John Carpenter

Directing

John Carpenter

Born

1948-01-16 (78)

Place of birth

Carthage, New York, USA

Known for

Directing

Credits

115 titles

An American film director, screenwriter, producer, editor, composer, and occasional actor. Although Carpenter has worked in numerous film genres in his four-decade career, his name is most commonly associated with horror and science fiction. Most films in Carpenter's career were initially commercial and critical failures, with the notable exceptions of Halloween (1978), The Fog (1980), Escape from New York (1981), and Starman (1984). However, many of Carpenter's films from the 1970s and the 1980s have come to be viewed as cult classics, and he has been acknowledged as an influential filmmaker. Cult classics that Carpenter directed include: Dark Star (1974), Assault on Precinct 13 (1976), …

Known for

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert poster
6.1

Stephen Colbert brings his signature satire and comedy to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the #1 show in late night, where he talks with an eclectic mix of guests about what is new and relevant in the worlds of politics, entertainment, business, music, technology, and more. Featuring bandleader Jon Batiste with his band Stay Human, the Emmy Award-nominated show is broadcast from the historic Ed Sullivan Theater.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

2015

The Rifleman poster
7.1

The Rifleman is an American Western television program starring Chuck Connors as rancher Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford as his son, Mark McCain. It was set in the 1880s in the town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory. The show was filmed in black-and-white, half-hour episodes. "The Rifleman" aired on ABC from September 30, 1958 to April 8, 1963 as a production of Four Star Television. It was one of the first prime time series to have a widowed parent raise a child.

The Rifleman

1958

Halloween poster
7.6

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.

Halloween

1978

The Thing poster
8.1

A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.

The Thing

1982

The Movies That Made Us poster
7.3

These blockbusters brought us together and gave us the time of our lives. Meet the actors, directors and industry insiders who made them happen.

The Movies That Made Us

2019

Through the Night with... poster
7.9

Durch die Nacht mit … is a German documentary film television series produced by ZDF for Franco-German television channel ARTE. Locations are mainly in France or Germany. The title of the French version is Au cœur de la nuit. Two Celebrities spend an filmed evening together. One of them is the host who sets the location and the program. There is no moderator.

Through the Night with...

2002

Film credits

2020s · 11 titles

Studio 666 poster
5.8

Legendary rock band Foo Fighters move into an Encino mansion steeped in grisly rock and roll history to record their much anticipated 10th album. Once in the house, Dave Grohl finds himself grappling with supernatural forces that threaten both the completion of the album and the lives of the band.

Studio 666

2022

I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not poster
6.5

From his Saturday Night Live beginnings to a string of classic comedies, Chevy Chase has always had huge comedic range. He is also a complex and contradictory human being. Featuring revealing interviews with those closest to him, this documentary digs into the talent, flaws, and humanity that shaped an icon.

I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not

2025

Hammer: Heroes, Legends and Monsters poster
7.7

A look at Hammer’s progression from a back office in London’s Regent Street to its iconic status within the horror film genre. The company, started by comedian and businessman William Hinds in 1934, made films such as The Curse of Frankenstein, Dracula, and The Quatermass Xperiment during the period for which it is best known, making stars out of the likes of Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing.

Hammer: Heroes, Legends and Monsters

2024

The Thing Expanded poster
8.8

The ultimate companion to John Carpenter’s "The Thing", digging deep into the proverbial iceberg to enhance your viewing experience with new insights, stories, and revelations.

The Thing Expanded

2026

In Search of Darkness: 1995-1999 poster
7.0

In Search of Darkness: 1995-1999 celebrates and explores the movies that defined the era: from Scream’s genre-shattering impact to J-Horror’s global emergence, from mind-bending twists to Y2K apocalyptic dread, and from blockbuster hits to straight-to-video gems.

In Search of Darkness: 1995-1999

2025

In Search of Tomorrow poster
6.8

A nostalgic journey through ’80s Sci-Fi-films, exploring their impact and relevance today, told by the artists who made them and by those who were inspired to turn their visions into reality.

In Search of Tomorrow

2022

The History of Metal and Horror poster
5.0

A documentary that explores the history of heavy metal music, horror films, and how the two genres have merged together over time.

