129 Fun Facts About Halloween Movies

In the 1993 film "Hocus Pocus," what brings the Sanderson Sisters back to life?

A virgin lights a black-flame candle: Winifred's gallows curse says a virgin will summon the sisters on All Hallows' Eve under a full moon, and Max Dennison does exactly that in their Salem cottage.

Which boy does Laurie Strode babysit on Halloween night in the 1978 film?

Tommy Doyle is the boy Laurie Strode babysits at the Doyle house on Halloween night; Annie's charge Lindsey Wallace joins them after Annie leaves, and Michael later attacks the Wallace house across the street.

Which animated special has Linus wait all Halloween night for a figure who never arrives?

In the 1966 Peanuts special "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," Linus spends Halloween night in a pumpkin patch waiting for the Great Pumpkin, who he believes will bring toys to sincere pumpkin patches.

In "The Nightmare Before Christmas," what is Jack Skellington's title in Halloween Town?

Jack Skellington is known as the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town. Despite his prestigious title, he grows bored with the same annual routine and becomes fascinated with Christmas.

What kind of creature is Casper in the 1995 family film?

Casper is a ghost: the friendly spirit haunts Whipstaff Manor in Friendship, Maine, and the 1995 film was the first feature to carry a fully computer-generated character in the lead role.

Which horror film franchise features a killer who wears a ghostface mask and calls victims on the phone?

Scream (1996) introduced Ghostface, an off-the-shelf Fun World mask that Wes Craven adopted for the film; the killers phone their victims to play a deadly horror-movie trivia game.

In the "Hotel Transylvania" films, who provides the voice for Count Dracula?

Adam Sandler voices Count Dracula in the first three Hotel Transylvania films (2012-2018); soundalike Brian Hull took over the role for 2022's Hotel Transylvania: Transformania.

What classic horror film features twins who appear in the hallway of the Overlook Hotel?

Stanley Kubrick's 1980 adaptation of Stephen King's "The Shining" features the Grady twins who appear in the hallway of the Overlook Hotel, beckoning Danny Torrance to play with them "forever and ever."

In "Beetlejuice," what must you do to summon the title character?

Say his name three times: Betelgeuse can only be summoned, or sent back, by speaking his name three times in a row, which is how Lydia Deetz calls up Michael Keaton's bio-exorcist.

Which director created the original 1978 "Halloween" film?

Carpenter directed, co-wrote and scored the film, which was shot in just 20 days in May 1978 and helped establish the slasher genre.

In the "Friday the 13th" franchise, at which location do most of the killings take place?

Camp Crystal Lake is the primary setting for the "Friday the 13th" series. The camp is where young Jason Voorhees drowned due to negligent counselors, setting off the chain of events that led to the franchise's reign of terror.

What is the name of the doll possessed by a serial killer in the "Child's Play" franchise?

Chucky is a Good Guy doll possessed by the spirit of serial killer Charles Lee Ray. The original "Child's Play" (1988) spawned a franchise that includes multiple sequels and a TV series.

In "Coraline," what does the Other Mother want to sew onto Coraline's face?

The Other Mother (also called the Beldam) wants to replace Coraline's eyes with buttons, just like all the other inhabitants of the Other World. This is the price for staying in the seemingly perfect alternate reality.

Which 1999 horror film popularized the found footage genre and was marketed as real events?

The Blair Witch Project (1999) was shot on Hi8 video and 16mm film for roughly $60,000, marketed with missing-person posters and a website presenting its footage as real, and grossed about $248 million worldwide.

Which Disney Channel movie has a girl discover her family are witches and travel to a magical town?

"Halloweentown" (1998) follows Marnie Piper, played by Kimberly J. Brown, who discovers on her 13th birthday that she comes from a family of witches. She follows her grandmother (Debbie Reynolds) to the magical Halloweentown.

In "A Nightmare on Elm Street," where does Freddy Krueger attack his victims?

