It started in 1978 with the first Halloween movie and it has since spawned ten more since with another due out in 2021. Forty two years and counting and Michael Myers lives on. Here are all current eleven movies ranked from worst to first.
A few things to remember: Halloween 4 is a direct follow-up to Halloween 2. Halloween 4, 5 and 6 run in sequence. Halloween H20 follows on from Halloween 2, completely disregarding the events of 4, 5 and 6. Finally, Halloween (2018) is set (correctly) 40 years after the original and completely disregards all the other films. The 2018 version also changes the fact that Laurie was Michael’s Sister because the director (David Gordon Green) thought it would be more frightening if Myers pursuit of Laurie after 40 years was random. (I hope you got all that!!)
11. Halloween Resurrection (2002)
Tagline: Evil Finds Its way Home
Box Office: $37.6m
By far the worst entry into the franchise. The opening of the film sees Michael Myers finally kill Laurie Strode before he heads home to Haddonfield to find 6 teens are spending Halloween night in his home as part of a reality TV broadcast. Suffice to say the teens don’t fare to well in the Myers residence once Michael returns.
10. Halloween 2 (2009)
Tagline: Family is Forever
Box Office: $39.4m
After a very good first reboot entry into the Halloween franchise Rob Zombie turned back into, Rob Zombie and made a film that made very little sense. Like the 1981 sequel this film immediately carries on from the first film before jumping one year ahead, where things start to get weird. Somehow Laurie feels some strange connection to Michael and starts acting out his killings in her dreams. The final act of the film sees Laurie wearing the mask after presumably killing her brother.
9. Halloween 3. Season of the Witch (1982)
Tagline: The Night Nobody Came Home
Box Office: $14.4m
This film had no connection to the two previous entries. No sight or sound of Michael Myers or Laurie Strode. The plot consists of a Celtic ritual (yet this isn’t quite the strangest plot out of the 11 films) that involves kids being killed due to Halloween masks and a television advert. An average scary movie that doesn’t fit in with the any of the other entries.
8. Halloween 6. The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)
Tagline: Terror Never Rests in Piece
Box Office: $15.1m
Marred by problems that led to several re-shoots this was also Donald Pleasance last appearance as Dr Loomis. The legendary actor died several months later. Onto the plot of what has to be the weirdest entry into the franchise. A druid type cult have kidnapped Michael Myers and are using him to kill people. At least Myers is on good form as the body count rises. Interestingly, this film has a ‘producers cut’ that has 45 minutes of alternative footage and a different ending.
7. Halloween 5 (1989) The Revenge of Michael Myers
Tagline: He’s Back With A Vengeance
Box Office: $11.6m
One year on from the last instalment and the indestructible Michael Myers again awakens from a coma. This time the masked killer sets out to find and kill Jamie Lloyd who has been confined to a mental institute after killing her foster-sister at the end of Halloween 4. This film offers little in plot and is a little repetitive.
6. Halloween 4 (1988) The Return of Michael Myers
Tagline: Now He’s Back
Box Office: $17.8m
Ten years after the events of number two, Myers awakes from his comatose state and of course heads back to Haddonfield. This time Michael is on the trail of Jamie Lloyd, Laurie Strode’s daughter and again Loomis is in pursuit of his former patient. The now usual killing spree ends with a twist as Jamie kills her foster-sister Darlene, this is followed by an attempt by Loomis to kill Jamie as he fears a repeat of what happened after Michael killed his own sister as a child.
5. Halloween 2. (1981)
Tagline: More of the Night He Came Home
Box Office: $25.5m
The film picks up immediately after the end of the first film where Myers was shot by Loomis but vanished into the night. Michael immediately continues his pursuit of Laurie but still has Loomis on his trail. The action heads to a very quiet and spooky hospital were Laurie has been taken following the attack towards the end of the first movie. Michael is apparently blown up at the end of the movie.
4. Halloween (2007)
Tagline: Evil Has A Destiny
Box Office: $80.4m
Rob Zombie reboots the franchise by giving Michael a believable back story before we get to the events of Halloween night 1978 where things play out in mostly the same manner as the original with Myers escaping Smith’s Grove and heading back to Haddonfield. Numerous teens are butchered before Michael turns his attention to Laurie and Loomis shows up to try to kill Michael.
3. Halloween H20: 20 Years Later ( 1998)
Tagline: The Night She Fought Back
Box Office: $75m
Set 20 years after the first film and ignoring every film after number 2, H20 was a modern take on the original set in an almost deserted and very secluded private school where Laurie is now employed and her teenage son, John attends. Once Michael learns of Laurie’s whereabouts and shows up the relatively small cast gets even smaller. After a game of cat and mouse through school grounds Laurie eventually kills Michael or does she?
2. Halloween (2018)
Tagline: You Don’t Believe In The Bogeyman ? You Should.
Box Office: $255.5m
A direct sequel albeit 40 years after the events of the original. Two nights before Halloween (will they ever learn?) Michael is due to be moved from Smith’s Grove to a maximum security prison. The bus crashes and Myers is on the loose and heading back to Haddonfield to finally finish of Laurie Strode. Laurie lives alone and still in fear of Michael’s return. Meanwhile Laurie’s daughter, Karen thinks her Mother is crazy and dangerous. Learning of Michael’s return to Haddonfield Laurie sets out to kill him once and for all.
1. Halloween (1978)
Tagline: The Night He Came Home.
Box Office: $70m
The originals are almost always the best and Halloween is no exception. From a 6-year-old Michael killing his Sister, to seeing that white mask for the first time. The musical score, the brilliant performances of Jamie Leigh Curtis and Donald Pleasance. Halloween is the perfect horror movie that is just as frightening today as it was in 1978. This movie is an absolute classic and will always remain that way.