Halloween has several timelines that ignore each other. The simplest path is Halloween (1978) followed by the 2018 trilogy, Halloween (2018), Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends, which disregard every other sequel. Halloween III has no Michael Myers, and Rob Zombie's 2007 remake starts its own continuity.
- Titles
- 13
- Films
- 13
- Watch time
- 21 hours
- Box office
- $886 million
- Avg IMDb
- 5.6
Halloween movies in release order
Here is every Halloween title in the order it came out, 1978 to 2022: 13 films. Optional entries are marked; you can skip them on a first watch.
| # | Title | Year | Type | Runtime | IMDb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Halloween | 1978 | Film | 1h 31m | 7.7 |
| 2 | Halloween II | 1981 | Film | 1h 32m | 6.5 |
| 3 | Halloween III: Season of the Witch optional | 1982 | Film | 1h 38m | 5.2 |
| 4 | Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers | 1988 | Film | 1h 28m | 5.8 |
| 5 | Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers | 1989 | Film | 1h 38m | 4.9 |
| 6 | Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers | 1995 | Film | 1h 28m | 4.6 |
| 7 | Halloween H20: 20 Years Later | 1998 | Film | 1h 26m | 5.8 |
| 8 | Halloween: Resurrection optional | 2002 | Film | 1h 29m | 3.9 |
| 9 | Halloween optional | 2007 | Film | 1h 50m | 6.1 |
| 10 | Halloween II optional | 2009 | Film | 1h 45m | 4.8 |
| 11 | Halloween | 2018 | Film | 1h 46m | 6.5 |
| 12 | Halloween Kills | 2021 | Film | 1h 45m | 5.5 |
| 13 | Halloween Ends | 2022 | Film | 1h 51m | 5 |
Halloween timeline: movies in chronological order
The same titles in story order, by when they take place, with the year or era each one is set in.
| # | Title | Set in | Released |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Halloween | 1963 & 1978 | 1978 |
| 2 | Halloween II | 1978 | 1981 |
| 3 | Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers | 1988 | 1988 |
| 4 | Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers | 1989 | 1989 |
| 5 | Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers | 1995 | 1995 |
| 6 | Halloween H20: 20 Years Later | 1998 | 1998 |
| 7 | Halloween: Resurrection | 2001 | 2002 |
| 8 | Halloween | 2018 | 2018 |
| 9 | Halloween Kills | 2018 | 2021 |
| 10 | Halloween Ends | 2022 | 2022 |
| 11 | Halloween | 2007 | |
| 12 | Halloween II | 2009 | |
| 13 | Halloween III: Season of the Witch | 1982 | 1982 |
Release or chronological: which order is best?
Release order and story order disagree on 11 titles here. In release order you start with Halloween (1978); in story order you start with Halloween, set in 1963 & 1978.
First time through, watch in release order. That is how the twists, returning characters and callbacks were built to land, and later entries assume you have seen the earlier ones. On a rewatch, try story order. It turns Halloween into one continuous story and makes the prequels play as setup instead of backstory.
Halloween also runs 5 separate continuities: The Thorn timeline, The H20 timeline, The 2018 trilogy, Rob Zombie's remakes, and Season of the Witch. Each has its own line on the timeline, so you can watch them on their own without breaking the main story.
Where to start
Start with Halloween and go in release order, skipping the 4 optional titles on the first pass.
The essentials are 9 titles and about 14 hours, 32% less than the full run.
The three highest rated: Halloween (7.7), Halloween II (6.5), and Halloween (6.5).
Every Halloween movie, explained
One entry per title in release order: what it is about, why it matters to the bigger story, who is in it and how it did.
No. 01 · 1978 · Film · 1h 31m
Halloween
Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween Night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois to kill again.
Why it matters: John Carpenter's original; every timeline starts here.
- Starring
- Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Nancy Kyes
- Director
- John Carpenter
- Box office
- $70 million
- Scores
- IMDb 7.7 · Rotten Tomatoes 97%
No. 02 · 1981 · Film · 1h 32m
Halloween II
After failing to kill stubborn survivor Laurie and taking a bullet or six from former psychiatrist Dr. Sam Loomis, Michael Myers has followed Laurie to the Haddonfield Memorial Hospital, where she's been admitted for Myers' attempt on her life. The institution proves to be particularly suited to serial killers, however, as Myers cuts, stabs and slashes his way through hospital staff to reach his favorite victim.
