Halloween

96%

Tomatometer

85 Reviews

89%

Audience Score

250,000+ Ratings

On a cold Halloween night in 1963, six year old Michael Myers brutally murdered his 17-year-old sister, Judith. He was sentenced and locked away for 15 years. But on October 30, 1978, while being transferred for a court date, a 21-year-old Michael Myers steals a car and escapes Smith's Grove. He returns to his quiet hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois, where he looks for his next victims.

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Halloween

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Scary, suspenseful, and viscerally thrilling, Halloween set the standard for modern horror films.

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Critics Reviews

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Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

Carpenter's 1978 slasher classic has inspired a million imitations as well as sequels, but few that demonstrate so clearly that a disreputable genre movie can also be a pure, rigorous work of art.

Oct 26, 2018

Full Review

Jason Zinoman

New York Times

In horror, the jack-in-the-box scare... is the quickest way to get a scream, but the still shocks... are the ones that linger with you. "Halloween" has them both, but it specializes in the second.

Oct 24, 2018

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Adam Kempenaar

Filmspotting

What's crucial isn't that Laurie survives because she's the only virgin; it's that she's the only virgin and still almost doesn't survive.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 20, 2018

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Sarah Vincent

Sarah G Vincent Views

If he is the Boogeyman, the Reaper, Death, she is the counterforce sharing some of his characteristics, but only using them for good. Unlike Michael, who is mad by societal terms, but exhibits no emotion, Laurie is emotional, and violence affects her.

Jun 10, 2024

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

... a beautifully-made made picture by a director who brings a visual intelligence to a genre that was so often reduced to hack directors and gimmicks in place of storytelling.

Nov 4, 2023

Full Review

Howard Waldstein

CBR

The greatest slasher film of all time.

Jul 18, 2023

Full Review

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Audience Reviews

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Jacki A Great movie through the times! I was a kid when it came out and did not see it in the theater. I took my teenage daughter this time. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/31/23 Full Review Steve U A classic that I love to watch on the big screen when possible! They dont make them like this anymore! Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/30/23 Full Review keith Needs a digital overhaul but still GREAT Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/29/23 Full Review Nicholas The Greatest Slasher Ever!! Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/28/23 Full Review Hussein i love the psychological suspense. this film is considered a classic by many people for good reason. It is the greatest Halloween Film of All Time. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/28/23 Full Review Stephen I saw this film for the 1st time 44 years ago upon its initial release (finally reached my town in April 1979) and it still is way ahead of the rest of its ilk: it may not have been the first in the slasher genre, but it is still far and away the best. Beautifully shot - and musically scored - it is a real treat in its restraint of violence (not everyone that walks on-screen is "dispatched") lack of foul language and virtually bloodless 90 minute running time. Plenty of in-jokes and references for the film buff as well.Avoid viewing this on a TV - find a theater, where it was meant to be seen...last night's showing was sold out and judging by the audience's reaction, there were quite a few first-timers seeing this classic. Avoid the seemingly endless sequels, reboots and myriad clones. As one prominent film critic said at the time of its release: "...I would favorably compare it to 'Psycho"...". I say only far better. Happy Halloween! Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Halloween

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Cast & Crew

John Carpenter Director Donald Pleasence Dr. Sam Loomis Jamie Lee Curtis Laurie Strode Nancy Kyes Annie Brackett P.J. Soles Lynda Charles Cyphers Sheriff Leigh Brackett

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Halloween

Rotten Tomatoes is Wrong About... Halloween (1978)