Halloween Horror Nights Orlando | |
---|---|
| |
Universal Studios Florida | |
Status | Operating |
Opening date | October 25, 1991 |
Universal Studios Hollywood | |
Status | Operating |
Opening date | October 9, 1997 |
Universal Studios Singapore | |
Status | Hiatus |
Opening date | October 21, 2011 |
Universal Studios Japan | |
Status | Operating |
Opening date | September 14, 2012 |
Ride statistics | |
Season | Halloween (September – October) |
Owner | Universal Parks & Resorts |
Website | Official website |
![]() |
Halloween Horror Nights began at Universal Studios Florida in 1991 under the title (Fright Nights) but was re-branded Halloween Horror Nights in 1992, advertised as the "second annual event". It began as a 3-night event but has since evolved into an over 30-night scare-a-thon spanning late September through the first weekend of November. It normally operates from Wednesday to Sunday.
From 1991-2001, the event was held at Universal Studios Florida. Halloween Horror Nights moved to Islands of Adventure in 2002. 2004 was an experiment with a dual-park format, which opened parts of both parks. Guests were funneled through backstage areas and the soundstages, where most of the haunts were built. In 2006, the event made a return to Universal Studios Florida, where the event continues through its 30th year in 2021. It was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making it the first year that Halloween Horror Nights Orlando was not held since 1990.
Halloween Horror Nights began at Universal Studios Florida in 1991 under the title Fright Nights. It began as a three-night event on October 25, 26, and 31, 1991, with one haunted house, The Dungeon of Terror. The first year, the admission price was $12.95. [1] From 1991 to 2001, the event was held at Universal Studios Florida.
The event was renamed "Universal Studios Florida Halloween Horror Nights" in 1992 and advertised as the second annual Halloween Horror Nights. There were two haunted houses, with The Dungeon of Terror returning to the Jaws queue building, and The People Under The Stairs making its debut in Soundstage 23. The event ran five nights, October 23, 24, 29, 30, and 31. [2]
The Third Annual Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida saw the event increase to seven nights. Due to the re-opening of the Jaws attraction, the in-park haunted house moved from the Jaws queue in Amity to the Nazarman's facade in the New York area. [3] The number of haunted houses increased to three, with the third at the Bates Motel set at Universal Studios Florida. [4]
Halloween Horror Nights 4 expanded to an eight-night run in 1994. [5] This year marked the return of a newly designed Dungeon of Terror, along with three more haunted houses. In addition to Nazarman's and the Bates Motel, the new locations were in the Earthquake overflow queue and the Boneyard. This year also marked the first use of the term "Scaracters", as well as the first official "Ghoul School" for actors participating in the event. [6] Ticket prices increased to $36 this year. [7]
Halloween Horror Nights V featured a 12-night run and three haunted houses, one of which was a dual-path house. It was also the first time Universal themed the event around a character, in this case Tales from the Crypt 's Crypt Keeper. The event was subtitled "The Curse of the Crypt Keeper". [8]
Universal Studios Hollywood had featured Halloween attractions in 1986 and 1992. Bearing little resemblance to the modern event, the 1986 effort was actually a tram tour, and was marred by the accidental death of a retail employee who, like many employees at the time, had volunteered to perform in the event. [9] The 1992 event was a direct result of the success of Fright Nights at Universal Florida the year before, but was not successful. [10] [11] Halloween Horror Nights officially launched at Universal Studios Hollywood October 9, 1997, running through the 2000 season. [12] From 2001 to 2005, Halloween Horror Nights went on hiatus at Universal Studios Hollywood, then returned in 2006. [13] [14] It has continued yearly since. [15] Between 2007 and 2014, Universal Studios Hollywood made use of Universal's House of Horrors, its permanent haunted attraction, as a part of Halloween Horror Nights, by re-theming it for the event.
Back in Florida, Halloween Horror Nights VI through X followed the formula developed for Halloween Horror Nights V in 1995, growing from 15 nights in 1996 to 19 in 2000. There were three haunted houses each year, although from 1998 on, two each year were dual-path houses, for a total of five experiences. One notable change was the first 3-D haunted house, in 1999, in the Nazarman's facade. By 1999, ticket prices were $44. [16] In 2000, Universal launched its first in-house created Icon, Jack the Clown. [17]
Because the September 11 attacks occurred so close to Halloween Horror Nights XI, Universal made many changes to tone down the event. Much gore was scrapped from the event, and blood was replaced with green "goop". The names of several houses, scare zones, and shows were changed. The original icon character "Eddie" was scrapped. Edgar Sawyer was conceived as a demented, chainsaw-wielding horror movie buff that had been disfigured by a fire. He was supposed to be a threat to previous icon Jack and the tagline "No more clowning around" was used, and seen on early advertisements and merchandise. Eddie was ultimately removed from the event before it began, although he was still appearing on that year's logo and merchandise with the official "I.C.U." tagline. As a hurried replacement, Jack would return along with a line of merchandise bearing the tagline "Jack's Back." Eddie's back-story was changed, and his name was changed to Eddie Schmidt, Jack's younger brother. [18] The event again ran for 19 days, admission was $48, with five haunted houses. The dual house was in Soundstage 22. [19] [20]
Halloween Horror Nights moved to Universal's Islands of Adventure in 2002. [21] The Caretaker was not the original icon for Halloween Horror Nights 12 in 2002. Cindy (sometimes spelled "Sindy"), the daughter of mortuary owner Paul Bearer, was originally the icon of the event. In the event's premise, every land would be ruled over by her "playthings". After several child abductions in the area, the Cindy concept was abandoned and her father Paul Bearer changed into Dr. Albert Caine, also known as The Caretaker. Cindy would eventually appear in 2006's "Scream House Resurrection", 2009's "Shadows of the Past" and 2010's "The Orfanage: Ashes to Ashes". Halloween Horror Nights 12, the first to be held at Universal's Islands of Adventure park, featured five haunted houses, with admission set at $49.95. [22] [23] [24]
Halloween Horror Nights 13 again took place at Islands of Adventure. It featured six haunted houses. The Icon was The Director. [25]
For Halloween Horror Nights 14 in 2004 the resort experimented with a dual-park format, which connected and utilized parts of both parks. [26] The fourteenth edition featured a mental patient. It ran 18 nights and featured seven haunted houses. [27]
Halloween Horror Nights 15 in 2005 ran 19 nights, had seven haunted houses, and an admission of $59.75. This year was the first time an entire alternate reality (Terra Cruentus) was the basis for the entire event. Universal offered backstage tours of the Halloween Horror Nights sets. [28] [29]
In 2006, "Horror Comes Home" to the Universal Studios Florida park for its sweet 16 celebration with the four previous icons. Admission was $59.95. [30] [31] It ran 19 nights, featuring seven haunted houses. [32] [33]
For Halloween Horror Nights 17 in 2007, Universal Studios acquired the rights to use New Line Cinema's characters Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, and Leatherface for Halloween Horror Nights. There were eight haunted houses. [34] The event ran 23 days, with a ticket price of $64.95. [35]
2008's Reflections of Fear featured a new icon in the form of Dr. Mary Agana, an original take on the Bloody Mary legend. The event revolved around the realm of reflections where Mary dwelled.
