{"id":296673,"date":"2025-10-31T00:00:57","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T04:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/25yearslatersite.com\/?p=296673"},"modified":"2026-08-14T02:39:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T02:39:23","slug":"halloween-franchise-ranking-from-13-to-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.andrewgrevas.com\/?p=296673","title":{"rendered":"Halloween Franchise Ranking: From 13 to 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

John Carpenter and Debra Hill had no idea back in 1978 that they were changing the horror<\/a> genre. They set out to make a scary movie about babysitters being stalked on Halloween night. They weren\u2019t thinking about sequels – let alone 12 of them. They weren\u2019t thinking about Corey Cunningham\u2019s awful night of babysitting, heavy metal musicians directing reboots or angry mobs screaming \u201cEvil dies tonight!\u201d. But John Carpenter\u2019s Halloween<\/em> changed everything. It kick started the slasher craze and Michael Myers became a household name. Nearly 50 years after Carpenter and Hill took the horror genre by storm, we\u2019re doing a Halloween<\/em> franchise ranking here on 25YL to celebrate the day that he came home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now I will freely admit that my Halloween<\/em> franchise ranking looks completely different from when I started working on Horror in Haddonfield: The Untold Stories of Halloween, <\/em>my book<\/a> on the franchise. Some will inevitably find these rankings controversial. But I qualify myself by saying that I spent two years watching these films, writing on these films & interviewing<\/a> over 25 members of the franchise cast & crew. After all that work, here are my personal Halloween<\/em> franchise ranking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

13. Halloween Resurrection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Brad
Image courtesy of Brad Loree<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

With all due apologies to Busta Rhymes and his sweet karate kicks, the eighth film in the series is the franchise low point. That\u2019s not to say that Resurrection<\/em> was all bad – it\u2019s still an enjoyable film. But the awkward H20<\/em> epilogue at the beginning of the film hurts the film more than it helps it. The fact that the movie is stand alone (besides the aforementioned epilogue) isn\u2019t a bad thing per se – but some kind of attempt to setup future films would\u2019ve helped. Halloween is a series built upon ongoing stories and Resurrection<\/em> actively fought against that, which ultimately hurts what otherwise was a fun popcorn flick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

