7.8/10
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Halloween (1978)

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 to kill again.

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(screenplay), (screenplay)
Popularity
1,878 ( 496)
5 wins & 2 nominations. See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Annie (as Nancy Loomis)
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...
...
Brian Andrews ...
John Michael Graham ...
Bob
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...
Mickey Yablans ...
Brent Le Page ...
Lonnie
Adam Hollander ...
Keith
Robert Phalen ...
...
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Storyline

The year is 1963, the night: Halloween. Police are called to 43 Lampkin Ln. only to discover that 15 year old Judith Myers has been stabbed to death, by her 6 year-old brother, Michael. After being institutionalized for 15 years, Myers breaks out on the night before Halloween. No one knows, nor wants to find out, what will happen on October 31st 1978 besides Myers' psychiatrist, Dr. Loomis. He knows Michael is coming back to Haddonfield, but by the time the town realizes it, it'll be too late for many people. Written by Massive Fan

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

Happy Halloween! See more »

Genres:

Horror | Thriller

Certificate:

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Parents Guide:

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Details

Official Sites:

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Country:

Language:

Release Date:

27 October 1978 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

La nuit des masques  »

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Box Office

Budget:

$300,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$47,000,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$70,000,000
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (Extended TV Version)

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Tommy Lee Wallace had worked second unit for John Carpenter on this film and was originally chosen by Carpenter and the producers to direct Halloween II (1981). His approach was more of a Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998) approach, where it' s five years later and Lorie was in graduate school when Michael resurfaces. But Carpenter insisted this had to be a very next day kind of sequel, and the studio and producers were insisting on a lot more blood due to the success of Friday the 13th (1980). Because of all this Wallace decided he wasn't comfortable with the sequel, and he declined. He did direct Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) however. See more »

Goofs

(at around 35 mins) When Annie drops off Laurie at the Doyle house, Laurie walks towards the front door which is a French door in this scene; throughout the rest of the movie the door is solid. See more »

Quotes

Lindsey: I'm scared!
Laurie: There's nothing to be scared of.
Tommy: Are you sure?
[Laurie nods]
Tommy: How?
Laurie: I killed him...
Tommy: But you can't kill the boogeyman!
See more »

Crazy Credits

The music for the film -- written and performed by John Carpenter -- is instead credited to "The Bowling Green Philharmonic Orchestra." Carpenter grew up in Bowling Green, Kentucky. See more »

Connections

Spoofed in The Babysitter (2014) See more »

Soundtracks

Don't Fear The Reaper
Written by Donald Roeser
Performed by Blue Öyster Cult
Courtesy C.B.S. Records
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

Sure scared me back in 78
30 December 1998 | by – See all my reviews

I was 20 back in 1978, and saw this on opening weekend. I knew nothing of it, and after growing up on the old Hammer films, followed by a period of almost nothing, this was quite a nice surprise. It really worked! Had me checking the back seat in cars, gave me a sinking feeling when I lost my keys, etc. The low death toll and relative lack of blood, as compared to subsequent slasher films, has me really admiring how effectively it created the atmosphere & suspense that kept me on edge, and made me jump at the right places. I certainly don't jump any more at it, but I do have fun remembering what it was like watching it when the now-cliches were fresh & new. I laugh at the 'horror' flicks of the 30s & 40s, but when they were new, I bet they were something. And I bet in another 20 years, today's toddlers will find Scream/IKWYDLS, et al, to be tame and passe too, at least compared to what they'll (& I'll) be watching then!

I'm surprised at the number of people half my age who wish they could've been around to see this film when it was brand new!

Looking back, Halloween probably scared me more when it was new, than other horror movies have,when they were new. Horror films are indebted to Halloween for breaking some new ground, and I can't wait for the next horror film that will do something on a similar scale.


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