Halloween Movie Canon - Untangling The Timelines

Understanding What "Canon" Means for Halloween Movies
Which Halloween Movies are Canon in the Original Path?
The Laurie Strode Trilogy - A Fresh Look at Which Halloween Movies are Canon
Rob Zombie's Take - Which Halloween Movies are Canon Here?
The Standalone Film - Is Halloween III Canon?
Other Ways to See Which Halloween Movies are Canon
Figuring Out Your Viewing Order
Why So Many Paths?

Understanding What "Canon" Means for Halloween Movies

When you talk about which Halloween movies are canon, it gets a bit tangled, doesn't it? It's really about figuring out which stories belong together in a continuous narrative. For a series of films about, well, a guy in a mask holding a knife, the whole movie history is, in fact, wildly complex. You see, the idea of what's "official" or "canon" changes depending on which set of films you're looking at, which is kind of a big deal for fans trying to keep things straight.

So, this whole "canon" idea, basically, helps us understand which films are part of a shared, consistent story. It’s a way of sorting out the official plot points and character developments from those that might be remakes, reboots, or just standalone tales. Without this sort of guide, you might find yourself watching a sequel that completely ignores everything you just saw, which, you know, can be a little confusing. It’s a common thing for long-running movie series, but the Halloween films seem to take it to a new level, actually, with multiple versions of events unfolding.

It’s almost like trying to put together a puzzle where some pieces just don't fit, or perhaps they belong to a different puzzle altogether. We'll try to clarify which films are considered official within the overall history and how they connect to one another. We'll break down the original storyline and the different paths it has taken, actually, making it a bit easier to follow. The franchise has a rich history, from the original 1978 film to the 2018 sequel, and understanding these different paths is key to making sense of it all, more or less.

Which Halloween Movies are Canon in the Original Path?

The very first path, the one that started it all, begins with John Carpenter's original picture from 1978. That film, and its direct follow-up, Halloween II from 1981, pretty much set the stage for everything that came after. These two are, in some respects, the bedrock for many fans, establishing Michael Myers and Laurie Strode as the iconic slasher killer and final girl, as a matter of fact. They introduced the silent, relentless force of Michael Myers and the enduring courage of Laurie, laying down the groundwork for decades of horror stories.

Now, things get a little twisty from here within this original path. After Halloween II, the story picked up again with films like Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers in 1988, and then Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers in 1989. These pictures continued the saga of Michael Myers, building on the events of the first two. So, if you're following this particular line, these are very much part of that continuing narrative. They pick up the thread of Michael's terror, showing his persistence and the efforts of those trying to stop him, you know, keeping the original story going.

There's also a film known as The Curse of Michael Myers, which, in some ways, continues the story from Halloween 5. This means that for a certain interpretation of which Halloween movies are canon, you'd watch 1978, then 1981, then 4, then 5, and then The Curse of Michael Myers. It's a specific thread that weaves through several decades, showing the persistent presence of Michael Myers in Haddonfield, you know. This long stretch of films builds on each other, creating a sprawling narrative that many fans consider the true, original line of events for the franchise, basically.

The Laurie Strode Trilogy - A Fresh Look at Which Halloween Movies are Canon

Then, there's a completely different way to look at which Halloween movies are canon, especially if you're interested in being caught up for the recent films. This particular path is quite neat because it mostly ignores everything after the very first movie. Basically, the original 1978 Halloween film is the only one in the entire franchise considered official for what people call the Laurie Strode timeline trilogy. It’s a bold choice, but it helps streamline the story for new viewers and gives a fresh perspective on the main characters, you know.

This trilogy includes the 2018 film simply titled Halloween, then Halloween Kills, and finally Halloween Ends. For these three,