The History of Metal and Horror

2021

Halloween in Hollywood poster
1.0

Chris Hardwick hosts this epic night celebrating all things Halloween, including interviews with Jamie Lee Curtis, Jason Blum and David Gordon about the film Halloween Ends, and special celebrity appearances from Blake Shelton, Terry Crews and more.

Halloween in Hollywood

2022

The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault poster
NR

THE AGFA MYSTERY MIXTAPE VAULT is a 2-disc, 500-minute odyssey that collects eight feature-length VHS mixtapes from the crackpots at AGFA—including two that have only ever been available theatrically.

The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault

2020

John Carpenter: Live From Los Angeles - Halloween Night poster
NR

Experience Halloween night with horror master John Carpenter live in concert—performing his iconic film scores and haunting synths in a chilling, cinematic spectacle you won’t forget.

John Carpenter: Live From Los Angeles - Halloween Night

2025

In Search of Darkness: Part III poster
7.6

The conclusion to the ‘In Search of Darkness’ '80s trilogy. In this epic final chapter, our focus turns to the straight-to-video horror classics that populated the bottom shelves at the video rental store. Imaginative, gory, experimental—but always entertaining—these hidden gems are ripe for rediscovery.

In Search of Darkness: Part III

2022

2010s · 7 titles

Henchman: The Al Leong Story poster
7.0

Story of Al Leong, the greatest henchman in film history.

Henchman: The Al Leong Story

2018

In Search of Darkness poster
7.5

An exploration of '80s horror movies through the perspective of the actors, directors, producers and SFX craftspeople who made them, and their impact on contemporary cinema.

In Search of Darkness

2019

Nightmare Factory poster
7.2

The story of how one Pittsburgh boy’s fascination with monsters drove him to the very top of the Hollywood food chain. In 1989, Greg Nicotero, much to his parents’ chagrin, quit medical school and headed for Hollywood to pursue a dream of making monsters. Together with gore masters Howard Berger and Robert Kurtzman, Nicotero went on to create KNB EFX Group, one of the most prolific makeup effects studios in the world. After twenty years as the “go to guy” for the world’s most successful horror/sci-fi films, Greg Nicotero is the first one directors like Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez call.

Nightmare Factory

2011

Scary Girl poster
6.0

Scary girl is a great movie but... I haven't seen it

Scary Girl

2011

Why Horror? poster
5.9

Horror fan Tal Zimerman examines the psychology of horror around the world to find out why people love to be scared.

Why Horror?

2014

The Rise of the Synths poster
7.6

A documentary about the Synthwave scene, nostalgia and the universe of creating sounds. A love letter to human fascination and the collective memories of a universe, that never existed.

The Rise of the Synths

2019

Let There Be Light: The Odyssey of Dark Star poster
4.8

Exploring the controversial story behind John Carpenter (Halloween & The Thing) and writer Dan O Bannon's (Alien & Return of the Living Dead) from first feature film. From its humble beginnings as a USC student film, to its modern day status as a cult masterpiece. It also offers a rare glimpse inside the creative minds of two USC film students... who would eventually go on to change the way horror films are made.

Let There Be Light: The Odyssey of Dark Star

2010

2000s · 22 titles

Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown poster
7.2

A chronicle of the life, work and mind that created the Cthulhu mythos.

Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown

2008

The American Nightmare poster
6.8

An examination into the nature of 1960's-70's horror films, the involved artists, and how they reflected contemporary society.

The American Nightmare

2000

The Perfect Scary Movie poster
7.7

A documentary looking at the various conventions and scare techniques of the horror genre.

The Perfect Scary Movie

2005

Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film poster
6.8

This historical and critical look at slasher films, which includes dozens of clips, begins with Halloween, Friday the 13th, and Prom Night. The films' directors, writers, producers, and special effects creators comment on the films' making and success. During the Reagan years, the films get gorier, budgets get smaller, and their appeal wanes. Then, Nightmare on Elm Street revives the genre. Jump to the late 90s, when Scream brings humor and TV stars into the mix.

Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film

2006

Masters of Horror poster
7.8

Documentary showcasing the work of prominent film directors in the horror genre. Featuring interviews with the directors, behind the scenes footage and clips from popular horror films, and hosted by Bruce Campbell, star of The Evil Dead (1981).

Masters of Horror

2002

Scoring 'Ghosts of Mars' poster
NR

Featurette focusing on scoring the film, featuring John Carpenter and Anthrax. Produced for the “Ghosts of Mars” DVD.

