How to watch

John Carpenter's Halloween (1978) is one of the most influential horror films ever made — a film built on atmosphere, dread, and the simple terrifying idea of evil walking through your neighborhood on an autumn night. Michael Myers became one of cinema's greatest monsters, and the franchise that grew around him is as complicated as it is iconic. There are three main continuities to keep track of: the original timeline, Rob Zombie's brutal reimagining, and the acclaimed David Gordon Green trilogy that serves as a direct sequel to the 1978 original.

🕐 Release Order

Release order takes you through the full history of the franchise across all three timelines, from Carpenter's 1978 masterpiece to the conclusion of the Green trilogy.

1. Halloween (1978)
2. Halloween II (1981)
3. Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
4. Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
5. Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989)
6. Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)
7. Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)
8. Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
9. Halloween (2007) — Rob Zombie remake
10. Halloween II (2009) — Rob Zombie sequel
11. Halloween (2018) — David Gordon Green timeline
12. Halloween Kills (2021)
13. Halloween Ends (2022)

The Halloween franchise splits into three separate timelines. Each timeline begins with (or builds directly from) the 1978 original and then diverges based on creative choices made by different filmmakers.

📖 Story Chronology

Story chronology is best understood timeline by timeline. Halloween III is a standalone film with no Michael Myers — it was an early attempt to turn the franchise into an anthology. The three timelines below each start from the same 1978 origin.

1. Halloween (1978) — the original: Michael Myers escapes and stalks babysitter Laurie Strode
2. Halloween II (1981) — Original Timeline: continues immediately after the original; Laurie in hospital
3. Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988) — Original Timeline: Michael targets Laurie's daughter Jamie
4. Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989) — Original Timeline: Jamie is haunted by a psychic link to her uncle
5. Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995) — Original Timeline: a Druid cult and an adult Jamie's son
6. Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998) — H20 Timeline (ignores 4-6): Laurie faked her death and now faces Michael again
7. Halloween: Resurrection (2002) — H20 Timeline: a reality show broadcasts from the Myers house
8. Halloween (2007) — Rob Zombie Timeline: gritty reimagining of Michael's origin story
9. Halloween II (2009) — Rob Zombie Timeline: darker, more psychological sequel
10. Halloween (2018) — Green Timeline (ignores all sequels): Laurie has spent 40 years preparing for Michael's return
11. Halloween Kills (2021) — Green Timeline: the town of Haddonfield fights back
12. Halloween Ends (2022) — Green Timeline: the final confrontation between Laurie and Michael

Which Order Should You Choose?

For newcomers, the simplest and most satisfying path is the Green Timeline: watch the original Halloween (1978), then jump straight to Halloween (2018), Halloween Kills, and Halloween Ends. This trilogy treats the 1978 film as its only predecessor and features a powerfully written version of Laurie Strode played by Jamie Lee Curtis at her best. For horror completionists, follow release order from 1978 through 2022 — just know that each timeline reset means some continuity inconsistencies along the way. Halloween III: Season of the Witch is worth watching as a standalone curiosity, even though it has nothing to do with Michael Myers.

🔗 Related Guides

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