Insidious 2 shows moviegoers like to be scared

The people have spoken. And they say they want to be scared. Over the weekend, the low-budget supernatural spook film Insidious: Chapter 2 topped the box office, scaring up $41.1 million (Dh150.9 million).

The film, which was directed by a seemingly unstoppable James Wan, cost $5 million to make and earned more than three times what the first Insidious earned when it opened in 2011.

The Insidious story isn’t a one-off, however. This year has seen nearly half a dozen similar stories when it comes to creepy little films that have scored big with audiences. Here’s a rundown:

Mama: Directed by Andres Muschietti and starring Jessica Chastain, Mama is about two young girls who are abandoned in the woods and raised by a supernatural entity they call Mama.

Released: January 18, 2013

Budget: $15 million

Domestic gross: $71.6 million

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Evil Dead: Directed by Fede Alvarez and starring Jane Levy, Evil Dead is a reboot of the original cult classic 1981 Sam Raimi film about a cabin haunted by evil spirits that torment a group of young people on vacation.

Released: April 5, 2013

Budget: $17 million

Domestic gross: $54.2 million

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The Purge: Directed by James DeMonaco and starring Ethan Hawke, The Purge chronicles the horror unleashed on the world when a 12-hour period of anarchy is sanctioned by the government due to a declaration that during that time it will decriminalize all crimes including murder and rape.

Released: June 7, 2013

Budget: $3 million

Domestic gross: $64.4 million

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The Conjuring: Directed by James Wan and starring Vera Farmiga, The Conjuring, which chronicles the terrifying adventures of a couple of paranormal investigators, was the biggest earner of the bunch and one of the summer’s true sensations.

Released: July 19, 2013

Budget: $20 million

Domestic gross: $135.4 million

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You’re Next: Directed by Adam Wingard and starring Sharni Vinson, You’re Next is about a shocking home invasion that leaves most of a large family dead.

Released: Aug. 23, 2013

Budget: Reportedly less than $1 million

Domestic gross as of Sept. 15, 2013: $17.9 million