‘Halloween’ and Other Horror Franchises That Just Never End
Some horror franchises seem to go on for eternity. Whether via a neverending lineup of sequels or reboots that reimagine the original narrative, a popular name helps bring audiences back to the theater for a good ole slasher.
While unique horror films still premiere — especially during spooky season — there’s an allure tied to the history of established horror franchises. Their concepts have carved out spaces in our minds for that simultaneously joyous and jarring shock value. Below, find horror franchises that never seem to end.
1. ‘Halloween’
There are 12 Halloween movies in the Michael Myers horror series, and another film starring Jamie Lee Curtis is set to premiere, titled Halloween Kills. The franchise’s first film premiered in 1978; thus, the franchise has now existed for over 4 decades. Fans just can’t seem to get enough of the man behind the mask, and the chill that rushes down one’s spine with every breath the killer takes.
2. ‘Scream’
The first Scream movie premiered in 1996 and starred Courtney Cox, Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Drew Barrymore, and more. In short: a masked maniac stalks and kills high-school students with a knife in the middle of suburbia. The franchise has grown across time, going on to feature the likes of Emma Roberts and Hayden Panettiere in later installments.
The movie operates as both a horror film and a parody of the very genre it exists within. Scream 5 is scheduled to premiere sometime in 2022. At the rate this franchise is going, it seems destined to make it to the three-decade mark.
3. ‘Saw’
The first Saw movie premiered on October 29 in 2004, and the franchise went on to release further installments in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008, 2009, and 2010.
While many of these installments have left much to be desired — relying on the namesake alone to draw audiences — the original concept was quite unique, despite the fact that many deemed the film unnecessarily gory. As for more Saw movies, Collider notes that a spinoff may be coming in 2020, following delays due to COVID-19.
Honorable Mentions
1. Final Destination: The Final Destination franchise contains five movies, and it’s likely that this series has come to an end. The last movie in the saga hit theaters in 2011. Yet, the movie deserves a place on this list due to its iconicity, and its easily replicated premise. In time, another Final Destination may make its way to viewers.
2. A Nightmare on Elm Street: Robert Englund played the twisted nightmare murderer Freddy Krueger in the franchise’s original inception, and in multiple sequels thereafter. In 2010, Jackie Earle Haley took a swing at the leading antagonist, and the movie struggled critically.
It’s hard to conjure the same twisted knack for dark comedy that Englund conveyed without succumbing to campiness (esp. in a modern cinematic age that doesn’t tend to favor campy horror).
