Halloween Unmasked
September 24, 1999 – 27 Minutes
Halloween Unmasked is a 26-minute featurette reflecting on the production, impact and legacy of Halloween. The featurette was originally released by Anchor Bay on their 2-tape VHS release of Halloween on August 5, 1998.
It was later released on subsequent VHS releases and the 1999 DVD releases of Halloween. It was dropped from the bonus features following the release of the 25th Anniversary release in 2003, as well as both Blu-Ray releases put out by Anchor Bay in 2007 and 2013. It was released on both of the film’s DVD releases, but was not included on the film’s initial Blu-Ray release. Shout Factory included it on the bonus disc for the complete collection box set, and it was later included on the Blu-Ray disc for the 2021 4K release.
In 2014, the featurette was released on the bonus disc of special features from Scream Factory & Anchor Bay’s Halloween: The Complete Collection Blu-Ray box set. As it was on the bonus disc, it was only included in the box set’s deluxe edition rather than its standard 10-disc counterpart.
Though Lionsgate’s 2018 UHD release did not include it, it was subsequently included on the 2021 UHD release from Shout Factory.
Inside Halloween 5
September 12, 2000 – 15 Minutes
Inside Halloween 5 is a short featurette that covers the quick production turn around of Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers. Though informative, it was ultimately rendered obsolete by Scream Factory’s 2014 documentary, Dead Man’s Party: The Making of Halloween 5, that runs over a half hour longer.
It was released on both of the film’s DVD releases, but was not included on the film’s initial Blu-Ray release.
In 2014, the featurette was released on the bonus disc of special features from Scream Factory & Anchor Bay’s Halloween: The Complete Collection Blu-Ray box set. As it was on the bonus disc, it was only included in the box set’s deluxe edition rather than its standard 10-disc counterpart.
It was subsequently included on the 2021 UHD release from Shout Factory.
Halloween 4: Final Cut
October 9, 2001 – 17 Minutes
Halloween 4: Final Cut is a short featurette that covers the production of Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, discussing the fruition of the back to basics approach to the story, the race against time to get a script ready before the writer’s strike, the casting, and the film’s reception.
Though informative, it was ultimately rendered obsolete by Scream Factory’s 2014 documentary, Back to Basics: The Making of Halloween 4 that runs over a half hour longer.
It was released on both of the film’s DVD releases, but was not included on the film’s initial Blu-Ray release.
In 2014, the featurette was released on the bonus disc of special features from Scream Factory & Anchor Bay’s Halloween: The Complete Collection Blu-Ray box set. As it was on the bonus disc, it was only included in the box set’s deluxe edition rather than its standard 10-disc counterpart.
It was subsequently included on the 2021 UHD release from Shout Factory.
AMC Backstory: Halloween
October 26, 2002 – 46 Minutes
Originally airing on October 26, 2002, this 45-minute retrospective was produced by AMC as part of their AMC Backstory series.
It more-or-less covers the same information that’s presented in A Cut Above the Rest and the subsequent Halloween: The Inside Story documentaries.
To date, this documentary has never had any official release on physical media.
Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest
August 5, 2003 – 87 Minutes
Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest is a full-length 87-minute documentary about the production, impact and legacy of Halloween. Like its predecessor Halloween Unmasked 2000, Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest features interviews with the cast and crew.
A Cut Above the Rest additionally incorporates interviews filmed for Halloween Unmasked, essentially rendering that featurette useless.
It was first released on DVD on August 5, 2003. It was included on the film’s 2007 Blu-Ray release, but was not ported over to Anchor Bay’s 2013 35th Anniversary box set.
The 2007 Blu-Ray would later be included in the deluxe edition of Anchor Bay & Shout Factory’s Halloween: The Complete Collection box set, as well as the Blu-Ray disc in Lionsgate’s 2018 UHD release.
Shout Factory included it on the third disc of their 2021 UHD release, but this disc was later dropped for the 2025 reissue.
Halloween: 25 Years of Terror
July 25, 2006 – 83 Minutes
A documentary that follows the evolution of the Halloween movies over the past twenty-five years. For the first time, cast, crew, critics and fans join together in the ultimate Halloween retrospective to examines why the films are so popular. Additionally, the documentary revisits many of the original locations used in the films, as well as featuring footage from the 25 Years of Terror Convention that took place in South Pasadena, California in 2003.
Halloween: 25 Years of Terror was ultimately released on DVD by Anchor Bay on July 25, 2006. Its first pressing with a slipcover, as well as the inclusion of a mini comic-book entitled Halloween: Autopsis that was supposed to save as a the lead-in to Sam, the first of many Halloween comics.
To date, the documentary has not been included on any North American Blu-Ray releases, but it is included as a special feature on Via Vision’s 2025 UHD release of Halloween.
Michael Lives: The Making of Halloween
October 7, 2008 – 258 Minutes
Michael Lives is an extended documentary on the making of Rob Zombie’s Halloween covering all aspects of the film’s production, from initial pre-production meetings to the final days of filming reshoots.
Though the film’s initial DVD release occurred on December 18, 2007, the documentary was still being edited. It was subsequently released a year later as the third disc in the film’s reissued set.
It was also included on the film’s Blu-Ray release two weeks later on October 21, 2008, where it had been to high definition.
