Director hub · 7 films · 1978 to 1994
John Carpenter: every horror film in order
Halloween, The Fog, The Thing and the synth scores that defined a sound. Mostly sci-fi horror, cosmic & surreal and slasher. Below, every John Carpenter film in the Horror Planet catalog in release order, with what each one is about and where it led.
The films, in release order
- 1
Halloween (1978)
Made for around $300,000, with Carpenter's own score. Michael Myers and Laurie Strode defined the slasher.
- 2
The Fog (1980)
Vengeful ghosts drift into a California fishing town on its centennial.
- 3
The Thing (1982)
A shapeshifter in Antarctica and a blood test scene of total paranoia. Rob Bottin's effects remain unmatched.
- 4
Christine (1983)
John Carpenter adapts Stephen King's novel about a 1958 Plymouth Fury that kills to keep its teenage owner.
- 5
Prince of Darkness (1987)
Physicists study a swirling green canister in a Los Angeles church basement in John Carpenter's apocalypse film.
- 6
They Live (1988)
A drifter finds sunglasses that reveal alien rulers and hidden commands behind every billboard.
- 7
In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
Lovecraft by way of a bestselling horror novelist whose books rewrite the world.
Where it led
- Halloween to Halloween 2018
A direct sequel to Carpenter's original, forty years later.
- Halloween to Friday the 13th 1980
Made to follow Halloween's success.
- Halloween to Scream 1996
Scream's characters watch Halloween and quote its rules.
- Halloween to It Follows 2014
Mitchell's slow stalker and synth score honor Carpenter.
- Halloween to The Burning 1981
The summer-camp slasher rush that followed Halloween.
Questions
Which John Carpenter horror movies are on Horror Planet?
7 so far, from 1978 to 1994: Halloween (1978), The Fog (1980), The Thing (1982), Christine (1983), Prince of Darkness (1987), They Live (1988) and In the Mouth of Madness (1994).
Where should I start with John Carpenter?
Start with Halloween (1978). Made for around $300,000, with Carpenter's own score. Michael Myers and Laurie Strode defined the slasher.
Film facts on this page come from each film's Wikipedia article: Christine, Prince of Darkness, They Live.