12 Films, 5 Timelines: The Complete, Confusing Saga Of Michael Myers And The Future Of The Halloween Franchise

As of December 13, 2025, the masked menace known as Michael Myers, or "The Shape," has theoretically been laid to rest following the conclusion of David Gordon Green’s divisive trilogy with Halloween Ends (2022). The franchise, which began with John Carpenter's 1978 masterpiece, has become a cornerstone of American horror, yet its continuity is arguably the most confusing in cinema history.

The latest news is definitive: the Blumhouse era is over, and the rights to the *Halloween* franchise are once again up for grabs, signaling that the next chapter will be a complete reboot. This article delves into the enduring legacy of Haddonfield's silent killer, breaking down his convoluted history across multiple timelines and speculating on the inevitable return of the Boogeyman.

The Many Lives of The Shape: Michael Myers' Conflicting Timelines

The sheer number of sequels, reboots, and retcons makes understanding the Michael Myers story a complex task. Unlike most franchises, *Halloween* does not have a single, linear narrative. Instead, it exists across five distinct and mutually exclusive timelines, each with its own rules for The Shape's motivations and invincibility.

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• Timeline 1: The Original/Thorn Trilogy (1978–1995)

  This is the first and most convoluted continuity. It includes Halloween (1978), Halloween II (1981), Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988), Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989), and Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995). This timeline introduces the controversial "sibling twist" (Laurie Strode is Michael's sister) and the "Cult of Thorn," a supernatural entity that compels Michael to kill his entire bloodline. The films in this era were largely driven by the idea of Michael as a supernatural, unkillable force.

• Timeline 2: The H20 Continuity (1978, 1981, 1998, 2002)

  This continuity selectively ignores films 4, 5, and 6. It includes Halloween (1978), Halloween II (1981), Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998), and Halloween: Resurrection (2002). H20 was a direct sequel to Halloween II, bringing back Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, who faked her death to escape her brother. This timeline was an attempt to simplify the lore, though it was quickly undone by Resurrection.

• Timeline 3: The Rob Zombie Reboot (2007–2009)

  Director Rob Zombie completely rebooted the franchise with his own vision, focusing heavily on Michael's troubled childhood and the psychological reasons for his murderous tendencies. This continuity consists of Halloween (2007) and Halloween II (2009). These films are known for their gritty, brutal violence and a more human, albeit deeply damaged, portrayal of Michael Myers. They stand entirely separate from all other films.

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• Timeline 4: The Blumhouse/DGG Trilogy (1978, 2018, 2021, 2022)

  The most recent and definitive timeline, led by director David Gordon Green and producer Jason Blum, acts as a direct sequel to *only* the original 1978 film. It completely ignores every other sequel, including the sibling twist and the Cult of Thorn. It features Halloween (1978), Halloween (2018), Halloween Kills (2021), and Halloween Ends (2022). This series focuses on trauma, mob violence, and the idea of Michael Myers as a symbol of evil rather than just a man.

• Timeline 5: The Standalone Anomaly

  Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) is the only film in the entire franchise that does not feature Michael Myers or Laurie Strode. It was intended to turn *Halloween* into an anthology series, but fan backlash led to Michael's return in 1988. It remains a beloved cult classic but is entirely separate from The Shape’s story.

The Complete Filmography of Michael Myers (1978–2022)

For fans new and old, navigating the 12 films of the saga can be a headache. Here is the complete list of all films featuring Michael Myers, The Shape, or "The Boogeyman," in order of release:

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1. Halloween (1978) - The Original
2. Halloween II (1981) - Original Timeline / H20 Timeline
3. Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988) - Thorn Timeline
4. Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989) - Thorn Timeline
5. Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995) - Thorn Timeline
6. Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998) - H20 Timeline
7. Halloween: Resurrection (2002) - H20 Timeline
8. Halloween (2007) - Rob Zombie Reboot
9. Halloween II (2009) - Rob Zombie Reboot
10. Halloween (2018) - Blumhouse/DGG Timeline
11. Halloween Kills (2021) - Blumhouse/DGG Timeline
12. Halloween Ends (2022) - Blumhouse/DGG Timeline

What's Next for Haddonfield? The Inevitable Reboot

The conclusion of Halloween Ends in 2022 was meant to be a final, definitive end to the story of Michael Myers and Laurie Strode. Michael’s death in the film was gruesome and public, seemingly closing the door on the Blumhouse era. However, in the world of horror, "dead" simply means "on hiatus." The franchise has killed off The Shape multiple times before, only to bring him back with a new retcon or supernatural explanation.

The Rights and The Reboot Clock

The most important piece of current information is that Blumhouse Productions, led by Jason Blum, no longer holds the rights to the franchise. This means that the next film will be helmed by a new studio and a new creative team with a completely fresh vision. The consensus among fans and industry observers is that the franchise will undergo another complete reboot—a common strategy after a major trilogy concludes.

Many speculate that the next major installment will be timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the original film in 2028. This would give the new rights holders ample time to develop a fresh take on the lore of Michael Myers and the town of Haddonfield, potentially even moving away from The Shape entirely, as was the original intent with Halloween III.

The Enduring Entities of Evil

Any future reboot will have to grapple with the core entities that make the franchise work:

• The Mask: The iconic William Shatner mask is instantly recognizable and a symbol of pure, motiveless evil.
• The Silent Stalker: Michael Myers is most terrifying when he is a silent, relentless presence—"The Shape" of pure evil, as Dr. Samuel Loomis famously called him.
• The Concept of Trauma: The Blumhouse films highlighted the generational trauma inflicted by Michael, a theme likely to be explored further in any modern horror reboot.

While the Blumhouse trilogy had its critics, it successfully brought the franchise back into the cultural zeitgeist. The next creative team will face the daunting task of honoring the legacy of John Carpenter’s original while finding a new and terrifying way to tell the story of a man who is simply "Evil on two legs." The Boogeyman is never truly gone; he is simply waiting for the next October night to rise again.