A musical tribute to The Rocky Horror Picture Show was added for the 18th and 19th installments. [36] [37] [38] [39]
2010 marked the 20th installment of the event at the Orlando park. It was titled "Twenty Years of Fear", and it featured Fear as the event's icon. [40] There were eight haunted houses. The event ran 23 nights and admission was $74.99. [41] [42]
2011 (Halloween Horror Nights 21) and 2012 (Halloween Horror Nights 22): eight and seven haunted houses, respectively; 25 nights and 22 nights, respectively; $81.99 and $88.99. "Roaming hordes" replace scare zones and The Walking Dead arrive as the event icon in 2012. [43] [44] [45] [46] [47] [48]
In 2011, Universal Studios Singapore began their Halloween Horror Nights event. There was one haunted house, the event ran seven nights, and admission was S$60.00. [49] [50] Universal Studios Singapore Halloween Horror Nights 2 in 2012, ran seven nights, had three haunted houses, with admission at S68.00. [51] [52] By 2015, Singapore's Halloween Horror Nights 5 had grown to four haunted houses, three of which were designed using local Singaporean horror legends and myths. [53] Singapore's Halloween Horror Nights 6, in 2016, featured five haunted houses, ran 16 nights, with admission at S$69.00. [54]
In 2012, Universal Studios Japan joined the Halloween Horror Nights franchise with an event themed to the Biohazard video games (known as Resident Evil in other countries). It ran 36 nights, from September 14 through November 11. Tickets were ¥8,400. [55] [56] [57] [58] By 2015, Universal Studios Japan had increased its "Universal Surprise Halloween at Universal Studios Japan" (which includes Halloween Horror Nights) to 59 days, featuring both daytime and nighttime activities. [59]
2013 Florida's Halloween Horror Nights 23 featured a haunted house based on An American Werewolf in London , another based on The Cabin in the Woods , and a third based on Resident Evil , plus five more, for a total of eight. The Walking Dead continued as the event icon and The Rocky Horror Picture Show Tribute returned. [60] It ran 27 nights. [61] Admission was $91.99. [62]
Florida's Halloween Horror Nights 24 in 2014 featured eight haunted houses and a return to the use of scare zones, absent since 2012. Universal again made use of licensed properties from others, including The Walking Dead, Alien vs. Predator , From Dusk till Dawn , Halloween , and The Purge . There were two shows, Bill and Ted and the Rocky Horror Tribute. [63] [64]
Halloween Horror Nights 25, in 2015 at Universal Studios Florida, brought back Jack the Clown as the icon along with his icon friends. HHN 25 ran a record 30 nights. [65] [66] HHN 25 featured nine haunted houses, with admission reaching $101.99 during the prime days. [67] [68] [69]
Halloween Horror Nights 27 was the final year Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure was performed at Universal Studios Florida. The show had been running at HHN since 1992. [70]
Universal Studios Florida debuted a brand new lagoon show entitled "Halloween Marathon of Mayhem" during HHN 29 that featured "iconic scenes from well known and cult classic horror films and TV shows. [71]
Universal Studios Hollywood included Throwback Thursdays as part of Halloween Horror Nights 2019. With a special welcome from Chucky and had Beetlejuice and a live DJ playing 1980s hits. Along with local Los Angeles 80s cover band, Fast Times, performing on select nights for the event. [72]
Halloween Horror Nights 30 was initially planned for 2020, but it was cancelled and delayed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on theme parks. [73] They later decided to feature two of the planned haunted houses as attractions for guests for the initially planned 2020 season. [74] For the Halloween weekend of 2020, the originally planned Beetlejuice house was featured for a limited engagement.
