Men Are More Likely Than Women to Be Fans of Horror Movies
With the horror genre scaring up blockbuster box office numbers lately, the data shows guys are fueling this frightening renaissance. Surveys tracking theater viewership find 35% of men watched a horror movie in the past year, markedly higher than the 21% of women. Numerous studies reinforce guys’ passion for tales of terror. So what explains this gender gap in scare factor?
Why Men Lean Into the Darkness of Horror
Academic research highlights a few biological and social theories on why horror resonates more with male sensibilities:
- The adrenaline rush of scary scenes plays into men’s innate thrill-seeking wiring.
- Displaying the ability to tough out tension and gore earns admiration from other guys.
- Morbid curiosity around blood, death, and the macabre appeals especially to boys.
- Impressive monster designs and effects tap into men’s visual orientation.
On the whole, men seem more inclined to embrace the darkness at horror‘s core simply for the mood boost and excitement.
Horror Releases a Euphoric Hormone Cocktail
Even as guts spill across the screen, on a biological level these gory scenes trigger a euphoric neurochemical flood. As the heart races and palms sweat, adrenaline surges. Endorphins and dopamine activate the brain‘s pleasure centers too.
So while cringing through kills, male fans‘ biology fuels an almost addictive hormonal high. One study found 10% of the population deeply enjoys horror‘s brand of recreational fear. And guys make up the majority within that 10%.
Elements That Terrify the Male Psyche
Now what specific horror film elements get under men‘s skin most? Polling guy fright fans reveals some predictable panic triggers:
Top 5 – Scariest Horror Sights for Men
| Fright Factor | % Who Find It Scary |
|---|---|
| Gore/Dismemberment | 62% |
| Killer Clowns/Dolls | 51% |
| Ghostly Apparitions | 49% |
| Demonic Figures | 44% |
| Ghastly Facial Disfigurement | 41% |
As expected, gruesome gore and bloodshed tops the list. Supernatural scares and creepy entities like demonic forces and lurking ghosts also send a tingle up most guys‘ spines too.
In Their Own Words – Real Horror Fans on Fear
Don‘t just take the data‘s word though. Here‘s what two hardcore horror buffs had to say on the movie moments that disturb them most:
"The needle pit sequence in Saw 2. I almost passed out watching that in theaters from panicking so much. I swear my heart stopped when that guy jumps in the pit." – Steve R., 28, Adrenaline Junky Horror Fan
"That hand chopping bit from Green Inferno definitely stuck with me for awhile. You could see the tendons getting sliced through. Extremely cringy yet I couldn‘t look away. Devious practical effects." – Dalton C., 22, Self-Described Horror "Sicko"
The Women Who Surprise Us Loving Horror
However, while guys dominate horror fandom by the numbers, female fans bring invaluable perspectives. Academic Mathew Clasen identified three types of horror buffs: adrenaline junkies, white knucklers, and dark copers. And anxiety-prone dark copers more often tend to be women.
The paradoxical blend of thrilling fear yet ultimate safety of fictional horror offers this demographic rewarding exposure therapy. Hitting the sweet spot between too intense and too mild leads to self-reported mood boosts.
Beyond psychology though, women simply enjoy horror that showcases bold, cunning heroines. From Halloween‘s Laurie Strode to Alien‘s Ripley, "final girls" outsmarting supernatural forces resonate deeply. So while fewer in number, female fans remain no less passionate.
The Dead Speak – Men Love Horror‘s alluring darkness deeply, if not more than women. But no matter your gender, horror speaks to the human condition in ways nothing else quite can.