Scoring 'Ghosts of Mars'

2001

Nightmares in Red, White and Blue poster
6.5

An exploration of the appeal of horror films, with interviews of many legendary directors in the genre.

Nightmares in Red, White and Blue

2009

Halloween: 25 Years of Terror poster
6.8

Follow the evolution of the 'Halloween' movies over the past twenty-five years. It examines why the films are so popular and revisits many of the original locations used in the films - seeing the effects on the local community. For the first time, cast, crew, critics and fans join together in the ultimate 'Halloween' retrospective.

Halloween: 25 Years of Terror

2006

The Master's Touch: Hitchcock's Signature Style poster
6.8

Documentary that features interviews with Martin Scorsese, Curtis Hanson, Francis Lawrence, William Friedkin, Guillermo Del Toro, John Carpenter and others as they discuss the films and style of the Master of Suspense.

The Master's Touch: Hitchcock's Signature Style

2009

Hollywood's Creepiest Creatures poster
7.0

Elvira hosts this humorous look at movie monsters and facts about the real animals on which they're based. Included: clips from films; and interviews with scientists and various showbiz types, including directors John Carpenter and John Landis, and actors Jeff Goldblum and Roy Scheider.

Hollywood's Creepiest Creatures

2004

Scream and Scream Again: A History of the Slasher Film poster
7.0

Documentary tracing the rise of the 'slasher' movie.

Scream and Scream Again: A History of the Slasher Film

2000

Tales from the Script poster
6.6

Shane Black ("Lethal Weapon"), John Carpenter ("Halloween"), Frank Darabont ("The Shawshank Redemption"), William Goldman ("The Princess Bride"), Paul Schrader ("Taxi Driver"), and dozens of other Hollywood screenwriters share hilarious anecdotes and penetrating insights in "Tales from the Script," the most comprehensive documentary ever made about screenwriting. By analyzing their triumphs and recalling their failures, the participants explain how successful writers develop the skills necessary for toughing out careers in one of the world's most competitive industries. They also reveal the untold stories behind some of the greatest screenplays ever written, describing their adventures with luminaries including Harrison Ford, Stanley Kubrick, Joel Silver, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Spielberg. The film was produced in tandem with the upcoming HarperCollins book of the same name.

Tales from the Script

2009

Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet poster
4.7

Documentary film exploring the making, and legacy of 'Forbidden Planet'

Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet

2006

Hollywood's Greatest Villains poster
9.5

Villains have always been with us. In a war-plagued world, brutality and corruption embody our darkest fears--all that is selfish and wicked in the human soul. And they also happen to be great box-office draw as we see in this fascinating, terrifying look at some of the most evil--and best-loved--characters ever created--from Dracula to Darth Vader to Hannibal Lecter. Featuring interviews with actors like Sharon Stone (Basic Instinct) and directors such as George Lucas (Star Wars), John Carpenter (Halloween), this riveting, insightful film exploration takes viewers through more than 100 years of screen evil, including clips from the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. Shiver through our comprehensive gallery of rogues in a bone-chilling homage to the men and women who haunt our darkest dreams...and fulfill our most secret desires?

Hollywood's Greatest Villains

2005

The Wages of Sin poster
7.5

Second part of a three-part documentary series on the making of Once Upon a Time in the West, Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone's masterpiece, released in 1968. (Preceded by An Opera of Violence; followed by Something to Do With Death.)

The Wages of Sin

2003

Fantastic Flesh: The Art of Make-Up EFX poster
6.6

This documentary delves into the art of make-up effects with industry legends Dick Smith, Rob Bottin, Tom Savini, John Landis, Frank Darabont, Joe Dante and many others with a strong focus on Greg Nicotero and Howard Berger of KNB Make-Up EFX. Written by Kevin VanHook

Fantastic Flesh: The Art of Make-Up EFX

2008

No artwork available
8.0

Retrospective documentary on the making of John Carpenter's science fiction cult classic "Escape from New York."

Return to 'Escape from New York'

2003

Red Desert Nights: Making Ghosts of Mars poster
7.6

Documentary about the making of John Carpenter's sci-fi horror movie, "Ghosts of Mars." Produced for the "Ghosts of Mars" DVD.

