Is horror cinema experiencing a stealth decline, even amidst apparent successes? Jason Blum, the mastermind behind Blumhouse Productions, believes so. While the horror genre consistently delivers, he argues that the landscape is subtly shifting, and not necessarily for the better. Let's dive in.
In 2025, two original horror films, Ryan Coogler's jazz-era vampire movie "Sinners" and Zach Cregger's suburban witchcraft flick "Weapons," enjoyed massive popularity. "Sinners" had a production budget of $100 million, while "Weapons" was made for a more modest $38 million. Both films were box office hits, especially remarkable for original horror movies without pre-existing intellectual property. Furthermore, "The Conjuring: Last Rites" also performed well, grossing nearly half a billion dollars. However, this was the fourth installment in a well-established franchise.
While some might proclaim, "Horror is back!", the truth is, it never truly left. Horror has remained a consistent presence in Hollywood, often proving profitable. The genre usually doesn't require massive budgets to be effective, and the audience's appetite for fear is insatiable. However, Blum suggests that 2025's successes might actually indicate a contraction in the genre's overall reach.
Speaking to GQ, Blum pointed out that seeing only two major original horror successes in a year is a downturn compared to the five or six successes seen in previous years. He believes there used to be greater cultural penetration with horror films, and that while "Sinners" and "Weapons" are great movies, they signal a negative shift.
Blum seems to be reminiscing about the golden age of low-budget horror. Think of his own studio's successes in the late 2000s, such as "Paranormal Activity," which earned over $192 million on a mere $200,000 budget, or "Insidious," which made over $100 million on a $1.5 million budget. Then there was "Saw" in 2004, which spawned a franchise. In 2013, "The Purge" was another low-budget success, followed by films like "It Follows," "A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night," and "The Babadook" in 2014. Even more recently, "Terrifier" made its mark in 2016.
Blum notes that 2025 is a far cry from those times. He observes that having only two original horror movies break into the mainstream is a new phenomenon, whereas there were usually five or six. While there are still hits, like "Last Rites" and "Final Destination: Bloodlines," there are now more flops than successes. He says the same amount of ticket revenue is going to fewer movies.
But here's where it gets controversial: Blum is also critical of the modern film distribution model, especially regarding streaming. He recalls the old system where movies would stay in theaters for months before becoming available on cable or home video. Now, the gap between theatrical and streaming releases has shrunk or vanished altogether.
Blum believes that the current release windows are confusing, with no standard in place. This has left viewers uncertain about what's coming and when. He states:
"Some things are on [streaming] in two weeks, some are three weeks, some are four months... I think it's created confusion in the marketplace."
Blum misses the days when families would spontaneously go to the cinema, choosing a film at the box office. He believes that the new model is more "event"-driven, where only large-scale phenomena generate significant revenue. Smaller films are less likely to be discovered organically due to the streaming chaos. He continues:
"Now, when people go to the theater, they're going to see a specific movie... Unless it's, 'Oh, my God, I have to see that in a movie theater.' That's what happened with 'Sinners.' That's what happened with 'Weapons.' And that's what happened with 'The Conjuring.'"
The numbers do seem to be down across the board. What do you think? Do you agree with Blum's assessment of the horror landscape? Are shorter release windows hurting the industry? Share your thoughts in the comments!
