Just because Marvel movies earn billions at the box office, doesn’t mean they make the most profit, as oftentimes that honor goes to horror films. It’s understandable, though, why most people would likely assume that superhero blockbusters from Marvel and DC make the most money for their respective studios though. After all, it’s more uncommon for a big superhero movie from the MCU or DCEU not to make at least $1 billion worldwide than it is for them to accomplish that feat.

Franchises like those, and Star Wars, gobble up hundreds of millions in ticket sales as if they were particularly hungry plastic hippos. Conversely, a horror film has NEVER crossed the $1 billion mark, at least not without adjusting for inflation. Yet, there’s seemingly always a constant stream of horror movies, and the reason for that onslaught is the fact that profits are almost guaranteed. Just look at Blumhouse Productions, which has become a Hollywood power player almost entirely on the back of its horror success stories.

So, why does horror often end up more profitable than A-list blockbusters, despite being much less high-profile overall? There’s a few reasons, but as usual with matters involving Hollywood, the short answer is money, and how one chooses to use it.

It might be easy to just say that horror movies make bigger profits because, at least on average, their budgets are lower. However, the question from there becomes, why exactly is that the case? Well, budgets are low, because, to put it succinctly, fear is cheap. For example, look at the (admittedly extreme) cases of found footage hits The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity. Both films were produced for what would probably be the catering budget on the average Marvel movie, but became huge successes, despite their lack of explosions and jaw-dropping special effects. It’s entirely possible to scare the hell out of an audience with little more than strange sounds, unexplained quick movements, and the mere suggestion of a terrifying monster or ghost. In that way, a $100 million-plus budget would be absolute overkill for the average horror film.

Even Hollywood’s bigger budgeted horror films, such as IT, pale in comparison to the cost of a solo superhero origin story like Aquaman or Captain Marvel. IT cost $35 million to make, boasted great scares and convincing effects, and earned $700 million worldwide. That profit margin is absolutely insane. Even IT Chapter Two, which cost more ($79 million) and earned less ($472 million worldwide), still boasts an enormous return on investment. Still, nobody does it better currently than Blumhouse, which regularly releases horror films with budgets of $10 million or less, and sees them earn hundreds of millions each. The four Purge films alone have grossed nearly $450 million, on a total budget of $35 million. While the occasional movie, such as Black Christmas or Doctor Sleep, comes along and bombs, for the most part, theatrical horror films are a license to print money.

Beware the Witch’s Shadow has all the potential needed to become it’s own franchise. A series of films, anthology style web/television series, or even podcast series.

My personal opinion would be to push heavily for a great host and one memorable star for each tale. “Tour” the concept at comic and horror conventions alike to get directly in front of the fans.

Horror fans are die-hards and this project has the added advantage of being a perennial. Bringing in additional revenue each Halloween season.