12. Halloween Kills<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Michael
Halloween Kills screenshot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Coming in second to last in my Halloween franchise ranking is the middle film from the recent Blumhouse trilogy, Halloween Kills<\/em>. I will say this – Kills<\/em> functions best when you look at it as the middle part of a trilogy and not as a stand alone film. When judged on its own merits, it\u2019s hard to overlook how the film lifts too much from franchise past (the hospital setting from Halloween II<\/em> and the angry mob of Haddonfield citizens from Halloween 4<\/em>) and then throws in an astronomically large body count to make up for the liberal borrowing from previous films. \u201cEvil dies tonight\u201d clearly wasn\u2019t intended to become the meme worthy punchline that it\u2019s become. That being said, the opening flashback sequence was nothing short of brilliant & Judy Greer was top notch here, so this film wasn\u2019t all bad. But it\u2019s second to last on the list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11. Halloween 5: Revenge of Michael Myers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Halloween
Screenshot <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers<\/em> comes in next on my Halloween<\/em> franchise ranking. The drastic tonal shift from Midwestern Americana to European Gothic from the previous film to this one caught a lot of fans off guard. The refusal to follow up on the brilliant cliffhanger ending the previous film gave them to work with was a surprise to many as well. Killing off fan favorite Rachel so early in the film\u2026well you get the point. That being said, Halloween 5 <\/em>toyed with some interesting concepts and had memorable sequences such as the one at Tower Farm. And no matter what anyone says, I will always love Tina. But not even her excessive 80\u2019s awesomeness was enough to make this film more than a mixed bag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. Halloween (2007)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Scout
Screenshot <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Rob Zombie\u2019s first Halloween<\/em> film is 45 minutes of a glimpse into every true crime documentary ever and half shot by shot faithful remake of John Carpenter\u2019s Halloween<\/em>. Not everyone embraced Zombie\u2019s grindhouse take on a cinematic classic, but the performances can\u2019t be denied. Zombie was at his best when he wasn\u2019t working from the source material and giving into his artistic impulses instead, which was made abundantly evident by his far superior sequel. His first trip to Haddonfield will mostly be remembered for the violence, which is unfortunate when considering the brilliant performances from Scout Taylor-Compton, Danielle Harris and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Halloween: Curse of Michael Myers<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Marianne
Screenshot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The Curse of Michael Myers<\/em> best version exists not in either the Producers Cut or the Theatrical Cut, but rather in the script. Writer Dan Farrands took on the Herculean task of trying to make a cohesive narrative out of everything that came before the sixth installment in the series. Had corporate interference at the hands of the Brothers Weinstein been a non factor, this film would likely be much higher on my Halloween<\/em> franchise ranking. Farrands script was written for fans, by a true fan and it\u2019s a travesty that his vision was hampered by some of the most vile people in Hollywood history. While the theatrical release is flawed, Marianne Hagan gave a memorable performance as final girl Kara and in the first half of the film (at least), those iconic fall vibes where on display once again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Halloween (2018)<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Halloween
Screenshot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The first entry into David Gordon Green\u2019s trilogy for Blumhouse was highlighted by Jamie Lee Curtis\u2019 raw performance and a new cast that absolutely rose to the occasion. Curtis\u2019 take on Laurie was drastically different from Halloween H20, <\/em>where Laurie put up a tough exterior. Here, she\u2019s visibly broken. Her Linda Hamilton from Terminator<\/em> facade is enjoyable, but it\u2019s moments such as the heart wrenching dinner scene where we see the real Laurie and what the after effects of trauma truly look like. More than any of the scares or kills, that\u2019s what should be taken away from this film – that great talent can make even tired tropes feel fresh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Halloween H20<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Michael
Screenshot <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In perhaps an ironic twist of fate, next on my Halloween<\/em> franchise ranking is the other time Jamie Lee Curtis returned to the series. Her portrayal of Laurie in Halloween H20<\/em> is much more subtle here than in the 2018 incarnation. She\u2019s masking her inner turmoil with drugs and alcohol but when the realization hits that her son is now the age she was when she encountered Michael Myers, she snapped. Halloween H20 <\/em>is the shortest film in the series but not a single minute is wasted – one story beat feeds into the next, which feeds into the next. Chris Durand\u2019s portrayal of Michael ranks as one of the best in the series and a strong supporting cast (Adam Arkin, Josh Hartnett and Michelle Williams) makes this Steve Minor directed effort feel even more significant today. Obviously the retconning of the previous four films is an issue for some, but that aside, the film is a highlight of the franchise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Halloween II (2009)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Danielle
Halloween 2 screenshot <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Rob Zombie\u2019s second trip to Haddonfield is one of the most divisive films in the series, but it comes in at number 6 on my Halloween<\/em> franchise ranking. Rob Zombie\u2019s Halloween II<\/em> is equal parts David Lynch, Giallo and grindhouse, which makes it feel unlike anything else in the series. An argument could be made that it was the precursor to the \u201celevated horror\u201d craze that shortly followed too. Rob Zombie\u2019s Halloween II <\/em>is a film that you need to feel before you try to understand. While the horror genre (and this franchise) are full of films that explore trauma, this look is unlike anything else. It\u2019s messy, it\u2019s vulnerable, it\u2019s raw and arguably an analogy for what Rob Zombie himself was experiencing at the hands of the Weinsteins while making this film. If you previously weren\u2019t a fan of this film, turn your mind off and let it wash over you in a rewatch, so you can be ahead of the impending cultural re-examination of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Halloween II<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Jimmy
Screenshot <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While John Carpenter himself might not be a fan of Halloween II, <\/em>most others are. Picking up exactly where the previous film ended, Michael is furious that he didn\u2019t get the girl. The foreplay is over and violence ensues. While its predecessor was Hitchcocian in nature, Halloween II <\/em>is a time period appropriate slasher. Narratively the stylistic changes make sense, as the masked killer is furious after failing to kill Laurie Strode and everyone in his way will pay for that. He\u2019s done stalking. Bring on the blood. Had this been the ending of the Michael Myers saga, it would have been perfect. Laurie gets the cute boy (in the television version at least) and Loomis and Michael die together in Shakespearean fashion. The franchise lived on but this film still holds up really well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Halloween Ends<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Corey
Screenshot <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Halloween Ends<\/em> at number 4 on a Halloween<\/em> franchise ranking? I know, I know. We\u2019ve all heard the criticism. Michael looked weak! They should have introduced Corey in a previous film! We were promised an epic showdown between Michael and Laurie! None of these frequently spouted on social media critiques hold much water. Halloween Ends <\/em>was an epic conclusion between Michael and Laurie but it was so much more than that. It was a film that learned from the mistakes of the franchise (Season of the Witch<\/em>) by not removing Michael from the story, but making the story about his impact more so than about him. This film is about Haddonfield. It\u2019s about how a town recovers (or doesn\u2019t recover) from tragedy. It\u2019s about how we treat our neighbors after really bad things have happened at home. Real world violence and things that scare us have an impact on our environment. Fictionally speaking, that\u2019s the Michael Myers effect. We didn\u2019t need another film where Michael chased around Laurie and friends and that\u2019s not what we got. The film we instead saw, was a film where Michael\u2019s shadow looked tall and a town failed to get out from underneath it for years. It also showed us that evil never truly dies because we\u2019re the ones who conjure it back through our actions and how we treat one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Dwight
Screenshot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers<\/em> captured the spirit of the original film in this series better than any other. It\u2019s a rare, universally loved sequel that most horror fans recognize as saving this franchise. Rachel and Jamie collectively filled the Laurie Strode role, offering a sister dynamic that was relatable for many audience members. The supporting characters in this film are some of the best in the series and the script is insanely tight, with one story best flowing into the next. Everything makes sense in this movie. Of course the ending is arguably the best in the series and one of the best shockers in horror history. Given that the next film opted to not make young Jamie the new villain of the series, Halloween 4<\/em>\u2019s ending remains one of the great what ifs in movie history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Halloween III: Season of the Witch<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"season<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coming in at second in my Halloween<\/em> franchise ranking is the only film to treat Michael Myers as a fictional character, Halloween III: Season of the Witch<\/em>. Tom Atkins and Stacey Nelkin have tremendous on-screen chemistry in this Invasion of the Bodysnatchers<\/em> inspired film, which was intended to move this franchise into an anthology series and get away from the narrative of the previous two films. Decades after its release, Season of the Witch<\/em> is now beloved deservedly but for many years, it was the black sheep of the series. Perhaps best known for its incredibly bleak ending and the ever catchy jingle heard throughout the film, Season of the Witch<\/em> was bold, innovative and so 80\u2019s it hurts, but also a genre classic that\u2019s finally getting the recognition it deserves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. John Carpenter\u2019s Halloween<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Jamie
Screenshot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

