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Frightening fiction is currently thriving amid a backdrop of economic anxiety, concerns over artificial intelligence, and geopolitical instability. Across books and the big screen, the horror genre is experiencing a massive surge in popularity and sales.
The Appeal of Being Scared
While conventional wisdom suggests people seek out horror for an adrenaline rush, research indicates that many fans are not necessarily looking for thrills. Morbid curiosity about situations involving injury or death is normal and helps humans learn about potential dangers.
One group of fans, known as “white knucklers,” enjoys horror because it provides an opportunity to practice overcoming fear and learn how they react in stressful situations. Another group, called “dark copers,” uses scary stories as a safe way to work through dread and anxiety. Research shows that horror fans and morbidly curious individuals exhibited higher levels of psychological resilience during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Horror as a Reflection of Generation Anxieties
Humans possess a unique capacity for imagination, allowing them to construct detailed scenarios about potential dangers safely without facing real-life costs. Throughout history, horror films have mirrored the specific anxieties of their eras. In the 1940s and 1950s, the threat of atomic bombs inspired radiation-borne monsters like Godzilla, while U.S. paranoia about foreign invaders produced Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
In the 21st century, elevated horror has tackled trauma, mental health, race, and class. Recent box office hits like Backrooms and Obsession have connected deeply with modern consumers by addressing contemporary worries. Backrooms reflects the terrifying meaninglessness and digital overload of modern life, mirroring a 2025 Gallup poll showing that 39% of Gen-Z adults feel their lives lack meaning. Meanwhile, Obsession explores modern dating struggles, touching on a generation where many young men report a lack of confidence and do not date.
A Golden Age for Horror
According to film producer and data maven Stephen Follows, the horror genre has grown faster over the past few decades than any other genre, jumping from about 150 films per year in the 1980s to over 1,500 films per year in the 2020s. Horror maintained strong box office shares during the COVID-19 pandemic and broke records again in 2025.
Cultural institutions are also recognizing the genre, with dark films and horror-themed movies consistently receiving critical acclaim from the Academy. As society navigates new technological frontiers involving artificial intelligence, horror stories and films like M3GAN will continue to serve as tools to help people process and prepare for emerging dangers.
