In 2026, we have seen several low-budget horror films that made an impact at the box office. For instance, Markiplier’s Iron Lung ($50 million), according to Box Office Mojo, delivered over 17 times its budget, while Ian Tuason’s Undertone ($21.3 million), according to Box Office Mojo, earned over a staggering 40 times its budget. In addition to the upcoming movies – Obsession and Backrooms, which will be released in theaters later this month, genre fans will also get to see another supernatural horror film titled Passenger, which is slated for a theatrical release in the U.S. on May 22, 2026.
According to a recent projection by Box Office Pro, the Paramount release is tracking to earn between $7 million and $10 million in North America during its opening weekend (May 22-24). Let’s take a look at how it compares to the domestic debuts of the top five highest-grossing horror movies in North America released in 2026.
Top 5 Highest-Grossing Horror Movies of 2026 – Domestic Opening Weekends
At the time of writing, these are the year’s top five highest-grossing horror films at the domestic box office, along with their opening weekend earnings, per Box Office Mojo data.
- Scream 7: $63.6 million
- Send Help: $19.1 million
- Iron Lung: $17.8 million
- Primate: $11.2 million
- 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple: $12.5 million
What The Numbers Indicate
Based on the above domestic opening weekend figures, the horror film that is closest to Passenger’s projected $7-10 million range is Primate ($11.2 million). The survival horror film went on to earn $25.6 million in North America, indicating a multiplier of roughly 2.29x.
Assuming Passenger performs similarly at the domestic box office, it could earn between $16 million and $23 million in North America using the same domestic multiplier. However, the film’s actual theatrical performance would depend on word-of-mouth, its opening weekend haul, and how strongly it holds in the weeks following its release.
What’s Passenger All About?
Directed by Norwegian filmmaker André Øvredal, the film follows a young couple whose road adventure takes a terrifying turn when they witness a brutal accident. Soon after, they are pursued by a relentless demonic stalker. It features Jacob Scipio, Lou Llobell, and Melissa Leo.
Passenger – Official Trailer
Stay tuned to Koimoi for more box office updates and stories.
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