2010s

The 2010s marked a transformative period for horror cinema, beginning with a wave of critically acclaimed films that elevated the genre's artistic reputation. Jordan Peele's "Get Out" (2017) became a cultural phenomenon, using horror tropes to examine racial tensions in post-Obama America, while Robert Eggers' "The Witch" (2015) demonstrated that period horror could achieve both historical authenticity and genuine terror. Ari Aster's "Hereditary" (2018) and "Midsommar" (2019) further cemented this "elevated horror" movement, proving that arthouse sensibilities and commercial horror success could coexist.

Independent horror flourished through innovative production models and digital distribution. Blumhouse Productions revolutionized the industry with micro-budget films like "Paranormal Activity" (2007, but spawning sequels throughout the decade), "The Purge" series, and "Split" (2016), proving that creative constraints could yield both artistic and commercial rewards. Meanwhile, A24 became synonymous with prestige horror, distributing genre-defining films like "The Babadook" (2014), "It Follows" (2014), and "Under the Skin" (2013) that combined psychological depth with striking visual design.

The decade also witnessed successful reimaginings of classic properties and the emergence of new franchises. Andy Muschietti's "It" (2017) became the highest-grossing horror film of all time, while "The Conjuring" universe created a shared supernatural mythology spanning multiple films. International horror gained unprecedented mainstream recognition, with films like "Train to Busan" (2016), "Raw" (2016), and "Burning" (2018) finding global audiences and influencing American productions.

Streaming platforms fundamentally altered horror consumption and production, with Netflix investing heavily in original horror content like "The Ritual" (2017) and "His House" (2020). This shift democratized horror filmmaking while creating new challenges for theatrical releases. The decade concluded with horror's complete mainstream acceptance, as evidenced by "Parasite" (2019) becoming the first genre-adjacent film to win Best Picture, setting the stage for horror's continued evolution in the streaming age.