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.
- Director
- Writers
- Stars
- Awards
- 9 wins & 3 nominations total
Nancy Kyes
- Annie
- (as Nancy Loomis)
P.J. Soles
- Lynda
- (as P J Soles)
David Kyle Foster
- Boyfriend
- (as David Kyle)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
I was 20 back in 1978, and saw this on opening weekend. I knew nothing of it, and after growing up on the old Hammer films, followed by a period of almost nothing, this was quite a nice surprise. It really worked! Had me checking the back seat in cars, gave me a sinking feeling when I lost my keys, etc. The low death toll and relative lack of blood, as compared to subsequent slasher films, has me really admiring how effectively it created the atmosphere & suspense that kept me on edge, and made me jump at the right places. I certainly don't jump any more at it, but I do have fun remembering what it was like watching it when the now-cliches were fresh & new. I laugh at the 'horror' flicks of the 30s & 40s, but when they were new, I bet they were something. And I bet in another 20 years, today's toddlers will find Scream/IKWYDLS, et al, to be tame and passe too, at least compared to what they'll (& I'll) be watching then!
I'm surprised at the number of people half my age who wish they could've been around to see this film when it was brand new!
Looking back, Halloween probably scared me more when it was new, than other horror movies have,when they were new. Horror films are indebted to Halloween for breaking some new ground, and I can't wait for the next horror film that will do something on a similar scale.
I'm surprised at the number of people half my age who wish they could've been around to see this film when it was brand new!
Looking back, Halloween probably scared me more when it was new, than other horror movies have,when they were new. Horror films are indebted to Halloween for breaking some new ground, and I can't wait for the next horror film that will do something on a similar scale.
The original Halloween from 1978 is the best one for me. It more or less does what the new ones do. The masked Michael Myers chases his victims, however, it's just different here. I just have a soft spot for old horror movies and older movies in general. From a horror perspective, no one is likely to be scared with this film today, although I did get scared once here. What I did like about the film though was the overall atmosphere. The opening scene was very well done in my opinion, and the film caught my attention right away. Add to that the intro with the excellent music that plays several times here. I would more or less describe it in simplicity is beauty. No master plot. Just a 70's horror chase. I do see a kind of charm in it though, and I liked it. For me, a good movie and especially a classic that I recommend.
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!
Halloween(1978)stars a very young Jamie Lee Curtis, the late Donald Pleasance, and, among others, P.J. Soles(the cap-brat from Carrie). The story centers around the demented/catatonic-schizophrenic Michael Myers and the brutal, cold-blooded murder of his oldest sister in 1963(done by him). Now it is fifteen years later and Michael has escaped the sanitarium and is headed for Haddonfield, Illinois, home of Laurie Strode(Curtis), his sister who was adopted shortly after the 1963 murder. Laurie has no idea about her past and wanders around with her friends, seemingly free of worry, and unaware that her every step is under careful watch from hiding eyes.
In the long run I am at a loss for words. Everything is here. And it's even terrifying...and a slasher movie, what a combination. Slasher movies, to me, usually aren't scary. But Halloween is. Seriously, if you haven't seen it yet you are really missing out. It's a rare achievement in film history and is one of the best horror movies ever made. It's a perfect 10/10 all the way!!!
In the long run I am at a loss for words. Everything is here. And it's even terrifying...and a slasher movie, what a combination. Slasher movies, to me, usually aren't scary. But Halloween is. Seriously, if you haven't seen it yet you are really missing out. It's a rare achievement in film history and is one of the best horror movies ever made. It's a perfect 10/10 all the way!!!
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.
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.
Soundtrack
Preview the soundtrack here and continue listening on Amazon Music.
Did you know
- TriviaFrom a budget of $300,000 over a 20 day shoot, the film went on to gross $47 million at the U. S. 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 4 mins) When Michael Myers, as a child, walks through the living room with the knife, the clock above the stove shows 9:25 and the clock on the wall reads 9:40, but just 5-7 seconds later, the clock chimes 10 times.
- Crazy creditsThe 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 versionsFor 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.
- ConnectionsEdited into Halloween II (1981)
- How long is Halloween?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- Halloween: La Nuit des masques
- Filming locations
- Meridian Avenue & Mission Street, South Pasadena, California, USA(Intersection where Michael drives behind Dr. Loomis who is standing in front of the hardware store.)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $325,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $47,160,000
- Gross worldwide
- $47,175,973
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