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Which 2025 horror movies were biggest hits, and where did critics and fans clash?
Research question: Which horror films released in 2025 drew the largest audiences, and where did critics and audiences disagree most about them?
The Conjuring: Last Rites was the top-grossing horror film of 2025 worldwide at about $494.7 million 1, though another list gives $499.1 million 3, and Sinners was the top domestic earner at about $279.7 million 4. Final Destination Bloodlines grossed $317.8 million and scored 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, the best critical reviews of its franchise 12. The clearest critic-audience gap in these facts is Sinners, which grossed $369 million and was an even bigger hit with critics than with box office audiences 10. Five Nights at Freddy's 2 earned $238.3 million worldwide despite lackluster reviews 7, and Until Dawn had mixed reviews but earned $54.1 million on a $15 million budget 6. These facts cover critic reviews and box office, not audience review scores, so they only partly answer where audiences and critics disagreed most, and the newest fact is dated November 24, 2025 2, about eleven months before October 2026.
Checked 2026-10-18. Only documented and supported facts are used.
Dig deeper on this questionSources
[1] supported
The Conjuring: Last Rites was the top-grossing horror film of 2025 worldwide, earning about $494.7 million.
"THE CONJURING: LAST RITES – $494,653,512 (#14 among all films for the year)"Horror Box Office Champs of 2025
[2] supported
The Conjuring: Last Rites is the highest-grossing horror movie of 2025 so far, ahead of Sinners, with $494.5 million worldwide.
"Currently, Last Rites holds the title of the highest-grossing horror movie of 2025, surpassing Sinners with $494.5 million worldwide."2025's Record-Breaking Horror Movie Box Office Will Be Even Harder To Beat After Next Month
[3] supported
The Conjuring: Last Rites is listed as the top-grossing horror film of 2025 on this list, with $499.1 million at the box office.
"The Conjuring: Last Rites - $499.1 Million"Top 10 Horror Movies Of 2025: Box Office Performance
[4] supported
Sinners was the top domestic (North American) horror earner of 2025, with about $279.7 million.
"SINNERS – $279,653,537 (#7 among all movies for the year)"Horror Box Office Champs of 2025
[5] supported
Horror set an annual box office record in 2025, reaching $1.2 billion in gross.
"Horror set a record in 2025 for its annual gross, reaching $1.2 billion."2025's Record-Breaking Horror Movie Box Office Will Be Even Harder To Beat After Next Month
[6] supported
Until Dawn drew mixed critical reviews but performed well commercially, earning $54.1 million on a $15 million budget.
"Critical reviews were mostly mixed for Until Dawn but it performed well commercially , pulling in $54.1 million on a budget of $15 million."Top 10 Horror Movies Of 2025: Box Office Performance
[7] supported
Five Nights at Freddy's 2 earned $238.3 million worldwide on a budget of around $50 million, but critics gave it lackluster reviews even though they saw it as more ambitious than its predecessor.
"Critics felt this was more ambitious than its predecessor, yet didn't work quite as well and received lackluster reviews."Top 10 Horror Movies Of 2025: Box Office Performance
[8] supported
The article says 2025 had many sequels that were commercially successful but not always critically successful, while some original films far exceeded audience expectations.
"It was a year filled with commercially (if not always critically) successful sequels, and some sensational original films that far exceeded audience expectations."Horror Box Office Champs of 2025
[9] supported
The 2025 horror success combined original hits such as Sinners and Weapons with installments from established franchises such as The Conjuring: Last Rites, Final Destination: Bloodlines, 28 Years Later, and Black Phone 2.
"The genre's success has come from a mix of original hits such as Sinners and Weapons and installments from familiar franchises including The Conjuring: Last Rites , Final Destination: Bloodlines , 28 Years Later , and Black Phone 2 ."2025's Record-Breaking Horror Movie Box Office Will Be Even Harder To Beat After Next Month
[10] supported
Sinners was a major commercial success, grossing $369 million, and was an even bigger hit with critics than with box office audiences.
"Sinners was a major commercial success, grossing $369 million and an even bigger hit with critics."Top 10 Horror Movies Of 2025: Box Office Performance
[11] supported
Weapons, an original horror film, earned about $151.6 million domestically, ranking among the year's biggest horror draws.
"WEAPONS – $151,550,044 (#16)"Horror Box Office Champs of 2025
[12] supported
Final Destination Bloodlines grossed $317.8 million, the most of any entry in its franchise, and scored a 92% Rotten Tomatoes rating, the best critical reviews of the franchise.
"The movie ended up grossing $317.8 million, which is easily the most that any entry has pulled"Top 10 Horror Movies Of 2025: Box Office Performance
[13] supported
As of 30 January 2025, the 2017 film It was the highest-grossing horror movie at the global box office, with $701,012,746 in worldwide takings.
"The highest-grossing horror movie at the global box office is It (USA, 2017), which had taken $701,012,746 (£563,575,692) worldwide by 30 January 2025, according to The Numbers."Highest-grossing horror film at the global box office
[14] supported
Sinners had the highest opening weekend for an original film since Nope in 2022.
"Sinners had the highest opening weekend for an original film since Nope ($43.6 million) in 2022."List of 2025 box office number-one films in the United States
[15] supported
Sinners grossed $279,653,537 domestically in 2025, placing it eighth among the year's in-year releases, and it was the highest-grossing R-rated film of 2025.
"8. Sinners Warner Bros. $279,653,537"List of 2025 box office number-one films in the United States
[16] supported
Weapons topped the box office in its fourth weekend and again for three nonconsecutive weekends, a record shared only with Wonka for this feat.
"Weapons reclaimed the #1 spot in its fourth weekend of release, making it the first film since Wonka to top the box office in its fourth weekend and for three nonconsecutive weekends."List of 2025 box office number-one films in the United States
[17] supported
Weapons earned $43,501,217 in its opening weekend at number one.
"32 August 10, 2025 Weapons $43,501,217"List of 2025 box office number-one films in the United States