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Halloween

  • 19781978
  • RR
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
266K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,084
185
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Halloween (1978)
Home Video Trailer from Anchor Bay Entertainment
Play trailer2:41
12 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Horror
  • Thriller

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
266K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,084
185
  • 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
    • 1.6KUser reviews
    • 443Critic reviews
    • 87Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 7 wins & 3 nominations

    Videos12

    Halloween
    Trailer 2:41
    Halloween
    'Halloween' | Franchise Retrospective
    Clip 2:30
    'Halloween' | Franchise Retrospective
    How 'Halloween' Gave Jamie Lee Curtis Her Whole Life
    Clip 1:20
    How 'Halloween' Gave Jamie Lee Curtis Her Whole Life
    Will 'Halloween Ends' End Halloween? Reboots, Sequels, & Easter Eggs Revealed
    Clip 2:59
    Will 'Halloween Ends' End Halloween? Reboots, Sequels, & Easter Eggs Revealed
    'Halloween Kills' Cast on Michael Myers' Most Shocking Moments
    Clip 2:43
    'Halloween Kills' Cast on Michael Myers' Most Shocking Moments
    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

    Photos340

    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)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    5.0
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    The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
    7.4
    The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
    Halloween III: Season of the Witch
    5.0
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    Halloween Kills
    5.5
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    Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers
    4.7
    Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers

    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
    • halloween
    • babysitting
    • year 1978
    • 1970s
    • stabbed to death
    • 255 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The trick was to stay alive.
    • Genres
      • Horror
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      John Carpenter considered the hiring of Jamie Lee Curtis as the ultimate tribute to Alfred Hitchcock who had given her mother, Janet Leigh, legendary status in Psycho (1960). During the same period, Universal studio producers and director Richard Franklin were trying to enroll Jamie Lee in the new production of Psycho II (1983).
    • 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 reviews1.6K

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    The nostalgia!
    I just love the nostalgia of watching this movie over 40 years after its release. It's super creepy and, if we're being honest, it's also ridiculously cheesy and moronic, but this is one of the most famous horror movies of all time! When that music hits, it's just so iconic. I can't bring myself to rate it less than an 8. It's Halloween, man!
    helpful•8
    1
    • ghostamongyou
    • Sep 11, 2020

    FAQ15

    • How does Dr. Loomis know that it's Michael driving away in the car when Loomis never saw the patients face?
    • Laurie caught Michael staring at her on three separate locations so why doesn't she call the police about him?
    • What is 'Halloween' about?

    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
      • He Came Home for 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
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
      • Dolby Surround 7.1
      • Dolby Atmos
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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