In 2017, the remake of Stephen King’s It broke a nearly 20-year-long box office record, and now, it is unclear whether another movie will ever beat it. Originally published in 1986, It is set in the fictional town of Derry, Maine, where every 27 years, a killer clown named Pennywise arrives to kidnap, murder, and terrorize children. The book’s protagonists, a group of kids called the Losers, embark on a mission to not only survive Pennywise, but take him down once and for all. Although a mini series was originally made in 1990, Warner Bros. commissioned a remake.

It quickly became a mᴀssive hit. On a budget of only $35 million, the movie grossed a whopping $704 million. This type of box office performance is not just impressive; it is almost unheard of for the horror genre. Ultimately, It became the highest-grossing horror movie of all time. On its own, this feat is exciting. However, it is made even better by the fact that It dethroned another horror film that had held the тιтle for an incredible run of 18 years. It still reigns supreme to this day, and no modern movie has gotten close to surpᴀssing it.

It (2017) Broke The Sixth Sense’s Record To Become The Highest-Grossing Horror Movie Ever

What It Did To Break This Horror Movie Record

By earning so much money, It took the place of the former highest-grossing horror movie of all time, The Sixth Sense. Released in 1999, this iconic M. Night Shyamalan film follows a child psychiatrist whose young patient claims he can see and talk to ᴅᴇᴀᴅ people. Considering The Sixth Sense’s incredible twist and strong cast, it’s no surprise that the film broke such a monumental record. It ended up earning approximately $672 million. Yet, the movie couldn’t hold its тιтle forever, and It’s achievement has only served to better the horror genre.

Some may be wondering: what did It do to become so successful? In truth, a lot of the movie’s success was built in from the beginning. For example, as a Stephen King adaptation, It was pretty much guaranteed a strong fan base. Furthermore, the movie included an incredible cast of young actors, many of whom were recognizable for previous roles, such as Finn Wolfhard in Stranger Things. Finally, It simply brought a sense of quality that audiences appreciated. The movie is terrifying, vivid, and consistently intense, making it ideal for any horror fan.

If It: Chapter 2 Couldn’t Beat It’s Box Office, Will Any Other Horror Movie Be Able To?

Which Horror Movies Have Come Close To It’s Box Office

After the success of It, many expected its sequel to do even better, breaking the record yet again. Unfortunately, that was not the case. It Chapter Two did well at the box office and among critics, but it made significantly less than its predecessor. It Chapter Two grossed $473 million – over $200 million less. On top of that, It Chapter Two lacked the rave reviews that the first movie got, settling for a slightly weaker 62% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes to It’s 85%. After this, it became clear that surpᴀssing It’s box office numbers would be no easy feat.

Some may be surprised to learn that only three of the top 10 highest-grossing horror movies have come out in the last 10 years. Aside from It and It Chapter Two, the only really recent movie to earn a place on the list is 2024’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, which sits at number 7 with $451 million. All the other entries are horror movies that have been out for a while and are truly legendary: Jaws, The Exorcist, Signs. This proves that a horror film needs to be genuinely outstanding (or part of a beloved franchise) to reach It’s status.

There Is One Movie Coming Soon That Could Beat It As The Highest-Grossing Horror Film

Horror Movies Deserve More Hype

It has managed to hold тιԍнт to its record so far, but one upcoming movie does have a chance of overtaking the 2017 movie. Though it has no release date yet, it has been confirmed that I Am Legend 2 is now in development, starring Michael B. Jordan and Will Smith. I Am Legend is a beloved sci-fi horror film, and notably, it holds the number 3 spot on the top 10 list of highest-grossing horror movies. If the sequel lives up to expectations, it could easily earn more than its predecessor, and maybe even more than It.

Regardless of who holds the тιтle, It’s record break is a sign that horror movies deserve way more hype and appreciation. It earned $700 million to reach the top of its list, but the highest-grossing movie of all time has earned over $2 billion at the box office. Horror movies may not be for everyone, but they are an art form that should get more spotlight. Movies like It pull on themes that are incredibly important and moving, and aren’t just pointless violence or silly storytelling. Hopefully, It will be far from the last highest-grossing horror movie of all time.