A Gothic Revival is Happening in 2026

9 hours ago

2 min read

Robert Eggers' Nosferatu and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein both came out in 2025. In 2026, even more gothic horrors are being released, showing that darker storytelling is becoming a key part of modern entertainment.

Gothic Horror’s Resurgence in Modern Entertainment

Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride! came out in 2026 and starred Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale. The story gave the bride her own storyline and moved the spotlight away from Frankenstein’s monster. Victorian Psycho, which was also released this year, stars Maika Monroe as Winifred and is set in a manor in 1858 England. Wicker, which stars Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård, follows the tale of a basketweaver who creates a husband for herself, with a medieval theme.

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Examples like this show how much gothic horror is making a comeback, and how the theme is being explored in whole new ways. Even though new releases are being promoted, older films are also experiencing a surge in popularity.

Hammer’s 1958 Dracula is being restored in 4K, and includes rare footage that’s been missing for over six decades. Scenes from the Japanese theatrical release, deemed to be too frightening for audiences at the time, are also being included. The restored version is also being shown at cinemas across the UK, highlighting the country’s appetite for classic gothic horror.

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One reason why horror is so appealing is that it’s able to blur the lines between macabre and fear. Iconic backdrops, which include crumbling castles, sprawling foggy fields, and gloomy mansions, are also prevalent in the UK. In fact, Horace Walpole’s 1764 novel, The Castle of Otranto, laid the blueprint for the entire genre, as it was based on his Gothic-style home, Strawberry Hill House.

As the UK has such strong Gothic roots, it’s not surprising to see the genre once again return to our screens, but it’s not just television where horror is experiencing a resurgence.

The Appeal of the Macabre Beyond Television

Dark storytelling goes far beyond television, stretching into podcasts. Talking the Gothic, which is hosted by Essie Fox, explores the Gothic connections in both books and historic art. Music also provides insight into the macabre. Black metal in particular draws on this imagery, using eerie sounds and effects to create an unsettling atmosphere.

In iGaming, gothic titles are also a theme. Immortal Romance, one of many online bingo games, draws on a gloomy mansion, alongside dark imagery to create a unique game with a recognisable theme. It also encompasses a supernatural edge, which is synonymous with horror.

Outside entertainment, the Gothic revival extends to architecture. Renewed cultural interest and recent restorations like Notre-Dame in Paris are all helping to put the spotlight on Gothic architecture once again.

Pointed arches distribute weight more efficiently than rounded arches, and stone ribs provide support for lighter ceilings, showing that Gothic influences aren’t just visually exciting; they are sometimes the more logical and practical choice, which is helping to drive the adoption of Gothic architecture.

As architecture like this helps to set the scene in movies like The Shining and Bram Stoker's Dracula, it's clear that this medieval style is driving far more than horror movies, and if anything, is a full cultural movement.

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