Red Desert Nights: Making Ghosts of Mars

2001

In the Master's Shadow: Hitchcock's Legacy poster
6.8

Films beget films. Filmmakers influence other filmmakers constantly. But the most influential filmmaker of all time is Alfred Hitchcock.

In the Master's Shadow: Hitchcock's Legacy

2008

Partners in Crime: Hitchcock's Collaborators poster
NR

Four featurettes focus on Hitch's collaborations: "Saul Bass: Title Champ" (opening credits), "Edith Head: Dressing the Master's Movies" (costumes), "Bernard Herrmann: Hitchcock's Maestro" (music) and "Alma: The Master's Muse" (Hitchcock's partnership with his wife).

Partners in Crime: Hitchcock's Collaborators

2008

Scoring "Resident Evil" poster
4.9

Documentary about the “Resident Evil” video game and how it was transformed into a feature film. Featuring director Paul W.S. Anderson, stars Milla Jovovich and Michelle Rodriguez, producer Jeremy Bolt, and video game and cultural critics. Produced for the “Resident Evil” DVD.

Scoring "Resident Evil"

2002

Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest poster
6.6

Using original interviews with director John Carpenter, stars Jamie Lee Curtis and P.J. Soles, and crew members, 'Halloween': A Cut Above the Rest unveils the production of the horror classic and how the ingenuity of Carpenter and his team, coupled with the shoestring budget of $325,000, drove the filmmakers to create one of the most influential horror films of all time.

Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest

2003

1990s · 7 titles

Village of the Damned poster
6.1

An American village is visited by some unknown life form which leaves the women of the village pregnant. Nine months later, the babies are born, and they all look normal, but it doesn't take the "parents" long to realize that the kids are not human or humane.

Village of the Damned

1995

Memoirs of an Invisible Man poster
5.9

After a freak accident, an invisible yuppie runs for his life from a treacherous CIA official while trying to cope with his new life.

Memoirs of an Invisible Man

1992

The Silence of the Hams poster
4.8

Rookie FBI agent Jo Dee Foster has been assigned to work on the case of the Psycho Killer, a psycho killer who has psycho-killed over 120 people. But to learn more about his target, he's forced to meet Dr. Animal Cannibal Pizza, a famous doctor turned cannibal who ate pizzas with human body parts. Meanwhile, Jo's girlfriend, Jane Wine, has just stolen $400,000 in cash from her money-hungry boss, Mr. Laurel, so she and Jo can be happy, but gets lost in a horrible storm and stops at the Cemetery Motel, where the owner, Antonio Motel, is dominated by his insane mother.

The Silence of the Hams

1994

Body Bags poster
6.2

A horror anthology containing three stories: a female college student working a graveyard shift is terrorized by a serial killer; a hair transplant goes horribly wrong; and a baseball player loses an eye and gets a new one from a recently executed murderer.

Body Bags

1993

Fear in the Dark poster
9.0

A short documentary on the history of the horror film narrated by Christopher Lee.

Fear in the Dark

1991

Horror Cafe poster
8.5

April 1990 - Six horror icons gather at the horror cafe to create the ultimate horror movie for the year 2000, these icons include: horror author Lisa Tuttle, director John Carpenter, author Clive Barker, producer & director Roger Corman, novelist Ramsey Campbell and screenwriter Peter Adkins.

Horror Cafe

1990

The Thing: Terror Takes Shape poster
7.4

An in-depth look at the making of John Carpenter's cult classic sci-fi horror The Thing, telling the story of a group of researchers in Antarctica who encounter a parasitic extra-terrestrial life-form that assimilates, then imitates other organisms.

The Thing: Terror Takes Shape

1998

1980s · 10 titles

The Thing poster
8.1

A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.

The Thing

1982

Escape from New York poster
7.0

In a world ravaged by crime, the entire island of Manhattan has been converted into a walled prison where brutal prisoners roam free. After the US president crash-lands inside, war hero Snake Plissken has 24 hours to bring him back.

Escape from New York

1981

The Fog poster
6.7

Strange things begin to occur as a tiny California coastal town prepares to commemorate its centenary. Inanimate objects spring eerily to life; Rev. Malone stumbles upon a dark secret about the town's founding; radio announcer Stevie witnesses a mystical fire; and hitchhiker Elizabeth discovers the mutilated corpse of a fisherman. Then a mysterious iridescent fog descends upon the village, and more people start to die.

