Entertainment
Universal
"Get Out" (2017)
The horror movie genre has seen a surplus of fresh talent in recent years, including newcomer Ari Aster, whose chilling feature directorial debut "Hereditary" is in theaters now. And with that talent has come a bevy of future classics in the genre, including "Hereditary," "The Babadook," and "Get Out."
The genre has produced hit after hit, even if you only look at this year and last. "Get Out" scored $255 million worldwide on a $4 million budget and won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. "It," based on the Stephen King novel, blew away expectations and pulled in over $700 million worldwide. This year, John Krasinski's "A Quiet Place" has made over $326 million globally with a $17 million budget, according to Box Office Mojo.
It's no wonder that studios are recruiting horror directors for blockbusters. "Saw" and "The Conjuring" horror-master James Wan is finishing up "Aquaman" for later this year, and "Annabelle: Creation" director David F. Sandberg is directing another DC superhero movie, "Shazam!"
But hopefully they don't forget the genre they came from.
Jason Blum, the producer of "Get Out" and other horror hits like "Happy Death Day" and the upcoming "Halloween" movie, thinks that the genre has been a little too successful. In an interview with Variety, he said there will be a "depression in the horror market real soon, because when you get a bunch of hit scary movies, everyone wants to make them." Hopefully that's not the case, because the genre has been churning out some of its best movies in years.
Whatever happens, we know there are plenty of talented filmmakers bringing new ideas to horror who have bright futures ahead of them. Even some veterans, like Guillermo del Toro, are still redefining what the genre can be and accomplish (see Best Picture winner "The Shape of Water").
Below are 13 of the best horror directors working today: