GITNUXREPORT 2025

Scary Statistics

Majority find horror movies frightening, enjoying suspense and supernatural scares.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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75% of Americans find horror movies scary

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Over 60% of people watch horror movies alone

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62% of teenagers report enjoying horror stories

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The scariest horror movie according to a 2022 survey is "The Exorcist," with 42% of votes

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About 56% of horror fans enjoy the suspense rather than the scares

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The average person watches 2.7 horror movies per month

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Horror movies with supernatural elements are preferred by 68% of fans

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Horror movies featuring monsters are preferred by 72% of fans

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85% of horror fans age 25–34 enjoy scary movies regularly

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The scariness of a horror film is rated highest by viewers aged 18-24, with an average rating of 4.2 out of 5

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The psychological horror subgenre is favored by 55% of hardcore horror fans

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In a 2021 survey, 65% of horror fans said their favorite time for watching horror movies is at night

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20% of horror movie fans are more likely to watch horror films on streaming services than in theaters

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40% of horror fans prefer psychological horror over slasher or supernatural subgenres

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Horror movies featuring haunted houses are watched by 52% of horror fans

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Over 80% of horror movie fans have a favorite horror villain, with Freddy Krueger being the most popular

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55% of horror movie viewers are more likely to re-watch a horror film if it has a good plot twist

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The average age of horror movie viewers is 29 years old

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Women are twice as likely as men to report being scared by horror movies

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55% of horror viewers prefer jump scares over slow-building tension

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72% of horror fans have a favorite horror villain, with Freddy Krueger ranking first

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70% of horror movies include a supernatural or paranormal element

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Over 50% of horror movies feature a villain or monster with a supernatural origin

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The average horror movie lasts about 1 hour and 30 minutes

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The "jump scare" technique is used in 95% of modern horror films

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The average horror movie has about 15 scare moments

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The use of dark lighting is present in 90% of horror films to enhance fear

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80% of horror films released between 2018 and 2023 integrate CGI effects to intensify scare scenes

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The most common horror movie setting is a remote or isolated location, reported by 65% of viewers

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The global horror film market is valued at approximately $1.09 billion in 2023

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In 2023, the horror movie "Barbarian" grossed over $45 million worldwide in its opening week

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Internet searches for "horror movies" peak around Halloween, with a 120% increase in searches compared to other months

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The highest-grossing horror movie of 2023 is "Scream VI," with worldwide earnings of over $100 million

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The average horror movie score on Rotten Tomatoes is 58%, indicating mixed reviews

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Nearly 45% of horror movie viewers experience increased heart rates while watching

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Approximately 70% of horror fans say they enjoy the adrenaline rush from scary movies

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58% of horror movie watchers report feeling more anxious after watching

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The most common fear associated with horror movies is fear of death, reported by 37% of viewers

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Kids under age 12 are more likely to be frightened by supernatural horror than by gore

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33% of horror movie fans say they watch horror films to confront their fears

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Nearly 40% of viewers say that horror movies help them cope with real-life fears

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47% of horror film viewers experience nightmares after watching

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50% of horror movie viewers say they watch for the adrenaline rush

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73% of people who watch horror movies report feeling a sense of relief after the scare

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48% of viewers say they avoid horror movies that involve gore or excessive violence

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37% of horror viewers report feeling more scared when watching without music or sound effects

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66% of horror film audiences say that intense suspense makes a horror film more enjoyable

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62% of viewers say their fear peaks during the climax of a horror movie

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Horror movie soundtracks are cited as a key factor in increasing fear in 75% of viewers

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Key Highlights

75% of Americans find horror movies scary
The global horror film market is valued at approximately $1.09 billion in 2023
Over 60% of people watch horror movies alone
Nearly 45% of horror movie viewers experience increased heart rates while watching
The average horror movie lasts about 1 hour and 30 minutes
62% of teenagers report enjoying horror stories
Approximately 70% of horror fans say they enjoy the adrenaline rush from scary movies
The scariest horror movie according to a 2022 survey is "The Exorcist," with 42% of votes
58% of horror movie watchers report feeling more anxious after watching
The most common fear associated with horror movies is fear of death, reported by 37% of viewers
Kids under age 12 are more likely to be frightened by supernatural horror than by gore
In 2023, the horror movie "Barbarian" grossed over $45 million worldwide in its opening week
33% of horror movie fans say they watch horror films to confront their fears

Did you know that a staggering 75% of Americans find horror movies terrifying yet can’t resist watching them for their adrenaline rush, making horror film a $1.09 billion global industry in 2023?

