movies. They pack a frightening punch while still being accessible to a wide audience.

      Let's dive in.

      12 — The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)

      Vera Farmiga in The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, Warner Bros. – Credit: C/O

      Total Gross Worldwide: $206,444,123

      As the seventh film in The Conjuring universe, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It serves as a sequel to The Conjuring 2.

      It features Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga reprising their roles as Ed and Lorraine Warren, the paranormal investigators who assisted the Perrons and Hodgsons in earlier films. This time, they confront an unprecedented demonic possession.

      The Conjuring universe has largely dominated this decade, as evidenced by the films that follow on this list.

      11 — Smile (2022)

      A still from Smile, Paramount Pictures – Credit: C/O

      Total Gross Worldwide: $217,408,513

      The plot centers on a woman who, after witnessing a death, starts to see individuals around her with disturbingly eerie smiles.

      It's a terrifying curse that seems to be unending—unless it’s passed on to another by forcing them to witness another terrible death. The only escape is death or committing murder. How dreadful!

      The film was so successful that it spawned a sequel, Smile 2, which also performed very well. It's exciting to see Sosie Bacon follow in her father Kevin Bacon's horror film legacy, as he starred in the iconic Friday the 13th.

      10 — Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (2025)

      Universal Pictures

      Total Gross Worldwide: $238,569,800

      As the sequel to Five Nights at Freddy’s, based on the popular video game series, this installment follows Abby Schmidt (Piper Rubio) who is manipulated by the animatronic antagonist, Marionette.

      It features returning actors Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, Matthew Lillard, and Rubio, along with new faces including Mckenna Grace, Wayne Knight, and Skeet Ulrich. Horror fans especially enjoyed the reunion of Scream stars Lillard and Ulrich.

      The film was produced by Blumhouse, Jason Blum's successful production company, which has a first-look distribution deal with Universal Pictures.

      9 — A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)

      Lupita Nyong’o in A Quiet Place: Day One, Paramount Pictures – Credit: C/O

      Total Gross Worldwide: $261,907,653

      The third entry in John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place series, Day One serves as a prequel to A Quiet Place and A Quiet Place II.

      Lupita Nyong’o stars as a cancer patient in New York, who must face alien creatures with super-sensitive hearing as they invade. The cast also includes Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, and Djimon Hounsou, who reprises his role from A Quiet Place Part II.

      All gross figures on this list are sourced from Box Office Mojo.

      8 — The Nun II (2023)

      Taissa Farmiga in The Nun II, Warner Bros. – Credit: C/O

      Total Gross Worldwide: $269,667,073

      This is the second film in The Nun series, which is part of The Conjuring universe, featuring Taissa Farmiga, the sister of Vera Farmiga from The Conjuring.

      The Nun II is a sequel to The Nun and a prequel to the original The Conjuring, set in 1956 France.

      When a priest is killed, Sister Irene must confront a renewing evil in the form of a demonic entity.

      7 — Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023)

      A still from Five Nights at Freddy’s, Universal – Credit: C/O

      Total Gross Worldwide: $291,589,416

      As mentioned in our previous entry on Five Night at Freddy’s 2, the film features Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail from You, and Matthew Lillard from Scream in a story about a security guard starting work at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria, reminiscent of Chuck E. Cheese.

      However, after his first night at the eerie establishment, he discovers that the job will be far more challenging than anticipated.

      This supernatural horror film is derived from the namesake video game created by Scott Cawthon.

      6 — A Quiet Place Part II (2020)

      A still from A Quiet Place Part II, Paramount Pictures – Credit: C/O

      Total Gross Worldwide: $297,372,261

      Following the cataclysmic events of 2018’s A Quiet Place, the Abbott family ventures into the perilous wilds to ensure their survival.

      This installment stars Emily Blunt and Millicent S