The Fog

1980

They Live poster
7.3

A lone drifter stumbles upon a unique pair of sunglasses that reveal aliens are systematically gaining control of the Earth by masquerading as humans and lulling the public into submission.

They Live

1988

The Boy Who Could Fly poster
6.3

Milly and Louis, and their recently-widowed mom, Charlene, move to a new neighborhood. Once there, they all deal with a variety of personal problems, but Milly finds a friend in Eric, her autistic next door neighbor. Eric has a fascination with flight, and as the story progresses, he exerts an enthralling force of change on all those around him.

The Boy Who Could Fly

1986

Big Trouble in Little China poster
7.2

Truck driver Jack Burton gets embroiled in a supernatural battle when his best friend Wang Chi's green-eyed fiancée is kidnapped by henchmen of the sorcerer Lo Pan, who must marry a girl with green eyes in order to return to the human realm.

Big Trouble in Little China

1986

Starman poster
6.9

When an alien takes the form of a young widow's husband and asks her to drive him from Wisconsin to Arizona, the government tries to stop them.

Starman

1984

First Works poster
7.0

First Works is an exciting collection of uncensored interviews with this generation's most successful filmmakers. Academy Award winners Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind), Oliver Stone (Born On The Fourth Of July), and Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump) reveal their major influences, inspirations, and thoughts on the process of making movies. Featured clips include footage of award-winning student films and from blockbuster hits such as Platoon and Lethal Weapon. Golden Globes and Oscar nominee Martin Scorsese on religion, and Susan Seidelman, director of Sex And The City bridges the gender gap. Find out how past experiences, triumphs, and tragedies shape the work of the most successful filmmakers in Hollywood.

First Works

1989

Stephen King's World of Horror poster
8.0

This horror documentary is not the same as the 1986 TV special Stephen King's World of Horror nor the 1988 VHS release of the same name, which runs 45 minutes, was distributed by Front Row Entertainment and is about King himself. Instead, This Is Horror (copyright 1989) was a TV special which ran in four 60 minute increments. This new special used some framing footage from the original 'World of Horror' but is primarily newer interviews and behind-the-scenes footage about what was hot in horror in the late 80s. Here in the U.S., a condensed 90-minute version made its way onto video courtesy of Goodtimes in 1990. Elsewhere, the entire special was released as 2 different tapes running 90 minutes apiece. In the UK these were titled This is Horror: A Video Encyclopedia of Horror (Volumes 1 and 2) and in Germany they were called Best of Stephen King's World of Horror (Parts 1 & 2).

Stephen King's World of Horror

1989

Stephen King's World of Horror poster
6.1

A documentary about the works of novelist Stephen King and his influence on popular culture and his impact on horror film and novels. Includes celebrity guests John Carpenter, Clive Barker and Frank Darabont, plus a section on outrageous horror film promotions. Portions of this 45-minute TV special (released as is on VHS by Front Row Entertainment in 1988) were later used as bookmarking material for the This is Horror releases in 1989-90.

Stephen King's World of Horror

1986

Series credits

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert poster
6.1

Stephen Colbert brings his signature satire and comedy to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the #1 show in late night, where he talks with an eclectic mix of guests about what is new and relevant in the worlds of politics, entertainment, business, music, technology, and more. Featuring bandleader Jon Batiste with his band Stay Human, the Emmy Award-nominated show is broadcast from the historic Ed Sullivan Theater.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

2015

The Rifleman poster
7.1

The Rifleman is an American Western television program starring Chuck Connors as rancher Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford as his son, Mark McCain. It was set in the 1880s in the town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory. The show was filmed in black-and-white, half-hour episodes. "The Rifleman" aired on ABC from September 30, 1958 to April 8, 1963 as a production of Four Star Television. It was one of the first prime time series to have a widowed parent raise a child.

The Rifleman

1958

The Movies That Made Us poster
7.3

These blockbusters brought us together and gave us the time of our lives. Meet the actors, directors and industry insiders who made them happen.

The Movies That Made Us

2019

Through the Night with... poster
7.9

Durch die Nacht mit … is a German documentary film television series produced by ZDF for Franco-German television channel ARTE. Locations are mainly in France or Germany. The title of the French version is Au cœur de la nuit. Two Celebrities spend an filmed evening together. One of them is the host who sets the location and the program. There is no moderator.

