# The massive commercial rise of horror entertainment

- Topic: entertainment
- Source: [The Verge](https://www.theverge.com/column/1008432/horror-popular-widows-bay-resident-evil)
- Published: 2026-10-11
- Original: https://www.theverge.com/column/1008432/horror-popular-widows-bay-resident-evil
- Language: en
- Image: https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-08-at-5.20.30-PM.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100

## At a glance

- Horror films like Obsession and Backrooms earned nearly $1 billion at the box office despite minimal budgets.
- The Resident Evil Requiem video game has sold 8 million copies since its February launch.
- Major streaming services including Amazon and Netflix are releasing high-profile horror series to boost seasonal subscriptions.
- Low production costs and the influence of YouTube creators have helped horror become a major tentpole genre.

## Sources

- [The Verge](https://www.theverge.com/column/1008432/horror-popular-widows-bay-resident-evil)

## The story

The horror genre has transitioned from a niche market into a dominant commercial force across film, television, and gaming. Recent box office successes like Obsession and Backrooms have collectively earned nearly $1 billion, outperforming major franchises like Star Wars despite having significantly lower production budgets. In the gaming sector, the Resident Evil franchise continues to thrive, with the latest entry, Resident Evil Requiem, selling 8 million copies since February.

Streaming platforms are also heavily investing in horror to capture seasonal audiences. Major services including Amazon, Netflix, Peacock, and Disney Plus have all launched tentpole horror series to drive subscriptions during the autumn months. Apple TV has seen significant success with its horror-comedy hybrid Widow’s Bay, which earned a record number of Emmy awards.

This growth is driven by a combination of lower production costs and new distribution channels like YouTube, which has helped launch successful directors. The trend has created a virtuous cycle where both new releases and legacy titles see increased sales and viewership.

> Summary by Daily Read Bytes. [Read the original source](https://www.theverge.com/column/1008432/horror-popular-widows-bay-resident-evil)