Why Half of Viewers Will Search for Horror Movie Spoilers Before Watching This Halloween

As Halloween approaches, many horror movie enthusiasts in the UK are diving into their favorite spooky films. However, recent research by Three UK sheds light on a growing trend – a significant number of viewers already know the endings of horror movies before watching them.

The study reveals that nearly half (49%) of horror fans admit to frequently looking up spoilers on their phones before viewing the films. Interestingly, the younger generation seems to be leading this behavior, with a striking 75% of Gen Z engaging in this practice compared to only 24% of Gen X and 13% of Baby Boomers.

Gen Z takes their spoiler obsession a step further, with 68% admitting to ‘Second Screaming’ – using their phones to search for the plot of a horror film while watching it. In contrast, only 23% of Gen X and 10% of Boomers engage in this simultaneous viewing and researching behavior.

The research also indicates that a significant portion of Gen Z viewers (43%) would feel frightened if they didn’t know the outcome of a scary movie beforehand, suggesting a reliance on spoilers for a sense of comfort and security.

When it comes to what makes horror movies truly terrifying, the study identifies jump scares (56%), unexpected twists (40%), and suspenseful moments (27%) as the top factors that keep viewers up at night. Psychologist Dr. Charlotte Armitage comments on this trend, noting that the accessibility of information in the digital age has influenced viewing habits. She explains that for younger generations, the idea of waiting until the end of a film can feel too long, leading to the comfort of using phones to alleviate suspense.

In addition to seeking out spoilers, Brits employ various coping mechanisms while watching horror movies, including snacking (20%), watching during the daytime (19%), using phones to distract themselves (18%), and hiding behind pillows (18%).

Despite these strategies, many viewers still find themselves spooked after watching a scary film, with some reporting behaviors like checking the house for intruders (23%), feeling scared to use the bathroom (23%), or experiencing nightmares (18%) due to excessive horror consumption.

Among different horror themes, psychological thrillers rank as the most terrifying (26%) for Brits, followed by real-life scenarios (19%), supernatural elements (17%), and slasher themes (13%).

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The research was conducted with 2,500 horror film fans between October 11th and 14th, 2024, through 3Gem, with the UK’s Fastest 5G Network* determined based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data.