Hollywood studios are turning to horror films to revive cinema attendance as audience interest in superhero franchises and reboots wanes. Scary movies account for 17% of North American ticket purchases so far in 2025, up from 11% last year and just 4% a decade ago, according to Comscore data compiled for Reuters. Lower production budgets and strong global appeal make the genre attractive for both studios and theater operators still rebuilding traffic after the pandemic. Warner Bros.’ vampire thriller “Sinners” is already the third-highest-grossing domestic release of the year, while titles such as “Final Destination: Bloodlines” are helping theaters fill seats between big-budget tent-poles. Exhibitors expect momentum to continue with forthcoming releases including “The Conjuring: Last Rites” and “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2.” Industry executives say horror’s mix of catharsis and communal scares is drawing younger audiences back to multiplexes, offering a cost-efficient hedge against the uneven performance of costlier franchise films.