The 5 highest-grossing horror movies of 2024 so far

2024 has been a huge year for the horror genre, especially at the movie theater. We've gotten to watch at least one new horror movie in theaters each month this year, which is truly amazing. From indie flicks that come out of nowhere and capture our attention to major franchises being revived for better or for worse, there's no lack of content when it comes to the spooky genre. But just because there might be more horror movies than usual this year, that doesn't mean they've all performed well. You might be surprised to learn which films of the genre have earned the most at the box office in 2024 so far.

The recently released Alien: Romulus just had a huge opening weekend at the box office, so let's take this opportunity to look at the top five highest-grossing horror movies of 2024 so far.

1. A Quiet Place: Day One

• Release Date: June 28, 2024
• Global Box Office: $261 million

Currently, the number one highest-grossing horror movie of 2024 is A Quiet Place: Day One. This marks the third movie of the Quiet Place series, following the first day the world was forced to go silent. Fortunately, the Paramount Pictures movie not only was a success at the box office, but it also received positive reviews from critics and general audiences who loved the fresh take on the franchise. This is definitely one of my favorite horror movies of the year; there are so many strong parts about it.

Directed by Michael Sarnoski (Pig), Day One follows a terminally ill woman named Sam (Lupita Nyong'o) who travels to New York City for a day trip with her fellow patients of hospice care. When huge monsters invade the city, she's forced to make a journey of her own to get the one last thing she wants in life — pizza from Harlem. Along the way, she meets a man named Eric (Joseph Quinn) who she forms a bond with. The movie is a great mix of suspense and emotion.

2. Alien: Romulus

• Release Date: Aug. 16, 2024
• Global Box Office: $108 million (and counting)

Alien: Romulus is coming for the number one spot! The movie has been out for less than a week and is already making a ton of money. Similar to Day One, Romulus is receiving generally positive reviews, though this movie has been a bit divisive. Directed by Fede Álvarez (Evil Dead), the seventh installment of the Alien franchise leans into nostalgia and fan service — arguably a little too much at times — but is overall a great watch. Stars Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, and Isabela Merced give very strong performances and the movie doesn't shy away from awesomely gross and graphic sequences.

Though there's one glaring issue for me with Romulus, I still really enjoyed watching it and plan to see it again soon. It's one of the best on this list, and I'm glad it's seeing so much financial success. Soon enough, it will likely be the highest-grossing horror movie of the year. Go 20th Century Studios!

3. Longlegs

• Release Date: July 12, 2024
• Global Box Office: $100 million (and counting)

My favorite release in the genre this year so far is without a doubt Longlegs, Oz Perkins' crime-horror movie following an FBI agent named Lee (Maika Monroe). While investigating a serial killer who's been responsible for the deaths of families over decades, Lee gets closer to her own connection to the murders. Nicolas Cage stars as the titular character, who absolutely transformed for the role. The performances in the movie are great, as is the chilling atmosphere. I can't recommend this one enough for horror fans.

Crossing $100 million at the global box office recently, Longlegs is now the highest-grossing indie movie of the year and Neon's highest-grossing movie ever, which is seriously impressive. Similar to Romulus, Longlegs is still playing in theaters, so it's bound to make more money at the box office, though I don't think it'll move up in this ranking.

4. Trap

• Release Date: Aug. 2, 2024
• Global Box Office: $63 million (and counting)

Another horror movie still playing in theaters on this list is Trap, M. Night Shyamalan's new flick that takes place at a concert. Josh Hartnett stars as Cooper, a father who brings his daughter to see her favorite singer. At the arena, tensions rise when he notices increased security and learns that the authorities have set up a trap for a local serial killer. It sounds very silly, I know, and truth be told, it is! But that's the charm of Trap. It doesn't take itself too seriously and I had a lot of fun watching this one in theaters.

Unlike A Quiet Place: Day One, Alien: Romulus, and Longlegs, the Warner Bros. movie received mostly negative reviews from critics, though general audiences seemed to enjoy it more. This isn't a genre-defining or revolutionary film that will go down as one of the greats in the genre, but it's an entertaining ride that keeps you engaged and amused. Sometimes, that's all you need!

5. Night Swim

• Release Date: Jan. 5, 2024
• Global Box Office: $55 million

The fifth-highest-grossing horror movie of 2024 is one that I actually have not seen! Though the premise for Night Swim seems interesting enough, I was honestly turned off by the poor reviews, both from critics and everyday horror fans. Directed by Bryce McGuire, the first theatrical release for the genre of the year follows a family who discovers their pool is haunted. Okay, just typing that out made it sound a little dumb, but the trailer looked a little intriguing at least!

Night Swim features familiar faces in the cast, including Wyatt Russell and Kerry Condon, but it seems they weren't enough to save this one. Critics called attention to the fact that there isn't enough story for a full-length feature, while others called the horror elements "silly." Despite all the criticism, however, Night Swim still performed well at the box office, which is a win for Universal Pictures.