Halloween: The Inside Story
October 25, 2010 – 90 Minutes
Originally airing on A&E and the Biography channel, Halloween: The Inside Story takes a look at one of the most successful film franchises of all time as it goes behind the scenes of John Carpenter’s Halloween, the film that redefined the horror genre in the late 1970s.
Viewers will learn how writer and director John Carpenter made movie magic on a shoestring budget and how the costume department created one of the most iconic horror villains in movie history by spray-painting a mask of Captain Kirk.
The documentary received a standalone release in both the US and the UK, courtesy of A&E. Though content is identical between the two releases, they have a different narrator.
The Nightmare Isn’t Over: The Making of Halloween II
September 18, 2012 – 45 Minutes
Presented in 2.35:1 to match the film it’s talking about, this Red Shirt Pictures retrospective documentary was the first such documentary to focus solely on Halloween II.
Rick Rosenthal, Dick Warlock, executive producer Irwin Yablans, director of photography Dean Cundey, co-composer Alan Howarth and other key members of the crew rip back the curtain of the script and production, and rarely pull any punches. Cast members Leo Rossi, Lance Guest and Nancy Stephens also chime in.
This documentary was first released on the 2012 Shout Factory Blu-Ray, and has subsequently appeared on their 2014 and 2018 releases, as well as their 2021 UHD release. It has not appeared on any of Universal’s releases.
Stand Alone: The Making of Halloween III
September 18, 2012 – 33 Minutes
Presented in 2.35:1 to match the film it’s talking about, this Red Shirt Pictures retrospective documentary was the first such documentary to focus solely on Halloween III: Season of the Witch.
Stand Alone features interviews with director Tommy Lee Wallace, actors Tom Atkins and Stacey Nelkin, stunt coordinator Dick Warlock, cinematographer Dean Cundey, costume designer Jane Ruhm, and others.
The group offer an honest recount of the film’s history, public and critical reaction to it, the plan to make new Halloween-themed movies every year, the evolution of the script, the work of the cast, cast camaraderie, the process of shooting various scenes, making many of the special effects, anecdotes from the shoot, the film’s trademark jingle, and more.
This documentary was first released on the 2012 Shout Factory Blu-Ray, and has subsequently appeared on their 2014 and 2018 releases, as well as their 2021 UHD release. It has not appeared on any of Universal’s releases.
Back to Basics: The Making of Halloween 4
September 23, 2014 – 47 Minutes
As part of the complete collection Blu-Ray set, Shout Factory’s Red Shirt Productions produced Back to Basics: The Making of Halloween 4, a retrospective focusing on Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers.
Far more informative and engaging than its predecessor, Back to Basics features interviews with Trancas International™ president Malek Akkad, director Dwight Little, screenwriter Alan B. McElroy, composer Alan Howarth, producer Paul Freeman, special make-up effects artists John Carl Buechler and Ken Horn, stuntmen Tom Morga and George P. Wilbur, and actors Danielle Harris, Ellie Cornell, Kathleen Kinmont, Beau Starr, Raymond O’Connor, Erik Preston and Sasha Jensen.
Vintage interview snippets are also included, most notably with executive producer Moustapha Akkad, as well as some of those featured in Final Cut.
This documentary was released in 2014 on the bonus disc of the Halloween complete collection Blu-Ray set’s deluxe edition. It has subsequently been carried over to Shout Factory’s 2021 UHD release.
Dead Man’s Party: The Making of Halloween 5
September 23, 2014 – 42 Minutes
As part of the complete collection Blu-Ray set, Scream Factory’s Red Shirt Productions produced Dead Man’s Party: The Making of Halloween 5, a retrospective focusing on Halloween 5: The Return of Michael Myers.
Far more informative and engaging than its predecessor, Dead Man’s Party features interviews with Trancas International™ president and producer Malek Akkad, line producer Rick Nathanson, composer Alan Howarth and actors Danielle Harris, Ellie Cornell, Wendy Kaplan, Jeffrey Landman, Jonathan Chapin, Frankie Como, Tamara Glynn, Matthew Walker and Don Shanks. The group isn’t one to sugarcoat any aspect of the production from its rushed beginnings to the assembling of its cast and crew, its rocky production, and the many difficulties the filmmakers encountered along the way.
This documentary was released in 2014 on the bonus disc of the Halloween complete collection Blu-Ray set’s deluxe edition. It has subsequently been carried over to Shout Factory’s 2021 UHD release.
Blood is Thicker Than Water: The Making of Halloween H20
September 23, 2014 – 58 Minutes
As part of the complete collection Blu-Ray set, Scream Factory’s Red Shirt Productions produced Blood is Thicker Than Water: The Making of Halloween H20, a retrospective focusing on Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later.
Running close to an hour, the retrospective features interviews with producer Malek Akkad, producer Paul Freeman, writer Robert Zappia, cinematographer Daryn Okada, editor Patrick Lussier, composer John Ottman, stunt coordinator Donna Keegan, make-up artist Brad Hardin and actors Jamie Lee Curtis, Josh Hartnett, Jodi Lyn O’Keefe, Nancy Stephens, Adam Hann-Byrd, Tom Kane and Chris Durand.
The documentary was released in 2014 as a part of the complete collection Blu-Ray set. Unlike their documentaries for the fourth and fifth films, Blood is Thicker Than Water was included on the disc for Halloween H20. It was subsequently ported over to Shout Factory’s 2022 UHD release.