Name [75] | Year | Icon(s) | Haunted House(s) | Scare Zone(s) | Show(s) [76] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Universal Studios Fright Nights | 1991 | None | Dungeon of Terror | None |
|
Universal Studios Florida Halloween Horror Nights | 1992 | None |
| None |
|
Third Annual Universal Studios Florida Halloween Horror Nights | 1993 | None |
| None |
|
4th Annual Universal Studios Florida Halloween Horror Nights | 1994 | None |
| Horrorwood |
|
Halloween Horror Nights V | 1995 | The Crypt Keeper |
|
|
|
Halloween Horror Nights VI | 1996 | The Crypt Keeper |
| Midway of the Bizarre |
|
Halloween Horror Nights VII: Frightmares | 1997 | None |
| Midway of the Bizarre |
|
Halloween Horror Nights VIII: Primal Scream | 1998 | None |
| Midway of the Bizarre |
|
Halloween Horror Nights IX: Last Gasp | 1999 | None |
| Midway of the Bizarre |
|
Halloween Horror Nights X | 2000 | Jack the Clown |
|
|
|
Halloween Horror Nights XI | 2001 | Jack the Clown |
|
|
|
Halloween Horror Nights 12: Islands of Fear | 2002 | The Caretaker |
|
|
|
Halloween Horror Nights 13 | 2003 | The Director |
|
|
|
Halloween Horror Nights 14 | 2004 | None | Castle Vampyr Disorientorium Deadtropolis Hellgate Prison Horror in Wax Horror Nights Nightmares Ghost Town | Field of Screams The Fright Yard Midway of the Bizarre Point of Evil | Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure Festival of the Dead Parade |
Halloween Horror Nights 15: Tales of Terror | 2005 |
| Where Evil Hides Body Collectors Blood Ruins Cold Blind Terror Demon Cantina The Skool Terror Mines | Blood Thunder Alley The Cemetery Mines The Fire Pits Terra Guard Run | Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure Terra Throne |
Halloween Horror Nights: Sweet 16 | 2006 |
| Scream House: Resurrection All Nite Die-In: Take 2 Psychoscareapy: Maximum Madness Dungeon of Terror: Retold The People Under the Stairs: Under Construction Psycho Path: The Return of Norman Bates Run: Hostile Territory | Blood Masquerade Deadtropolis: Zombie Siege Harvest of the Souls Horror Comes Home [77] | Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure The Arrival Sweet 16: The Director's Cut Robosaurus |
Halloween Horror Nights 17: Carnival of Carnage | 2007 |
| Jack's Funhouse in Clown-O-Vision A Nightmare on Elm Street: Dreamwalkers Friday the 13th: Camp Blood The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Flesh Wounds Dead Silence: The Curse of Mary Shaw PsychoScareapy: Home for the Holidays The Thing: Assimilation Vampyr: Blood Bath [78] [79] | Midway of the Bizarre Killer Carnies Motormaniacs Treaks & Foons Troupe Macabe | Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure Jack's Carnival of Carnage The Rocky Horror Picture Show: A Tribute Freak Show |
Halloween Horror Nights 18: Reflections of Fear | 2008 | Bloody Mary | Reflections of Fear Body Collectors: Collections of the Past Creatures! Dead Exposure Doomsday The Hallow Interstellar Terror Scary Tales: Once Upon a Nightmare | American Gothic Asylum in Wonderland Fractured Tales The Path of the Wicked The Skoolhouse Streets of Blood: Body Collectors [80] [81] | Bill & Ted Meet Hellboy The Rocky Horror Picture Show: A Tribute Brian Brushwood |
Halloween Horror Nights 19: Ripped From The Silver Screen | 2009 |
| Silver Screams Saw Chucky: Friends 'til the End The Wolfman Dracula: Legacy in Blood Frankenstein: Creation of the Damned Leave it to Cleaver The Spawning | Apocalypse: City of Cannibals Cirque du Freak Containment Horrorwood Die-In Lights, Camera, Hacktion! War of the Living Dead Shadows from the Past [82] | Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure The Rocky Horror Picture Show: A Tribute |
Halloween Horror Nights XX: Twenty Years of Fear | 2010 |
| Horror Nights: The Hallow'd Past Catacombs: Black Death Rising Havoc: Dogs of War The Orfanage: Ashes to Ashes ZombieGeddon Hades: The Gates of Ruin PsychoScareapy: Echoes of Shadybrook Legendary Truth: The Wyandot Estate | HHN: 20 Years of Fear Fear Revealed Zombie Gras Saws N' Steam The Coven Esqueleto Muerte | Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure Brian Brushwood: Menace and Malice |
Halloween Horror Nights 21 | 2011 | Lady Luck | Nightingales: Blood Prey H.R. Bloodengutz Presents Holidays of Horror Saws N' Steam: Into the Machine The Thing Winter's Night: The Haunting of Hawthorn Cemetery Nevermore: The Madness of Poe The Forsaken The In Between | Your Luck Has Run Out Nightmaze Grown Evil Canyon of Dark Souls 7 Acid Assault | Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure Death Drums |
Halloween Horror Nights 22 | 2012 | None | Welcome To Silent Hill The Walking Dead: Dead Inside Alice Cooper: Welcome to My Nightmare Penn & Teller: New(kd) Las Vegas 3-D Universal's House of Horrors Dead End Gothic | The Iniquitus Dark Legions: Vampires Dark Legions: Beasts Dark Legions: Warriors Dark Legions: Prisoners Dark Legions: Traditionals Dark Legions: Zombies [83] | Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure 20 Penny Circus: Fully Exposed |
Halloween Horror Nights 23 | 2013 | None | The Cabin in the Woods Evil Dead The Walking Dead: No Safe Haven Urban Legends: La Llorona Afterlife: Death's Vengeance Havoc: Derailed An American Werewolf in London Resident Evil: Escape From Raccoon City | The Walking Dead: The Fall of Atlanta The Walking Dead: Woodlands The Walking Dead: Survivor's Camp The Walking Dead: The Farm The Walking Dead: Clear | Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure The Rocky Horror Picture Show: A Tribute |
Halloween Horror Nights 24 | 2014 | None | Halloween The Walking Dead: The End of the Line AVP: Alien vs. Predator From Dusk Till Dawn Dracula Untold: Reign of Blood Dollhouse of the Damned Giggles & Gore Inc. Roanoke: Cannibal Colony | The Purge: Anarchy Face Off: In the Flesh Bayou of Blood MASKerade: Unstitched | The Rocky Horror Picture Show: A Tribute Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure |
Halloween Horror Nights 25 | 2015 | Jack The Clown | Freddy vs. Jason Insidious The Walking Dead: The Living and The Dead The Purge An American Werewolf In London Body Collectors: Recollections RUN: Blood, Sweat, and Fears Asylum in Wonderland 3D Jack Presents: 25 Years of Monsters and Mayhem | Psychoscareapy: Unleashed Icons: HHN Scary Tales: Screampunk Evil's Roots All Nite Die-In: Double Feature | Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure The Carnage Returns |
Halloween Horror Nights 26 | 2016 | Chance | The Texas Chain Saw Massacre The Exorcist Halloween: Hell Comes To Haddonfield Krampus Tomb of the Ancients Lunatics Playground 3D: You Won't Stand a Chance Ghost Town: The Curse of Lightning Gulch American Horror Story The Repository VR Experience The Walking Dead [84] | Survive Or Die: Apocalypse Lair of the Banshee Dead Man's Wharf Vamp '55 A Chance In Hell | Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure Academy Of Villains: House Of Fear |
Halloween Horror Nights 27 | 2017 | None | American Horror Story The Shining Ash vs Evil Dead Saw: The Games of Jigsaw The Horrors of Blumhouse Dead Waters Scarecrow: The Reaping The Fallen HIVE | Trick 'r Treat The Purge Altars of Horror Festival of the Deadliest Invasion! | Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure Academy Of Villains: Afterlife |
Halloween Horror Nights 28 | 2018 | None | Stranger Things Dead Exposure: Patient Zero Trick 'r Treat Slaughter Sinema Carnival Graveyard: Rust in Pieces Seeds of Extinction Poltergeist Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers The Horrors of Blumhouse: Chapter 2 Scary Tales: Deadly Ever After | The Harvest Vamp '85: New Year's Eve Twisted Tradition Revenge of Chucky Killer Klowns from Outer Space | Academy of Villains: Cyberpunk |
Halloween Horror Nights 29 | 2019 | None | Stranger Things Nightingales: Blood Pit Universal Monsters Depths of Fear Yeti: Terror of the Yukon Ghostbusters Killer Klowns from Outer Space Us Graveyard Games House of 1000 Corpses | Rob Zombie: Hellbilly Deluxe Zombieland: Double Tap Anarch-cade Vanity Ball Vikings Undead | Academy of Villains: Altered States Halloween Marathon of Mayhem |
Cancelled due to delays and restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. | 2020 | N/A | |||
Halloween Horror Nights 30: Never Go Alone | 2021 | Jack The Clown | Beetlejuice Puppet Theatre: Captive Audience The Haunting of Hill House The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Universal Monsters: The Bride of Frankenstein Lives HHN Icons: Captured Welcome to SCarey: Horror in the Heartland Case Files Unearthed: Legendary Truth The Wicked Growth: Realm of the Pumpkin Revenge of the Tooth Fairy | Crypt TV 30 Years 30 Fears Seek and Destroy Gorewood Forest Lights, Camera, Hacktion: Eddie's Revenge | Marathon of Mayhem: Carnage Factory Halloween Nightmare Fuel |
Halloween Horror Nights 31: Never Go Alone | 2022 | TBA | Universal Monsters: Legends Collide Halloween The Horrors of Blumhouse (feat. Freaky and The Black Phone) The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare<br | TBA | TBA |
Year | Icon | Terror Tram | Mazes | Scare Zones | Shows [85] [86] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1986 | None | The Terror Tram | None | None | Ready for the World "Oh Sheila" |
1992 | None | The Terror Tram | Maze of Maniacs Nightmare Alley | None | Penn & Teller Amazing Falkenstein Dungeon of Terror Tower of Torture Carnival of Carnage Chucky "In-Your-Face" Insults Ghoulia Wild's Roadside Cuisine Death Globe The Wild, Wild, Wild Witch Hunt The Living Deadheads Review Club Fright Burn and Bury Swap Meet Beetlejuice's Graveyard Revue The Voodoo Gurus Zombie Spooktacular Backdraft |
1997 | None | None | Area 51 Maze Classic Monster Maze The Crypt Keeper's Film Vault Maze Monsterquarium | None | Bill and Ted's Halloween Adventure Circus of Horrors Beetlejuice's Rockin' Graveyard Revue Chucky's Insult Emporium Boogie Knights March of the Zombies Creepy Animal Show |
1998 | None | None | Alien Assault Classic Creatures Features Clive Barker's FREAKZ Maze The Crypt Keeper's Screaming Room | None | None |
1999 | None | None | Cleaver's Meat Locker Clive Barker's Hell The Mummy Creature Features The Thrilling Chilling World of Rob Zombie | None | Bill and Ted's Halloween Adventure Chucky's Insult Emporium Animal House of Horrors Carnival of Carnage Rob Zombie presents Bomboras |
2000 | None | None | Buffy & Angel: Hellmouth Haunt Clive Barker's Harvest Theatre of Blood The Undertaker: No Mercy Rob Zombie's The House of 1000 Corpses Maze | Nightmare Creatures II | Bill and Ted's Halloween Adventure Chucky's Insult Emporium Animal House of Horrors Dance Party Carnival of Carnage Z.com present's Bobbing for Maggots |
2006 | The Director | The Director's Cut | The Asylum Universal's House of Horrors | The Black Death Dawn of the Dead Deadwood Old London Studio Center | SlaughterWorld Carnival of Carnage Fear Factor Live: Dead Celebrity Edition The Mutaytor Chucky's Insult Emporium |
2007 | Jack the Clown Freddy Krueger Leatherface Jason Voorhees | Horror Comes Home | Universal's House of Horrors A Nightmare on Elm Street: Freddy's Nightmare Friday the 13th: Camp Blood The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Back in Business | The Black Death Deadwood HellBilly Hoedown Haunted London Zombie Invasion | Bill and Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure Chucky's Insult Emporium Dark Magic and Dirty Tricks SlaughterWorld 2 |
