Halloween
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Back in cinemas Oct 30 — 40 cinemas in 13 states · 42 screenings at 40 cinemas on our showtimes page
Where to watch: Streaming on Peacock · Shudder (US, subject to change)
▶ Watch the trailer
How it scared people
The vibe
Carpenter invented the modern slasher with a synth theme, a William Shatner mask, and the patience to let The Shape simply stand there, watching. Suburban streets in daylight have never felt safe since. The template a thousand imitators still can't match.
Halloween (1978) Parents Guide
| MPA rating | Rated R |
|---|---|
| Runtime | 91 minutes |
| Jump scares | 4/5 — genuinely scary, with sustained tension and hard-hitting scares |
| Gore | 2/5 — only light gore |
| Dread | 4/5 — heavy atmosphere — expect it to sit with you afterwards |
| Themes | a killer stalking victims |
Halloween is rated R by the MPA. We score it 4/5 for jump scares, 2/5 for gore and 4/5 for lingering dread, over 91 minutes. Very little blood — the hard part here is atmosphere and aftermath, not graphic content. Older teens and adults — less for what it shows than for how long it stays with you.
We rate what the film does — scares, gore, dread — not scene-level content like language or nudity, which we don't track.
Before you press play
- How scary is Halloween?
- On our intensity scale, Halloween rates 8/10 for jump scares and 8/10 for dread. It is genuinely scary, with sustained tension and hard-hitting scares.
- How gory is Halloween?
- Halloween rates 4/10 for gore — expect only light gore.
- How long is Halloween?
- Halloween runs 91 minutes (1h 31m).
- What is Halloween rated?
- Halloween is rated R by the MPA. On our own scale it rates 8/10 for jump scares, 4/10 for gore and 8/10 for dread — the R tells you what it was certified, those tell you what it will do to you.
- Where to watch Halloween (1978)?
- Halloween is back in cinemas from Oct 30 — 42 screenings at 40 cinemas on our showtimes page. As of our last update, Halloween is streaming on Peacock and Shudder in the US (checked 2026-09-14). Availability changes, so check your service before settling in.
