On the fateful evening of October 31, 1978, the enigmatic Michael Myers, also known as “The Shape,” unleashed a reign of terror, claiming the lives of at least three individuals. The victim count might be higher, depending on which account you follow. What’s clear is that his primary obsession was teenager Laurie Strode, who was—depending on the version of the story—either his sister or not related to him at all. To add to the confusion, Laurie later became a mother, but reports are conflicted on whether she had a daughter or a son.
John Carpenter’s groundbreaking 1978 horror film, Halloween, not only wowed critics and audiences but also spawned an enduring franchise. However, what it didn’t produce is a straightforward timeline. With the release of the latest chapter, Halloween Ends, fans are scratching their heads trying to piece together its place in the sprawling sequence of sequels. The challenge of navigating the full Halloween saga in the correct order has also left many viewers puzzled.
Halloween Movies in order
Here is a Halloween movie with release date order:
- 1978 – Halloween
- 1981 – Halloween 2
- 1982 – Halloween 3: Season of the Witch
- 1988 – Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
- 1989 – Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
- 1995 – Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers
- 1998 – Halloween H20: 20 Years Later
- 2002 – Halloween: Resurrection
- 2007 – Halloween
- 2009 – Halloween 2
- 2018 – Halloween
- 2021 – Halloween Kills
- 2022 – Halloween Ends
Here is a quick guide to watch Halloween movies in order:
1. Halloween (1978)
Director: John Carpenter
Writer: John Carpenter, Debra Hill
Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis (Laurie Strode), Donald Pleasence (Dr. Sam Loomis), Nancy Kyes (Annie Brackett)
IMDB Rating: 7.8 out of 10
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
In the inaugural film of the Halloween franchise, the story starts in 1963 with a harrowing event: a six-year-old child named Michael Myers takes the life of his own teenage sister, Judith. This act of incomprehensible violence led to his incarceration in a mental health facility for a decade and a half. After managing to elude the institution’s security measures, Michael returns to where it all began—his small hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois. Back in familiar surroundings but with malevolent intent, he commences a terrifying campaign of violence. At the centre of his deadly obsession is his surviving sister, Laurie, a role memorably brought to life by actress Jamie Lee Curtis, and those in her social circle.
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2. Halloween 2 (1982)
Director: Rick Rosenthal
Writer: John Carpenter and Debra Hill
Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis (Laurie Strode), Donald Pleasence (Dr Sam Loomis), Charles Cyphers (Sheriff Leigh Brackett)
IMDB Rating: 6.5 /10
Rotten Tomatoes: 33%
In the sequel to the original Halloween film, the narrative continues without missing a beat. After narrowly escaping death, despite taking numerous bullet wounds, Michael Myers resumes his quest to eliminate Laurie, who is recuperating in a medical facility. Simultaneously, Dr. Sam Loomis, the psychiatrist who has been studying Michael since his turbulent childhood, thinks he’s unearthed the hidden motive fueling Michael’s relentless pursuit of Laurie.
3. 1982 – Halloween 3: Season of the Witch
Director: Tommy Lee Wallace
Writer: Tommy Lee Wallace
Cast: Tom Atkins as Dr. Daniel Challis, Stacey Nelkin as Ellie Grimbridge, Dan O’Herlihy as Conal Cochran
IMDB Rating: 5.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 50%
Ignoring Halloween III due to its divergence from the main story arc, Halloween 4 picks up the narrative a decade after the previous instalment. Michael Myers awakens from a lengthy coma, only to find out that Laurie, his original target, has passed away in an unshown car crash. Now, Michael shifts his malevolent focus toward Laurie’s daughter, Jamie. Once word spreads that the infamous killer has resurfaced, the entire community of Haddonfield is thrown into chaos, as they rally together in a desperate attempt to thwart his new reign of terror.
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4. Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
Director: Dwight H. Little
Writer: Alan B. McElroy
Main Cast:Donald Pleasence as Dr. Sam Loomis, Ellie Cornell as Rachel Carruthers, Danielle Harris as Jamie Lloyd
IMDB Rating: 5.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 39%
Initiating the Halloween film saga, the storyline transports us to the year 1963. It’s in this ominous setting that we meet Michael Myers, a mere six-year-old who commits the unthinkable act of murdering his own sister, Judith. This shocking event leads to his admission into a psychiatric facility, where he remained for the subsequent 15 years. Breaking free from this confinement, Michael finds his way back to the place where his dark journey began—his native Haddonfield, Illinois. Upon his return, he embarks on a new spree of brutal killings, setting his sights primarily on his remaining sister, Laurie. The role of Laurie is indelibly performed by Jamie Lee Curtis, who becomes the focus of Michael’s twisted obsession, along with her group of friends.
5. Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989)
Director: Dominique Othenin-Girard
Writer: Michael Jacobs, Dominique Othenin-Girard, Shem Bitterman
Cast: Donald Pleasence as Dr. Sam Loomis, Danielle Harris as Jamie Lloyd, Ellie Cornell as Rachel Carruthers
IMDB Rating: 4.9
Rotten Tomatoes: 11%
Despite being riddled with bullets and hurled into a mineshaft at the conclusion of Halloween 4, Michael Myers defies the odds by surviving yet again, entering into another coma. Upon regaining consciousness, he becomes single-mindedly fixated on locating Jamie, his niece, who is still grappling with the emotional scars left by their previous encounters. Jamie, despite her overwhelming fear, joins forces with Dr. Sam Loomis, the psychiatrist who has been tracking Michael’s violent tendencies since his youth. Together, they hatch a plan aimed at putting an end to Michael Myers’ reign of terror once and for all.