2008 | Freddy Krueger Jason Voorhees Leatherface | The Nightmare Tour | A Nightmare on Elm Street: Home Sweet Hell Friday the 13th: Camp Blood The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Back in Business Universal's House of Horrors: Meet The Strangers | The Nightmare Begins... The Black Death The Dead Shall Rise Deadwood The Dark Streets of London Revenge of the Pigs The Strangers | Bill and Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure Chucky's Insult Emporium (Got Canceled Half-Way) SlaughterWorld 3 |
2009 | Billy the Puppet Chucky Michael Myers | Live or Die | Saw: Game Over Chucky's Funhouse Halloween: The Life & Crimes of Michael Myers My Bloody Valentine: Be Mine 4 Ever | FREAKZ Let the Games Begin! Meat Market Shaun of the Dead There Will Be Blood Welcome to Hell | Bill and Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure The Rocky Horror Picture Show: A Tribute |
2010 | Freddy Krueger Jason Voorhees Billy the Puppet | Chucky's Revenge | A Nightmare on Elm Street: Never Sleep Again Friday the 13th: Kill, Jason, Kill Saw: Game On Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses: In 3-D Zombievision Vampyre: Castle of the Undead | Nightmarez Klownz La Llorona Lunaticz Freakz Pigz | Bill and Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure |
2011 | Ghostface | Scream 4 Your Life | The Thing: Assimilation Eli Roth's Hostel: Hunting Season Alice Cooper: Welcome to My Nightmare Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses: In 3D ZombieVision The Wolfman: The Curse of Talbot Hall La Llorona: Villa de Almas Perdidas | Scream Zombieville Reaperz Klownz Freakz | Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure |
2012 | The Walking Dead | Invaded by The Walking Dead | The Walking Dead: Dead Inside Welcome to Silent Hill Alice Cooper: Goes to Hell 3D Universal Monsters Remix The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: The Saw is the Law La Llorona: La Cazadora de Ninos | Toyz Klownz Silent Hill Witchez | Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure |
2013 | The Walking Dead | Invaded by The Walking Dead | Evil Dead: Book of the Dead The Walking Dead: No Safe Haven Black Sabbath: 13 3D Insidious: Into The Further Universal Monsters Remix: Resurrection El Cucuy: The Boogeyman | The Purge: Survive the Night Curse of Chucky Cirque Du Klownz Scarecrowz The Walking Dead: Dead on Arrival | Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure Chucky's Insult Emporium |
2014 | The Walking Dead | Invaded by The Walking Dead | The Walking Dead: End Of The Line Alien vs. Predator From Dusk Till Dawn Dracula Untold: Reign of Blood Face Off: In The Flesh An American Werewolf in London Clowns 3D | The Walking Dead: Welcome to Terminus The Purge: Anarchy Mask-a-Raid Dark Christmas Skullz | None |
2015 | The Walking Dead | Survive The Purge | Crimson Peak: Maze of Madness Insidious: Return to the Further The Walking Dead: Wolves Not Far Halloween: Michael Myers Comes Home This Is The End 3D Alien vs. Predator | Exterminatorz Dark Christmas Corpz The Purge: Urban Nightmare | Jabbawockeez |
2016 | Beyond Your Wildest Screams | Eli Roth Presents Terror Tram | The Exorcist Halloween: Hell Comes To Haddonfield Freddy vs. Jason The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Blood Brothers Krampus American Horror Story The Walking Dead Attraction | The Purge: Election Year | Jabbawockeez |
2017 | The Best Nightmares Never End | Titans of Terror Tram: Hosted by Chucky | The Shining American Horror Story: Roanoke Ash vs Evil Dead Titans of Terror Saw: The Games of Jigsaw Insidious: Beyond the Further The Horrors of Blumhouse The Walking Dead Attraction | Hell-O-Ween Toxic Tunnel Urban Inferno | Jabbawockeez |
2018 | True Fear Comes From Within | Terror Tram: Hollywood Harry's Dreadtime Storiez | Stranger Things Trick 'r Treat The First Purge Poltergeist Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers The Horrors of Blumhouse: Chapter 2 Universal Monsters The Walking Dead Attraction | Holidayz in Hell Monster Masquerade Hell's Harvest Toxxic Tunnel Trick 'r Treat | Jabbawockeez |
2019 | Maximum Screamage | None | Stranger Things Holidayz in Hell Universal Monsters: Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man Ghostbusters Killer Klowns from Outer Space Creepshow Us House of 1000 Corpses The Curse of Pandora's Box The Walking Dead Attraction | Fallen Angelz Spirits and Demons of the East Christmas in Hell ToXXXic Tunnel All Hallow's Evil | Jabbawockeez |
2020 | Cancelled due to delays and restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. | N/A | |||
2021 | Never Go Alone | Terror Tram: The Ultimate Purge | The Haunting of Hill House The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Universal Monsters: The Bride of Frankenstein Lives The Exorcist The Curse of Pandora's Box Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers AMC's The Walking Dead | Universal Monsters: Silver Scream Queenz Chainsaw Rangers Demon City | Jabbawockeez |
2022 | TBA | TBA | Universal Monsters: Legends Collide Halloween The Horrors of Blumhouse (feat. Freaky and The Black Phone) The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare Scarecrow: The Reaping | TBA | TBA |
Name | Year | Main Icons / Theme | Subsidiary Icons | Haunted Houses | Scare Zones | Shows [87] | Attractions |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Halloween Horror Nights | 2011 | - The Director | None | - Peranakan Mansion: Vengeance of the Matriarch | - Carn-Evil - Post-Apocalyptic Rage - The Pestilence - The Void - The Edge of Darkness | - 44 Sins - Director's Final Cut | None |
Halloween Horror Nights 2 | 2012 | - The Puppet Master | - High Priest - Doctor Dementia - The Undertaker | - Dungeon of Damnation - The Insanitarium - Death Alley | - House of Dolls - Total Lockdown - Bizarre Bazaar | None | None |
