Watching Michael Myers stalk and slash his method by means of the streets of Haddonfield is at all times a scary good time, however there's one thing about queuing up the Halloween motion pictures in October that simply hits totally different (particularly on the namesake vacation itself).

However whereas a Halloween marathon is a seasonal should, making an attempt to determine how one can watch all 13 movies can really feel as daunting as coming face-to-face with the Form himself.

Fortunately, we've achieved the laborious give you the results you want. Right here's Leisure Weekly's information on how (and the place) to observe John Carpenter's Halloween and each sequel and reboot so as.

01 of 13

Halloween (1978)

Meet the controversial granddaddy of the slasher style (although we see you, Psycho and Black Christmas). John Carpenter's authentic Halloween is an iconic horror cornerstone, spawning the subsequent 45 years (and counting) of blood-spattered goodness. However the franchise was by no means higher than within the authentic entry, during which the notorious Michael Myers escapes from an asylum, dons a pale expressionless masks, and evades his alarm-sounding psychiatrist (Donald Pleasence) whereas killing off teen after unsuspecting teen (together with proto-Closing Woman Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode in her debut function.)

As we mentioned in our ranking of the Halloween movies, it is a comparatively easy movie, "but it evokes such primal worry, shattering the phantasm of suburban utopia for maximal rigidity." Higher test behind each bush and tree, as a result of this film will persuade you each sleepy suburb is a slaughterhouse within the making.

Where to watch Halloween: Shudder

02 of 13

Halloween II (1981)

Although some followers say that the OG Halloween by no means wanted a sequel, this primary enlargement of the franchise remains to be surprisingly good. It provides some controversial lore about Laurie Strode being associated to Michael Myers (now Dick Warlock, who's completely creepy behind the masks), nevertheless it's not like that is some half-hearted addition; John Carpenter himself penned the script together with Debra Hill.

Halloween II finds new methods to take advantage of suburbanite fears, as we identified in our rating, "this time weaponizing the issues in regulation enforcement and well being care to terrify the viewers." It's a delicate little bit of storytelling, emphasizing that even when Michael Myers and Dr. Loomis ended their epic showdown, the suburbs would nonetheless be a much more harmful place than most residents care to think about.

Where to watch Halloween II: Peacock

03 of 13

Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)

The second entry within the franchise ends with the explosive demise of Michael Myers, and, to the studio's credit score, they meant to go away that basic killer lifeless. That's why Season of the Witch offers us a special hero (a health care provider performed by Tom Atkins), a brand new villain (Dan O'Herlihy), and a wild plot involving costume masks that supply lethal tips and no treats to those that put on them. So long as you go into the movie with an open thoughts (and also you're not disenchanted by the shortage of Michael), you'll be pleasantly shocked.

As EW's author described, this standalone film is "a wierd, deeply creepy, one-off seasonal story full of an enthralling opening sequence, besuited, stalking androids, a chilling rating full with many synth stingers, a story constructed round Samhain, and an unforgettably daring ending."

Where to watch Halloween III: Season of the Witch: Peacock

04 of 13

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)

Halloween 4 is a slow-burn train in endurance that basically pays off for these keen to wade by means of its earlier, plodding scenes. Because the identify implies, that is the movie that welcomes Michael again to the franchise, seeing him return to Haddonfield, the place he as soon as once more clashes with Dr. Loomis and stalks new would-be victims, together with glorious little one actor Danielle Harris as his niece. The fourth movie lays the groundwork for future entries by exhibiting us a city keen to band collectively and battle the Form (which we witness once more many years later in Halloween Kills).

And, as EW's author notes, the ending is killer: "The ultimate half-hour of this film is without doubt one of the finest stretches in the whole collection, full of untamed kills and a tense ambiance," culminating in a chilling conclusion practically pretty much as good as the unique's ultimate scene.

