Sinister (2012) — $87 Million

The literal plot follows a washed-up true-crime writer who moves his unsuspecting family into a house where a horrific mass murder took place, discovering a box of eerie Super 8 home videos in the attic that depict a series of gruesome family executions overseen by a pagan deity. Beneath the supernatural scares, the film functions as a dark critique of blind professional ambition and the toxic nature of true-crime obsession. The subtext explores how a person's desperate desire for fame, legacy, and financial success can cause them to completely ignore the safety and emotional well-being of their loved ones, essentially sacrificing their family at the altar of their own ego. Produced by Blumhouse Productions on a lean budget of $3 million, the film resonated heavily with audiences, racking up $87 million globally.