In their dreams: Freddy Krueger kills teenagers while they sleep, and a death in the dream is a death in real life, so Nancy and her friends fight to stay awake in the 1984 original.

Which Tim Burton stop-motion film follows a nervous groom dragged into the Land of the Dead?

Corpse Bride (2005), directed by Tim Burton and Mike Johnson, follows Victor Van Dort, who accidentally weds the dead Emily while practising his wedding vows in the forest.

Which is the third of Randy's rules for surviving a horror movie in Scream (1996)?

Never say "I'll be right back" is Randy Meeks's (Jamie Kennedy) third rule in Scream (1996), after no sex and no drink or drugs, 'because you won't be back.'

In "Monster House," what is the house actually revealed to be?

The house is Nebbercracker's late wife, Constance: a former circus 'fat lady', she fell into the wet cement of the unfinished house's foundation, and her spirit possessed the building.

Which 2018 horror film features a family that must not make any sounds to avoid attracting creatures?

A Quiet Place (2018), directed by and starring John Krasinski opposite Emily Blunt, follows the Abbott family living in silence to avoid blind aliens that hunt by sound.

Which Academy Award did Jordan Peele's "Get Out" win at the 2018 ceremony?

Best Original Screenplay: Get Out was nominated for four Oscars (Picture, Director, Actor and Screenplay) at the March 2018 ceremony, and Jordan Peele became the first Black winner of Best Original Screenplay.

The killer's iconic white face covering in the original "Halloween" (1978) was adapted from what item?

Production designer Tommy Lee Wallace bought the Captain Kirk mask for $1.98 at a Hollywood Boulevard costume shop, widened the eye holes and spray-painted it a bluish white.

In "The Conjuring" (2013), what real-life paranormal investigators are the main characters based on?

Ed and Lorraine Warren, played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, investigate a haunted Rhode Island farmhouse in 1971; the project was originally titled The Warren Files.

Which actress played Laurie Strode in the original "Halloween" and reprised the role decades later?

Jamie Lee Curtis originated the role of Laurie Strode in the 1978 "Halloween" and returned for multiple sequels, including the 2018 reboot trilogy. The role was her film debut and established her as a "scream queen" before she became a mainstream star.

In "Poltergeist" (1982), what household object does Carol Anne communicate with the ghosts through?

Five-year-old Carol Anne Freeling communicates with the poltergeists through the static on a television set. Her famous line "They're here" while touching the TV screen is one of the most iconic moments in horror cinema.

What is the name of the fictional town where "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" takes place?

Brad and Janet's hometown even gave the stage show its working title, They Came from Denton High, before it became The Rocky Horror Show.

In "Hereditary" (2018), what miniature models does the mother Annie create as part of her art?

Annie Graham (Toni Collette) is a miniature artist who builds incredibly detailed dollhouse-style dioramas of scenes from her own life. These miniatures serve as a recurring motif, blurring the line between control and helplessness as the family's horror unfolds.

What word does Danny Torrance write in lipstick on a door at the Overlook Hotel?

REDRUM: Danny, chanting in Tony's voice, scrawls it on the bedroom door in Wendy's lipstick; she sees it reflected in the mirror as MURDER moments before Jack attacks with the axe.

In "Shaun of the Dead" (2004), what is the pub where Shaun's group holes up against the zombies?

The Winchester is Shaun and Ed's local; the Winchester rifle mounted above its bar turns out to work, settling a long-running argument between the two friends.

Which horror film features a videotape that kills anyone who watches it seven days later?

The 2002 American remake of the Japanese film Ringu follows journalist Rachel Keller, who watches the tape and gets a whispered phone call: "seven days."

Which Sam Raimi sequel with Bruce Campbell turned the franchise into slapstick horror-comedy?

Evil Dead II (1987): Sam Raimi leaned into slapstick for the sequel, with Bruce Campbell's Ash Williams battling his own possessed hand in scenes equal parts terrifying and hilarious.

What does the phrase "The Sunken Place" refer to in "Get Out"?

