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Halloween

  • 19781978
  • RR
  • 1h 31min
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
243K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
615
45
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Halloween (1978)
Home Video Trailer from Anchor Bay Entertainment
Play trailer2:41
8 Videos
99+ Photos
HorrorThriller

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.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.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.

IMDb RATING
7.7/10
243K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
615
45
  • Director
    • John Carpenter
  • Writers
    • John Carpenter(screenplay by)
    • Debra Hill(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Donald Pleasence
    • Jamie Lee Curtis
    • Tony Moran
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Carpenter
  • Writers
    • John Carpenter(screenplay by)
    • Debra Hill(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Donald Pleasence
    • Jamie Lee Curtis
    • Tony Moran
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1.5KUser reviews
    • 441Critic reviews
    • 87Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 7 wins & 3 nominations

    Videos8

    Halloween
    Trailer 2:41
    Halloween
    Bloody Beginnings of the Summer Camp Slasher
    Clip 7:00
    Bloody Beginnings of the Summer Camp Slasher
    Through the Lens: Defining Carpenteresque and Why It Belongs in the Dictionary
    Clip 4:54
    Through the Lens: Defining Carpenteresque and Why It Belongs in the Dictionary
    How David Gordon Green Made the 'Halloween' He Wanted to See
    Interview 2:04
    How David Gordon Green Made the 'Halloween' He Wanted to See
    Who Passed on the Horror Classic 'Halloween'?
    Video 2:00
    Who Passed on the Horror Classic 'Halloween'?
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 4
    Video 28:34
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 4
    Dates in Movie & TV History: Oct. 19, 1957 - Michael Myers Is Born
    Video 2:40
    Dates in Movie & TV History: Oct. 19, 1957 - Michael Myers Is Born
    Dates in Movie & TV History: Oct. 31 - Halloween
    Video 2:10
    Dates in Movie & TV History: Oct. 31 - Halloween

    Photos326

    Kyle Richards in Halloween (1978)
    Nick Castle in Halloween (1978)
    Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween (1978)
    Jamie Lee Curtis and Nick Castle in Halloween (1978)
    Nick Castle in Halloween (1978)
    Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween (1978)
    "Halloween" Jamie Lee Curtis
    "Halloween" Tony Moran as Michael Myers
    "Halloween" Tony Moran as Michael Myers
    "Halloween" Tony Moran as Michael Myers
    PJ Soles, Nancy Loomis, and Jamie Lee Curtis in HALLOWEEN
    Nick Castle in Halloween (1978)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Donald Pleasence
    Donald Pleasence
    • Loomisas Loomis
    Jamie Lee Curtis
    Jamie Lee Curtis
    • Laurieas Laurie
    Tony Moran
    Tony Moran
    • Michael Myers (Age 23)as Michael Myers (Age 23)
    Nancy Kyes
    Nancy Kyes
    • Annieas Annie
    P.J. Soles
    P.J. Soles
    • Lyndaas Lynda
    • (as P J Soles)
    Charles Cyphers
    Charles Cyphers
    • Brackettas Brackett
    Kyle Richards
    Kyle Richards
    • Lindseyas Lindsey
    Brian Andrews
    Brian Andrews
    • Tommyas Tommy
    John Michael Graham
    John Michael Graham
    • Bobas Bob
    Nancy Stephens
    Nancy Stephens
    • Marionas Marion
    Arthur Malet
    Arthur Malet
    • Graveyard Keeperas Graveyard Keeper
    Mickey Yablans
    • Richieas Richie
    Brent Le Page
    • Lonnieas Lonnie
    Adam Hollander
    • Keithas Keith
    Robert Phalen
    Robert Phalen
    • Dr. Wynnas Dr. Wynn
    Will Sandin
    Will Sandin
    • Michael Myers (Age 6)as Michael Myers (Age 6)
    Sandy Johnson
    Sandy Johnson
    • Judith Myersas Judith Myers
    David Kyle
    • Boyfriendas Boyfriend
    • Director
      • John Carpenter
    • Writers
      • John Carpenter(screenplay by)
      • Debra Hill(screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    8.0
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    7.4
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    Storyline

    Edit
    The year is 1963, the night: Halloween. Police are called to 43 Lampkin Ln. only to discover that 15 year old Judith Myers has been stabbed to death, by her 6 year-old brother, Michael. After being institutionalized for 15 years, Myers breaks out on the night before Halloween. No one knows, nor wants to find out, what will happen on October 31st 1978 besides Myers' psychiatrist, Dr. Loomis. He knows Michael is coming back to Haddonfield, but by the time the town realizes it, it'll be too late for many people. —Massive Fan
    halloweenbabysittingyear 1978stabbed to deathfalling from height220 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The trick was to stay alive.
    • Genres
      • Horror
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      From a budget of $300,000, the film went on to gross $47 million at the US box office. In 2008, takings that would be the equivalent of $150 million, making 'Halloween' one of the most successful independent films of all time.
    • Goofs
      (at around 18 mins) When Michael goes to the school and gets in the car to follow Tommy, the passenger side window is no longer smashed from the previous night's attack on the nurse.
    • Quotes

      Loomis: I met him, 15 years ago; I was told there was nothing left; no reason, no conscience, no understanding in even the most rudimentary sense of life or death, of good or evil, right or wrong. I met this... six-year-old child with this blank, pale, emotionless face, and... the blackest eyes - the Devil's eyes. I spent eight years trying to reach him, and then another seven trying to keep him locked up, because I realized that what was living behind that boy's eyes was purely and simply... evil.

    • Crazy credits
      The music for the film -- written and performed by John Carpenter -- is instead credited to "The Bowling Green Philharmonic Orchestra." Carpenter grew up in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
    • Alternate versions
      For the 20th Anniversary restoration in 1998, new sounds were added to the film's audio track under John Carpenter's approval. New thunder sounds were added to the Loomis car scene. Wind sounds were added as well. The 1999 DVD release contains both the original unaltered mono sound and a Dolby Digital 5.1 option with the added sound effects.
    • Connections
      Edited into Halloween II (1981)
    • Soundtracks
      Don't Fear the Reaper
      Written by Donald Roeser
      Performed by Blue Öyster Cult
      Courtesy of CBS Records

    User reviews1.5K

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    The Greatest of the Slasher Flicks
    John Carpenter's Halloween is quite frankly a horror masterpiece. It tells the immortal story of escaped mental patient Michael Myers, who returns to his hometown on Halloween night to stalk and kill a group of babysitters.

    This was the first and without doubt the best in the Halloween franchise. Carpenter shows great restraint in pacing the story very slowly and building likable characters; unusual for a horror picture.

    Even more unusual is the non-existence of blood and gore, and yet it remains the scariest Halloween to date.

    Halloween marked the film debut of Jamie Lee Curtis and a defining point in the late great Donald Pleasence's career. A true classic.
    helpful•206
    66
    • Hotstar
    • Feb 27, 2005

    FAQ13

    • What is 'Halloween' about?
    • Is "Halloween" based on a book?
    • What are the kids chanting at the very beginning of the movie?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 27, 1978 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • John Carpenter's Halloween
    • Filming locations
      • 1537 Orange Grove Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Compass International Pictures
      • Falcon International Pictures
      • Falcon International Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $325,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $47,160,000
    • Gross worldwide
      • $47,160,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 31min
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
      • Dolby Surround 7.1
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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