Halloween Movies: Release Order
John Carpenter's Halloween franchise is one of horror cinema's most influential yet convoluted series, featuring the masked killer Michael Myers. What began as a simple slasher masterpiece in 1978 has spawned multiple timelines, reboots, and retcons over four decades, creating a complex web of continuities that often ignore or contradict previous entries.
This complete chronological journey shows how different creative teams approached the Michael Myers mythology across 44 years, from Carpenter's original vision through the Thorn storyline of the 80s/90s, the H20 revival, Rob Zombie's brutal reimagining, and the modern Blumhouse trilogy. Note that Halloween III: Season of the Witch is a complete standalone entry featuring neither Michael Myers nor any connection to the main storyline, as it was part of Carpenter's original vision for an anthology series.
There are 4 other watch orders available – see the links up above.
Halloween
A masked killer escapes from a mental hospital and returns to his hometown on Halloween night, terrorizing the residents of Haddonfield, Illinois in this iconic slasher film that launched a legendary horror franchise.
Halloween II
Michael Myers continues his deadly pursuit of Laurie Strode, following her to Haddonfield Memorial Hospital where he terrorizes the staff in his relentless hunt for his target.
Halloween III: Season of the Witch
When a toy salesman is mysteriously attacked while clutching a popular Halloween mask, Dr. Daniel Challis becomes entangled in a sinister plot involving the season's most coveted costume. This standalone Halloween entry explores a deadly conspiracy that threatens to turn the holiday into something far more terrifying.
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
Michael Myers escapes and returns to Haddonfield to stalk Jamie Lloyd, the young daughter of Laurie Strode, while Dr. Loomis desperately tries to stop the killer's deadly rampage.
Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
Michael Myers returns to Haddonfield for another killing spree, while his young niece discovers she has a disturbing telepathic connection to her murderous uncle.
Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers
Six years after being kidnapped by a cult, Jamie attempts to escape from her relentless serial killer uncle, Michael Myers, who continues his deadly rampage.
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later
Twenty years after surviving Michael Myers' killing spree, Laurie Strode has been living under an assumed identity as a headmistress at a private school. But on Halloween night, the relentless killer tracks her down for a final confrontation.
Halloween: Resurrection
A group of reality TV participants spend a night in Michael Myers' childhood home for a live broadcast, but their entertainment quickly turns into a deadly nightmare when the infamous serial killer returns.
Halloween
Rob Zombie's reimagining explores the troubled childhood and psychological origins of Michael Myers before he becomes the masked killer terrorizing Haddonfield on Halloween night.
Halloween II
Laurie Strode must confront the traumatic return of her murderous brother Michael Myers to the town of Haddonfield in this brutal sequel to Rob Zombie's Halloween remake.
Halloween
Forty years after surviving Michael Myers' killing spree, Laurie Strode prepares for her final confrontation with the masked killer who has haunted her life.
Halloween Kills
After escaping Laurie Strode's trap, Michael Myers continues his killing spree in Haddonfield while an injured Laurie rallies her family and the entire town to fight back against the seemingly unstoppable killer.
Halloween Ends
Four years after surviving Michael Myers' latest killing spree, Laurie Strode attempts to move on with her life, but a new tragedy involving a young babysitter reignites the cycle of violence in Haddonfield.
Other Film Series
28 Days Later
A post-apocalyptic horror trilogy following different survivors across nearly three decades of a rage virus outbreak that devastated Britain.
A Quiet Place
A post-apocalyptic horror series about survivors navigating a world where deadly creatures hunt by sound, forcing humanity to live in complete silence.
Alien
Humanity's terrifying encounters with a perfect killing organism across centuries of space exploration.
Friday the 13th
The murderous legacy of Crystal Lake and its iconic killer Jason Voorhees in this enduring slasher series.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Four films exploring alien pod people replacing humans, each updating the concept for different eras and anxieties.
Phantasm
A surreal horror franchise following young Mike Pearson and ice cream vendor Reggie in their ongoing battle against the interdimensional Tall Man and his deadly silver spheres.