Oct 8, 2025 - Economy

Horror rules the South's screens

Maxwell Millington

Illustration of a carved pumpkin that says, "admit one." — Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios

Southerners consume the most horror content in the U.S., according to data from the free streaming service Fawesome.

The big picture: The total watch time of horror titles has jumped 65% on the platform since 2023.

By the numbers: Fawesome reports that 48% of horror streaming comes from the South, with the largest contributors being Kentucky and West Virginia.

Zoom in: The streamer also found Hispanic audiences in each state prefer horror (18%), followed by drama (15%).

On a state level, viewers in New York, Maine, Ohio, and Pennsylvania are picking spooky titles over other genres.

These were a few of the most watched titles on the platform last Halloween:

"Terrifier" and "Terrifier 2"
"The Ninth Gate"
"The Exorcist III"
"6 Souls"
"Dylan Dog: Dead of Night"

Go deeper: Horror movies: Why you love them or hate them

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Horror rules the South's screens

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