Halloween Horror Nights 3 | 2013 | The Evil Sisters - The Crone of the Forest - The Daughter of the Undead - The Maiden of the Opera | None | - Adrift - Songs of Death - House No. 13 | - Attack of the Vampires - Convention of Curses - Forbidden Forest | None | None |
Halloween Horror Nights 4 | 2014 | - The Minister (Jonah Goodwill) | None | - The L.A.B: Laboratory of Alien Breeding - Mati Camp - Jing's Revenge - Jack's 3-Dementia | - Scary Tales - Canyon of the Cursed - Demoncracy - Bogeyman | - Jack's Nightmare Circus | None |
Halloween Horror Nights 5 | 2015 | Theme: The Blood Moon | - Tok Naga Arang - Silas the Cult Leader - Paper Effigy - Flesh-eating Zombie | - True Singapore Ghost Stories: The MRT - The Tunnel People - Hell House - Siloso Gateway Block 50 | - CONTermination - Hungry Ghosts - The Invaders | - Beast Club | None |
Halloween Horror Nights 6 | 2016 | - Lady Death | - Pontianak - Damien Shipman - Augusta DeFeo - Hu Li - Poisoned Teen - Jack the Clown | - Old Changi Hospital - Bodies of Work - The Salem Witch House - Hu Li's Inn - Hawker Centre Massacre | - Suicide Forest - March of the Dead | - Jack's Recurring Nightmare Circus - Death March | None |
Halloween Horror Nights 7 | 2017 | Theme: The 7 Deadlier Sins | - Malice (Malice) - Raven (Narcissism) - Empress Qing (Creulty) - Midnight Man (Manipulation) - Lord Obsession (Obsession) - Father Time (Perversion) - Doctor White (Deception) | - Death Mall - Make the Cut - Terrorcotta Empress - Hex - Inside the Mind | - Happy Horror Days - Pilgrimage of Sin | - Laboratorium - Slice of Life Tour | - Zombie Laser Tag |
Halloween Horror Nights 8 | 2018 | Theme: Infinite Fear | - Demogorgon - Lu Xi Fa - Pontianak - Yin Demon - Lady Oiwa - Zombie - Cannibal Chief - Gaia | - Stranger Things - Killuminati - Pontianak - Pagoda of Peril - The Haunting of Oiwa | - Cannibal - Apocalypse: Earth | - Infinite Fear - DEAD Talk - Blood and Bones | - Zombie Laser Tag |
Halloween Horror Nights 9 | 2019 | - The Undertaker | - Serpentine Spirit - Ring Leader Rusty - Langsuir - Executioner - Yumi - Savage | - Curse of the Naga - Twisted Clown University - The Chalet Hauntings - Hell Block 9 - Spirit Dolls | - Dead End - Death Fest | - Death Fest LIVE - Skin & Bones | - Halloween Carnival |
Cancelled due to delays and restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. | 2020 | N/A | |||||
Halloween Horror Nights Exhibition | 2021 | N/A | |||||
Halloween Horror Nights 10 | 2022 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Year | Houses | Scare Zones | Attractions & Shows |
---|---|---|---|
2012 | Jason's Bloody Diner The Mummy Museum II | Biohazard/Resident Evil | Parade De Carnival Trick or Treat |
2013 | Sadako Friday the 13th The Mummy Museum III | Zombie Street | Parade De Carnival |
2014 | Sadako Friday the 13th Chucky's Horror Factory | Zombie Street Biohazard/Resident Evil | Parade De Carnival |
2015 | Sadako A Nightmare on Elm Street Chucky's Horror Factory 2 Alien vs. Predator | Zombie Street Biohazard/Resident Evil | Parade De Carnival |
2016 | A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 Chucky's Horror Factory 3 Tatari The Exorcist Trauma 2 | Zombie Street J-Horror | None |
2017 | Deadman's Forest Cult of Chucky A Nightmare on Elm Street 3 The Exorcist Trauma 3 Sadako Gakkou no Kaidan | Zombie Street | Festa de Parade |
2018 | Insidious: The Last Key Cult of Chucky The Survival-Deadman's Forest 2 | Street Zombies | SADAKO |
2019 | Biohazard/Resident Evil Area 51 Cult of Chucky | Street Zombies Zombie de Dance | SADAKO Space Fantasy: The Ride: The Black Hole |
2020 | Cancelled due to delays and restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. | N/A | |
2021 | GeGeGe no Kitarō | Zombie de Dance Psycho Street | Sherlock Holmes: The Cursed Rose Sword |
2022 | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Halloween Horror Nights has amassed a number of lead characters, known as icons. These icons usually have elaborate back-stories that involve the events' themes, houses, or scare zones. Predominantly, they have been used for promotional materials and merchandising. The first unofficial icon was The Crypt Keeper, from the TV series Tales from the Crypt , a series popular at the time of his first event appearance. [8] The Crypt Keeper returned the next year for one of the houses, but was not featured in the advertising campaign. After the Crypt Keeper, the event continued for three years without an icon. In 1999, Imhotep served as Icon. for Halloween Horror Nights X, Jack the Clown was featured as an icon. This represents the first time Universal created an icon in-house. [17] Halloween Horror Nights has had an icon, and in some cases, multiple icons, every year since, excluding Halloween Horror Nights XIV, 22-24 and 27-29. These characters have included Jack the Clown, The Caretaker, The Director, The Storyteller, Bloody Mary, The Usher, Fear, Lady Luck, and Chance. Chance was the icon for Halloween Horror Nights 2016. She was a new icon but used to serve as a "sidekick" to Jack (though there are rumours that they have a romantic relationship) in his shows (her role and look being inspired by Batman antagonist Harley Quinn [88] ). In 2007, for Halloween Horror Nights 17, Universal again licensed intellectual properties from others, in this case New Line Cinema for Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, and Leatherface, [34] however, Jack the Clown was still featured. Jack the Clown returned in 2015 for Halloween Horror Nights XXV followed by Chance in 2016 at Halloween Horror Nights 26. The icons returned in 2021 for HHN 30 in their house, Icons Captured. Set in Fear's Lantern from HHN 20, each had their own special room in the house where they re-enacted famous kills. The final room would feature a different icon who sat in the throne each night.
