The Halloween series is not a straight line. It is a maze with five timelines, a cult subplot, two remakes, and one bold standalone that ditches Michael entirely.

This guide cuts through the noise so you can watch the films with zero confusion.

You will get simple watch paths for each continuity, a clean release order, and helpful tables that spell out what changes from branch to branch.

Whether you want the classic two film arc, the H20 run, the Thorn lore, the Rob Zombie universe, or the recent Laurie comeback, you will find the order that fits your mood and your weekend.

The Halloween franchise is a choose your own adventure of slasher cinema. There are 13 films, five distinct continuities, and one standalone outlier. Use this guide to pick a watch path that matches your mood, then dive deeper with the film by film notes.

Halloween Movies In Order: Quick answer 

There are 13 Halloween films. Michael Myers is the villain in all except Halloween III Season of the Witch.

The series splits into these continuities

1. Original continuity also called Thorn path
   Halloween 1978
   Halloween II 1981
   Halloween 4 The Return of Michael Myers 1988
   Halloween 5 The Revenge of Michael Myers 1989
   Halloween The Curse of Michael Myers 1995

2. H20 continuity
   Halloween 1978
   Halloween II 1981
   Halloween H20 20 Years Later 1998
   Halloween Resurrection 2002

3. Rob Zombie continuity
   Halloween 2007
   Halloween II 2009

4. Blumhouse continuity latest Jamie Lee Curtis run
   Halloween 1978
   Halloween 2018
   Halloween Kills 2021
   Halloween Ends 2022

5. Standalone anthology
   Halloween III Season of the Witch 1982

Best watch paths depending on what you want

• Pure classic to modern finale Laurie vs Michael only
  Halloween 1978 → Halloween 2018 → Halloween Kills → Halloween Ends

• Classic two film arc that defines the early lore
  Halloween 1978 → Halloween II 1981

• Classic four film binge with 90s closure
  Halloween 1978 → Halloween II 1981 → Halloween H20 → Halloween Resurrection

• Longest old school run with the Thorn lore
  Halloween 1978 → Halloween II 1981 → 4 → 5 → Curse of Michael Myers

• Curiosity watch
  Halloween III Season of the Witch as a one off sci fi horror

These paths reflect the officially recognized continuities listed by the franchise overview. Wikipedia

Release order with directors and US release dates

This is the simplest way to watch if you want to feel how the series evolved across decades.

Timeline map with continuity notes

Film by Film Guide with Quick Facts

These summaries explain where each movie fits in the Halloween universe, what makes it unique, and how it connects (or breaks away) from the rest.

1. Halloween (1978)

The film that started it all. John Carpenter’s Halloween introduced Michael Myers, a masked killer who murdered his sister as a child and escapes 15 years later to stalk babysitters in Haddonfield, Illinois. Jamie Lee Curtis stars as Laurie Strode, the lone survivor who unknowingly becomes his obsession.

• Why it matters: Defined the slasher genre and birthed the “final girl” trope. Every continuity begins here.

• Continuity link: Forms the foundation for all timelines.

• Fun fact: Made on a $325,000 budget, it grossed over $70 million and remains one of the most profitable independent films ever.

2. Halloween II (1981)

Picking up immediately after the original’s ending, Laurie is rushed to Haddonfield Memorial Hospital while Dr. Loomis hunts a still-alive Michael Myers. As the night continues, a shocking truth emerges — Michael and Laurie are siblings.

• Why it matters: Cemented the sibling twist that shaped future sequels.

• Continuity link: Direct sequel to 1978; continuity branches diverge from here.

• Fun fact: The film introduced Michael’s supernatural resilience, hinting he may be more than human.

3. Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)

A total departure from the Michael Myers storyline. This standalone entry follows Dr. Dan Challis as he uncovers a sinister mask-making company planning to use Halloween masks to kill children through a cursed TV signal.

• Why it matters: Intended to turn Halloween into an anthology series.

• Continuity link: Separate universe — no Michael Myers.

• Fun fact: The “Silver Shamrock” jingle is still a cult favorite.

4. Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)

After a six-year gap, Michael returns — and so does the carnage. Laurie Strode is said to have died, leaving behind her young daughter, Jamie Lloyd. Michael awakens from a coma and hunts her down, while Dr. Loomis once again tries to stop him.

• Why it matters: Revived the series after the Season of the Witch experiment failed.

• Continuity link: Follows directly after Halloween II.

• Fun fact: Danielle Harris became a horror icon thanks to her role as Jamie Lloyd.

5. Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989)

Set one year after the events of Halloween 4, Jamie survives but suffers trauma and a psychic connection to her uncle, Michael. As he resumes his killing spree, the mysterious “Man in Black” appears — setting up the Cult of Thorn plotline.

• Why it matters: Deepens the psychic bond between Jamie and Michael.

• Continuity link: Direct sequel to 4; leads into The Curse of Michael Myers.

• Fun fact: The Man in Black’s identity wasn’t decided during filming, leaving fans speculating for years.

6. Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)

Six years later, Michael returns under the control of a druid cult called the Cult of Thorn. They claim Michael’s immortality and urge to kill are part of a supernatural curse. Tommy Doyle — the boy Laurie babysat in 1978 — now an adult, tries to end the curse.

• Why it matters: The most divisive entry; it explains (and overcomplicates) Michael’s mythology.

• Continuity link: Concludes the Thorn trilogy (4–6).

• Fun fact: Features Paul Rudd in his first film role. Donald Pleasence passed away shortly after filming, marking his final appearance as Dr. Loomis.

7. Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)

A soft reboot that ignores parts 4–6. Laurie Strode is alive under a new name, Keri Tate, living in California as a private school headmistress. Twenty years later, Michael finds her again. This time, Laurie fights back.

• Why it matters: Reintroduced Jamie Lee Curtis and modernized the franchise for a new generation.

• Continuity link: Continues from Halloween II (1981).

• Fun fact: Features early roles from Josh Hartnett and Michelle Williams.

8. Halloween: Resurrection (2002)

Direct sequel to H20. The film opens with Laurie institutionalized after accidentally killing the wrong man in H20’s ending. Michael kills her early in the movie before hiding in his old family home, now used for a live internet reality show. Naturally, chaos follows.

• Why it matters: Ends the H20 timeline.

• Continuity link: Concludes Laurie’s arc from H20.

• Fun fact: Busta Rhymes famously yells “Trick or treat, motherf***er!” before electrocuting Michael — a line horror fans still quote.

9. Halloween (2007) – Rob Zombie’s Remake

Director Rob Zombie reimagines the story with a grimy, violent tone. The first half explores Michael’s childhood, painting him as a product of abuse. The second half remakes Carpenter’s original night of terror.

• Why it matters: Reinvents Michael as a human monster shaped by trauma.

• Continuity link: Standalone reboot; starts its own universe.

• Box Office: Budget $15 million, grossed over $80 million.

• Fun fact: Zombie’s version polarized fans but gained a loyal cult following for its brutality.

10. Halloween II (2009) – Rob Zombie Sequel

Set one year later, Laurie suffers PTSD while Michael experiences hallucinations of his dead mother guiding him. The film takes a psychological dive into both killer and survivor.

• Why it matters: Ends Rob Zombie’s darker two-part saga.

• Continuity link: Sequel to Zombie’s 2007 remake.

• Fun fact: Rob Zombie’s cut and the theatrical version differ significantly — the director’s cut offers a bleaker ending.

11. Halloween (2018)

David Gordon Green’s legacy sequel wipes the slate clean. Only the original 1978 film counts. Laurie is now a survivalist grandmother living in isolation, haunted by trauma. When Michael escapes captivity after 40 years, their rematch begins.

• Why it matters: Revitalized the franchise for a new generation.

• Continuity link: Direct sequel to the 1978 film.

• Box Office: $259 million worldwide.

• Fun fact: John Carpenter returned as executive producer and composer for the first time since 1982.

12. Halloween Kills (2021)

The story continues immediately after the 2018 film. Haddonfield unites against Michael in a mob-led manhunt that spirals into chaos. Meanwhile, Laurie recovers from her injuries in the hospital.

• Why it matters: Highlights the generational trauma and hysteria Michael causes.

• Continuity link: Second film in the modern trilogy.

• Fun fact: Brought back original characters Tommy Doyle and Lindsey Wallace, now adults leading the fight.

13. Halloween Ends (2022)

Four years after Kills, Haddonfield is still scarred. Laurie tries to rebuild her life with her granddaughter Allyson, but evil resurfaces when Corey Cunningham becomes a new killer under Michael’s shadow. The finale delivers one last brutal confrontation between Laurie and Michael.

• Why it matters: Concludes the modern trilogy and the Laurie Strode saga.

• Continuity link: Final film in the Blumhouse timeline.

• Fun fact: Ends with Michael’s body being publicly destroyed — the most definitive ending in franchise history.

Box office snapshot for the modern run

Franchise box office reference hub

The consolidated franchise ledger is maintained here if you want to compare all entries at once.

FAQs

Q1. What is the best first time watch order

Either pure release order for the historical feel or the tight modern arc
1978 → 2018 → Kills → Ends. Both are correct for newcomers.

Q2. Why do people call it the Thorn timeline
Because 4 to 6 add a cult backstory called Thorn that explains Michaels endurance. This does not exist in the H20 or Blumhouse paths.

Q3. Is Halloween III required
No. It is a separate anthology concept. Watch it as a side story.

Quick streaming note

Rights rotate a lot in October. Platforms change by region and month.

For the most reliable up to the minute status, check a real time guide such as your local JustWatch or the official platform listings, since catalog shifts are common each season.

Recent franchise overviews and platform roundups confirm how fluid this is every October.

Final words

Pick a path and press play. If you are new, start with the original then jump to the modern trilogy for a sharp then and now contrast.

If you want the longest classic ride, follow the Thorn path from part four through Curse. Curious about the oddball entry everyone debates at parties, watch Season of the Witch on its own.

Streaming rights move a lot in October, so check your local listings before you queue things up. Bookmark the tables in this guide and you will never lose the thread of who is related, what is canon, and where to go next.

SEE ALSO:

• Top 10 Best Demon Slayer Halloween Costumes to Buy at Lowest Price
• Halloween Shop
• 10 Best Anime Accessories Under $10 | Amazon Finds

Sources used to verify dates, continuity, and grosses

• Official franchise overview with release dates, directors, and continuity map. Wikipedia
• Original film specs and release details. Wikipedia
• Rob Zombie remake production and gross. Wikipedia

Neha Kumari

Neha is a writer and a graduate of Philosophy Honors. She is an ardent follower of the fiction entertainment industry and loves to read and follow comics, anime, and TV series. Here, at Otakus’ Notes, she is responsible for planning and managing the team and content. Apart from working for Otakus’ Notes, she loves to invest her time in sketching and designing.