Answer · confidence: partial
How are horror movies doing at the box office in 2025 and 2026?
Research question: What are the box office and critical trends for horror films in 2025 and 2026, and which recent releases are getting the strongest audience response?
The records show Other Mommy opened to $27.5 million from 3,365 theaters, above the roughly $20 million most forecasts expected, and held the No. 1 spot despite dismal reviews 12. Its audience response was weak: it earned a D+ CinemaScore, the same grade as Hereditary and Megalopolis, and the critic and audience figures vary across reports, with critics at 18%, 19%, or 20% and audiences at 46% or 47% 4710. Its opening was the highest ever for a film with a D+ CinemaScore, and it had reached $45 million globally on a $19 million budget 912. Zach Cregger's Resident Evil has held up well, reaching $138.4 million after 24 days 11. The records do not provide a 2025 horror box office comparison or a broader horror-specific trend, and the year-to-date domestic total of $8.07 billion, up 19.6%, covers all films rather than horror alone 83.
Checked 2026-10-23. Only documented and supported facts are used.
Dig deeper on this questionSources
[1] supported
Other Mommy won the weekend box office with $27.5 million from 3,365 theaters, opening well above the roughly $20 million most forecasts expected.
"$27.5 million from 3,365 theaters, and a D+ from the people who bought the tickets. Other Mommy won the weekend box office on studio estimates released Sunday, opening well past the roughly $20 million most forecasts had on it."'Other Mommy' Box Office: $27.5M and a D+ CinemaScore
[2] supported
Horror film Other Mommy opened to a $27.5 million debut and held the No. 1 spot despite dismal reviews.
"Universal horror Other Mommy starring Jessica Chastain easily held its no. 1 spot at the box office through the weekend with a strong $27.5 million debut despite dismal reviews."'The Social Reckoning' Bombs With $5.5 Million Debut ... - Deadline
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The list is explicitly provisional: films released later in 2026 had not yet opened, so the rankings and figures could still change.
"Still moving: films released later in the year have yet to open, and figures are updated as they come in."Highest grossing horror movies of 2026 - spookee.com
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Other Mommy received a D+ CinemaScore, the same grade carried by Hereditary and Megalopolis, while critics left it at 20% on Rotten Tomatoes and the audience score was 47%.
"CinemaScore polls opening-night crowds, and a D+ is the grade Hereditary carries. So does Megalopolis . Critics finished at 20% on Rotten Tomatoes, where they had already landed by Friday morning , and the audience score sat at 47%."'Other Mommy' Box Office: $27.5M and a D+ CinemaScore
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Other Mommy's early audience scores were weak, with a soft D+ CinemaScore and only a 33% definite recommend.
"Early numbers are shrugging off a soft D+ CinemaScore and PostTrak at 47% in the top two boxes and a not great 33% definite recommend."'The Social Reckoning' Bombs With $5.5 Million Debut ... - Deadline
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The film was produced for about $19 million by Blumhouse Atomic Monster and released by Universal, and it adapts Josh Malerman's 2024 novel Incidents Around the House.
"Universal put the film in theaters on October 9 for Blumhouse Atomic Monster, which produced it for about $19 million . Rob Savage directed from a screenplay by Nathan Elston, adapting Josh Malerman’s 2024 novel Incidents Around the House ."'Other Mommy' Box Office: $27.5M and a D+ CinemaScore
[7] supported
Other Mommy scored 18% with Rotten Tomatoes critics and 46% with audiences, which could affect how long it stays in theaters.
"It’s sitting at 18% with RT critics, 46% with audiences — all of which could impact the longevity of its run."'The Social Reckoning' Bombs With $5.5 Million Debut ... - Deadline
[8] supported
Year-to-date domestic box office through October 11, 2026 was up 19.6% over the same point in 2025, reaching $8.07 billion.
"Year-to-date domestic box office through October 11 totals $8.07 billion, compared with $6.75 billion through October 11, 2025, an increase of 19.6%."'The Social Reckoning' Bombs With $5.5 Million Debut ... - Deadline
[9] supported
Other Mommy's opening earned a D+ CinemaScore, and its opening weekend is the highest ever for a film with that grade.
"One thing of note is that this is the highest opening weekend ever for a film that received a D+ from those polled at Cinemascore."Weekend Box Office: Other Mommy Scares Up an Impressive Debut
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Critics were far more negative than audiences on Other Mommy, with only 19% expressing approval.
"Critics who did catch up on Other Mommy were not as kind to it, as only 19% expressed approval."Weekend Box Office: Other Mommy Scares Up an Impressive Debut
[11] supported
Zach Cregger's Resident Evil has held up well, reaching $138.4 million after 24 days, which ranks among the top 15 horror films at that point in their runs.
"The film has now accrued $138.4 million, which is among the top 15 for a horror film through 24 days, just behind The Sixth Sense ($138.8 million) right now."Weekend Box Office: Other Mommy Scares Up an Impressive Debut
[12] supported
Other Mommy had a $19 million production budget and had already reached $45 million globally, putting it into profit early.
"the $19 million production is already headed well into profit territory with $45 million globally."Weekend Box Office: Other Mommy Scares Up an Impressive Debut