The terrifying true stories that inspired your favorite horror movies

Horror movies are reliably successful at the box office — just look at “Obsession” and “Backrooms” this year.

They often have relatively low budgets, deliver strong box-office returns, and can create IP that leads to sequels and spin-offs for years to come.

Plus, when Halloween rolls around, costumes and masks provide another bump to a studio’s bottom line.

But creating a completely original, compelling, and terrifying horror story can be challenging.

That’s why some of the most iconic and successful scary movies are based on real-world events.

For example, “The Conjuring” franchise is based on the case files of real paranormal investigators Lorraine and Ed Warren.

In total, the films have made almost $3 billion at the box office.

These are the real stories and crimes that influenced some of the most classic horror films of all time, including “The Exorcist,” “Nightmare on Elm Street,” and “Jaws.”