20 Horror Movies WAY More Successful Than Anyone Expected

Every film studio obviously hopes each of its properties generates as much cash as possible. With that said, expectations need to be realistic. 

This goes double for the horror genre, since R-rated flicks have a limited audience. To maximise ticket purchases, most slashers and creature features are done on the cheap. That way, it's more likely they'll see a decent box office return, even if they only bring in a few million.

But other times, these kinds of movies go against all predictions. When a nail-biting feature gets hyped like crazy, it can bloom into a cultural phenomenon, pushing sales beyond what the most positive projections suggested. A horror movie with a jaw-dropping twist can be considered a "must-see-twice" experience, leading to multiple viewings. If the film takes off in a heavily populated country, it can lead to a huge boost in profits. Streaming platforms and social media further amplify this effect, which can help unknown titles explode in popularity.

Looking back, little was expected from the following 20 entries, since they were barely advertised, had a niche market, or were simply not that good. Against the odds, though, each and every one of them made a killing at the box office.

Written and directed by Chris Kentis, Open Water revolves around two scuba divers who get lost in a particularly shark-infested area of the ocean.

The survivalist drama relied on natural light, digital video, and a minimalist crew, which kept costs down (reportedly half a mil). At a time when the horror and thriller genres were swamped by big-time studio releases, few envisioned an independent project would get much notice.

However, Open Water's stripped-down realism resonated with the masses. The fact that real sharks were used throughout filming intrigued moviegoers, increasing Open Water's marketing appeal exponentially. Critical praise and positive buzz at festivals allowed the nerve-wracking indie to gain even more traction.

Ultimately, Open Water grossed $55 million, making every cent back a hundred times over. This accomplishment was deeply inspirational, since it demonstrated that independent thrillers were able to compete with the big leagues. On top of that, it encouraged small-time filmmakers to take risks and be ambitious with their own material.

The loose follow-ups mightn't have had similar results, but the original Open Water is a shining example of how a non-studio movie can bring in the big bucks.