National Horror Movie Day Date in the current year: October 23, 2024

The roots of the horror genre can be traced back to ancient times but horror fiction as we know it today started to develop in the 19th century from Gothic fiction, and the rise of horror cinema began in the 1920s. The first films that were retroactively classified as horror films were German expressionist films such as F. W. Murnau’s 1922 film Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror, although elements of the horror genre were present even in the earliest of silent films, such as the 1896 French film The House of the Devil (La Manoir du diable).

However, horror only became a codified film genre in 1931, when Universal Pictures released the sound film Dracula, directed by Tod Browning and starring Bela Lugosi. Browning’s adaptation of the famous novel by Bram Stoker was a commercial and critical success, paving the way for other early horror films such as Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Phantom, The Mummy, Vampyr, The Invisible Man, and many more.

Early horror films were primarily inspired by folklore and Gothic and horror literature. In the subsequent decades, filmmakers found new sources of inspiration, and many sub-genres of horror films have emerged including body horror, Christmas horror, comedy horror, erotic horror, folk horror, found footage horror, Gothic horror, natural horror, psychological horror, slasher film, splatter horror, supernatural horror, teen horror, and more.

Even though horror movies have often been the subject of controversy due to their subject matter, the horror genre has enjoyed enormous popularity throughout much of its history. Some horror films and franchises have grossed hundreds of millions of dollars, and some have achieved a cult status, spawning a number of popular culture icons.

One of the secret of the horror genre’s enduring popularity is its flexibility and adaptability. It constantly evolves, responding to the most current societal fears and anxieties. The best horror movies are the reflection of the times that they were made in, manifesting the conscious and subconscious fears of their contemporary society.

National Horror Movie Day was launched in 2023 by Black Vortex Cinema, an alliance of creators passionate about all things horror, in collaboration with National Day Calendar. The holiday commemorates the birthday of the horror director Sam Raimi and encourages people to spread the love for horror movies.

There are many ways to celebrate this amazing holiday. You can plan a horror movie marathon, throw a horror movie-themed costume party, attend a horror movie festival if there is one near you, read a horror book that has been adapted into a movie or a TV show and then watch the adaptation, and post about your favorite horror movies on social media with the hashtag #NationalHorrorMovieDay to spread the word about the holiday.