Through the Night with...

2002

Crossbow poster
6.3

Crossbow follows the adventures of William Tell and takes place in the 14th-century in Switzerland. William Tell and his son are imprisoned by the tyrannical Gessler. As Governor of Austria, Gessler plans to stop the Swiss uprising. Having split the apple on his son's head with his crossbow, much to Gessler's chagrin, there is no stopping William Tell's legendary strength and skill.

Crossbow

1987

John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in L.A. poster
5.9

In six live installments, John Mulaney explores Los Angeles during a week when pretty much every funny person is in town.

John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in L.A.

2024

The Real History of Science Fiction poster
6.8

The series heads to the very frontiers of space and science to produce the definitive television history of science fiction, told through its impact on cinema, television and literature, with the help of filmmakers, writers, actors, and graphic artists. Each episode will explore one of the enduring themes of science fiction: time travel; the exploration of space; robots and artificial intelligence; and aliens.

The Real History of Science Fiction

2014

100 Years of Horror poster
7.0

A multi-volume documentary on the history of horror movies. Hosted by veteran horror star Christopher Lee, this video series brings together footage from many notable (and some less notable) films from the silent era up to the 90's. Also included are interviews with many of the leading horror actors and filmmakers, in which they share their stories, opinions, and techniques on how to make the world scream.

100 Years of Horror

1996

A History of Horror poster
7.1

Mark Gatiss examines the history of the horror film, from classic Hollywood monsters to Hammer's glory days and beyond.

A History of Horror

2010

100 Scariest Movie Moments poster
7.9

Featuring interviews, film clips, and production stills, this miniseries explores what went into the making of most bone-chilling moments in cinematic history and searches beyond the conventions of the genre to uncover the number one scary movie moment of all time.

100 Scariest Movie Moments

2004

The Director's Chair poster
7.0

Robert Rodriguez sits down with the industry's most iconic directors and engages in a revealing and unexpected exchange about the world of filmmaking.

The Director's Chair

2014

Charles Band’s Full Moon Freakshow poster
7.0

Join trailblazing producer, director, best-selling author and B-movie mogul Charles Band as he invites you into his weird world.

Charles Band’s Full Moon Freakshow

2022

Amityville: An Origin Story poster
7.5

The story behind the world's most infamous haunted house tale: the Amityville murders. This is the first elevated look at every aspect of this wildly layered story about the heinous murder of a family of six that became eclipsed by paranormal controversy. 

Amityville: An Origin Story

2023

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Track Stories

2015

No artwork available
7.7

The 100 Greatest Scary Moments is a British two-part documentary mini-series which aired on Channel 4 on 25 October and 26 October 2003. Celebrity guest interviews include Sigourney Weaver, John Carpenter, Janet Leigh, Wes Craven, Alice Cooper, Robert Englund, Christopher Lee and Steven Spielberg.

100 Greatest Scary Moments

2003

Behind the camera

Halloween poster
7.6

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.

Halloween

1978

Halloween poster
7.6

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.

Halloween

1978

Halloween poster
7.6

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.

Halloween

1978

The Thing poster
8.1

A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.

The Thing

1982

Escape from New York poster
7.0

In a world ravaged by crime, the entire island of Manhattan has been converted into a walled prison where brutal prisoners roam free. After the US president crash-lands inside, war hero Snake Plissken has 24 hours to bring him back.

Escape from New York

1981

Escape from New York poster
7.0

In a world ravaged by crime, the entire island of Manhattan has been converted into a walled prison where brutal prisoners roam free. After the US president crash-lands inside, war hero Snake Plissken has 24 hours to bring him back.

Escape from New York

1981

Halloween II poster
6.6

After failing to kill stubborn survivor Laurie and taking a bullet or six from former psychiatrist Dr. Sam Loomis, Michael Myers has followed Laurie to the Haddonfield Memorial Hospital, where she's been admitted for Myers' attempt on her life. The institution proves to be particularly suited to serial killers, however, as Myers cuts, stabs and slashes his way through hospital staff to reach his favorite victim.