Why it matters: Picks up the same night; reveals Laurie is Michael's sister.
- Starring
- Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence, and Lance Guest
- Director
- Rick Rosenthal
- Box office
- $26 million on a $3 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 6.5 · Rotten Tomatoes 27%
No. 03 · 1982 · Film · 1h 38m · 13th in story order · optional
Halloween III: Season of the Witch
After a terrified toy salesman is mysteriously attacked and brought to the hospital clutching the year's most popular Halloween mask, Dr. Daniel Challis sets out to investigate the strange events and finds himself thrust into a nightmarish conspiracy.
Why it matters: An anthology entry with no Michael Myers; optional.
- Starring
- Tom Atkins, Stacey Nelkin, and Dan O'Herlihy
- Director
- Tommy Lee Wallace
- Box office
- $14 million on a $3 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 5.2 · Rotten Tomatoes 51%
No. 04 · 1988 · Film · 1h 28m · 3rd in story order
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
Ten years after his original massacre, the invalid Michael Myers awakens on Halloween Eve and returns to Haddonfield to kill his seven-year-old niece.
Why it matters: Michael returns for his niece Jamie.
- Starring
- Danielle Harris, Donald Pleasence, and Ellie Cornell
- Director
- Dwight H. Little
- Box office
- $18 million on a $5 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 5.8 · Rotten Tomatoes 42%
No. 05 · 1989 · Film · 1h 38m · 4th in story order
Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
After lying in a coma for a year, Michael Myers awakens and stalks his way back to his small hometown in Illinois, intent on killing his niece, Jamie, who has been confined to a mental institution since his last attempt to slay her.
Why it matters: Continues Jamie's story.
- Starring
- Danielle Harris, Donald Pleasence, and Ellie Cornell
- Director
- Dominique Othenin-Girard
- Box office
- $12 million on a $3 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 4.9 · Rotten Tomatoes 10%
No. 06 · 1995 · Film · 1h 28m · 5th in story order
Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers
Six years after being presumed dead in a fire, and just as the town prepares to finally celebrate Halloween again, Michael Myers returns to Haddonfield to continue his reign of terror.
Why it matters: Ends the Jamie storyline.
- Starring
- Paul Rudd, Donald Pleasence, and Marianne Hagan
- Director
- Joe Chappelle
- Box office
- $15 million on a $5 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 4.6 · Rotten Tomatoes 8%
No. 07 · 1998 · Film · 1h 26m · 6th in story order
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later
Two decades after surviving a massacre on October 31, 1978, former baby sitter Laurie Strode finds herself hunted by persistent knife-wielder Michael Myers. Laurie now lives in Northern California under an assumed name, where she works as the headmistress of a private school. But it's not far enough to escape Myers, who soon discovers her whereabouts. As Halloween descends upon Laurie's peaceful community, a feeling of dread weighs upon her -- with good reason.
Why it matters: Ignores 4 to 6: Laurie, 20 years later.
- Starring
- Jamie Lee Curtis, Josh Hartnett, and Adam Arkin
- Director
- Steve Miner
- Box office
- $75 million on a $17 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 5.8 · Rotten Tomatoes 54%
No. 08 · 2002 · Film · 1h 29m · 7th in story order · optional
Halloween: Resurrection
Reality programmers at DangerTainment select a group of thrill-seeking teenagers to spend one night in the childhood home of serial killer Michael Myers. Their planned live broadcast turns deadly when Michael decides to crash the party.
Why it matters: The H20 timeline's sequel; optional.
- Starring
- Bianca Kajlich, Busta Rhymes, and Sean Patrick Thomas
- Director
- Rick Rosenthal
- Box office
- $38 million on a $13 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 3.9 · Rotten Tomatoes 10%
No. 09 · 2007 · Film · 1h 50m · 11th in story order · optional
Halloween
The early years of young Michael Myers and the events leading up to his fateful Halloween night murder rampage in the quiet town of Haddonfield, Illinois.
