The Definitive Count: How Many Halloween Movies Are There? (And The 5 Confusing Timelines Explained)
The *Halloween* franchise is a sprawling, confusing, and terrifying saga that has stalked the silver screen for over four decades. As of
Understanding the full scope of this iconic slasher series requires navigating a maze of alternate realities, ignored sequels, and creative reboots. From the original "Thorn" curse to the modern David Gordon Green trilogy, the *Halloween* films offer a masterclass in horror longevity, making the simple question—"How many *Halloween* movies are there?"—a surprisingly deep dive into cinematic history.
The Complete List: All 13 Halloween Films by Release Date
The following is the complete, chronological list of every film in the *Halloween* franchise, spanning from John Carpenter's 1978 classic to the final installment of the Blumhouse era. This list serves as the foundation for all the different timelines.
- 1. Halloween (1978) - The Original Masterpiece
- 2. Halloween II (1981) - The Direct Sequel
- 3. Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) - The Standalone Anthology Entry
- 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) - The First Major Reboot
- 8. Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
- 9. Halloween (2007) - Rob Zombie's Remake
- 10. Halloween II (2009) - Rob Zombie's Sequel
- 11. Halloween (2018) - The Second Major Reboot (Blumhouse Trilogy)
- 12. Halloween Kills (2021)
- 13. Halloween Ends (2022)
This list of 13 movies is the total count, but to watch the story coherently, you must choose a timeline. The franchise has splintered into five distinct continuities, each deciding which sequels to keep and which to discard.
The Five Conflicting Timelines of Michael Myers
The reason for the confusion is simple: creative teams keep deciding to ignore previous sequels they don't like. This has resulted in a complex web of narratives that all begin with the 1978 film, but quickly diverge.
Timeline 1: The Original 'Thorn' Continuity (6 Films)
This is the longest and most convoluted timeline, which introduced the infamous "Curse of Thorn" to explain Michael Myers' supernatural evil and his obsession with his sister, Laurie Strode. This timeline was eventually abandoned due to its complicated mythology.
- Halloween (1978)
- Halloween II (1981) - Establishes Laurie Strode as Michael's sister.
- Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers - Ignores the ending of *Halloween II* and focuses on Laurie's daughter, Jamie Lloyd.
- Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
- Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers - Introduces the cult of Thorn mythology.
Timeline 2: The 'H20' Continuity (4 Films)
In 1998, the franchise decided to simplify things and bring back Jamie Lee Curtis. This timeline completely ignores the events of *Halloween 3, 4, 5,* and *6*, picking up directly after *Halloween II* (1981).
- Halloween (1978)
- Halloween II (1981)
- Halloween H20: 20 Years Later - Laurie Strode faked her death and is now living as a headmistress.
- Halloween: Resurrection (2002) - The final and widely criticized entry in this continuity, featuring Busta Rhymes and an early 2000s reality TV plot.
Timeline 3: The Standalone Anthology (1 Film)
The third film in the franchise was an attempt by original creator John Carpenter to turn *Halloween* into an anthology series, with each movie telling a different horror story set on the holiday. It was a commercial failure at the time, leading to the return of Michael Myers in *Halloween 4*.
- Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) - Features no Michael Myers or Laurie Strode, focusing instead on killer masks and a villainous toy maker.
Timeline 4: The Rob Zombie Remake Continuity (2 Films)
In 2007, director Rob Zombie was given the freedom to completely reboot the franchise. His films are darker, grittier, and spend significant time exploring Michael Myers' childhood and the psychological reasons behind his descent into evil, a stark contrast to Carpenter's original vision of "pure evil."
- Halloween (2007) - A remake and origin story.
- Halloween II (2009) - Zombie's dark and controversial sequel.
Timeline 5: The Blumhouse/David Gordon Green Trilogy (3 Films)
The most recent and commercially successful timeline, this continuity is the most ruthless in its retcons. It completely ignores every single film except for the very first one, 1978's *Halloween*. In this universe, Laurie Strode is not Michael's sister, and she has spent 40 years preparing for his return to Haddonfield.
- Halloween (1978)
- Halloween (2018) - Direct sequel, ignoring all others.
- Halloween Kills (2021)
- Halloween Ends (2022) - The conclusion to this specific trilogy.
The Future of the Franchise: Where Does Michael Myers Go Next?
The total count of 13 films officially concluded the Blumhouse era with *Halloween Ends* in 2022. However, the story of Michael Myers is far from over. The most important recent update for the franchise is that Blumhouse no longer holds the rights to the *Halloween* property.
Since the rights have reverted to Miramax and producer Malek Akkad, the franchise is now in a state of creative limbo, ripe for the next major reboot. The next project will be the 14th film or the beginning of a new television series.
Current Speculation and Entities
The current landscape suggests a number of possibilities for the future of "The Shape":
- A Total Reboot: The most likely scenario is a fresh start, similar to the 2007 and 2018 attempts, completely ignoring all 13 previous films. This would allow a new filmmaker to redefine the mythology of the Haddonfield killer.
- A *Halloween* Television Series: There has been significant discussion about moving the franchise to a streaming or cable format. An anthology series, where each season or episode focuses on a different horror story (similar to the original plan for *Halloween III*), is a popular idea among fans and producers.
- The 50th Anniversary: With the original film turning 50 in 2028, a major new film or series is almost guaranteed to be timed for this milestone. The new rights holders will be keen to have a project ready to capitalize on the nostalgia and cultural significance.
While the Blumhouse trilogy successfully brought back Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode and introduced new characters like Allyson Nelson, the new owners will be looking for a new direction. The franchise's enduring success is a testament to the simple, primal terror created by John Carpenter and Debra Hill in 1978, a terror that ensures Michael Myers will always return to Haddonfield, no matter how many times he is killed or how many timelines are created.
For now, fans can enjoy the 13 existing films and the five wildly different ways to watch them. The next chapter in the history of Michael Myers, the ultimate cinematic boogeyman, is simply a matter of when, not if.
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