The Sunken Place is a paralyzed void reached under hypnosis: Missy Armitage sends Chris there by stirring a teacup, and Jordan Peele called it a metaphor for the marginalization of Black people.

In "The Exorcist" (1973), what is the name of the demon that possesses young Regan?

Pazuzu first attaches itself to Regan through a Ouija board, posing as an invisible friend she calls "Captain Howdy"; the demon's voice was performed by Mercedes McCambridge.

In "Midsommar" (2019), in which country does the disturbing festival take place?

Sweden: Ari Aster's Midsommar is set in the remote Swedish commune of Harga, where American grad students attend a nine-day midsummer festival that turns sinister almost entirely in broad daylight.

What was unusual about the release strategy that made Paranormal Activity (2007) a hit?

Fans voted online to bring it to their city: Paramount's 'Demand It' campaign on Eventful let users request local screenings, and a nationwide release was promised once demands passed one million in October 2009.

Which famous actor made his film debut as one of Freddy's victims in "A Nightmare on Elm Street" (1984)?

Depp played Glen Lantz, who falls asleep and is sucked into his bed before being expelled as a geyser of blood.

In Hocus Pocus, what is the name of the immortal black cat who was once a boy named Thackery?

Binx was turned into an immortal cat by the Sanderson sisters in 1693 Salem for trying to save his sister Emily, and spends 300 years guarding the Black Flame Candle.

James Wan made his feature directing debut with the first film of which horror franchise?

Saw (2004) was James Wan's feature directing debut; he co-wrote it with a friend in Australia in 2001 before moving to Los Angeles to get it made, and later created Insidious.

In the "Scream" franchise, what is the name of the fictional town where the killings take place?

The film opens with high school student Casey Becker home alone in Woodsboro when the phone rings.

In "Hocus Pocus," what unusual feature sits on the cover of the Sanderson Sisters' spellbook?

A living eye sits on the cover of Winifred's spellbook; in the film's final shot the eye opens and looks around, hinting that the Sanderson sisters may return.

Who voices Ghostface on the phone throughout the "Scream" films?

Roger L. Jackson has voiced Ghostface's phone calls since the original 1996 Scream; in-story every killer uses the same voice changer, which is why the caller sounds identical from film to film.

In Halloween (1978), Dr. Loomis shares his name with a character from which classic horror film?

Psycho (1960): Sam Loomis was Marion Crane's boyfriend in Hitchcock's film, played by John Gavin; Marion was played by Janet Leigh, Jamie Lee Curtis's real-life mother.

What was the production budget of the original "Halloween" (1978)?

The original "Halloween" was made on a shoestring budget of approximately $300,000 (some sources say $325,000). It went on to gross around $70 million worldwide, making it one of the most profitable independent films ever made at the time.

In "The Nightmare Before Christmas," who composed the film's music and songs?

Elfman also provided Jack Skellington's singing voice; Chris Sarandon was cast for the speaking parts afterwards to match him.

Which real-life killer inspired Leatherface in "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" (1974)?

Gein was a 1950s Wisconsin murderer who fashioned items from human skin and bones; the character borrowed from his crimes, but the film's plot is largely fictional.

In "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," what planet is Dr. Frank-N-Furter from?

Dr. Frank-N-Furter announces he is from "the planet Transsexual in the galaxy of Transylvania." This revelation comes during the climactic floor show scene, before Riff Raff and Magenta reveal their alien forms and return the castle to their home planet.

Which actor played both Pennywise in the 2017 "It" reboot and a role in the 2024 "Nosferatu" remake?

Bill Skarsgard played Pennywise the Dancing Clown in the 2017 and 2019 It films, then Count Orlok in the 2024 Nosferatu remake, continuing his run of iconic horror roles.

What was the original working title of "Scream" (1996) before it was changed during production?

Kevin Williamson's screenplay was originally titled "Scary Movie." The name was changed to "Scream" during production at the suggestion of the Weinstein brothers. The title "Scary Movie" was later used for the 2000 parody film that spoofed "Scream" and other horror movies.