Where to watch Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers: Shudder and AMC+

The 30 best Halloween movies to stream this spooky season Every 'Halloween' movie, ranked: From the 1978 original to 'Halloween Ends' 05 of 13

Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989)

Whereas we'd hesitate to name it the second a part of a duology, it's truthful to say that Halloween 5 is the right companion piece to Halloween 4. It continues the misadventures of its key gamers: Michael Myers remains to be right here to stalk and slash, however he now has to cope with a bizarre psychic connection to his younger niece. Sadly, the film by no means does something fascinating with the premise, selecting as an alternative to provide us a streamlined "slice of knife" journey.

That's not essentially a nasty factor, although, with EW's author describing the work as "a brief, brisk story that understands the basic attraction of Halloween: watching Michael Myers silently homicide a bunch of youngsters with out pretense or prejudice." It's not precisely Shakespeare, nevertheless it's enjoyable regardless.

Where to watch Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers: Shudder

06 of 13

Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)

Right here's a truth spookier than a masks from Silver Shamrock: Whether or not you liked or hated the earlier two entries within the franchise, The Curse of Michael Myers makes them appear to be real artistic endeavors. We get returning (and really drained) actor Donald Pleasence and a few new blood, together with a younger Paul Rudd. The film tries to choose up the threads of earlier movies, however, in making an attempt to make Myers extra mystical, this movie robs him of his knife-edge menace.

Don't fear, although: No infants have been harmed within the making of this movie…until you rely Halloween as John Carpenter's child. That's one little one experiencing demise by a thousand cuts with these inferior sequels.

Where to watch Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers: HBO Max

07 of 13

Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)

Whereas Halloween turned a franchise mired by its personal murderous multiverse, H20 deserves credit score for being the primary film to ask audiences to disregard the final 4 entries. This movie is located as a direct sequel to Halloween II, giving us an opportunity to test in with Laurie Strode 20 years after Michael Myers' first rampage. This tender franchise reset has some nice actors in it, together with Michelle Williams, Josh Hartnett, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Curtis' mom Janet Leigh.

EW's evaluate additionally notes that the work was deeply affected by the recognition of Scream (for higher or for worse): "On this panorama, horror isn’t so blackly scary that it's not just a little, like, amusingly ironic, too." Nonetheless, if you happen to don't thoughts a little bit of irony as a chaser to blood splatter, it’s possible you’ll discover this late-'90s style flick to be a vivid spot in some in any other case murky waters.

Where to watch Halloween H20: 20 Years Later: HBO Max

08 of 13

Halloween: Resurrection (2002)

If H20 gave us hope that this venerable franchise had discovered new life, Halloween: Resurrection reduce by means of that optimism like Myers slashing by means of flesh. It's a movie the place Jamie Lee Curtis places in a forgettably transient efficiency earlier than the story focuses on a special forged. A few of the newcomers are admittedly entertaining, together with Tyra Banks and Busta Rhymes, however the premise of teenagers recording themselves within the authentic Halloween home was far too skinny to succeed.

As EW's critic laments of their evaluate, that is "a horror sequel that's maladroit sufficient to be a self-conscious ripoff of Blair Witch 2." Myers doesn't work when taken out of his component, and the discovered footage format doesn't work when the sequences are as dreadfully boring as they’re right here.

Where to watch Halloween: Resurrection: HBO Max

09 of 13

Halloween (2007)

This movie represents an bold try to reboot Halloween altogether, and it involves us courtesy of horror evocator Rob Zombie. The musician-turned-director isn't everybody's cup of tea, however, to his credit score, he has a definitive imaginative and prescient and elegance whereas retelling the occasions of the primary film with a number of twists. The brand new forged can be surprisingly charming: Malcolm McDowell shines as the brand new Dr. Loomis, and, whereas she's no Jamie Lee, Scout Taylor-Compton does a high-quality job as Laurie Strode.

Then there's Tyler Mane, who makes Michael Myers look novelly gritty. It could not maintain a candle to the unique, however this work is the closest we've felt to the killer in many years.

