The Halloween franchise is one of those horror sagas that every scary movie fan should dive into at least once. It’s been haunting us since 1978, when John Carpenter’s original film introduced the world to the terrifyingly silent killer, Michael Myers. The white mask, the kitchen knife, the chilling score—this franchise practically set the template for slashers.
But with so many sequels, reboots, and even a movie that dared to leave Michael out completely, it’s fair to say not every entry is a winner. Some of them are stone-cold classics for sure. Some of the other movies in the series feel a bit like the stale leftover Halloween candy. They are there, but not exactly satisfying. And with spooky season creeping up, there’s no better excuse to head back to Haddonfield. So, let’s dig in and figure out which Halloween films are worth a cozy rewatch. Let’s break it down, one blood-soaked installment at a time.
13. Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
If the Halloween franchise had a “what were they even thinking?” moment, it was probably this installment. Halloween: Resurrection tries to bring Michael Myers back (again) after the previous film ended with him being decapitated—because apparently, even losing your head can’t kill The Shape.
This time around, Michael finds that his childhood home is being used as the set of an internet reality show called “Dangertainment.” A bunch of unlucky teens are dared to spend the night in the house, and of course, Michael shows up to crash the party in his usual stabby fashion.
But here’s the thing—this movie just doesn’t work. The opening scene is a complete disaster. We see Laurie Strode meeting an anticlimactic end that feels like a disservice to her entire character arc. The kills are generic, and the tension is totally nonexistent. The whole “internet live stream” gimmick already felt dated even back in 2002.
Sure, it was directed by Rick Rosenthal, who gave us Halloween II. But even that kind of nostalgic connection wasn’t enough to save it from the ruins. This movie was basically about a masked guy with a strobe light going boo.
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12. Halloween (2007)
Rob Zombie took a swing at rebooting the series. And whether you love or hate this version, you can’t deny that he made it his own. This 2007 film goes back to the beginning, giving Michael Myers a full-blown backstory and diving deep into what made him snap. The result is a much grittier, more violent version of Halloween, one that spends a good chunk of time with young Michael before he becomes the silent killer we know.
This film is divisive for a reason, though. On one hand, it’s fascinating to see Michael’s character explored in more ways than ever before. We get a peek at his abusive home life and his growing obsession with masks. And his slow transformation into a killer was interesting.
On the other hand, some fans felt that all that explaining made Michael less scary. Still, the kills are brutal and the tension is high. The film is unafraid to get ugly. It’s the kind of reboot that doesn’t just want to dust off the mask—it wants to smash it and make a new one out of something nastier.
Funnily enough, the director himself reportedly didn’t love making this film. Rob Zombie said in an interview (via The Playlist),
Making ‘Halloween’ with the Weinsteins was a miserable experience for me … They would show me scenes from ‘Halloween’ to try and make a point and I’d be like, ‘Yeah, I know. I made that movie. Why do you show me that like I’ve never seen it before?
But the movie was raw and was not afraid to get ugly. This might just be the only reason why it still sparks debates all these years later.
11. Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989)
Halloween 4 ended with an exciting and dark twist that left fans shocked. But Halloween 5 pretty much said, “Never mind, let’s do something else.” This one picks up a year later, with Michael back in action and once again targeting his niece, Jamie Lloyd. But instead of following through on the creepy idea that Jamie might become the next killer, the film takes a left turn and makes her a mute child who suffers from psychic visions of her uncle.
It’s… a weird choice. Instead of being scared, viewers spend most of the movie confused about why Jamie is suddenly a completely different character. The tone is all over the place, the scares are weak, and even Michael feels less intimidating this time around. It’s more like an awkward family reunion with way too much blood.
The movie does have its moments—Michael’s mask is pretty scary in this one, and there are a few creative kills—but as far as Halloween
10. Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
Now this one is the oddball of the series. Halloween III: Season of the Witch famously ditches Michael Myers entirely. This movie instead tells the story of an evil toy maker who plots to kill millions of kids on Halloween night. How? Well, by using cursed masks and a stolen piece of Stonehenge. Yep, you read that right—Stonehenge.