We\u2019ve reached number 1 on my Halloween<\/em> franchise ranking and there was only one choice here. No matter how old you were or where you were when you first saw this film, we all saw something we liked, as John Carpenter and Debra Hill changed film forever with Halloween<\/em>. This film has been written about and analyzed for almost five decades now, but there\u2019s really only thing that needs to be said: John Carpenter\u2019s Halloween<\/em> is a perfect film that will stand the test of time. Totally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What did you think of the Halloween franchise ranking? Sound off in the comments and let us know. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

John Carpenter and Debra Hill had no idea back in 1978 that they were changing the horror genre. They set out to make a scary movie about babysitters being stalked on Halloween night. They weren\u2019t thinking about sequels – let alone 12 of them. They weren\u2019t thinking about Corey Cunningham\u2019s awful night of babysitting, heavy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29874,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"saved_in_kubio":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[281],"tags":[142,137,143,138,139,140,144,145,146],"class_list":["post-296673","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lists-rankings","tag-blumhouse","tag-danielle-harris","tag-donald-pleasence","tag-halloween","tag-jamie-lee-curtis","tag-john-carpenter","tag-michelle-williams","tag-rob-zombie","tag-tom-atkins"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewgrevas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/296673","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewgrevas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewgrevas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewgrevas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewgrevas.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=296673"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewgrevas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/296673\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":298895,"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewgrevas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/296673\/revisions\/298895"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewgrevas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/29874"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewgrevas.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=296673"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewgrevas.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=296673"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewgrevas.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=296673"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}