Survey Links Horror Movies To Fear Of The Dark, And Men Are More Afraid Than Women

Nearly three in 10 American adults admit theyre still afraid of the dark — and their love of horror movies may not be helping.

A new survey of 2,000 U.S. adults, conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Avocado Green Mattress, found that 29% of respondents still have a fear of the dark, with men slightly more likely than women to report this (33% vs. 26%). A quarter of adults (24%) sleep with a nightlight on, while 10% leave the lights on completely — including twice as many men as women (15% vs. 7%). Another 11% still sleep with a stuffed animal or comfort item.

The research explored how horror movies — especially during the Halloween season — influence nighttime fears. Overall, 28% of Americans said they “love” watching horror movies and try to watch as many as possible. Men were more likely to be fans (33% vs. 24%), while 21% of women said they “hate” horror movies, compared to just 7% of men.

For those who do watch, women were more likely to be frightened both during and after a scary film (41% vs. 28%). Yet when it comes to lingering effects, men were more likely to have nightmares afterward — with nearly a quarter (24%) admitting they “always” or “often” have nightmares, compared to 13% of women.

Scary movies dont just haunt dreams — they can also disrupt sleep. After watching a horror movie, 28% of respondents said they were more likely to wake up during the night, 22% experienced poorer sleep quality, and 12% said they slept fewer hours overall.

“With everything in Octobers spooky season — from horror movies to haunted houses and other Halloween celebrations — its no wonder that some Americans arent sleeping as well this month,” said Laura Scott, director of brand marketing at Avocado Green Mattress. “People may be staying up later to celebrate in the weeks leading up to Halloween, and especially if theyre watching horror movies, our data shows their sleep may suffer as a result.”

The study also examined attitudes toward Daylight Saving Time, which ends on Sunday, Nov. 2. Many respondents were confused about the change: 32% incorrectly believed they would lose an hour of sleep, while 13% werent sure. One in five said it takes them more than a week to adjust to the shift.

Despite gaining an extra hour of rest, opinions were mixed. Thirty-nine percent said the trade-off — more sleep but darker evenings — is worth it, while 62% would eliminate the time change entirely. A similar survey in 2024 found nearly identical results, with 35% saying it was worth it and 59% preferring to end the practice.

“Beyond Halloween and horror movies, we also have the end of Daylight Saving Time to prepare for in the coming weeks,” Scott said. “Its no surprise to us that the majority of people surveyed would rather get rid of the time change — not only did our data also reflect this sentiment last year, but we understand how difficult it can be to adjust, even when its just an hour change. Making sure to get a good nights sleep in the days leading up to the time change can help your body adjust — as well as switching your clocks as soon as you get up, to help your mind focus on the new time.”