Moustapha Akkad

Directing

Moustapha Akkad

Born — Died

1930-07-01 — 2005-11-11

Place of birth

Aleppo, Syria

Known for

Directing

Credits

16 titles

Moustapha Akkad (July 1, 1930 - November 11, 2005) was a Syrian-American director and producer. Akkad arrived in the United States with only $200, to pursue studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, and then at the University of Southern California, where he earned a master's degree in film. His determination and talent attracted the attention of director Sam Peckinpah, who became his mentor and facilitated his professional debut as a producer at CBS, paving the way for a remarkable and socially engaged career. Akkad is famous for producing the legendary "Halloween" horror film saga. Starting with Halloween (1978), he revolutionized the slasher genre in the United States and lef…

Known for

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 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

Lion of the Desert poster
7.3

Resistance leader Omar Mukhtar opposes Italian colonization before World War II. The brutal guerrilla war against Italian General Rodolfo Graziani and the Fascist forces of Benito Mussolini highlights the struggle for Libyan independence and the harsh tactics utilised by the colonisers.

Lion of the Desert

1981

The Message poster
7.1

In sixth-century Mecca, Prophet Muhammad receives his first revelation from God as a messenger. Three years later, he's not alone in his quest and publicly declares his prophecy. Muhammad is fought by Abu Sufian and his wife Hind, rulers of Mecca. Muhammad's followers are hunted and tortured but he continues his calling.

The Message

1976

The Message poster
8.5

In sixth-century Mecca, Prophet Muhammad receives his first revelation from God as a messenger. Three years later, he's not alone in his quest and publicly declares his prophecy. Muhammad is fought by Abu Sufian and his wife Hind, rulers of Mecca. Muhammad's followers are hunted and tortured but he continues his calling.

The Message

1976

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

Film credits

2000s · 4 titles

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 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

Lion of the Desert poster
7.3

Resistance leader Omar Mukhtar opposes Italian colonization before World War II. The brutal guerrilla war against Italian General Rodolfo Graziani and the Fascist forces of Benito Mussolini highlights the struggle for Libyan independence and the harsh tactics utilised by the colonisers.

Lion of the Desert

1981

Lion of the Desert poster
7.3

Resistance leader Omar Mukhtar opposes Italian colonization before World War II. The brutal guerrilla war against Italian General Rodolfo Graziani and the Fascist forces of Benito Mussolini highlights the struggle for Libyan independence and the harsh tactics utilised by the colonisers.

Lion of the Desert

1981

The Message poster
7.1

In sixth-century Mecca, Prophet Muhammad receives his first revelation from God as a messenger. Three years later, he's not alone in his quest and publicly declares his prophecy. Muhammad is fought by Abu Sufian and his wife Hind, rulers of Mecca. Muhammad's followers are hunted and tortured but he continues his calling.

The Message

1976

The Message poster
7.1

In sixth-century Mecca, Prophet Muhammad receives his first revelation from God as a messenger. Three years later, he's not alone in his quest and publicly declares his prophecy. Muhammad is fought by Abu Sufian and his wife Hind, rulers of Mecca. Muhammad's followers are hunted and tortured but he continues his calling.

The Message

1976

The Message poster
8.5

In sixth-century Mecca, Prophet Muhammad receives his first revelation from God as a messenger. Three years later, he's not alone in his quest and publicly declares his prophecy. Muhammad is fought by Abu Sufian and his wife Hind, rulers of Mecca. Muhammad's followers are hunted and tortured but he continues his calling.

The Message

1976

The Message poster
8.5

In sixth-century Mecca, Prophet Muhammad receives his first revelation from God as a messenger. Three years later, he's not alone in his quest and publicly declares his prophecy. Muhammad is fought by Abu Sufian and his wife Hind, rulers of Mecca. Muhammad's followers are hunted and tortured but he continues his calling.

The Message

1976

Free Ride poster
3.1

A group of teenagers borrow a car, unaware that gangsters have stashed mob money in it. The gangsters are determined to get the money back.

Free Ride

1986

Appointment with Fear poster
2.6

Moustapha Akkad, the man who brought you HALLOWEEN, invites you to keep an APPOINTMENT WITH FEAR. According to legend, Attis, King of the Woods, sacrificed his child to keep his own spirit alive and free to wander the earth at will. APPOINTMENT WITH FEAR casts this evil in contemporary terms: can a group of free-spirited teenagers and an inquisitive detective save a dying woman's infant from being Attis' next victim? The suspense is unrelenting as they - and you - keep an APPOINTMENT WITH FEAR.

Appointment with Fear

1985