Happy Halloween: Top Ten Best Selling Horror Movie Franchises Of All Time

There’s only one thing that makes more money money than the candy and costume businesses around this time of year: scary movies.

In addition to the countless fright flicks that try to capitalize on the Halloween spirit to fill theaters each October, every year we revisit our favorite horror movies during TV specials and Halloween parties around the country.

And over the past 20-30 years, a few of our favorites and their (sometimes unnecessary) sequels and remakes have made it rain on Hollywood. Can you guess which Horror franchise has made the most dough?

Flip the pages and see if you’re right.

10. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (6 films)
Adjusted for inflation (2011): $364,396,446.50
Total worldwide gross: $203,672,393

9. Paranormal Activity (3 films)
Adjusted for inflation (2011): *$395,338,846.10
Total worldwide gross: *$362,716,975

8. The Amityville Horror (4 films)
Adjusted for inflation (2011): $458,826,041.70
Total worldwide gross: $213,347,603

7. The Omen (4 films)
Adjusted for inflation (2011): $522,821,071.10
Total worldwide gross: $227,411,626

6. Halloween (10 films)
Adjusted for inflation (2011): $698,704,593.70
Total worldwide gross: $ 371,137,526

5. A Nightmare on Elm Street (9 films)
Adjusted for inflation (2011): $728,541,102.10
Total worldwide gross: $ 455,293,334

3. Scream (5 films)
Adjusted for inflation (2011): $951,057,819.30
Total worldwide gross: $605,365,245

2. Saw (7 films)
Adjusted for inflation (2011): $1,014,195,828
Total worldwide gross: $873,319,880

1. The Exorcist (6 films)
Adjusted for inflation (2011): $2,255,431,170
Total worldwide gross: $661,478,540

Consisting of five horror films, “The Exorcist” franchise received both criticism and critical acclaim for bringing the notion of grotesque to a new low. Beginning with the original, which earned 10 Academy Award nominations after its released in 1973, the series’ perverse mix of spirituality, satanism, ecstasy and exorcism spelled out a blood-curdling storyline unlike any other. And a series of misfortunes — including a studio fire and actor Jack MacGowran’s death while filming — led some to believe the entire film and set were cursed.

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