A good scare has become one of the entertainment economy’s most reliable engines. With disciplined budgets, built-in fandoms and global box office upside, horror consistently outperforms. From theatrical releases to streaming-first originals and creator-driven IP, the genre is artistically flexible and financially durable — and one of the last truly communal experiences for Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences.

Join YouTube creator Mark Fischbach, aka Markiplier, whose independent feature Iron Lung earned more than $50 million at the global box office, Atomic Monster president Michael Clear, and screenwriter Akela Cooper (M3GAN, Malignant) for a conversation about why horror travels so effectively across platforms and borders, how studios and independents are building sustainable genre pipelines, and why the next wave of breakout franchises may emerge from unexpected sources.