The haunted houses are the main attractions at the event. When the event first started as "Fright Nights" at Universal Studios Florida, [89] there was simply one haunted house: the Dungeon of Terror. [90] As the event progressed through the years, the number has increased to as many as ten different houses, as of Halloween Horror Nights 28 in 2018. [91] The houses are enumerated in the expandable charts above for each park, sorted by year. The event typically averages nine haunted houses along with numerous scare zones.
Halloween Horror Nights IV was the first year to introduce a "scare zone", a name given to specific outdoor areas that feature costumed characters that fit the zone's theme with the intent of scaring people who walk through the areas. To get to certain areas of the park, it is necessary to travel through these scare zones. In 2012, Orlando re-envisioned the scare zones as "street experiences," claiming that scare actors were no longer restricted to specific "zones." Instead, there were a number of "hordes" which would change their location in the park every 90 minutes. By 2014, the traditional scare zones returned with The Purge: Anarchy (inspired by the film), Face Off: In the Flesh, Bayou of Blood, and MASKerade: Unstitched.[ citation needed ] However, Hollywood Horror Nights in California still has specific scare zones, that range in themes. In recent years, Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando has adjusted the locations of its scare zones, forcing attendees to walk through at least one zone when entering the park. While actors cannot touch guests and vice versa, many of them can surround them at one time. Many actors in these areas have props like bats, chainsaws, and fake guns, and can act like they are going to attack guests with their "weapons". Actors are also allowed to chase visitors in and out of the scare zones. From time to time, actors will pose as regular event guests, only to be captured by various hoards, specifically The Purge.
Halloween Horror Nights has featured several live entertainment shows. Recurring shows have included "The Rocky Horror Picture Show A Tribute", [92] "Bill and Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure", [93] Robosaurus [94] and Academy of Villains. [95] Bill and Ted's show appeared in every Halloween Horror Nights from 1992 until its closure following Halloween Horror Nights 27 in 2017. [96]
It was "...a scatter-shot mashup of pop culture, popular radio and unexpectedly mature content" according to a review. [97]
For the first time, Universal Studios Florida will debut a brand new lagoon show entitled "Halloween Marathon of Mayhem" during HHN 29 that will feature "iconic scenes from top horror films, cult classics and TV shows.
Several rides remain operational during the event. [98] In past event years, some rides were re-themed for the event such as Kongfrontation becoming Tramway of Doom during Halloween Horror Nights II. Diagon Alley has been open for Halloween Horror Nights since 2015. It was closed-off in 2014 despite opening just a few months earlier and to date it has not been re-themed or had any scare actors present. [99]
Universal's Halloween Horror Nights is known for the dark tone of its advertisements and commercials. A majority of them were directed by Dean Kane. In 2010, the directors of Daybreakers , Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig, directed the commercial for Halloween Horror Nights.[ citation needed ]
Universal Studios Florida has won Amusement Today 's Golden Ticket Award for Best Halloween Event 12 of the 14 times it has been awarded, including the last eleven years straight. [100]
Due to COVID-19 and its spread to Florida and to California, Universal Orlando announced Halloween Horror Nights' 30th annual event would not be taking place in 2020 as originally planned in Orlando or Hollywood. In a statement “Universal Orlando Resort will be focusing exclusively on operating its theme parks for daytime guests, using the enhanced health and safety procedures already in place,” the resort said in a news release Friday morning. “We know this decision will disappoint our fans and guests. We are disappointed, too. But we look forward to creating an amazing event in 2021.” [101] However, Universal opted to open the Halloween Horror Nights merchandise store. Universal Orlando did open two haunted houses in the fall of 2020, the “Bride of Frankenstein Lives” house and the “Revenge of the Tooth Fairy” house, in an attempt to lure back park guests but under full COVID restrictions with only three guests per room and distanced accordingly. This was not considered as a true Halloween event as the company simply was testing the procedure for Halloween events as precautions. These houses lasted throughout the season. A third house, based on the film Beetlejuice, opened Halloween weekend. All three were closed November 1st.
On September 9th, Universal Singapore announced that they made a decision to not hold the event that year. [102]
The evil clown is a subversion of the traditional comic clown character, in which the playful trope is instead depicted in a more disturbing nature through the use of horror elements and dark humor. The modern archetype of the evil clown was popularized by DC Comics character the Joker starting in 1940 and again by Pennywise in Stephen King's It. The character can be seen as playing on the sense of unease felt by sufferers of coulrophobia, the fear of clowns.
Six Flags St. Louis, originally known as Six Flags Over Mid-America, is an amusement park featuring characters and rides from many Warner Bros. films and tv shows such as, Looney Tunes, DC Comics, and formerly Scooby-Doo. It is located in Eureka, Missouri, which is a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. Owned and operated by Six Flags, the park opened on June 5, 1971 as the third of the company's three original theme parks. It is the only one of the original three Six Flags parks to be both owned and operated by Six Flags. The park was conceived by Six Flags founder Angus G. Wynne in the 1960s, although unlike the previous two Six Flags parks, it was designed by the Six Flags company itself rather than architect Randall Duell, who was preoccupied with designing AstroWorld at the time. Its layout consists of eight themed areas, each of which contain numerous attractions, dining locations and live entertainment. The adjacent Hurricane Harbor water park is free with park admission.
Universal Orlando Resort, commonly known as Universal Orlando or simply Universal, formerly Universal Studios Escape, is an American theme park and entertainment resort complex based in Orlando, Florida. The resort is operated by Universal Parks & Resorts, a division of Comcast's NBCUniversal. Universal Orlando is the second-largest resort in Greater Orlando, after nearby Walt Disney World Resort. Universal Orlando covers 541 acres of land.
Midnight Syndicate is an American musical duo that has been working primarily in the genre of gothic music since 1997 and is based in Chardon, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland.
