Halloween

R

Released Oct 25, 1978

1 hr. 31 min.

Holiday

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

TRAILER

for Halloween: Event Trailer

List

96%

84 Reviews

Tomatometer

89%

250,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

On a cold Halloween night in 1963, six year old Michael Myers brutally murdered his 17-year-old sister, Judith. He was sentenced and locked away for 15 years. But on October 30, 1978, while being transferred for a court date, a 21-year-old Michael Myers steals a car and escapes Smith's Grove. He returns to his quiet hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois, where he looks for his next victims.

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Critics Consensus

Scary, suspenseful, and viscerally thrilling, Halloween set the standard for modern horror films.

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Jacki A

Great movie through the times! I was a kid when it came out and did not see it in the theater. I took my teenage daughter this time.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/31/23

Full Review

Steve U

A classic that I love to watch on the big screen when possible! They dont make them like this anymore!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/30/23

Full Review

keith

Needs a digital overhaul but still GREAT

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/29/23

Full Review

Nicholas

The Greatest Slasher Ever!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/28/23

Full Review

Hussein

i love the psychological suspense. this film is considered a classic by many people for good reason. It is the greatest Halloween Film of All Time.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/28/23

Full Review

Stephen

I saw this film for the 1st time 44 years ago upon its initial release (finally reached my town in April 1979) and it still is way ahead of the rest of its ilk: it may not have been the first in the slasher genre, but it is still far and away the best. Beautifully shot - and musically scored - it is a real treat in its restraint of violence (not everyone that walks on-screen is "dispatched") lack of foul language and virtually bloodless 90 minute running time. Plenty of in-jokes and references for the film buff as well. Avoid viewing this on a TV - find a theater, where it was meant to be seen...last night's showing was sold out and judging by the audience's reaction, there were quite a few first-timers seeing this classic. Avoid the seemingly endless sequels, reboots and myriad clones. As one prominent film critic said at the time of its release: "...I would favorably compare it to 'Psycho"...". I say only far better. Happy Halloween!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/21/23

Full Review

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John Carpenter

Director

Donald Pleasence

Dr. Sam Loomis

Jamie Lee Curtis

Laurie Strode

Nancy Kyes

Annie Brackett

P.J. Soles

Lynda

Charles Cyphers

Sheriff Leigh Brackett

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33%

63%

Halloween II

10%

25%

Halloween: Resurrection

50%

29%

Halloween III: Season of the Witch

58%

52%

My Bloody Valentine

28%

59%

Halloween

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Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

Carpenter's 1978 slasher classic has inspired a million imitations as well as sequels, but few that demonstrate so clearly that a disreputable genre movie can also be a pure, rigorous work of art.

Oct 26, 2018

Full Review

Jason Zinoman

New York Times

In horror, the jack-in-the-box scare... is the quickest way to get a scream, but the still shocks... are the ones that linger with you. "Halloween" has them both, but it specializes in the second.

Oct 24, 2018

Full Review

Adam Kempenaar

Filmspotting

What's crucial isn't that Laurie survives because she's the only virgin; it's that she's the only virgin and still almost doesn't survive.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 20, 2018

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

... a beautifully-made made picture by a director who brings a visual intelligence to a genre that was so often reduced to hack directors and gimmicks in place of storytelling.

Nov 4, 2023

Full Review

Howard Waldstein

CBR

The greatest slasher film of all time.

Jul 18, 2023

Full Review

Brian Rowe

InSession Film

There's nothing like Carpenter's original...

May 3, 2023

Full Review

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Synopsis

On a cold Halloween night in 1963, six year old Michael Myers brutally murdered his 17-year-old sister, Judith. He was sentenced and locked away for 15 years. But on October 30, 1978, while being transferred for a court date, a 21-year-old Michael Myers steals a car and escapes Smith's Grove. He returns to his quiet hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois, where he looks for his next victims.

Director: John Carpenter
Executive Producer: Moustapha Akkad, Irwin Yablans
Screenwriter: Debra Hill, John Carpenter
Distributor: Compass International Pictures
Production Co: Falcon Films
Rating: R
Genre: Holiday, Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 25, 1978, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Sep 27, 2018
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 18, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $47.5M
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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