Where to watch Halloween: Shudder

10 of 13

Halloween II (2009)

Whereas Rob Zombie's first Halloween was a remake of the John Carpenter basic, the sequel allowed the director to get extra artistic. The forged of the earlier movie returns, however everybody has been flattened to a single dimension: Malcolm McDowell is a sneering charlatan, Scout Taylor-Compton is a one-note screaming sufferer, and Tyler Mane presents nothing new. In case you're simply in it for the kills, there's some bleak brutality on show right here. Finally, although, Zombie delivers one thing that’s much less like a film and extra like a bloated music video.

Where to watch Halloween II: Paramount+

11 of 13

Halloween (2018)

Able to do the time warp once more? No, we aren't visiting Dr. Frank-N-Furter, however director David Gordon Inexperienced's Halloween prequel follows within the footsteps of H20. As a substitute of being a follow-up to Halloween II, although, this film asks us to disregard all the pieces that got here after the unique and deal with this work because the one true successor. It's a daring gambit that largely pays off in a narrative of Jamie Lee Curtis as a traumatized survivor who simply needs to maintain her household (together with a daughter performed by Judy Greer) protected. Inevitably, Michael Myers returns to this world, and that homecoming is surprisingly efficient.

As EW's critic declares of their evaluate, the results of Inexperienced's efforts is "an enormous, humorous, scary, squishy, super-meta sequel that brings all of it again to John Carpenter's iconic 1978 authentic." A franchise — and its killer — reborn finally.

Where to watch Halloween: Hulu

12 of 13

Halloween Kills (2021)

Halloween Kills feels just like the bizarre center sibling out of David Gordon Inexperienced's trilogy. It takes place solely minutes after his first movie, however they couldn't be tonally extra totally different. We start with Laurie Strode recovering within the hospital, leaving us to observe the unusual adventures of Anthony Michael Corridor's Tommy Doyle main a mob towards Michael Myers whereas the killer exerts practically superhuman ranges of energy and stamina.

This culminates in a film that "can't marry its thematic ambitions to its crowd-pleasing slasher sensibilities, leading to a irritating, inconsistent movie that tries to have its cake and eat it, too," says EW's franchise rating.

Where to watch Halloween Kills: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

13 of 13

Halloween Ends (2022)

It's neither the perfect nor worst entry within the franchise, however we really feel protected in saying that Halloween Ends is essentially the most divisive of all of them. As EW's critic bluntly places it of their evaluate, it's a film that "feels nearly incidental to a ultimate chapter in identify solely." That's as a result of Laurie is usually sidelined — as is Michael himself.

Now, the narrative is led by a troubled younger man (Rohan Campbell) who is likely to be the city's subsequent nice evil. He leads a tumultuous relationship with Laurie's granddaughter (Andi Matichak), and we get a sort of Romeo and Juliet story shot by means of a decidedly gonzo lens. The much-advertised showdown between Laurie and Michael in the end seems like a studio-mandated ending to what was in any other case an bold departure from what we have been anticipating.

Where to watch Halloween Ends: Peacock

The Halloween motion pictures so as by launch date

1. Halloween (1978)
2. Halloween II (1981)
3. Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
4. Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
5. Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989)
6. Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)
7. Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)
8. Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
9. Halloween (2007)
10. Halloween II (2009)
11. Halloween (2018)
12. Halloween Kills (2021)
13. Halloween Ends (2022)

The unique Halloween timeline

1. Halloween (1978)
2. Halloween II (1981)
3. Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
4. Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989)
5. Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)

The Halloween H20 timeline

1. Halloween (1978)
2. Halloween II (1981)
3. Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)
4. Halloween: Resurrection (2002)

Rob Zombie's Halloween timeline

1. Halloween (2007)
2. Halloween II (2009)

David Gordon Inexperienced's Halloween timeline

1. Halloween (1978)
2. Halloween (2018)
3. Halloween Kills (2021)
4. Halloween Ends (2022)

Get your day by day dose of leisure information, movie star updates, and what to observe with our EW Dispatch e-newsletter.

Shut