Why the horror-comedy genre in Indian cinema is drawing audiences back to theatres

The Akshay Kumar-starrer Bhoot Bangla, directed by Priyadarshan, has done reasonably well at the box office in India. The film had earned ₹225.52 crore globally, ₹142.50 crore in India by the third Sunday after its release. But before we give the credit to any one factor for its success, it’s crucial to note that the rising popularity of the horror-comedy genre in India might have something to do with it.

The horror comedy is having a moment in the country. In this day and age of OTT platforms that provide access to a deluge of content, horror stories told with a dash of humour are pulling audiences to theatres. Viewers ranging from 8-year-olds to 80-year-olds are all able to enjoy these films. And why not? Who wouldn’t enjoy some thrill with a light-hearted touch.

Consider this. Pure horror movies rake in around ₹100-150 crore, as the fear factor acts as a barrier. But add some comedic moments and satire to the storyline, and it’s a recipe for success, if the movies of the recent past are anything to go by.

Birth of a genre

It’s interesting to note how the genre evolved in three phases and why it is being enjoyed in its current form. The Ramsay brothers came out with horror films in the 80s, which were meant to be terrifying, but became a laughing stock due to low-budget prosthetics and repetitive tropes of creaking doors, ghosts in white, etc. These films soon became a source of nostalgic humour. It was horror mixed with some absurdity giving rise to the ‘cringe-comedy’.

Folklore and psychological horror brought a fresh wave of storytelling in the ‘90s, where ancient ghost stories told with humour could make psychological horror more palatable to families. Films like the Malayalam caper ‘Manichitrathazhu’ stand out from this time. Other films from South India like Chandramukhi and Arundhati proved that slapstick comedy and supernatural drama could be blended with ease and also be good value for money.

The age of satire or the horror-comedy as we know it today, kicked off in the Hindi film industry in 2007 with Akshay Kumar-starrer Bhool Bhulaiya (a remake of Manichitrathazhu), a psychological horror-comedy that set the tone for more of its kind. In 2013, Go Goa Gone introduced comedy in the Indian zombie context. With the release of Stree in 2018, this genre had found its firm footing among movie goers. It was a blockbuster that garnered critical acclaim. It was also hailed for its social commentary on the state of women, while balancing frights with laughs. The film went on to make ₹129 crore net in India and spawned a sequel in 2024 called Stree 2. Bhool Bhulaiya was also followed by 2 sequels on similar lines.

Small budgets, big earnings

Here’s why these films are winning the earnings race. The horror-comedy is a spooky adventure, which even children can enjoy. Films like Munjya, Bhool Bhulaiya 3 are family multiplex entertainers. Pure horror is seldom watched twice but these films have a repeat value. Moreover, they are made with relatively smaller budgets than big-ticket action films and therefore deliver big returns on investment. They don’t always require A-list actors or awe-inspiring visual effects, which are the mainstay for action capers. Stree 2 is a case in point. It broke several box office records and even overtook Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan (which earned ₹582 crore) to become the highest-grossing Hindi film at the domestic box office, earning over ₹586 crore net in India. With a budget of approximately ₹60 crore, the film achieved an ROI of over 700%, outdoing films like Animal.

According to box office reports from Koimoi, the ‘Supernatural’ category now accounts for nearly 25–30% of the total Hindi Box Office revenue. It’s a massive jump from just 5% a decade ago.

This just goes to show that mid-budget storytelling, if done well, can outshine expensive action epics . This genre blends niche horror with family-friendly entertainment. Their high-repeat value and massive ROI have succeeded in getting people back to theatres. Only time can tell if this trend will continue.