Horror movies are leading the 2026 summer box office, with low‑budget hits like *Obsession* and franchise releases such as *Evil Dead Burn* pulling in strong numbers.. by mid‑year, the genre has already generated more than $400 million worldwide,outpacing many higher‑budget blockbusters.

Obsession’s $166.6 million haul on a sub‑$1 million budget

*Obsession*, released on May 15, 2026, has become a critical darling with a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score and a worldwide gross of $166.6 million, according to The Numbers. The film’s director Curry Barker told The New Yorker that production costs were capped at $750,000, making the return on investment extraordinary.

According to the source, the movie’s success illustrates how horror’s low‑cost model can generate outsized profits, a pattern that echoes the genre’s performance in previous years.

Backrooms tops A24’s North American earnings with $141 million worldwide

Directed by Kane Parsons, *Backrooms* opened to a massive weekend and has accumulated $141 million globally against a $10 million budget. The Hollywood Reporter notes it has become A24’s highest‑grossing North American title,surpassing 2025’s *Marty Supreme*.

The film’s 89% critic rating and strong word‑of‑mouth buzz have helped it sustain momentum, reinforcing the idea that modestly budgeted horror can dominate the summer market.

Evil Dead Burn aims to extend the franchise’s $147.3 million legacy

The sixth *Evil Dead* installment, *Evil Dead Burn*, arrives on July 10, 2026, under director Sébastien Vaniček. Its predecessor, *Evil Dead Rise* (2023), earned $147.3 million worldwide on a $15 million budget, setting a solid benchmark for the upcoming sequel.

As the source reports,if *Evil Dead Burn* follows a similar budget discipline, it could replicate the franchise’s profitable formula and keep horror’s summer surge alive.

Insidious : Out of the Further targets $189 million precedent

Jacob Chase’s *Insidious: Out of the Further* is slated for August 21, 2026, as the sixth entry in the *Insidious* series.. The previous film, *The Red Door*, grossed around $189 million on a $16 million budget, according to the source.

Given the franchise’s track record, analysts expect the new installment to leverage its established fan base and modest production costs to deliver another high‑margin hit.

Unanswered: Will indie horror sustain its breakout momentum?

While *Obsession* and *Backrooms* prove indie horror can be lucrative, the source does not confirm whether upcoming low‑budget titles will match their success, leaving industry watchers uncertain about the genre’s long‑term viability beyond the summer window.

Furthermore, the exact budget for *Evil Dead Burn* and *Insidious: Out of the Further* remains undisclosed, making profit projections speculative.