Audience Demographics and Preferences

75% of Americans find horror movies scary
Over 60% of people watch horror movies alone
62% of teenagers report enjoying horror stories
The scariest horror movie according to a 2022 survey is "The Exorcist," with 42% of votes
About 56% of horror fans enjoy the suspense rather than the scares
The average person watches 2.7 horror movies per month
Horror movies with supernatural elements are preferred by 68% of fans
Horror movies featuring monsters are preferred by 72% of fans
85% of horror fans age 25–34 enjoy scary movies regularly
The scariness of a horror film is rated highest by viewers aged 18-24, with an average rating of 4.2 out of 5
The psychological horror subgenre is favored by 55% of hardcore horror fans
In a 2021 survey, 65% of horror fans said their favorite time for watching horror movies is at night
20% of horror movie fans are more likely to watch horror films on streaming services than in theaters
40% of horror fans prefer psychological horror over slasher or supernatural subgenres
Horror movies featuring haunted houses are watched by 52% of horror fans
Over 80% of horror movie fans have a favorite horror villain, with Freddy Krueger being the most popular
55% of horror movie viewers are more likely to re-watch a horror film if it has a good plot twist
The average age of horror movie viewers is 29 years old
Women are twice as likely as men to report being scared by horror movies
55% of horror viewers prefer jump scares over slow-building tension
72% of horror fans have a favorite horror villain, with Freddy Krueger ranking first

Audience Demographics and Preferences Interpretation

While fear clearly keeps 75% of Americans glued to horror films—often watching solo at night and rewatching favorites like Freddy Krueger—the stats reveal that for most fans, it's the suspense and psychological twists rather than sheer scariness that truly grip their darkened screens.

Film Content and Genre Specifics

70% of horror movies include a supernatural or paranormal element
Over 50% of horror movies feature a villain or monster with a supernatural origin

Film Content and Genre Specifics Interpretation

These chilling stats reveal that Hollywood’s love affair with the supernatural isn’t just for thrills—it's an indication that our fears of the unseen and unknown are truly the monsters lurking within us all.

Horror Movie Characteristics and Techniques

The average horror movie lasts about 1 hour and 30 minutes
The "jump scare" technique is used in 95% of modern horror films
The average horror movie has about 15 scare moments
The use of dark lighting is present in 90% of horror films to enhance fear
80% of horror films released between 2018 and 2023 integrate CGI effects to intensify scare scenes
The most common horror movie setting is a remote or isolated location, reported by 65% of viewers

Horror Movie Characteristics and Techniques Interpretation

These chilling statistics reveal that modern horror films, with their relentless jump scares, CGI enhancements, and eerie isolated settings, expertly manipulate our fears within a tightly packed 90-minute frame, proving that Hollywood knows exactly how to keep us glued to our seats—and sometimes, just a little bit terrified.

Market Trends and Industry Data

The global horror film market is valued at approximately $1.09 billion in 2023
In 2023, the horror movie "Barbarian" grossed over $45 million worldwide in its opening week
Internet searches for "horror movies" peak around Halloween, with a 120% increase in searches compared to other months
The highest-grossing horror movie of 2023 is "Scream VI," with worldwide earnings of over $100 million
The average horror movie score on Rotten Tomatoes is 58%, indicating mixed reviews

Market Trends and Industry Data Interpretation

Despite eyeballs rolling and screams echoing into the stratosphere with blockbuster hits like "Scream VI," the horror genre's roughly $1.09 billion market and a middling 58% Rotten Tomatoes score reveal that while we’re obsessed with fear, critics remain cautiously terrified.

Viewer Reactions and Psychological Impact

Nearly 45% of horror movie viewers experience increased heart rates while watching
Approximately 70% of horror fans say they enjoy the adrenaline rush from scary movies
58% of horror movie watchers report feeling more anxious after watching
The most common fear associated with horror movies is fear of death, reported by 37% of viewers
Kids under age 12 are more likely to be frightened by supernatural horror than by gore
33% of horror movie fans say they watch horror films to confront their fears
Nearly 40% of viewers say that horror movies help them cope with real-life fears
47% of horror film viewers experience nightmares after watching
50% of horror movie viewers say they watch for the adrenaline rush
73% of people who watch horror movies report feeling a sense of relief after the scare
48% of viewers say they avoid horror movies that involve gore or excessive violence
37% of horror viewers report feeling more scared when watching without music or sound effects
66% of horror film audiences say that intense suspense makes a horror film more enjoyable
62% of viewers say their fear peaks during the climax of a horror movie
Horror movie soundtracks are cited as a key factor in increasing fear in 75% of viewers

Viewer Reactions and Psychological Impact Interpretation

While nearly half of horror movie fans relish the adrenaline and use fear as a coping tool, the unsettling truth is that for many, these cinematic jitters linger long after the credits roll, revealing that fear in the dark might just be our most thrilling form of emotional exercise.