Michael Myers is one of the most iconic horror villains in cinema, and the Halloween franchise has been terrifying fans since the night he came home 45 years ago. Each of the 13 films in the series has fun moments and they’re all worth a watch, but some are much better than others. Let’s rank the Halloween movies from worst to best.
Halloween: Resurrection, 2002
Just pure absurdity. In a kind of fun way, sure, but still absurdity. The Halloween franchise gives its take on the world of online entertainment and reality shows with a story about a group of college students who must spend a night in a creepy house with a dark history. The scares in the house are supposed to be staged, but it just so happens to be the house that Michael Myers is hiding out in. Carnage ensues, and the participants must fight to survive the night.
Why it’s here: Halloween H2O had a nice sense of closure to it, and Resurrection undid all of that for a film that just didn’t deliver. Also, Jamie Lee Curtis was advertised as in the film and appeared for all of about three minutes.
Best moment: Busta Rhymes taking on Michael Myers one-on-one, with the iconic “Trick or Treat, MF” line.
Timeline: Halloween, Halloween II, Halloween: H2O
Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, 1995
1990s conspiracy theories are on full display in Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers. A young Paul Rudd plays Tommy Doyle, all grown up from his ordeal in the original film. He is piecing together the conspiracy behind Michael Myers and a mysterious cult that wants to harm a child Doyle is protecting. As the sixth Halloween film, it’s the final entry in what is known as the Thorn trilogy.
Why it’s here: A lot of reasons. Explaining Michael Myers’ “powers” as being the result of a druid curse takes a lot away from the character. Also, the residents of Haddonfield are just plain stupid in this movie. They could at least not be shocked that the shape has returned again.
Best moment: Michael Myers gets a kill on a woman in her backyard amongst her drying laundry. The sheets add for a nice bit of suspense, and a great visual contrast against the inevitable blood.
Timeline: Halloween, Halloween II, Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers, 1989
Halloween 5 is one of those movies that’s actually a lot of fun right up until the moment that you start thinking about it. The cops are nonsensical and intentionally presented as inept, and Halloween 5 is also the moment that Donald Pleasance goes completely over the top with Loomis. The hardest thing about the film is that it tries to give you laughs, then expects you to buy into the tension it’s trying to create.
Why it’s here: Some great kills keep Halloween 5 above the worst movies in the series.
Best moment: The scene in the laundry chute. Huge tension and great fun.
Timeline: Halloween, Halloween II, Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
Halloween II, 2009
Rob Zombie’s gory second Halloween film is everything you’d expect from the director. It’s violent, graphic, and can be unsettling. Zombie is also freed from doing a direct remake like he did with the 2007 film. The result strays a bit from the 1981 movie but still has significant callbacks, most notably the hospital sequence.
Why it’s here: I really like the Rob Zombie Halloween outings, but the sequel is lower on the list because it ultimately didn’t shift the direction of the franchise.
Best moment: The ending of the director’s cut demonstrates just how willing Zombie is to upend the entire series.
Timeline: Halloween (2007)
Halloween Kills, 2021
I love what David Gordon Green was trying to do with the middle film of his Halloween trilogy. The story addresses the “us versus them” mentality, dealing with trauma and the dangers of mob mentality. If that seems like a lot for a slasher flick to deal with, you’re not wrong. Halloween Kills has so many outstanding moments, but it fails to completely stick the landing because it’s trying to tackle too much.
Why it’s here: Aside from the cluttered story, Laurie Strode is on the sidelines for the majority of the film. Never a good recipe.
Best moment: The ending. Saying more would be a spoiler, but it instantly dials up the stakes for the third movie.
Timeline: Halloween, Halloween (2018)
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, 1988
Halloween 4 does a lot of things right. Jamie Lee Curtis wasn’t returning to the series, so the Laurie Strode character was killed off via an off-screen car accident. New to the franchise is Jamie (Danielle Harris) as Michael’s niece. She is joined by the returning Donald Pleasance as Loomis, and, of course, Michael Myers returning to the Halloween franchise after Halloween III was an attempt to make the franchise an anthology. Michael has been in a coma for ten years, but returns to Haddonfield to terrorize once again.
Why it’s here: It’s the best of the Thorn trilogy of movies and a solid Halloween entry overall.
Best moment: Jamie with the scissors. If you know, you know.
Timeline: Halloween, Halloween II
Halloween, 2007
Rob Zombie’s first Halloween film is the only time a remake has been done in the franchise. The best thing about the movie is that Michael’s childhood gets explored extensively in an attempt to give humanity to the character. The first half of the movie is some of my favorite on-screen content in the franchise. The second half unfortunately doesn’t live up to the original.
