The Fog

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The Fog

R

1980

1h 29m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

71 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Strange things begin to occurs as a tiny California coastal town prepares to commemorate its centenary. Inanimate objects spring eerily to life; Rev. Malone (Hal Holbrook) stumbles upon a dark secret about the town's founding; radio announcer Stevie (Adrienne Barbeau) witnesses a mystical fire; and hitchhiker Elizabeth (Jamie Lee Curtis) discovers the mutilated corpse of a fisherman. Then a mysterious iridescent fog descends upon the village, and more people start to die.

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Critics Consensus

A well-crafted return to horror for genre giant John Carpenter, The Fog rolls in and wraps viewers in suitably slow-building chills.

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Vincent Canby

New York Times

Unlike Halloween, which was a model of straight-forward terror and carefully controlled suspense, The Fog is constructed of random diversions.

Jan 30, 2020

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

It's a failure, but it's a failure in the right direction.

Jan 29, 2020

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Will Lawrence

Empire Magazine

Ghoulish, tense and utterly fantastical, John Carpenter's tale of shipwrecked spectres squelching their way through a fluorescent fog to wreak vengeance on a seaside town is a classic campfire yarn.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 29, 2020

Full Review

Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

A spooky ghost story that is elevated by the moody atmosphere and sinister score.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 12, 2025

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Grant Hermanns

Screen Rant

John Carpenter's The Fog may not have aged as well as some of his other horror classics, but it still generally overcomes most of its issues.

Rated: 7/10

Feb 20, 2025

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Elliott Cuff

Loud and Clear Reviews

It’s a quintessential campfire ghost story brought to life by a master of his craft, and it deserves a place on the pantheon of the esteemed moviemaker’s many filmic triumphs.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 13, 2024

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Antonio O

A true classic that relies on a good story and score rather than CGI and gratuitous gore.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/16/22

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Audience Member

The distraction of Tom Atkins + Jamie Lee Curtis' forgettable story aside, I prize/praise this movie for Barbeau's mesmeric tones and the complete atmospheric embrace -- something on which this genre should thrive but rarely comes anywhere close to nailing.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/19/25

Full Review

Zeferino P.

Not my favorite John Carpenter film It’s a good Halloween time movie

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/02/25

Full Review

Alexander S

John Carpenter's The Fog is a horror staple that proves even the slowest of burns can lead to a thrilling inferno. The film's eerie atmosphere and ghostly presence leave a lasting impact, making it a standout in Carpenter's filmography. Plus - Some delightful appearances from early horror icons of a young Jamie Lee Curtis and her legendary mom, Janet Leigh. Grading: B

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/20/25

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Angelo C

It’s a classic that scares you without to much gore. The music reminds me of Jaws. It builds up the tension with the sounds and music, loved it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/13/25

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Melissa L

Another masterpice by director and writers John Carpenter and Debra Hill. They are the same people who brought us "Halloween." Highly recommended!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/12/25

Full Review

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John Carpenter

Director

Adrienne Barbeau

Stevie Wayne

Hal Holbrook

Father Malone

Janet Leigh

Kathy Williams

Jamie Lee Curtis

Elizabeth Solley

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Synopsis

Strange things begin to occurs as a tiny California coastal town prepares to commemorate its centenary. Inanimate objects spring eerily to life; Rev. Malone (Hal Holbrook) stumbles upon a dark secret about the town's founding; radio announcer Stevie (Adrienne Barbeau) witnesses a mystical fire; and hitchhiker Elizabeth (Jamie Lee Curtis) discovers the mutilated corpse of a fisherman. Then a mysterious iridescent fog descends upon the village, and more people start to die.

Director: John Carpenter
Producer: Debra Hill
Screenwriter: John Carpenter, Debra Hill
Distributor: RCA/Columbia, AVCO Embassy Pictures, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: AVCO Embassy Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 8, 1980, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Oct 26, 2018
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 8, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $69.5K
Runtime: 1h 29m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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