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Halloween Ends is officially out in theaters and on Peacock Premium, marking the final showdown between Jamie Lee Curtis’s Laurie Strode and the iconic horror villain Michael Myers. For those of you who are busy this weekend or don’t want to be in a packed theater on opening night, there are plenty of horror movies to watch before Halloween Ends. This list will focus on films that feature other iconic horror films and that bear similarity to the Halloween franchise. And since Halloween Ends is part of a series, we will also mention the other films you should view in advance. So with all that in mind, here are the horror movies you should watch before you view Halloween Ends.
10. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
While this film has no relationship to the Halloween franchise, why not hold yourself over with a film starring another iconic horror villain? While some Gen Z kids may only know Robert Englund for his appearance in Stranger Things 4, the rest of us will always remember him as Freddy Krueger, the severely burnt figure who haunts teenagers’ dreams.
Much like Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger is a monster fueled by fear. And another similarity he has to Myers is that he has a strong-willed woman trying to get in his way. Heather Langenkamp, who played Nancy Thompson in this film, told Entertainment Tonight that seeing Jamie Lee Curtis reprise her role as Laurie Strode has made her love the idea of having Nancy stand up to Freddy one last time. While Nancy did die in the third film in the franchise from 1987, David Gordon Green wasn’t afraid to scrap a 40+-year-old storyline with the Halloween H40 trilogy, nor should anyone else be afraid to fiddle with A Nightmare on Elm Street.
9. Friday the 13th (1980)
The original Friday the 13th is a divisive horror film. While it certainly has its critics. In fact, Gene Siskel of Siskel & Ebert hated the film so much that he spoiled the ending in his review for the Chicago Tribune. To add insult to injury, the screenwriter for this film loathed its sequels. Regardless, this film launched a hugely successful franchise, setting the stage for a major horror movie villain to debut.
8. Hellraiser (1987)
In case you haven’t noticed, we are including many iconic horror villains comparable to Michael Myers on this list. Pinhead is one of those villains, which is a good reason for watching Hellraiser. While the Hellraiser sequels didn’t do much for the franchise, Pinhead’s disturbing ideologies that drive his violence make him a villain of horror legend. The character is so legendary that we recently got the first female representation of the character from Jamie Clayton. Watch the original, watch the new Hulu film, and you’ll get some good horror movie thrills before Halloween Ends.
7. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
As long as we are covering iconic slasher villains comparable to Michael Myers, let’s add Leatherface to the list. As gross as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is, it remains a horror staple nearly 50 years after its release for numerous reasons. Such reasons include the movie’s realism, its style that was unique for its time, and its serving as an example of why the 1970s was a golden era for the horror genre.
You could also consider watching Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022), as it takes the same path Halloween Ends takes with having the original horror movie’s final girl return to battle her tormented. However, considering how panned that film was, it may be best to stick to the original.
6. Child’s Play (1988)
While Child’s Play has no connection to the Halloween franchise, it has a striking similarity in that it has a young person frequently being sought out by his evil tormenter and having to fight back repeatedly. Andy Barclay (Alex Vincent) had his childhood permanently tainted by Chucky’s influence on his life. Regardless, he’s chosen not to wallow in self-pity but to stand and prepare for Chucky’s next attack. While Justin Whalin took the role for Child’s Play 3, Vincent has been Andy’s most frequent portrayer, reprising the role in newer Chucky films and the SYFY series.
5. Prom Night (1980)
Jamie Lee Curtis brought the iconic “final girl” Laurie Strode to life in Halloween, and she’s sure to give the character a fitting farewell in Halloween Ends. She also delivered a strong horror movie final film, and she managed to deliver a similarly strong final girl with Kim Hammond. While she may not be the legend, Laurie Strode is, she’s got wit and determination to survive that is reminiscent of the character. While Prom Night may not be as legendary as Halloween, it is impressive in its own right.
4. Halloween (2007)
Unpopular opinion: Rob Zombie’s Halloween is a little underrated. While Michael’s naturally evil nature is more compelling to watch, there is something about seeing a more human side to Michael regarding why he is the way he is. Michael is bullied at school and by his sister, and his beloved mother is frequently abused by her boyfriend. Who wouldn’t snap at a certain point? While Michael already shows some psychotic tendencies in the midst of all this, it’s still hard to see a lonely boy being dealt more than he can take. This is the first time we’ve gotten an in-depth look into Michael as a human, and it’s intriguing to see what made him the monster that he is. Hey, it’s better than the ridiculous Curse of the Thorn explanation from the many sequels.
3. Halloween (1978)
The other movies on this list are horror movies you may like to see before Halloween Ends. These last three selections are the movies you must watch in advance. Whether you are watching them for the first time or you need to get a refresher, these movies are integral to understanding the story. And if you haven’t seen the original Halloween, you owe it to yourself to check out this horror classic that stands the test of time and still remains terrifying without being overly violent or misogynistic. It marked Jamie Lee Curtis’ big screen debut, and it introduced us to a villain so menacing that he still makes us want to lock our doors on Halloween night.
2. Halloween (2018)
Making Laurie Strode Michael’s sister and having Michael be the recipient of a weird curse may have looked good on paper, but it led to some pretty lackluster films. Enter David Gordon Green, who boldly chose to scrap everything after the 1978 film and revisit Laurie Strode 40 years after her trauma. Troubled by estranged relationships and alcoholism, Laurie is still not coping with what she’s been through, as she never got the help she needed. At the same time, she knows Michael is bound to return, and we see her fiercely rise up to prepare for battle. A seemingly crazy move, but it paid off. Jamie Lee Curtis’ performance, as well as Green’s direction, led to what many considered to be the best Halloween sequel ever. This horror movie sets into motion the story that will conclude with Halloween Ends, and therefore it should not be missed.
1. Halloween Kills (2021)
In the event you are seeing these horror movies for the first time in preparation for Halloween Ends, we won’t say much about the plot to this one. All we can say is that Laurie and her family are not done battling Michael, and they are about to suffer traumas and losses that hit closer to home than ever. Those losses are going to be a driving force for Laurie’s last battle with Michael Myers in Halloween Ends, and for that reason, you need to see this one in advance.
Enjoy These Horror Movies Before ‘Halloween Ends’
These horror movies will make for a great marathon before Halloween Ends, which is now out in theaters. Have a great horror movie fest, and go check out the new movie.