Which horror film was the first to receive a Best Picture nomination at the Academy Awards?

The Exorcist (1973) was the first horror film nominated for Best Picture; it earned ten nominations and won two, for Adapted Screenplay and Sound, while The Silence of the Lambs later became the first to win.

How is the masked adult Michael Myers billed in the closing credits of "Halloween" (1978)?

The Shape: Nick Castle, a college friend of Carpenter's, played the masked Michael for $25 a day and is credited only as 'The Shape'; another actor stepped in for the single unmasked moment.

Who directed the critically acclaimed 1973 supernatural horror film "The Exorcist"?

The studio only agreed to Friedkin because author William Peter Blatty insisted on him after seeing The French Connection; the film earned Friedkin a Best Director nomination.

In what fictional Illinois town does the original *Halloween* movie take place?

Haddonfield, Illinois is the town Michael Myers escapes to, fifteen years on, to stalk and kill; the name is Debra Hill's New Jersey hometown.

Who plays Dr. Sam Loomis, the psychiatrist hunting Michael, in Halloween (1978)?

Donald Pleasence plays Dr. Sam Loomis in Halloween (1978) and returned for four sequels, the last being 1995's Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, released after his death.

Who directed the 1984 horror classic *A Nightmare on Elm Street*?

Wes Craven wrote and directed *A Nightmare on Elm Street* (1984), introducing the iconic dream demon Freddy Krueger to audiences.

What is Freddy Krueger's signature weapon in *A Nightmare on Elm Street*?

A bladed glove: the director said Freddy's razor-fingered glove was partly inspired by watching his cat claw the side of his couch, and Robert Englund holds that arm low because the prop was heavy.

Which horror movie character is famously recognized by his hockey mask?

Jason Voorhees from the *Friday the 13th* franchise is instantly recognizable by the hockey mask he dons, which first appeared in *Friday the 13th Part III* (1982).

Who is revealed as the killer in the original Friday the 13th (1980)?

Pamela Voorhees, the camp's former cook played by Betsy Palmer, is the killer in Friday the 13th (1980), avenging her son Jason's drowning; Jason himself only takes over in the sequels.

Who plays Sidney Prescott, the 'final girl' hunted by the killer across the Scream films?

Neve Campbell has played Sidney Prescott through the majority of the Scream franchise, taunted and targeted in the first four films.

Which producer co-wrote the original Halloween with its director?

Debra Hill co-wrote and produced Halloween (1978) and went on to produce The Fog, Escape from New York and Halloween II before her death in 2005.

Who directed Halloween II (1981) in his directorial debut?

Rick Rosenthal made his feature directing debut with Halloween II (1981), which picks up the same night as the original and moves the action to the local hospital; he returned for Halloween: Resurrection (2002).

Which subtitle belongs to Halloween III (1982), the entry about deadly Silver Shamrock masks?

Season of the Witch: Halloween III (1982) drops the slasher formula for a story about a mask-maker's plot to kill children on Halloween night; the producers had hoped to turn the series into an anthology.

Who directed Halloween (2018), Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends?

David Gordon Green directed the 2018-2022 trilogy (Halloween, Halloween Kills, Halloween Ends), co-writing each with Danny McBride; the 2018 film ignores every earlier sequel to the original.

Who played Michael Myers in the final unmasked scene of the 1978 film?

Tony Moran is credited as 'Michael Myers (age 23)' for the brief moment Laurie pulls off the mask; Nick Castle played the masked Michael for the rest of the film.

Which sanitarium held Michael Myers in Rob Zombie's 2007 remake?

Smith's Grove Sanitarium holds the young Michael in Rob Zombie's 2007 Halloween, with Malcolm McDowell's Dr. Loomis treating him until his violent escape; the original film used the same institution.

Who directed Hocus Pocus (1993)?

Kenny Ortega, later the director of High School Musical, directed Hocus Pocus (1993); Disney released it in July and it underperformed before becoming a Halloween television perennial.

