How to Watch All 13 'Halloween' Movies In Order, Chronologically
Because Michael Myers' timeline is a little confusing.
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The most frightful time of year consists of show-stopping Halloween costumes, decorative Jack O’ Lanterns and, of course, horror movie marathons galore! One of our favorite ways to kick off the spooky season is by curling up on the couch with a blanket, popping a bag of popcorn and pressing “play” on some of the best Halloween movies around. Whether your marathon consists of ultimate Halloween movie classics like Beetlejuice and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre to nightmare-free, kid-friendly Halloween movies, like Ghostbusters and E.T. the Extra Terrestrial, you can’t go wrong with these blockbusters.
With so many movies to choose from, let’s not forget one of the best movie franchises to date: the Halloween movies. The first Halloween movie was released in 1978 and introduced Michael Myers, a ruthless killer from the age of 6 years old. Now, there are 13 Halloween films, the last of which, Halloween Ends, premiered in 2022.
If you are not familiar with the films or want to re-watch the franchise, figuring out how to watch the Halloween movies can be a little tricky since the release dates don't follow the story's chronological order. Due to several reboots, different film directors and a failed attempt at an anthology series, these Michael Myers films have a unique timeline. Luckily, we have taken out all the hard work and listed the best way to watch these Halloween movies in order. All you have to do is press play and be prepared for a killer night!
Looking for more fright? We also have figured out how to watch the Conjuring movies in order and the Chucky movies in order. There will be endless shrieks and shrills when October rolls around!
Halloween (1978)
The movie that kicks off the whole Halloween film series goes back to 1963 when six-year-old Michael Myers kills his teenage sister, Judith. After being in a mental hospital for 15 years, he escapes and returns to his hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois where begins a killing spree and targets his other sister, Laurie (played by Jamie Lee Curtis), and her friends.
Halloween II (1981)
In Halloween II, the plot picks up right where it left off. After failing to kill Laurie and surviving multiple gun shots, Michael goes after her once again while she is recovering at the hospital. Meanwhile, Dr. Sam Loomis, Michael's childhood psychiatrist, believes that he has discovered the secret to why Michael is after Laurie.
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
Skipping Halloween III because it doesn’t follow the plot line, Halloween 4 takes place 10 years later when Michael wakes up from a coma. Since Laurie died in an off-scene car accident, Michael begins the chase for Laurie’s daughter, Jamie. Once everyone knows that Michael is back, the whole town goes into a frenzy trying to stop him.
Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989)
After Michael is shot multiple times and thrown down a mineshaft in Halloween 4, he once again survives and goes into another coma. When he wakes, he is on an unwavering mission to find Jamie who is incredibly traumatized from the previous events. Although Jamie is terrified, she and Dr. Loomis attempt to defeat Michael once and for all.
Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)
Now, six years later, Jamie gives birth to a baby after being abducted by a cult. As she tries to escape, Jamie dies but the baby survives and is found by Tommy, a boy that Laurie used to babysit. Tommy takes the baby and tries to protect it as Michael goes on a hunt for Jamie’s baby.
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)
Laurie Strode returns in this movie even though she was presumed dead in a car accident in Halloween 4. It turns out that she faked her death in order to avoid Michael. She has concealed her identity for years and now has a son. But of course, Michael finds out and goes after her family.
Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
In this film, Michael finally succeeds at killing Laurie. One year after her death, a group of college kids on a reality TV show stay the night at Michael’s abandoned house — and of course, Michael pays them a visit.
Halloween (2018)
In this reboot directed by David Gordon Green, Halloween (2018) serves as a direct sequel to Halloween (1978), disregarding all previous sequels. Laurie is alive in this film and has been preparing for Michael’s inevitable return while living fearfully in a fortified house. She knows that it’s only a matter of time before Michael breaks out of his psychiatric institution and all hell breaks loose.
Halloween Kills (2021)
Directly following the events of Halloween (2018), Laurie is rushed to the hospital as Michael burns in her basement. But he soon rises from the flames and is out to kill once again. But Laurie and the rest of the Strode women have had enough, and come together to try and kill Michael once and for all.
Halloween Ends (2022)
The latest Halloween movie, Halloween Ends, was released on October 14, 2022. Once again, Michael and Laurie come face-to-face — but this one is billed as "Laurie's last stand." So while it may not be the last Halloween movie, it very well may be the last one we see starring Jamie Lee Curtis. It takes place four years after the events of Halloween Kills, and it is the final installment in director David Gordon Green's trilogy.
Halloween (2007)
Yes, this Halloween movie shares the same title as the 1978 film but it’s a reboot that takes place in another time period. We know, it’s a little confusing, but this is why we think this one can be watched after all the others. Although it shares a similar plot line to the original movie, it shifts the focus to Michael’s childhood murders.
Halloween II (2009)
As a sequel to Halloween (2007), Laurie is dealing with the traumatic events of fighting off Michael from the previous movie. Michael is still alive and begins to have visions of his mother instructing him to reunite with Laurie. When Michael eventually finds Laurie, things take an unforeseen turn.
Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
Last on this list is Halloween III: Season of the Witch, which heads in a totally different direction than the rest of the Halloween franchise. Michael Myers isn't even involved, so it pretty much stands on its own. Instead, Halloween III is about a company that makes Halloween masks with a special microchip embedded in each one. When Halloween night rolls around, the company has a dark plan that puts the children wearing these masks in grave danger.
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