Here's How to Watch All 13 'Halloween' Movies in Order
There are a few ways to dive into the franchise!
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There aren't many Halloween movies that do it quite like the Halloween movie franchise! Michael Myers is the ultimate villain while Jamie Lee Curtis has one of the most recognizable roles in the horror genre. The story of the long, viscous history between the two has entertained movie-goers for decades, with 13 films that tell the entire story. While that number might seem a bit much, avid fans will tell you that it's simply not enough!
If you're new to the scene, there's no reason to fret over the details (save the fear for when you're watching the movies). We created a list of how to watch the Halloween movies the right way—because the series isn't actually meant to be watched in the order it was released! Well, if you want to follow the story as it's meant to be told, that is.
While the order of this list is formatted in chronological order (based on the plot), there are additional ways to watch that can be just as thrilling. One way would be to watch in order of release date, from Halloween (1978) to Halloween Ends (2022). Another would be to watch them in the order of the movies that Curtis starred in. This would start with the first 1978 film, then continue on with Halloween II, Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, and Halloween: Resurrection. Then, you could do the Curtis reboot movies: starting with 1978 and then Halloween, Halloween Kills, and Halloween Ends.
Let's not get off track, though! Grab some Halloween treats and keep reading for directions on how to make the most of this slasher favorite—in chronological order.
If you like the Halloween franchise, you'll love these movies:
Halloween (1978)
This list starts off pretty easy. The first movie in the series is where you're meant to begin! This is where you'll be introduced to Michael Myers and exactly how his villain origin story began. It involves his six-year-old sister (who becomes his first victim), his 15-year-stay at a mental health facility (where he was meant to stay for life), and then his escape from said facility. From there, you meet his next victim: Laurie Strode (Jamie lee Curtis). You'll also witness first hand at just what lengths he will go to finally get her.
Halloween II (1981)
If Laurie thought she was safe after avenging herself from Michael's first series of strikes, she was dead-wrong! Michael doesn't give up easily. In fact, he doesn't care that she's in the hospital... he'll make his way there, too! Viewers even learn the biggest secret of all: Michael and Laurie are actually related. That explains why he won't stop coming after her!
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
While the first two movies were easy to follow, things get a little mixed here. The third movie you should watch (in terms of following the story in order) is Halloween IIII. (The actual third movie in the series centers around a slightly different storyline.) Michael, who has left Laurie alone for over a decade now, wakes up from a coma and gets right to business. During his time asleep, Laurie has gained a community of friends and chosen family who all have her back when Michael makes his killer return.
Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989)
Yeah, the town brutally attacked Michael back in the last movie, but he is Michael Myers! So, it should go without saying that he survived the onslaught and is back and stronger than before. Now, Michael is on a mission to find Jamie, who is traumatized by previous events. Jamie finds out he's awake once again but seeks the help of his child psychologist, who might know how to defeat him for good.
Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)
Good news: Jamie gives birth to a precious baby! Bad news: This happens six years after she's kidnapped by a cult. She makes an effort to escape but unfortunately dies. Her baby survives and is rescued by a man named Tommy (someone Laurie used to babysit when he was a kid). Somehow, Michael finds out about this turn of events and makes it his goal to seek revenge on the baby. Does Tommy have what it takes to keep the baby safe?
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)
It turns out that Laurie was playing dead this entire time! (Smart.) After faking her death in Halloween 4 to escape the wrath of Michael, she moved away and had a son. But Michael is too brilliant for anyone's game. He finds out about Laurie's new life and continues his mission for revenge—focusing his anger on her family.
Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
So, it finally happened. Michael was able to catch Laurie, killing her off for good. You'd think he'd be satisfied with reaching his supposed end game, but when a group of college kids break into his abandoned house one year after her death, he has to show them why it's never okay to mess with a killer.
Halloween (2018)
Let's pretend that nothing happened after the first Halloween movie. Seriously, disregard every other sequel when watching this one. Halloween (2018) is a direct sequel to Halloween (1978), reimagining the story of what happened after Michael's time in the mental hospital. Laurie is back, older, and prepared for Michael to break out of the ward that he's been in for so long.
Halloween Kills (2021)
Okay, this one directly follows the events of Halloween (2018). Laurie is almost burned alive before being rushed to the hospital, but she knows her survival will only mean more torment from her estranged brother (who somehow always survives himself). But Laurie and the rest of the Strode girls have decided enough is enough. They are going to battle, and they don't plan to lose.
Halloween Ends (2022)
The journey that never seems to end has led us to the release of the most recent movie in the franchise. This time, it seems that things might finally come to an end. 🤞 We see Laurie living a rather private life with her daughter as she completes the final pages of her memoir. Though, after tragedy strikes her town—we know who's to blame: Michael. He's back once again, but the movie ends with Laurie and her granddaughter finally ending him once and for all! (We think!)
Halloween (2007)
You can technically watch this movie at any point, but it's good to note that it's essentially an entirely different film. Yes, it shares the same title as the original 1978 movie, but it’s actually a reboot that takes place in another time period. The story centers around the history of Michael's wrath and all of his childhood murders.
Halloween II (2009)
View this movie as a sequel to Halloween (2007), and it'll make plenty more sense. In short, Michael has some "family matters" to take care of when he begins to have visions of his sister Laurie. Meanwhile, Laurie is dealing with the aftermath of fighting off Michael in the previous movie. When the two eventually meet again, the story really unfolds.
Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
This film acts as a "breather" from the mayhem that Michael Myers causes. In fact, he's not even in the movie. It tells the story of a popular Halloween mask that children everywhere want to wear. When the masks turns out to have a microchip in it that makes kids do unspeakable things, a certain duo must work together to stop it.
Josiah is the Digital Content Producer for the commerce team at Popular Mechanics, Best Products, Runner’s World, and Bicycling Magazine. He also writes for “BIO Buys”—a column on Biography.com—giving readers the lowdown on what products their favorite celebs are using. In another life, Josiah was an editor at ThePioneerWoman.com, where he sharpened his expertise on all things lifestyle, food-news, and entertainment. Outside work related matters, he’s a fan of Studio Ghibli films, unimportant reality TV drama, and melancholy Lorde songs.
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