Research: Horror audiences becoming increasingly younger
October 27, 2026



Research from the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) shows that watching horror films or TV shows is now the UK’s favourite way to spend Halloween. Almost twice as many people (27 per cent) would rather go to the cinema or curl up on the sofa with something scary to watch, instead of other traditional Halloween activities like decorating the house (23 per cent), trick-or-treating (17 per cent), and going to themed parties (14 per cent).

It comes in a year when horror films have taken over the big screen and the cultural conversation in the UK. Two of 2026’s biggest box office hits, Obsession and Backrooms, are horror films from young directors who started out making films for YouTube. Obsession (pictured) has become instantly iconic taking over $520 million at the box office despite being made on a budget of under $1 million. Meanwhile Backrooms has become production studio A24’s highest-grossing film ever, earning $400 million in cinemas.


While watching horror is the UK’s favourite Halloween activity overall, the data shows that generations are divided. For many, Halloween conjures images of young people trick-or-treating or dressing up for parties, but the BBFC’s research shows Gen Z are less likely to take part in those traditional activities. Half (49 per cent) of Gen Z said they prefer to spend the evening watching horror, more than double the proportion who go trick-or-treating (19 per cent), while only a third (33 per cent) go to or host a party.

The data also shows that Gen Z enjoy horror all year round. For young people, it has also become a date night staple, with more than one in five Gen Z (22 per cent) choosing it as the best genre for a romantic evening, beating comedy (16 per cent), thrillers (7 per cent), and dramas (6 per cent). Horror is also Gen Z’s top pick for a movie night with friends, chosen by almost a third (32 per cent).

But the same can’t be said for ‘old romantics’. The older people are, the less likely they are to choose horror for date night, falling from 22 per cent of Gen Z to 9 per cent of Millennials, 5 per cent of Gen X, and just 2 per cent of Boomers.

Each generation is also starting to watch horror younger than the one before. Boomers said they first watched a horror film at 14 on average, Gen X at 13, and Millennials and Gen Z at 12. Today’s children are testing the boundaries with their parents too, with more than half (54 per cent) of parents of under-18s saying their child asks to watch horror films rated above their age.

But parents are drawing firm lines, with 53 per cent saying they would not let their child watch a 15 or 18-rated horror film at the age they first watched one. It comes as 61 per cent of adults said they think audiences today are more accepting of material that would have been too strong for a 15 in the 1980s.

When it comes to making the call, parents turn to the BBFC for reassurance. Almost two thirds (64 per cent) always or often check the BBFC age rating when choosing a Halloween or horror-adjacent film to watch with their child, with 95 per cent of those who use BBFC content advice saying they find it reassuring.

Without a BBFC age rating or content advice, 83 per cent of parents said they would take extra precautions or say no to their child: 36 per cent would look the film up elsewhere, 29 per cent would watch it themselves first, and 17 per cent wouldn’t let their child watch it. Only 5 per cent would let their child watch it anyway.

David Austin OBE, Chief Executive of the BBFC, said: “Horror has been one of the most reliable and popular genres for decades, and this year Obsession and Backrooms, made by talented young filmmakers, have been among the biggest hits at the box office. Our research shows a new generation is taking horror to heart, making it part of date nights and hangouts with friends all year round. But with children now asking to watch horror at a younger age, it’s encouraging to see that so many parents turn to our trusted age ratings and content advice. Whether it’s a cult classic or this year’s latest hit, we encourage families to check the BBFC rating and content advice this Halloween, so that whatever they choose, they know it is right for them and their family to watch.”