When it first came out, fans were furious. No Michael? No Laurie? No creepy guy in a mask stalking babysitters? But here’s the twist—when you watch this film without expecting Michael Myers, it actually works. It’s more of a sci-fi horror thriller than a slasher. The movie has a genuinely chilling atmosphere and one of the most bonkers endings we have ever seen in the franchise.
Looking back now, Season of the Witch is kind of okay in its own weird way, though. It was meant to turn Halloween into an anthology series, with a new scary story every year. Sadly, it bombed at the box office, so Michael was brought back in Halloween 4, but over time, this one has gained a loyal cult following. It’s proof that sometimes, the strangest entry in a series ends up aging well, but still, it’s not that good for sure.
9. Halloween Kills (2021)
Expectations were sky-high for this one after the fantastic 2018 Halloween reboot. But Halloween Kills ended up being a mixed bag. It picks up right where the last movie left off, with Michael surviving the fire at Laurie Strode’s house and going on an absolute rampage through Haddonfield. If you’re here for gnarly kills, this movie delivers—this is easily the most violent Michael Myers has ever been.
The film also brings back several characters from the original movie. We even get to see grown-up Tommy Doyle. This should have been a great nostalgic touch. Unfortunately, the story gets bogged down with strange subplots (looking at you, angry mob scene). And the ending leaves us with way more questions than answers.
Still, there’s no denying this film has got intensity. Michael is more unstoppable than ever in this installment. The kills are more gruesome here than in the other sequels. Even hardcore horror fans might need to look away once or twice while watching this movie. And it is just a shame that the story doesn’t quite match up to the brutality on screen.
8. Halloween II (2009)
Rob Zombie returned for the sequel to his reboot, and this time, he made a film that feels less about Michael Myers and more about Laurie Strode’s descent into trauma. Picking up after the bloody events of the first film, this entry shows Laurie spiraling as she tries to cope with everything she’s been through—while Michael continues his relentless search for her.
This one is raw, messy, and extremely violent, even by Rob Zombie‘s standards. It’s not for the faint of heart. But there’s something strangely fascinating about it, though. Instead of playing it safe, Zombie goes in a completely new direction. He fills the movie with surreal dream sequences, nightmarish visuals, and a bleaker tone than anything else in the franchise.
Not everyone loves this one—some think it’s too grim, too loud, too chaotic—but at least it swings for the fences. It’s less of a straightforward slasher and more of a character study drenched in blood.
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7. Halloween Ends (2022)
After the chaos of Halloween Kills, fans were hyped for Halloween Ends. Fans wanted this installment to give Laurie Strode the epic sendoff that she deserved. And while it promised the “final battle” between Laurie and Michael, the film went a completely different direction by focusing most of its runtime on a new character, Corey, a troubled man whose own dark spiral parallels Michael’s. The result? A divisive entry that feels more like a psychological drama than a slasher showdown.
There are flashes of brilliance, though. Laurie is more present here than in the previous installment, and Jamie Lee Curtis absolutely owns every scene she’s in. But when you market a movie as Laurie vs. Michael, and then sideline that clash for most of the runtime, you are very much asking for fan outrage. The final fight between Laurie and Michael is satisfying enough, but the journey to get there is so long and uneven. This installment felt like Michael Myers showed up to his own finale late.
6. Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)
This is where the franchise officially went off the rails. The Curse of Michael Myers tries to explain why Michael can’t seem to die by introducing the Cult of Thorn, a group that supposedly cursed Michael to kill his family. Yes, they really went there. This supernatural angle could have been cool if executed properly. But instead, it made the film a messy tangle of mythology and clunky exposition, which felt half-baked at best.
The saving grace here is Tommy Doyle, now grown up and played by a very young Paul Rudd in one of his earliest roles. He is charming and determined, even if the plot around him is an incoherent puzzle. And honestly, who doesn’t enjoy watching Paul Rudd chase a masked killer, right? Rudd is absolutely charming here, so if you want to rewatch this one, do it for him.
