{'It’s like they’ve erupted out of someone’s subconscious': how horror has come to dominate contemporary film venues.

The most significant shock the cinema world has encountered in 2025? The resurgence of horror as a main player at the British cinemas.

As a category, it has impressively exceeded past times with a 22% year-on-year increase for the UK and Irish box office: over £83 million this year, versus £68.6 million last year.

“Previously, zero horror films made £10 million in the UK or Ireland. Currently, five have surpassed that mark,” comments a cinema revenue expert.

The big hits of the year – a recent horror title (£11.4m), Sinners (£16.2m), the latest Conjuring installment (£14.98 million) and 28 Years Later (£15.54m) – have all stayed in the multiplexes and in the popular awareness.

Even though much of the expert analysis focuses on the standout quality of renowned filmmakers, their successes point to something shifting between viewers and the style.

“I’ve heard people say, ‘Even if you don’t like horror this is a film you need to see,’” says a head of acquisition.

“These productions twist traditional elements to craft unique experiences, resonating deeply with modern audiences.”

But outside of creative value, the consistent popularity of frightening features this year suggests they are giving audiences something that’s much needed: emotional release.

“Currently, cinema mirrors the widespread anger, fear, and societal splits,” observes a horror podcast host.

“Scary movies excel at tapping into viewers' fears, amplifying them, allowing you to set aside daily worries and concentrate on the on-screen terror,” says a noted author of classic monster stories.

In the context of a real-world news cycle featuring war, border tensions, far-right movements, and environmental crises, supernatural beings and undead creatures connect in new ways with viewers.

“It’s been noted that vampire cinema thrives during periods of economic hardship,” states an actress from a popular scary movie.

“It’s the idea that capitalism sucks the life out of people.”

From film's inception, societal turmoil has shaped horror.

Experts point to the surge of German expressionism after the WWI and the unstable environment of the early Weimar Republic, with features such as classic silent horror and Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror.

Subsequently came the 1930s depression and iconic horror characters.

“The classic example is Dracula: you get this invasion of Britain by someone from eastern Europe who then causes this infection that gets spread in all sorts of ways and threatens the Anglo-Saxon heroes,” says a academic.

“So it reflects a lot of anxieties around immigration.”

The phantom of border issues inspired the newly launched supernatural tale The Severed Sun.

The filmmaker clarifies: “My goal was to examine populist trends. For instance, nostalgic phrases promising a return to a 'better' era that excluded many.”

“Also, the concept of familiar individuals revealing surprising prejudices in casual settings.”

Arguably, the present time of celebrated, politically engaged fright cinema commenced with a sharp parody launched a year after a divisive leadership period.

It sparked a recent surge of visionary directors, including several notable names.

“It was a hugely exciting time,” recalls a filmmaker whose movie about a violent prenatal entity was one of the period's key works.

“In my view, it marked the start of a phase where filmmakers embraced wildly creative horror with artistic ambitions.”

This creator, now penning a fresh horror script, notes: “In the last ten years, public taste has evolved to welcome bolder horror concepts.”

At the same time, there has been a revival of the underrated horror works.

In recent months, a new cinema opened in London, showing underground films such as a quirky horror title, a classic adaptation and the 1989 remake of the expressionist icon.

The renewed interest of this “raw and chaotic” genre is, according to the venue creator, a direct reaction to the formulaic productions pumped out at the theaters.

“It counters the polished content from big producers. The industry has become blander and more foreseeable. Numerous blockbusters share the same traits,” he explains.

“Conversely, [such movies] appear raw. As if they emerged straight from the artist's mind, untouched by studio control.”

Horror films continue to disrupt conventions.

“These movies uniquely blend vintage vibes with contemporary relevance,” says an authority.

In addition to the revival of the insane researcher motif – with multiple versions of a literary masterpiece imminent – he predicts we will see scary movies in the near future addressing our current anxieties: about tech supremacy in the near future and “monstrous metaphors in power structures”.

Meanwhile, “Jesus horror” a forthcoming title – which depicts the events of holy family challenges after Jesus’s birth, and stars celebrated stars as the sacred figures – is planned for launch in the coming months, and will undoubtedly send a ripple through the religious conservatives in the United States.</