Original horror movies have been some of 2022's biggest sleeper hits and their box-office success proves theater exclusive releases still have a home.

2022 has been huge for horror movies, particularly those released exclusively in theatres, and this is exciting news for the future of the genre. Horror cinema is having a moment. From Scream 2022 to Halloween Ends, multiplexes are packed with new contributions to some of the genre’s biggest franchises and these releases are mostly proving to be financial successes.

However, original horror movies without franchise connections are faring even better. The Jordan Peele sci-fi horror Nope earned $171 million over the summer, while The Black Phone managed to make almost as much despite its meager budget of $17 million. Even smaller indie releases like director Damien Leone’s cult slasher sequel Terrifier 2 have done incredible business, with that controversial hit making over $2 million and stirring up massive controversy despite a limited release. None of these numbers would be possible without these horror movies prioritizing exclusive theater releases, which seems to be a trend in 2022’s most successful horror outings.