Director John Carpenter's Halloween debuted in theaters in 1978 and introduced audiences to horror icon Michael Myers, whose backstory was developed over the course of the multiple sequels spawned by the original film. Now, Halloween will return to theaters alongside the fourth and fifth installments of the franchise, The Return of Michael Myers and The Revenge of Michael Myers, in October 2020.
Screenings for the trio of Halloween films have been booked for a total of 225 screens, including 104 drive-ins, in over two dozen markets across the United States. The creation of restored and remastered digital print of Halloween that will screen at drive-in theaters next month was supervised by Cinematographer Dean Cundy.
"We are so excited to be bringing these films back, especially to drive-ins across the country where this iconic franchise launched," said Ryan Freimann, senior vice president of Trancas and Compass in a statement to Variety. "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." The Halloween films will return to theaters though a partnership between CineLife Entertainment, Compass International Pictures, and Trancas International Films. "We are proud to partner with Trancas International Films and Compass International Pictures to bring this fan-favorite horror film to theaters worldwide," said Bernadette McCabe, CineLife Entertainment’s executive vice president. "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."
The re-release of the Halloween films includes the following markets: 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. Exhibitors will decide which of the three films will be shown at their own discretion. Most drive-ins are screening the three Halloween films back-to-back while indoor theaters are only showing the original film.
The re-release coincides with the original release month for Halloween Kills, the follow-up to the 2018 reboot of the franchise in which Jamie Lee Curtis reprised her role as Laurie Strode. Both Halloween Kills and its sequel, Halloween Ends, were postponed by roughly a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on movie theaters.
Of course, there may still be concerns about returning to theaters as the pandemic continues to wreak havoc across the world. As such, it wouldn't be the worst idea for moviegoers to take a cue from Michael Myers and wear a mask for indoor screenings of the slasher film.
Halloween will be screen at theaters and drive-in through October.
Source: Variety