# What was highest grossing horror movie of 1996?

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/what-was-highest-grossing-horror-movie-of-1996/
- Published: 2026-09-10T02:30:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-09-10T03:33:33+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/highest-grossing-horror-movie-1996/
- Topics: Entertainment, Film, Horror

## Key points

- *Scream* was 1996's top-grossing horror film, earning $173 million
- Wes Craven's meta slasher revived a genre stuck in formulaic decline
- Drew Barrymore's early death in the film became a horror landmark

## Summary

Wes Craven's *Scream* was the highest-grossing horror film of 1996, marking a turning point for a genre that had grown stale after years of formulaic slasher sequels and low-budget copycats. The film's self-aware, satirical take on slasher conventions, combined with genuine scares, revitalised horror cinema and set a template that influenced the genre for years afterwards.

*Scream*, directed by Craven and written by Kevin Williamson, grossed $173 million and faced little serious competition that year, with other 1996 horror releases including *Children of the Corn IV*, *Leprechaun 4: In Space* and *Hellraiser: Bloodline*. Its blend of humour and horror, meta commentary on genre tropes, and a shocking opening sequence featuring Drew Barrymore helped it stand out as the first genuinely exciting horror film in years.

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