Who directed The Nightmare Before Christmas?

Henry Selick directed The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) from Tim Burton's story and characters; Burton produced while Caroline Thompson wrote the screenplay, and Selick went on to direct Coraline.

Who voices Sally, the rag doll who loves Jack, in The Nightmare Before Christmas?

Catherine O'Hara voices Sally in The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) and also voices the trick-or-treater Shock; she had played Delia Deetz in Tim Burton's Beetlejuice five years earlier.

Whose music features prominently in Beetlejuice (1988)?

Harry Belafonte's calypso hits 'Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)' and 'Jump in the Line' feature in Beetlejuice (1988), the former in the possessed dinner-party scene.

Dan Aykroyd originally conceived Ghostbusters to star himself and whom?

John Belushi: Dan Aykroyd wrote the original Ghostbusters concept for himself and his Blues Brothers partner, but Belushi died in March 1982 and Bill Murray took the role of Peter Venkman.

The Addams Family (1991) was the directorial debut of which former cinematographer?

Barry Sonnenfeld, cinematographer of Blood Simple, Raising Arizona and Misery, made his directing debut with The Addams Family (1991) and returned for Addams Family Values (1993).

Halloweentown (1998) was which numbered Disney Channel Original Movie?

Fourth: Halloweentown premiered in October 1998 after Under Wraps, You Lucky Dog and Brink!, making it the fourth Disney Channel Original Movie; Debbie Reynolds plays Marnie's grandmother Aggie.

Practical Magic is based on a 1995 novel by whom?

Alice Hoffman's 1995 novel Practical Magic became the 1998 film with Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as the Owens sisters; Hoffman later wrote the prequels The Rules of Magic and Magic Lessons.

The Witches (1990) was the last project of which puppeteer before his death?

Jim Henson executive-produced The Witches (1990), Nicolas Roeg's Roald Dahl adaptation, with his Creature Shop building the mice and the Grand High Witch's makeup; Henson died in May 1990, making it his final film.

Which real killer's crimes inspired Kevin Williamson to write Scream?

The Gainesville Ripper: a 1994 news report on Danny Rolling's 1990 murders of five Florida students unsettled Kevin Williamson and sparked the script that became Scream.

Which future star appears among Friday the 13th's 1980 camp counsellors?

Kevin Bacon plays counsellor Jack, killed by an arrow through the throat from beneath his bunk; producer-director Sean S. Cunningham had advertised the title in Variety before a script existed.

Who played young Jason Voorhees in Friday the 13th (1980)?

Ari Lehman, then 14, played the deformed boy Jason who lunges from the lake in the final dream scene; the role was planned as a one-off jump scare, not a franchise villain.

Where in England was The Shining shot almost exclusively?

EMI Elstree Studios in Borehamwood housed The Shining's vast Overlook Hotel interiors and the hedge maze; Kubrick co-wrote the script with novelist Diane Johnson.

Who wrote the 1959 novel that Hitchcock's Psycho was based on?

Robert Bloch's 1959 novel Psycho, set at the Bates Motel, was adapted by screenwriter Joseph Stefano for Hitchcock's 1960 film; Bloch later wrote two sequel novels of his own.

Who co-wrote The Texas Chain Saw Massacre with Tobe Hooper?

Kim Henkel co-wrote and co-produced The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) with Tobe Hooper; the pair later made Eaten Alive, and Henkel wrote and directed 1995's The Next Generation.

Which actor was the first to play Leatherface?

Gunnar Hansen, an Icelandic-born University of Texas graduate, played Leatherface in the original 1974 film and never reprised the role; Bill Johnson took over for the 1986 sequel.

What are the monsters actually called in Night of the Living Dead?

Ghouls: the word 'zombie' is never spoken in Night of the Living Dead (1968); newscasters and characters call the flesh-eaters 'ghouls', yet Romero's film defined the modern zombie anyway.