Why it matters: Rob Zombie's remake; its own continuity. Optional.
- Starring
- Scout Taylor-Compton, Malcolm McDowell, and Tyler Mane
- Director
- Rob Zombie
- Box office
- $80 million on a $15 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 6.1 · Rotten Tomatoes 28%
No. 10 · 2009 · Film · 1h 45m · 12th in story order · optional
Halloween II
Laurie Strode struggles to come to terms with her brother Michael's deadly return to Haddonfield, Illinois. Meanwhile, Michael prepares for another reunion with his sister.
Why it matters: The remake's sequel; optional.
- Starring
- Scout Taylor-Compton, Malcolm McDowell, and Tyler Mane
- Director
- Rob Zombie
- Box office
- $39 million on a $10 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 4.8 · Rotten Tomatoes 25%
No. 11 · 2018 · Film · 1h 46m · 8th in story order
Halloween
Laurie Strode comes to her final confrontation with Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago.
Why it matters: A direct sequel to the 1978 film that ignores every other sequel.
- Starring
- Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, and Andi Matichak
- Director
- David Gordon Green
- Box office
- $260 million on a $10 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 6.5 · Rotten Tomatoes 79%
No. 12 · 2021 · Film · 1h 45m · 9th in story order
Halloween Kills
Michael manages to free himself from Laurie Strode's trap to resume his ritual bloodbath. As she fights for her life from injuries from their last encounter, she inspires her daughter Karen, her granddaughter Allyson, and all of Haddonfield to rise up against the unstoppable monster.
Why it matters: The same night as Halloween (2018).
- Starring
- Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, and Andi Matichak
- Director
- David Gordon Green
- Box office
- $133 million on a $20 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 5.5 · Rotten Tomatoes 38%
No. 13 · 2022 · Film · 1h 51m · 10th in story order
Halloween Ends
Four years after the events of Halloween in 2018, Laurie has decided to liberate herself from fear and rage and embrace life. But when a young man is accused of killing a boy he was babysitting, it ignites a cascade of violence and terror that will force Laurie to finally confront the evil she can’t control, once and for all.
Why it matters: Laurie and Michael's final chapter.
- Starring
- Jamie Lee Curtis, Andi Matichak, and James Jude Courtney
- Director
- David Gordon Green
- Box office
- $105 million on a $30 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 5 · Rotten Tomatoes 40%
Halloween box office and budgets
The 13 Halloween films with reported numbers have grossed $886 million worldwide on about $133 million in combined budgets, roughly 6.1 times what they cost. The biggest is Halloween at $260 million, 29% of the franchise's total on its own, followed by Halloween Kills ($133 million) and Halloween Ends ($105 million).
Measured against what it cost, the best return belongs to Halloween, which made 26 times its $10 million budget. The weakest was Halloween: Resurrection at 2.9 times its $13 million budget. As a rule of thumb, a film needs about two and a half times its budget at the box office to cover marketing and the theaters' cut.
The best and worst rated Halloween movies
Across 13 rated titles, Halloween averages 5.6 on IMDb. The top of the list is Halloween at 7.7, then Halloween II (6.5) and Halloween (6.5). At the bottom: Halloween: Resurrection (3.9) and Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (4.6).
- Halloween7.7 · RT 97%
- Halloween II6.5 · RT 27%
- Halloween6.5 · RT 79%
- Halloween6.1 · RT 28%
- Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers5.8 · RT 42%
- Halloween H20: 20 Years Later5.8 · RT 54%
- Halloween Kills5.5 · RT 38%
- Halloween III: Season of the Witch5.2 · RT 51%
- Halloween Ends5 · RT 40%
- Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers4.9 · RT 10%
Who appears in the most Halloween movies
Jamie Lee Curtis leads with 7 appearances as Laurie and Laurie Strode, ahead of Donald Pleasence (5) and Nancy Stephens (3). Counted from each title's top-billed cast.
