Yahoo.com just published an article on the "Top Five Highest-Grossing Horror Franchises," and our good friend Freddy Krueger made the list at #4! For the entire Nightmare box office history film-by-film click here.
1. FRIDAY THE 13TH
Total Gross: $380,637,525
Number of Films: 12
Average Gross: $31,719,794
Much like the lumbering maniac at the center of the series, "Friday the 13th" is a franchise that cannot be killed. Released in 1980, the first movie was an enormous success, bringing in over 50 times what it cost to produce. This year's restart was the biggest hit of the franchise after "Freddy vs. Jason," and another sequel is in the works for next August.
2. SAW
Total Gross: $342,510,598
Number of Films: 5
Average Gross: $68,502,120
While it was certainly a shock when the first movie came out of nowhere to earn $55 million, the $87 million take of "Saw II" was even more of a surprise. It's also impressive to note that this series has made nearly as much as "Friday the 13th" with half as many movies (and in one-sixth the amount of time). Of course, work has already begun on "Saw VII."
3. HALLOWEEN
Total Gross: $307,729,650
Number of Films: 10
Average Gross: $30,772,965
John Carpenter's "Halloween" has rightfully been credited as the original slasher film. With a budget around $300,000, it earned approximately $47 million. The series was successfully brought back in the late '90s, and then Rob Zombie's re-imagining in 2007 had the biggest gross of all at $58 million. Zombie's sequel this year fell short of expectations with $32.5 million, and plans for another installment have recently been put on hold.
4. A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET
Total Gross: $307,420,075
Number of Films: 8
Average Gross: $38,427,509
Twenty-five years ago, Robert Englund first put on the hat, sweater, and razor-clawed glove to become Freddy Kruger in Wes Craven's "A Nightmare on Elm Street." He played the role seven more times on film, including "Freddy vs. Jason," which is the most successful movie for both characters. This April, Oscar-nominated actor Jackie Earle Haley will be taking over as Freddy in an updated version, which will surely push the series into the top three on this list.
5. SCREAM
Total Gross: $293,553,139
Number of Films: 3
Average Gross: $97,851,046
When the first "Scream" became a $100 million blockbuster, it ushered in a new era of self-aware horror films that in some ways derailed the irony-free slashers from before. It was followed by two hit sequels, giving this series the highest per-film average on the list. The franchise has been on hold for the past decade, but screenwriter Kevin Williamson, director Wes Craven, and stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette are all in talks to reunite for a fourth "Scream" in the near future.
by Matt McDaniel
