It's always interesting to see how much a movie has made at the box office and compare it to its budget. Of course, studios and filmmakers are hoping for high returns, but sometimes, a film will make only a few million dollars (or even less in some cases, with Amityville: The Awakening grossing less than $1,000).
There are many horror movies that grossed under $10 million worldwide but are still great stories with fascinating characters, well-paced plots, and awesome performances. These films include a sequel to a popular '90s teen film about witches and a sad story by a beloved filmmaker/TV showrunner. Horror fans won't be disappointed when checking out these fun, entertaining and fascinating movies, which stand out among other films that made more money at the domestic and global box office. All box office numbers are based on Box Office Mojo.
The Craft: Legacy (2020): $1,922,557
It could be argued that The Craft: Legacy is better than the original movie, even though the '90s film has incredible surprises, fleshed out characters, and a shocking conclusion. According to Box Office Mojo, The Craft: Legacy made $9,087 in its opening weekend and was in 29 movie theaters. The movie was also on premium video-on-demand since it was released in October 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, so the low gross was a product of the time. According to Forbes, the original 1996 film had a budget of $15 million and made $55.6 million.
While the teen horror genre might be lacking these days, The Craft: Legacy does an impressive job showing Lily Schechner (Cailee Spaeny) moving to a new town and becoming friends with her peers, who want her to join their coven. The movie has relevant themes and feels really fresh.
Haunt (2019): $2,243,353
The 2019 horror movie Haunt has a haunted house setting and sees Katie Stevens playing Harper, a young adult with a troubled past who almost loses her life when she and her friends explore a creepy place on Halloween. The film is unique, fun, and unforgettable, but it only grossed $2,243,353 at the worldwide box office. The plot is nicely paced and Harper is a fully developed person.
In an interview with In Style, Katie Stevens shared that she loved the script from the writers of A Quiet Place and also the character development in the film. Stevens said, "I was really drawn to Haunt and what [writers] Bryan Woods and Scott Beck did with the story — they made you attached to all of these characters. And I think that especially in horror, that's so important because if you don't care about any of the characters then you don't really care about what happens to them."
Eden Lake (2008): $3,984,669
Written and directed by James Watkins, the 2008 horror film Eden Lake follows Steve Taylor (Michael Fassbender) and Jenny Greengrass (Kelly Reilly), a couple who stay in the English countryside hoping for a nice vacation. Instead, they find teenagers who want to cause them harm.
Eden Lake is a popular movie, with an 80% rating on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer and a 66% Audience Score. The movie also grossed less than $10 million worldwide, making $3,984,669. Since the characters are in what is essentially the middle of nowhere, it's definitely a terrifying story.
Before I Wake (2016): $3,965,086
Mike Flanagan's Netflix shows are incredible, from The Haunting of Hill House to Midnight Mass, and his 2016 horror film Before I Wake tells a sweet and sad story about Cody, a young boy whose mother passes away and who begins having horrible nightmares. The movie is amazing but only grossed $3,965,086 worldwide.
Mike Flanagan shared in an interview with Dread Central that there is an outline of the film back in 2007 and he spoke more about his inspiration behind the story. Flanagan said, "I was a new father at the time, and I remember watching my son sleep and wondering what his dreams would look like. There was this feeling I had, like I could know him better if I could somehow see the things his mind created when he gave up the day. This story was always very delicate in my mind, and it really wasn’t a horror movie."
Jessabelle (2014): $6,998,359
There are some Blumhouse horror movies that had low box office grosses, and the 2014 film Jessabelle made $6,998,359 worldwide.
A haunted house horror movie, the story follows Jessabelle "Jessie" Laurent (Sarah Snook) who loses her husband and baby in a tragic accident, setting up Jessie moving into her childhood home. Jessie finds tough memories and an evil spirit in the house, which results in a scary story. While not the most popular Blumhouse horror movie, it's worth checking out.