What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedHalloween
John Carpenter · Film · 1978
If you loved Halloween, start with Halloween Ends (2022) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Halloween across media.
If you loved Halloween, you are drawn to the feeling of pure, inescapable evil disrupting the quiet safety of small town life.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Halloween Ends
Film · 2022
Books on the same thread
Fear Street
R. L. Stine · Book · 1989
Explores: Teen Angst, Small Town Secrets, Supernatural Curse.
Just like in Halloween, you will find a familiar tension here as a seemingly ordinary small town setting becomes the backdrop for a terrifying and persistent supernatural threat.
Psycho
Robert Bloch · Book · 1959
Shares a thread with Halloween: Psychological Horror.
The psychological terror that defined Halloween finds its roots in this classic, where the isolation of a lonely location mirrors the predatory stalking found in Michael Myers' Haddonfield.
Ghost Story
Peter Straub · Book · 1979
Shares a thread with Halloween: Psychological Horror.
Similar to the lingering trauma at the heart of Halloween, this story explores how past sins and hidden histories manifest as a relentless, unstoppable force of darkness.
The Exorcist
William Peter Blatty · Book · 1971
Shares a thread with Halloween: Psychological Horror.
The battle between good and evil that anchors Halloween is pushed to its absolute limit here, forcing you to confront a truly malevolent, unexplainable entity invading a home.
Series on the same thread
Monster
Series · 2004
Explores: Moral Dilemma, Existentialism, Nature vs. Nurture.
If the unstoppable nature of Michael Myers in Halloween unsettled you, this story of a surgeon tracking a cold-blooded psychopath provides a deeper, more complex look at evil.
American Horror Story
Ryan Murphy · Series · 2011
Shares 3 threads with Halloween: Trauma, Good vs Evil, Psychological Horror.
Much like the anthology-style dread of Halloween, this series uses diverse, trapped settings to examine the same themes of trauma and power that define the classic slasher experience.
Stranger Things
Ross Duffer · Series · 2016
Explores: Government Experiments, Telekinesis, Monsters.
You will recognize the atmosphere of Halloween in the way this show turns a quiet small town into a hunting ground for dark, otherworldly forces that defy explanation.
Twin Peaks
Mark Frost · Series · 1990
Shares a thread with Halloween: Good vs Evil.
The small town secrets that unravel after a brutal murder in this series mirror the way Haddonfield is forever changed by the arrival of evil in Halloween.
Podcasts on the same thread
Scary Pumpkin Horror Podcast
Podcast
Explores: Creepy, Fear, Nightmare.
This podcast captures the same visceral sense of dread and suspense that made Halloween a masterpiece, focusing on the thrill of the unknown lurking in the dark.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
Explores: mental health awareness, female friendship, coping mechanisms.
If the chilling reality of the crimes in Halloween kept you awake, this series offers a conversational approach to the same dark fascination with human monsters and tragedy.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What order should I watch the Halloween movies in?
You should begin with the 1978 Halloween to understand the origin of Michael Myers and his return to Haddonfield. After completing the original film, you can continue the story by watching the 2022 release Halloween Ends to see the conclusion of the narrative arc.
Is Halloween Ends related to the 1978 Halloween movie?
Yes, Halloween Ends is a direct continuation of the franchise that began with the 1978 Halloween. It follows the events involving Michael Myers after he escapes from a mental hospital and returns to Haddonfield to commit his murders, serving as a later installment in the same series.
How long after the 1978 Halloween does the story of Michael Myers continue in Halloween Ends?
The 1978 Halloween establishes that Michael Myers escapes fifteen years after his initial crime. While Halloween Ends is a later film in the series, the narrative remains focused on the impact of his return to Haddonfield and his ongoing actions as a killer.
Should I watch the 1978 Halloween before watching Halloween Ends?
Yes, it is recommended to watch the 1978 Halloween first. This film introduces the premise of Michael Myers escaping a mental hospital to return to Haddonfield, which provides the necessary context for the events and character history presented in the later film, Halloween Ends.