Why it’s here: This reboot was better than most people thought it was going to be in 2007.
Best moment: Not a moment, but Malcolm McDowell is great as Dr. Loomis.
Timeline: No movies before it — a new timeline begins with this film.
Halloween Ends, 2022
It’s probably the least slasher-y of the Michael Myers Halloween movies, but there’s so much good stuff going on in Halloween Ends. The final film by David Gordon Green is a story about how evil spreads and why some people embrace it. The Escapist’s Darren Mooney recently wrote about how the reboot trilogy as a whole reflects fascism in modern society. Corey Cunningham is a friend of Laurie Strode’s granddaughter and has been ostracized by the town since a terrible accident took place. After extreme rejection from the community, he turns to Michael and evil. Halloween Ends is very much Corey’s story, but we still get the confrontation between the two characters that have defined the franchise.
Why it’s here: Halloween Ends tells a poignant story, and the final confrontation between Michael and Laurie has a lot of weight and a sense of finality to it.
Best moment: Laurie facing down Michael one last time. Neither is as young as they once were, but this confrontation was easily the most emotional of them all.
Timeline: Halloween, Halloween II, Halloween (2018), Halloween Kills
Halloween III: Season of the Witch, 1982
Also known as “the one that doesn’t have Michael Myers in it,” Halloween III was an attempt to turn the franchise into an anthology. Each movie would be a standalone experience, and Halloween III involved evil Halloween masks made by a nefarious toymaker. Tom Atkins is wonderful in the lead role, and the story is pretty great too. Halloween III gets overlooked among the movies, but it’s a really fun ride and a break from Michael Myers was the best move at the time.
Why it’s here: Halloween III might be even higher if it tied into any of the other films in any way.
Best moment: In one scene, we see Tom Atkins’ Don Challis watching the original Halloween on his television.
Timeline: No movies before it. Halloween III is a standalone movie.
Halloween H2O: Twenty Years Later
This is easily the most controversial entry on this list, and I will fully admit my bias. Halloween H2O was the first Halloween movie I saw in theatres, and there was something special about these iconic characters being on-screen together again. Also, this film ignores the Thorn trilogy, which will never leave me disappointed. Here, Laurie has been in hiding for twenty years after faking her death, but Michael hunts her and her teenage son (Josh Hartnett) down at their California prep school.
Why it’s here: There are some incredible moments in H2O, and the cast is outstanding. Jamie Lee Curtis returns and is joined by Josh Hartnett, Michelle Williams, Adam Arkin, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and LL Cool J.
Best moment: The stare down between Michael Myers and Laurie Strode through the door in the window. It’s not close.
Timeline: Halloween, Halloween II
Halloween II, 1981
The success of the original movie meant that a sequel was inevitable. Halloween II picks up immediately after the conclusion of Halloween, and finds Michael Myers continuing to stalk an injured Laurie Strode, once again played by Jamie Lee Curtis. A significant portion of the action takes place at a hospital, and the confined space adds to the tension and stakes throughout the movie. Donald Pleasance returns as Loomis and is fun as always.
Why it’s here: Strong character development and the tension the hospital provides drive Halloween II.
Best moment: The hot tub kill scene in the hospital.
Timeline: Halloween
Halloween (2018)
Like many fans, I was excited but a bit skeptical when a new Halloween movie was announced in 2017 featuring a returning Jamie Lee Curtis. But instead of replaying the greatest hits like so many sequels with significant time gaps do, Halloween (2018) is a meaningful addition to the story. The film ignores everything except the 1978 movie, and Laurie Strode is a paranoid person suffering from severe emotional damage. She is an outcast and the scars of trauma are still there 40 years later. Plus, the third act is tremendous and delivered what Halloween fans had been hoping for.
Why it’s here: When the eleventh film in a franchise does this much to add to the characters and story, it deserves a lot of praise.
Best moment: When we learn what the room beneath Laurie’s kitchen is really for.
Timeline: Halloween
Halloween (1978)
Of course the original was going to be number one. The night he came home is still the benchmark for slasher films, and Michael Myers is one of the best horror villains ever. What really stands out about the original Halloween is the excellent pacing in the film. Halloween takes its time to build, and by the time we arrive at the third act, fans are invested in the characters and care about what happens to them. What happens is bloodshed and terror, and only some will survive.
Why it’s here: The original Halloween is one of the best slasher movies ever made. Not many films from other franchises would top it.
Best moment: Not so much a moment, but Michael hiding in plain sight while stalking Laurie early in the film.
Timeline: None — this is the first film in the series.