Dawn of the Dead (1978) was a co-production between the US and which country?

Italy: Dario Argento helped finance Dawn of the Dead (1978) and supervised the European cut, scored by Goblin, in exchange for foreign distribution rights; Richard P. Rubinstein produced the American side.

Why didn't Spielberg direct Poltergeist himself?

He was contractually barred while making E.T.: Spielberg's Universal deal kept him from directing another film during E.T., so he wrote and produced Poltergeist and hired Tobe Hooper to direct it.

Who directed Carrie (1976)?

Brian De Palma directed Carrie (1976), the first Stephen King adaptation, earning Oscar nominations for Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie; John Travolta plays Billy Nolan.

Which child actor made his film debut as Damien in The Omen (1976)?

Harvey Spencer Stephens was five when he made his film debut as Damien Thorn in The Omen (1976), directed by Richard Donner from David Seltzer's script; he cameos as a reporter in the 2006 remake.

Who directed Child's Play (1988)?

Tom Holland, fresh from Fright Night (1985), directed Child's Play (1988) from a script by Don Mancini, John Lafia and himself; Brad Dourif voices the killer doll.

Which director's 1990 miniseries preceded the 2017 film It?

Tommy Lee Wallace directed the two-part 1990 ABC miniseries It, with Tim Curry as Pennywise; Andy Muschietti directed the 2017 film.

How much did Paranormal Activity cost to shoot?

$15,000: Oren Peli shot Paranormal Activity in his own San Diego house over about a week in 2006, writing, directing, shooting and editing it himself; it grossed more than $190 million.

What are the doppelgängers called in Jordan Peele's Us?

The Tethered are the underground doubles in Us (2019), each bound to a surface counterpart; Lupita Nyong'o plays both Adelaide and her double Red.

Which Ari Aster short, about a son who abuses his father, preceded Hereditary?

The Strange Thing About the Johnsons (2011), Ari Aster's AFI thesis short about a son abusing his father, went viral and built his reputation before Hereditary (2018).

Which real family's 1971 Rhode Island farmhouse haunting is depicted in The Conjuring (2013)?

The Perrons: Roger and Carolyn Perron and their five daughters moved into the Harrisville, Rhode Island farmhouse in 1971; the film dramatises the investigators called in as the haunting escalates.

Who directed the 2014 spin-off Annabelle?

John R. Leonetti, The Conjuring's cinematographer, directed the 2014 spin-off Annabelle, which was made for about $6.5 million and grossed more than $250 million worldwide.

Which Saw co-writer also stars in the 2004 film?

Leigh Whannell co-wrote Saw (2004) and plays Adam, the photographer chained in the bathroom opposite Cary Elwes's Dr. Gordon; he later wrote and directed Upgrade and The Invisible Man.

Who directed the 2002 American remake The Ring?

Gore Verbinski directed The Ring (2002), the American remake of Hideo Nakata's Ringu from Koji Suzuki's 1991 novel, before going on to the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy.

What is the name of the sack-headed demon in Trick 'r Treat?

He appears whenever a character breaks a Halloween tradition.

Who plays Sally Hardesty, the lone survivor of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)?

Marilyn Burns plays Sally Hardesty, who escapes in the back of a pickup as Leatherface swings his saw at dawn; Burns returned for a cameo in 2013's Texas Chainsaw 3D.

Which Clive Barker short story was Candyman (1992) based on?

The Forbidden, from Clive Barker's Books of Blood, supplied the legend that Bernard Rose moved from a Liverpool estate to Chicago's Cabrini-Green for Candyman (1992); Tony Todd plays the hook-handed spirit.

Which two writers' 1924 stage play was the basis of Dracula (1931)?

Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston: Deane's 1924 British stage adaptation, revised by Balderston for Broadway in 1927, gave Universal's 1931 Dracula its plot and its star, Bela Lugosi.

What is the name of the ancient priest Boris Karloff plays in The Mummy (1932)?