Halloween II

1981

Halloween II poster
6.6

After failing to kill stubborn survivor Laurie and taking a bullet or six from former psychiatrist Dr. Sam Loomis, Michael Myers has followed Laurie to the Haddonfield Memorial Hospital, where she's been admitted for Myers' attempt on her life. The institution proves to be particularly suited to serial killers, however, as Myers cuts, stabs and slashes his way through hospital staff to reach his favorite victim.

Halloween II

1981

The Fog poster
6.7

Strange things begin to occur as a tiny California coastal town prepares to commemorate its centenary. Inanimate objects spring eerily to life; Rev. Malone stumbles upon a dark secret about the town's founding; radio announcer Stevie witnesses a mystical fire; and hitchhiker Elizabeth discovers the mutilated corpse of a fisherman. Then a mysterious iridescent fog descends upon the village, and more people start to die.

The Fog

1980

The Fog poster
6.7

Strange things begin to occur as a tiny California coastal town prepares to commemorate its centenary. Inanimate objects spring eerily to life; Rev. Malone stumbles upon a dark secret about the town's founding; radio announcer Stevie witnesses a mystical fire; and hitchhiker Elizabeth discovers the mutilated corpse of a fisherman. Then a mysterious iridescent fog descends upon the village, and more people start to die.

The Fog

1980

They Live poster
7.3

A lone drifter stumbles upon a unique pair of sunglasses that reveal aliens are systematically gaining control of the Earth by masquerading as humans and lulling the public into submission.

They Live

1988

They Live poster
7.3

A lone drifter stumbles upon a unique pair of sunglasses that reveal aliens are systematically gaining control of the Earth by masquerading as humans and lulling the public into submission.

They Live

1988

Escape from L.A. poster
5.9

Into the 9.6-quaked Los Angeles of 2013 comes Snake Plissken. His job: wade through L.A.'s ruined landmarks to retrieve a doomsday device.

Escape from L.A.

1996

Escape from L.A. poster
5.9

Into the 9.6-quaked Los Angeles of 2013 comes Snake Plissken. His job: wade through L.A.'s ruined landmarks to retrieve a doomsday device.

Escape from L.A.

1996

Ghosts of Mars poster
5.2

In 2176, a Martian police unit is sent to pick up a highly dangerous criminal at a remote mining post. Upon arrival, the cops find the post deserted and something far more dangerous than any criminal — the original inhabitants of Mars, hellbent on getting their planet back.

Ghosts of Mars

2001

Ghosts of Mars poster
5.2

In 2176, a Martian police unit is sent to pick up a highly dangerous criminal at a remote mining post. Upon arrival, the cops find the post deserted and something far more dangerous than any criminal — the original inhabitants of Mars, hellbent on getting their planet back.

Ghosts of Mars

2001

Prince of Darkness poster
6.8

A priest discovers an ancient canister containing a strange liquid in an abandoned church. When a group of graduate students and scientists are tasked with studying it, they unknowingly unleash an evil force waiting to destroy all of humanity.

Prince of Darkness

1987

Prince of Darkness poster
6.8

A priest discovers an ancient canister containing a strange liquid in an abandoned church. When a group of graduate students and scientists are tasked with studying it, they unknowingly unleash an evil force waiting to destroy all of humanity.

Prince of Darkness

1987

Christine poster
6.9

Nerdy high schooler Arnie Cunningham falls for Christine, a rusty 1958 Plymouth Fury, and becomes obsessed with restoring the classic automobile to her former glory. As the car changes, so does Arnie, whose newfound confidence turns to arrogance behind the wheel of his exotic beauty. Arnie's girlfriend Leigh and best friend Dennis reach out to him, only to be met by a Fury like no other.

Christine

1983

Big Trouble in Little China poster
7.2

Truck driver Jack Burton gets embroiled in a supernatural battle when his best friend Wang Chi's green-eyed fiancée is kidnapped by henchmen of the sorcerer Lo Pan, who must marry a girl with green eyes in order to return to the human realm.

Big Trouble in Little China

1986

In the Mouth of Madness poster
7.2

An insurance investigator visits a small town while looking into the strange disappearance of a popular horror novelist. He soon finds that the impact of the author’s books is far more than inspirational.

In the Mouth of Madness

1995

Village of the Damned poster
6.1

An American village is visited by some unknown life form which leaves the women of the village pregnant. Nine months later, the babies are born, and they all look normal, but it doesn't take the "parents" long to realize that the kids are not human or humane.