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6. Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)
Director: Joe Chappelle
Writer: Daniel Farrands
Cast: Donald Pleasence as Dr Sam Loomis, Paul Rudd as Tommy Doyle, Marianne Hagan as Kara Strode
IMDB Rating: 4.9/10
Fast-forwarding six years into the narrative, Jamie finds herself in a harrowing situation: she has been kidnapped by a mysterious cult and is forced to give birth. Tragically, Jamie loses her life while attempting to break free, but her newborn miraculously survives the ordeal. The infant is subsequently discovered by Tommy, who, years ago, was one of Laurie’s babysitting charges. Taking it upon himself to safeguard the child, Tommy becomes embroiled in a new chapter of terror as Michael Myers begins a relentless search for his niece’s offspring, keen on continuing his lineage of violence.
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7. Halloween: H20, 20 Years Later (1998)
Director: Steve Miner
Writer: Robert Zappia, Matt Greenberg
Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis (Laurie Strode), Josh Hartnett (John Tate), Adam Arkin (Will Brennan)
IMDB Rating: 5.7/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 52%.
In a surprising twist to the saga, Laurie Strode makes a reappearance in the series, even though she was assumed to have perished in a vehicular accident as revealed in Halloween 4. As it transpires, Laurie orchestrates the illusion of her own death as a tactical move to elude her relentless brother, Michael Myers. Living under an assumed identity for several years, Laurie has managed to build a new life, complete with a son of her own. Unfortunately, her carefully guarded secret unravels when Michael uncovers the truth. Once again, he embarks on a chilling quest, this time targeting not just Laurie but also her newfound family, reigniting the cycle of terror.
8. Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
Director: Rick Rosenthal
Writer: Larry Brand and Sean Hood
Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, Busta Rhymes as Freddie Harris, Tyra Banks as Nora Winston
IMDB Rating: 4.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 12%
In a shocking development for the series, Michael Myers accomplishes what he’s been attempting for years: he ends Laurie Strode’s life. A year following this grim event, a cluster of college students, participants in a reality TV program, decide to spend the night in the long-deserted Myers residence. Unbeknownst to them, they are about to receive an uninvited and deadly guest. Michael returns to his former home, renewing his cycle of violence against a new generation.
9. Halloween (2007)
Director: Rob Zombie
Writer: Rob Zombie
Cast: Scout Taylor-Compton as Laurie Strode, Malcolm McDowell as Dr. Sam Loomis, Tyler Mane as Michael Myers
IMDB Rating: 6.1/10.
Rotten Tomatoes: 26%
Despite carrying the identical title as the inaugural 1978 film, this particular instalment in the Halloween series serves as a reboot set in a different era. Yes, it’s somewhat perplexing, which is why we recommend viewing it subsequent to the other films in the series for better contextual understanding. While the movie revisits the narrative threads of the original, it takes a unique approach by zeroing in on the gruesome events that transpired during Michael Myers’ youth, offering deeper insights into his early life of violence.
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10. Halloween 2 (2009)
Director: Rob Zombie
Writer: Rob Zombie
Cast: Tyler Mane, Scout Taylor-Compton, Malcolm McDowell
IMDB Rating: 4.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 20%
Following the 2007 reboot of Halloween, the subsequent film dives into Laurie’s ongoing struggle to cope with the psychological scars inflicted by her near-death encounter with Michael Myers. Miraculously still among the living, Michael starts experiencing hallucinations in which his deceased mother guides him to reunite with his sister, Laurie. When the two eventually cross paths, the narrative veers in an unexpected direction, adding yet another layer of complexity to their tortured relationship.
11. Halloween (2018)
Director: David Gordon Green
Writer: David Gordon Green, Danny McBride, Jeff Fradley
Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak
IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 79%
In the 2018 instalment of Halloween, helmed by director David Gordon Green, the film serves as an immediate continuation of the original 1978 classic, effectively erasing all intervening sequels from its continuity. Laurie Strode is very much alive in this updated version and has spent years bracing herself for the inescapable comeback of Michael Myers. Dwelling in a home that she’s fortified like a fortress, she lives under the constant shadow of dread, fully aware that it’s only a matter of time before Michael makes his way out of the mental health facility where he’s confined. When he does, chaos is sure to erupt.
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12. Halloween: Kills (2021)
Director: David Gordon Green
Writer: David Gordon Green, Danny McBride, Scott Teems
Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak
IMDB Rating: 6.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 39%
Picking up immediately where the 2018 Halloween film left off, Laurie Strode is hastily transported to a medical facility while Michael Myers seemingly perishes in the fire engulfing her basement. Yet, defying all odds, Michael miraculously emerges from the blaze, alive and more determined than ever to continue his killing spree. This time, however, Laurie and the other Strode women are resolute in their will to end the terror. United in their resolve, they devise a strategy to confront Michael and eliminate him from their lives, permanently.
13. Halloween Ends (2022)
Director: David Gordon Green
Writer: David Gordon Green
Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak
IMDb Rating: 5/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 40%
Unveiled on October 14, 2022, the most recent addition to the Halloween franchise, aptly titled “Halloween Ends,” brings Michael Myers and Laurie Strode into confrontation yet again. Marketed as “Laurie’s Final Stand,” the film signals that while the Halloween series may continue, Jamie Lee Curtis’ iconic role as Laurie might reach its conclusion here. The story unfolds four years subsequent to the chaotic events depicted in “Halloween Kills,” serving as the culminating chapter in director David Gordon Green’s compelling trilogy.
Wrap-up
Halloween is an American horror movie franchise which initially started in 1978 and concluded in 2022 after the 13th and final installment Halloween Ends.
In this detailed blog, we have mentioned how you can watch the Halloween movies in order.
