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The largest surprise the cinema world has witnessed in 2025? The comeback of horror as a main player at the UK film market.

As a genre, it has notably outperformed past times with a annual growth of 22% for the UK and Irish box office: £83.7 million in 2025, versus £68 million the previous year.

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

The top performers of the year – Weapons (£11.4 million), Sinners (£16.2m), The Conjuring Last Rites (£14.98m) and 28 Years Later (£15.54 million) – have all hung about in the cinemas and in the public consciousness.

While much of the professional discussion centers on the unique excellence of renowned filmmakers, their achievements suggest something shifting between moviegoers and the genre.

“Many have expressed, ‘You should watch this even if horror isn’t your thing,’” says a head of acquisition.

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

But outside of aesthetic quality, the ongoing appeal of horror movies this year indicates they are giving cinemagoers something that’s greatly desired: emotional release.

“These days, movies echo the prevalent emotions of rage, anxiety, and polarization,” says a genre expert.

“The genre masterfully exploits common anxieties, magnifying them so that everyday stresses fade beside the cinematic horror,” says a respected writer of horror film history.

Against a global headlines featuring war, border tensions, far-right movements, and environmental crises, ghosts, monsters, and mythical entities resonate a bit differently with audiences.

“Some research suggests vampire film popularity correlates with financial downturns,” states an star from a recent horror hit.

“This symbolizes the way modern economies can exhaust human spirit.”

Since the early days of cinema, social unrest has influenced the genre.

Scholars highlight the boom of German expressionism after the WWI and the turbulent times of the early Weimar Republic, with films such as classic silent horror and the iconic vampire tale.

Later occurred the 1930s depression and iconic horror characters.

“Take Dracula: it depicts an Eastern European figure invading Britain, spreading a metaphorical infection that endangers local protagonists,” explains a historian.

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

The boogeyman of immigration influenced the newly launched folk horror a recent film title.

Its writer-director clarifies: “I aimed to delve into populist rhetoric. Specifically, calls to restore a mythical past that favored a privileged few.”

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

Arguably, the present time of acclaimed, socially switched-on horror began with a sharp parody launched a year after a divisive leadership period.

It sparked a fresh generation of horror auteurs, including various prominent figures.

“It was a hugely exciting time,” recalls a director whose film about a deadly unborn child was one of the time's landmark films.

“I think it was the beginning of an era when people were opening up to doing a really bonkers horror film which had arthouse aspirations.”

The director, currently developing another scary story, continues: “Over 10 years, audiences’ minds have been opening up to much more of that.”

At the same time, there has been a reconsideration of the overlooked scary films.

Recently, a new cinema opened in London, showing obscure movies such as The Greasy Strangler, The Fall of the House of Usher and the modern reinterpretation of Dr Caligari.

The fresh acclaim of this “raw and chaotic” genre is, according to the theater owner, a clear response to the formulaic productions churned out at the theaters.

“It’s a reaction to the sanitised product that’s coming out of Hollywood. You have a film scene that’s more tepid and more predictable. A lot of the mainstream films are very similar,” he says.

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

Scary movies continue to disrupt conventions.

“These movies uniquely blend vintage vibes with contemporary relevance,” observes an specialist.

Besides the revival of the deranged genius archetype – with multiple versions of a classic novel upcoming – he anticipates we will see scary movies in the near future addressing our modern concerns: about AI’s dominance in the coming decades and “supernatural elements in political spheres”.

Meanwhile, “Jesus horror” The Carpenter’s Son – which depicts the events of Mary and Joseph’s struggles after Jesus’s birth, and includes celebrated stars as the sacred figures – is planned for launch soon, and will definitely cause a stir through the faith-based groups in the America.</