Village of the Damned

1995

Halloween III: Season of the Witch poster
5.3

After a terrified toy salesman is mysteriously attacked and brought to the hospital clutching the year's most popular Halloween mask, Dr. Daniel Challis sets out to investigate the strange events and finds himself thrust into a nightmarish conspiracy.

Halloween III: Season of the Witch

1982

Memoirs of an Invisible Man poster
5.9

After a freak accident, an invisible yuppie runs for his life from a treacherous CIA official while trying to cope with his new life.

Memoirs of an Invisible Man

1992

Starman poster
6.9

When an alien takes the form of a young widow's husband and asks her to drive him from Wisconsin to Arizona, the government tries to stop them.

Starman

1984

Black Moon Rising poster
5.5

An FBI free-lancer stashes a stolen Las Vegas-crime tape in a high-tech car stolen by someone else.

Black Moon Rising

1986

Assault on Precinct 13 poster
7.3

A highway patrol officer, two criminals, and a station secretary form an unlikely alliance to defend a defunct Los Angeles precinct against a siege by a bloodthirsty street gang.

Assault on Precinct 13

1976

Assault on Precinct 13 poster
7.3

A highway patrol officer, two criminals, and a station secretary form an unlikely alliance to defend a defunct Los Angeles precinct against a siege by a bloodthirsty street gang.

Assault on Precinct 13

1976

Vampires poster
6.3

The church enlists a team of vampire-hunters to hunt down and destroy a group of vampires searching for an ancient relic that will allow them to exist in sunlight.

Vampires

1998

The Ward poster
5.7

Kristen, a troubled young woman, is captured by the police after burning down a farmhouse and is locked in the North Bend Psychiatric Hospital. Soon, she begins to suspect that the place has a dark secret at its core and she's determined to find out what it is.

The Ward

2011

The Fog poster
4.6

Trapped within an eerie mist, the residents of Antonio Bay have become the unwitting victims of a horrifying vengeance. One hundred years earlier, a ship carrying lepers was purposely lured onto the rocky coastline and sank, drowning all aboard. Now they're back – long-dead mariners who've waited a century for their revenge.

The Fog

2005

Eyes of Laura Mars poster
5.8

A famous fashion photographer develops a disturbing ability to see through the eyes of a serial killer.

Eyes of Laura Mars

1978

Body Bags poster
6.2

A horror anthology containing three stories: a female college student working a graveyard shift is terrorized by a serial killer; a hair transplant goes horribly wrong; and a baseball player loses an eye and gets a new one from a recently executed murderer.

Body Bags

1993

Someone's Watching Me! poster
6.2

A young woman moves to a high-rise apartment building and soon begins to be tormented by an unknown stalker who seems to know her every move.

Someone's Watching Me!

1978

Someone's Watching Me! poster
6.2

A young woman moves to a high-rise apartment building and soon begins to be tormented by an unknown stalker who seems to know her every move.

Someone's Watching Me!

1978

Dark Star poster
6.0

A group of scientists are sent on a mission to destroy unstable planets. Twenty years into their mission, they have to battle their alien mascot as well as a "sensitive" and intelligent bombing device that starts to question the meaning of its existence.

Dark Star

1974

Dark Star poster
6.0

A group of scientists are sent on a mission to destroy unstable planets. Twenty years into their mission, they have to battle their alien mascot as well as a "sensitive" and intelligent bombing device that starts to question the meaning of its existence.

Dark Star

1974

Dark Star poster
6.0

A group of scientists are sent on a mission to destroy unstable planets. Twenty years into their mission, they have to battle their alien mascot as well as a "sensitive" and intelligent bombing device that starts to question the meaning of its existence.

Dark Star

1974

El Diablo poster
5.6

When mild-mannered teacher Billy Ray Smith vows to bring a student's kidnapper to justice, he needs a bit of help. Lacking any cowboy skills of his own, he signs on a speedy gunslinger and a no-nonsense cowboy to help. Now, Smith may just have a chance at capturing his man: the merciless bandit El Diablo.

El Diablo

1990

Elvis poster
6.9

This biopic traces Elvis Presley’s life from his impoverished childhood to his meteoric rise to stardom to his triumphant conquering of Las Vegas.

Elvis

1979