Halloween 4, 5, and original film coming to 225 theatre screens in October

A couple months ago, we shared the news that Trancas International Films and Compass International Pictures were working with CineLife Entertainment to bring John Carpenter's 1978 classic HALLOWEEN and the sequels HALLOWEEN 4: THE RETURN OF MICHAEL MYERS and HALLOWEEN 5 back to theatres and drive-ins this October. Now we have a bit of an update on that plan.

Variety reports that HALLOWEEN films have officially been booked to play in more than two dozen U.S. markets and will be showing on a total of 225 screens, including 104 drive-ins. The markets that will be showing the films include Birmingham and Montgomery-Selma, Ala.; Los Angeles, Calif.; Moncton, Canada; Denver, Colo.; Tampa-St. Petersburg and Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne, Fla.; Atlanta, Ga.; Chicago, Ill.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Lexington, Ky.; Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; New York, N.Y.; Dayton, Ohio; Wilkes Barre-Scranton-Hazelton and Buffalo, Pa.; Sioux Falls, S.D; Knoxville, Memphis and Nashville, Tenn.; Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Tyler-Longview, and Dallas, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Spokane, Wash.

The report also notes that "it is up to the discretion of the exhibitor in terms of which films are screening. Most drive-ins are presenting the three HALLOWEEN films back-to-back while indoor theatres are only showing the original." So if you want to get the HALLOWEEN triple feature experience, try to seek out a drive-in.

The original “Halloween,” which premiered on Oct. 25, 1978, was directed and written by John Carpenter. It follows serial killer Michael Myers as he stalks and kills teenage babysitters on Halloween night. The film begins with six-year-old Michael killing his teenaged sister on Halloween in 1963; he escapes 15 years later from a sanitarium and stalks Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and her friends as they babysit.

The version of “Halloween” shown next month at drive-in theaters is a restored and remastered digital print, created under the supervision of cinematographer Dean Cundey.

The fourth Halloween movie, also known as “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers,” was released in 1988 and centered on Michael Myers escaping from the sanitarium an attempting to kill Laurie Strode’s daughter, portrayed by Danielle Harris. “Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers” focused on Myers awakening a year after being left for dead and attempting again to kill his niece, again portrayed by Harris.

Ryan Freimann, senior vice president of Trancas and Compass, had this to say about the films' return to theatre screens:

We are so excited to be bringing these films back, especially to drive-ins across the country where this iconic franchise launched. Now, with the fall season growing closer, the drive-in format is helping keep both Halloween spirit and the cinema experience alive in these unprecedented times."

Bernadette McCabe, CineLife Entertainment’s executive vice president, added: 

We are proud to partner with Trancas International Films and Compass International Pictures to bring this fan-favorite horror film to theaters worldwide. For generations of horror film fans who weren’t able to experience the original classic franchise in theaters, and even for those who remember when the films first premiered, we hope to capture the same thrilling and hair-raising atmosphere for all viewers to enjoy this quintessential Halloween experience."

I would love to see this triple feature in a drive-in, that sounds like an incredible night to me. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like I'm going to be able to make it to any of these showings.

If you're going to miss out like me, the original HALLOWEEN can be seen at THIS LINK, HALLOWEEN 4 is HERE, and HALLOWEEN 5 is HERE.