5. Halloween II (1981)
Halloween II (1981) wastes no time pulling you back into the terror. This installment picks up the very moment the first film ends. So you are instantly thrown back into Haddonfield’s nightmare. But this time, the scares move from the quiet neighborhood streets to a lonely, dimly lit hospital where Laurie is supposed to be safe. Spoiler: she’s not. Michael Myers is still on the loose. He is out there stalking those creepy, empty corridors, and the whole thing feels way too quiet until something terrible happens.
This sequel cranks things up — the kills are nastier, the tension tighter, and the sense of dread never really lets go. Plus, this is the movie that drops the huge twist about Laurie and Michael being siblings, which completely changes how you see their cat-and-mouse game. And honestly, there’s something extra unnerving about Michael wandering around in a hospital gown — like the horror just got even closer and more real.
4. Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)
Jamie Lee Curtis’ return in Halloween H20 feels like the franchise getting its heart back. This movie wipes the slate clean, skipping over several sequels and picking up as if Halloween II just happened.
Laurie is older now, living under a new name, running a private school, and doing her best to keep her past buried — but the scars are still there. You can feel her fear simmering under the surface, and Curtis brings a grounded, emotional weight that makes this showdown with Michael hit even harder.
Seeing Laurie go from final girl to full-on fighter is immensely satisfying. The tension is tighter, the pacing is sharper, and the final act delivers one of the most iconic moments in franchise history — Laurie beheading Michael Myers in an ultimate mic-drop moment. This film also benefits from a late-’90s teen horror vibe that makes it feel like Scream meets Halloween. Laurie chopping off Michael’s head felt like she was personally ending bad sequels.
3. Halloween (2018)
Halloween (2018) takes things back to basics. This movie acts like none of the sequels ever happened, and it works just beautifully. Laurie is no longer just the final girl — she’s a survivor who’s spent forty years waiting for Michael to come back. Her fear has hardened into determination.
Now she has turned her home into a trap-filled fortress. It’s a fresh, raw take that shows trauma can turn someone into both a fighter and a prisoner. This entry nails the balance between nostalgia and fresh storytelling.
Michael is scarier than ever, the kills are brutal without being gratuitous, and Laurie’s family — her daughter and granddaughter — add a new generational layer that keeps things interesting. It feels like a love letter to Carpenter’s classic but with a modern edge. Laurie Strode turning her house into a booby-trapped murder maze was the ultimate “I told you so.”
2. Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
After Halloween III dared to leave Michael out of the picture, Halloween 4 brought him back — though maybe not as terrifying as before. Here, Michael wakes up from a coma and heads back to Haddonfield to stalk his niece, Jamie Lloyd, played by a very young Danielle Harris.
The film’s biggest strength is Jamie herself, who makes for a compelling protagonist. The atmosphere feels closer to the original, and while it doesn’t reach those same chilling heights, it was a relief for fans just to have Michael Myers back on screen.
Unfortunately, the scares are a bit tame, and some of the kills lack that creative punch we’d come to expect. This was Michael’s official “Sorry I missed the last one” comeback tour, but still, it is worth a rewatch.
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1. Halloween (1978)
The one that started it all. It still is the crown jewel of this whole slasher franchise. Halloween (1978) is a masterclass in suspense. This installment follows Laurie Strode as she’s stalked by the masked killer over one terrifying Halloween night. John Carpenter’s direction, paired with that legendary score, creates an atmosphere that feels suffocating in the best way.
Michael Myers isn’t just a slasher villain here — he’s a shape, a shadow, a presence that never stops moving toward you. What makes the original so brilliant is its simplicity. There are no cults, no convoluted timelines, no dream sequences — just pure, relentless horror. Even decades later, this film still manages to give new viewers chills.
Michael Myers basically invented the “slow walk but still catches you” horror trope — and he does it better than anyone else.
So, that’s our little love letter (and side-eye) to the Halloween movies. Now it’s your turn. Which one do you keep coming back to when spooky season rolls around? Drop your favorite in the comments.
