The definitive data analysis of the horror genre
Every one of the 27,000+ horror films made up to the end of 2023, measured from first idea to final profit.
27,000+
Horror films analysed
Every horror film ever made, up to the end of 2023.
386
Charts and graphs
Getting under the skin of the genre, decade by decade.
1,000
Film festivals ranked
The bonus guide to the best festivals for horror filmmakers.
Choose your edition
From a night of fun reading to the full professional package.
Fan Edition
For horror fans · Digital
£22
- ✓The full report: Fan edition
- –Excel data files
- –Bonus reports
- –Printed copy
Pro Package
For filmmakers and industry professionals · Digital
£75
- ✓The full report
- ✓Excel data files
- ✓Bonus reports: two included
- –Printed copy
Print Edition
For your shelf · Print
£75
- ✓The full report
- –Excel data files
- –Bonus reports
- ✓Printed copy
Also available - the Complete Package £97, the Educational Licence £150, and the edición en español £75.
What's inside
Fifteen sections, from what makes a film horror to what it earns.
It Lives!
What defines a horror movie, and the state of the genre today.
Mutation
The subgenres that make up horror, from slashers and monsters to torment and gore.
Gestation
Where horror scripts come from and how they come to life.
Incantations
The patterns inside horror screenplays: characters, deaths, heroes and villains.
Ravenous
What horror movies cost to make, and where the money goes.
Conjurers
The people who make horror films, their roles and who they are.
Chimaera
Post-production: cameras, formats, running times and the final cut.
Forbidden
The violence, sex, language and other content that pushes the limits.
Summoning
How horror films are named, and how titles have changed.
Branded
The visual tropes and designs on horror posters.
Fearmongering
How horror films are marketed, and what it costs.
Unleashed
When horror films are released, and how they reach audiences.
Judgement
Horror at film festivals and with the critics.
Aftermath
How horror shapes culture, and which films last.
Autopsy
The economics and profitability of horror. In the Pro Package and Print Edition.
How to use the Horror Movie Report
Make the case for horror. Show partners and investors how the genre has grown, with sourced charts.
Set a budget. See how horror budgets are spread, and where the money goes.
Shape the script. What happens to heroes, villains and victims across thousands of screenplays.
Build the team. Who makes horror films, and how the crews are put together.
Make the technical calls. Cameras, formats, shot lengths and running times across the decades.
Plan the release. When horror films come out, and how they reach their audiences.
If you work in...
- Producers and filmmakers. Budgets, subgenres, crews and release patterns, so your next horror film is planned on evidence.
- Screenwriters. What happens inside thousands of horror scripts, from the opening scene to the final kill.
- Investors and financiers. The economics of the genre, and the Pro Package's business case for horror investment.
- Distributors and sales agents. Release timing, marketing, posters and titles, and how horror reaches its audience.
- Festival programmers and critics. Horror on the festival circuit and with the critics, and the Pro Package's guide to 1,000 film festivals.
- Fans and writers. A century of horror in charts, from its origins to the films of 2023.
Frequently asked questions
How up to date is the data?
The report was published in 2024, and its data runs to the end of 2023. Films released from 2024 onwards aren't in it.
What do I get?
The Fan Edition is a PDF of the report. The Pro Package adds the data behind the charts as Excel files, plus two bonus guides: Building the Business Case for Horror, and a horror film festival guide with a database of 1,000 festivals. The Print Edition is the full report as a printed book, posted to you.
What's the difference between the Fan Edition and the Pro Package?
The Pro Package has the full report, including the section on the economics and profitability of horror, the data files, the two bonus guides and a licence to use it in your work. The Fan Edition is the report for your own reading.
Can I use it at work?
With the Pro Package, yes, within the organisation that bought it, for things like business plans, decks and investor presentations. The Fan Edition is for personal reading only.
Is there a Spanish edition?
What currency are the prices in?
US dollars. You can pick another currency in the menu at the top of the shop, and checkout shows exactly what you'll pay.
Can I get a refund?
Because the digital editions are downloads, I don't offer refunds on them. If a file doesn't work, I'll fix it. Printed copies can be returned within 14 days of delivery.
Feedback
John August
Screenwriter, Big Fish, Aladdin, host of Scriptnotes
Holy cow! Any question you have about the scary movie ecosystem, he's got your answer, complete with terrifically-designed tables and charts.
Neal Edelstein
Producer, The Ring, Mulholland Drive
A game-changer, offering unparalleled data and insights that every producer should have on their desk. Essential reading.
Reece Shearsmith
Actor and writer, Inside No. 9
Relentlessly enjoyable. So many intriguing trends and statistics that I never knew I needed to know.
Jeffrey Reddick
Creator of Final Destination
A unique deep dive packed with data on the trends, themes and stories shaping horror movies today. A must-read.
Matt Glasby
Author, The Book of Horror
A genre dissection so dizzying it will make your head spin.
Trace Sauveur
Film critic, Paste, The Austin Chronicle
The ultimate marriage of data science and horror movie culture you never knew you needed. A remarkable feat of research.
About me
I am Stephen Follows, and I have spent 20 years researching how the film business actually works. I've published more than 600 research articles at stephenfollows.com, I'm the consultant behind the movie records in the Guinness World Records book, and for ten years I was Chair of Central Film School. My research has been covered by The New York Times, The Guardian, Variety and the BBC.