| Actor | Role | Titles | First and latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jamie Lee Curtis | Laurie / Laurie Strode | 7 | Halloween (1978) to Halloween Ends (2022) |
| Donald Pleasence | Loomis / Dr Samuel Loomis | 5 | Halloween (1978) to Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995) |
| Nancy Stephens | Marion / Marion Chambers | 3 | Halloween (1978) to Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998) |
| Danielle Harris | Jamie Lloyd / Annie Brackett | 3 | Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988) to Halloween II (2009) |
| Andi Matichak | Allyson | 3 | Halloween (2018) to Halloween Ends (2022) |
| James Jude Courtney | The Shape | 3 | Halloween (2018) to Halloween Ends (2022) |
| Will Patton | Officer Hawkins / Frank | 3 | Halloween (2018) to Halloween Ends (2022) |
| Nancy Kyes | Annie / Linda Challis | 2 | Halloween (1978) to Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) |
| Charles Cyphers | Brackett / Sheriff Leigh Brackett | 2 | Halloween (1978) to Halloween II (1981) |
| Ellie Cornell | Rachel Carruthers | 2 | Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988) to Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989) |
| Beau Starr | Sheriff Meeker | 2 | Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988) to Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989) |
| Scout Taylor-Compton | Laurie Strode | 2 | Halloween (2007) to Halloween II (2009) |
Halloween directors and creators
9 filmmakers have directed or created Halloween; David Gordon Green has the most, with 3.
- David Gordon GreenHalloween (2018), Halloween Kills (2021), and Halloween Ends (2022)
- Rick RosenthalHalloween II (1981) and Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
- Rob ZombieHalloween (2007) and Halloween II (2009)
- John CarpenterHalloween (1978)
- Tommy Lee WallaceHalloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
- Dwight H. LittleHalloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
- Dominique Othenin-GirardHalloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989)
- Joe ChappelleHalloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)
- Steve MinerHalloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)
How long it takes to watch every Halloween movie
All 13 titles add up to 21 hours. That is about 11 two-hour evenings, or 3 days of ten-hour binges. The essentials cut it to 14 hours. The longest film is Halloween Ends at 1h 51m.
The 4 best rated films: Halloween, Halloween II, Halloween, and Halloween.
Everything takes about 4 weeks; the essentials about 3 weeks.
Track what you've watched on the timeline and it counts the hours left.
Which Halloween movies can you skip?
4 titles can go without losing the main story. They are side stories, spin-offs or entries the later films ignore. Dropping them saves 7 hours.
- Halloween: Resurrection2002 · Film · 1h 29m · optionalThe H20 timeline's sequel; optional.
- Halloween2007 · Film · 1h 50m · optionalRob Zombie's remake; its own continuity. Optional.
- Halloween II2009 · Film · 1h 45m · optionalThe remake's sequel; optional.
- Halloween III: Season of the Witch1982 · Film · 1h 38m · optionalAn anthology entry with no Michael Myers; optional.
Common questions
What order should I watch the Halloween movies in?
Halloween has several timelines that ignore each other. The simplest path is Halloween (1978) followed by the 2018 trilogy, Halloween (2018), Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends, which disregard every other sequel. Halloween III has no Michael Myers, and Rob Zombie's 2007 remake starts its own continuity.
How many Halloween movies and shows are there?
There are 13 titles in the Halloween franchise: 13 films and 0 series, released from 1978 to 2022.
How long does it take to watch all the Halloween movies?
About 21 hours for all 13 titles, counting every episode. The essentials only (9 titles) take about 14 hours.
What is the first Halloween title in chronological order?
Halloween, set in 1963 & 1978. In release order the first is Halloween (1978).
Which Halloween titles can I skip?
Halloween: Resurrection, Halloween, Halloween II, and Halloween III: Season of the Witch. They are spin-offs, side stories or non-canon entries; the main story holds without them.
What is the best Halloween movie?
By IMDb score, Halloween (1978) at 7.7, followed by Halloween II at 6.5.
What is the highest-grossing Halloween movie?
Halloween (2018), with $260 million worldwide. Halloween films have made $886 million in total.
Who has appeared in the most Halloween movies?
Jamie Lee Curtis, in 7 of them as Laurie.
What is the longest Halloween movie?
Halloween Ends, at 1h 51m.
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