Universal Studios Florida is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. Primarily themed to movies, television and other aspects of the entertainment industry, the park opened to the public on June 7, 1990. It is owned and operated by NBCUniversal and features numerous rides, attractions and live shows. Universal Studios Florida was the first component of the larger Universal Orlando Resort to open, ranking eleventh in the world and sixth in North America for attendance among amusement parks in 2019 while hosting approximately 10.9 million visitors.
A haunted attraction is a form of live entertainment that simulates the experience of visiting haunted locations or storylines typical of horror fiction. They usually feature fearsome sets and characters, especially demons, ghosts, monsters, possessed people, witches or wizards, serial killers, and slashers. Humorous characters may also be included.
This is a summary of notable incidents that have taken place at various Universal-owned theme parks, amusement parks, or water parks. This list is not intended to be a comprehensive list of every such event, but only those that have a significant impact on the parks or park operations, or are otherwise significantly newsworthy.
Fright Fest is a Halloween-oriented haunt event held annually at Six Flags theme parks in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It mainly features haunted attractions, themed areas named Scare Zones, and live entertainment. In 2020, Fright Fest was reimagined to Hallowfest, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Blue Man Group Theatre was an indoor theatre located at Universal Orlando Resort's CityWalk, which housed a live show and residency by the Blue Man Group, featuring their unique musical and humorous performances. It opened on June 6, 2007 in the former Nickelodeon Studios building, which was re-zoned into Universal CityWalk Orlando. As a stand-alone experience within CityWalk, it required separate admission from the theme parks.
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) is a separate-admission Halloween-themed event held annually during the months of August, September, and October at the Magic Kingdom theme park of the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, near Orlando, and at Disneyland Paris Resort outside Paris, France. The party began as a response to the Halloween Horror Nights event at Universal Studios Florida. Disney's event caters to a traditional family atmosphere, whereas Universal's has more of a "fright-centered" event with their monsters.
Mickey's Halloween Party was an annual Halloween-themed separate admission at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. An earlier event with the original name had been held in 1995 and 1996 at the Disneyland Park, but was not revived until 2005 at Disney California Adventure. Mickey's Halloween Party was considered to be a more family-friendly response to the scare-centered events Halloween Horror Nights, Knott's Scary Farm, and Six Flags Fright Fest. The event ran at Disney California Adventure through 2009, and returned to the Disneyland park starting in 2010. In 2019, the Party was moved back to Disney California Adventure and retitled Oogie Boogie Bash. Its new features including a water show at Pixar Pier called "Villainous".
Howl-O-Scream is an annual Halloween seasonal event that occurs during the month of October at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, SeaWorld San Antonio, and as of recently began at SeaWorld Orlando and SeaWorld San Diego. The parks remain operational during the day and transition to Howl-O-Scream at night. The event features haunted houses, "scare zones", and live entertainment.
Halloween Haunt, previously known as "Fearfest", is a Halloween event at Canada's Wonderland located in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. It runs after the park's regular operating hours on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings in October – up to, and recently in the 2019 season, NOT including Halloween night. It is Canada's largest haunted theme park featuring over 300 monsters, nine walk-through "maze" attractions, six uniquely themed atmospheric scare areas, and three live shows. During its operation, the grounds are transformed via decorative props, thematic music, eerie lighting to further create its scary atmosphere.
Knott's Scary Farm or Knott's Halloween Haunt is a seasonal Halloween event at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. It is an event in which the theme park is transformed into "160 acres of horror", via a series of roaming monsters, terrifying mazes and 'scare zones'. As of 2010, it was said to be the first, largest and longest-running Halloween event to be held at a theme park.
Disaster!: A Major Motion Picture Ride…Starring You! was a dark ride attraction at Universal Studios Florida. Set on a soundstage of a fictitious movie company, Disaster! was based on the park's former Earthquake: The Big One ride, which comically illustrates how special effects are filmed for use in movies. The attraction's climax cast the riders as movie extras for a movie finale scene involving an earthquake in a subway station. Using high-speed editing techniques, the riders got to see themselves in the form of a movie trailer that included film sequences shot throughout the attraction's pre-show and main ride.
Fear Factor Live was a stunt stage show attraction located in World Expo at Universal Studios Florida and previously, the Upper Lot at Universal Studios Hollywood. Both attractions opened in spring 2005. The Hollywood attraction was closed on August 14, 2008, to make way for Creature from the Black Lagoon: The Musical, which opened in spring 2009. The Florida attraction began operating on a seasonal schedule on June 3, 2005. The attraction began running again on a full-time basis in summer 2010. The attraction was based on the NBC television series Fear Factor and featured theme park guests becoming contestants in various stunts inspired by the show. After temporarily closing in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Universal confirmed in October 2021 that the attraction would not reopen.
Blumhouse Productions is an American film and television production company founded in 2000 by Jason Blum and Amy Israel. It is known mainly for producing horror films, such as Paranormal Activity, Insidious, The Purge, Split, Get Out, Happy Death Day, Halloween, Us, and The Invisible Man. It has also produced drama films, such as Whiplash and BlacKkKlansman, which both earned nominations for the Academy Award for Best Picture; Get Out and BlacKkKlansman won Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay, respectively. It also produced The Normal Heart, which won the 2014 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie. It has worked with directors such as Leigh Whannell, Jordan Peele, Christopher Landon, James Wan, Mike Flanagan, James DeMonaco, Damien Chazelle, M. Night Shyamalan and Spike Lee.
Ten Thirty One Productions was an American entertainment company based in Los Angeles that created, owned, and produced live attractions in the horror genre. It was featured on Season 5 of Shark Tank where it received the largest investment in the history of the show. The company was sold to Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group.
American Story is an American anthology media franchise consisting of several television series created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk for the cable network FX and FX on Hulu. Each series follows a different genre of fiction, with each individual season conceived as a self-contained miniseries, following a different set of characters and settings, and a story line with its own "beginning, middle, and end." Some plot elements of each season and series are loosely inspired by true events. Many actors appear in more than one season and series, often playing a new character.