Imhotep: Boris Karloff's revived high priest in The Mummy (1932), directed by Karl Freund, poses in modern Cairo as the Egyptian Ardath Bey while seeking his reincarnated love.

Who directed the 2024 remake of Nosferatu?

Robert Eggers, director of The Witch and The Lighthouse, wrote and directed the 2024 Nosferatu, with Lily-Rose Depp as Ellen Hutter and Willem Dafoe as the occultist Von Franz.

Who directed The Cabin in the Woods in his directorial debut?

Drew Goddard, a Buffy and Lost writer, made his directing debut with The Cabin in the Woods (2012), co-writing it with producer Joss Whedon; he later wrote the screenplay for The Martian.

Who directed Scary Movie (2000)?

Keenen Ivory Wayans directed Scary Movie (2000), starring his brothers Shawn and Marlon, who also co-wrote it; the film parodies Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer.

Shaun of the Dead is the first film in which trilogy?

Three Flavours Cornetto: Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg's trilogy pairs each film with a Cornetto flavour, strawberry for Shaun of the Dead, classic blue for Hot Fuzz and mint for The World's End.

Zombieland's survivors are named after what?

US cities: Zombieland's survivors go by their hometowns, Tallahassee, Columbus, Wichita and Little Rock, to avoid getting attached; Woody Harrelson plays Tallahassee and Jesse Eisenberg plays Columbus.

Whose 2002 novella did Coraline (2009) adapt?

Neil Gaiman's 2002 novella Coraline won the Hugo and Nebula awards; Gaiman sent it to Henry Selick, who adapted and directed the 2009 stop-motion film for Laika.

Which two actors voice Victor and Emily in Corpse Bride?

Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter voice Victor Van Dort and Emily in Corpse Bride (2005); the pair later appeared together in Burton's Sweeney Todd and Alice in Wonderland.

Frankenweenie (2012) is a feature-length remake of a short from which year?

1984: Tim Burton made the original Frankenweenie as a live-action short at Disney, which shelved it as too scary for children; the 2012 stop-motion feature again has Victor revive his dog Sparky.

Which Community creator co-wrote Monster House (2006)?

Dan Harmon co-wrote Monster House (2006) with Rob Schrab and Pamela Pettler three years before creating Community; Gil Kenan directed it in his feature debut.

Which studio owns the Hotel Transylvania franchise?

Sony Pictures Animation produced the four Hotel Transylvania films released between 2012 and 2022 and the television spin-off; the concept was created by Todd Durham.

Who plays a fictionalised R. L. Stine in Goosebumps (2015)?

Jack Black plays a fictionalised R. L. Stine in Goosebumps (2015), directed by Rob Letterman, and also voices the villainous dummy Slappy; he returned for the 2018 sequel.

Which two actors led the 2023 Haunted Mansion film?

LaKeith Stanfield and Rosario Dawson fronted the 2023 version; Eddie Murphy had starred in the 2003 one.

Which two rock stars appear in the 1986 film Trick or Treat?

Gene Simmons plays radio DJ Nuke and Ozzy Osbourne a ranting televangelist in Trick or Treat (1986), Charles Martin Smith's heavy-metal horror about a bullied teen who resurrects a dead rock star by playing his record backwards.

Which jazz pianist composed the music for It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown?

Vince Guaraldi scored It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966), as he had the earlier Peanuts specials; his 'Linus and Lucy' is the Peanuts theme, and this special introduced 'The Great Pumpkin Waltz'.

Who played the monster in Young Frankenstein?

Peter Boyle plays the Monster in Young Frankenstein (1974), most memorably in the 'Puttin' on the Ritz' duet with Gene Wilder, who co-wrote the film with Mel Brooks.

Which supporting role does Richard O'Brien play in The Rocky Horror Picture Show?

He wrote the music, book and lyrics of the stage show.

Where and when is The Others (2001) set?

Jersey, 1945: Nicole Kidman's Grace waits out the end of the Second World War in a fog-bound mansion on the Channel Island of Jersey; Alejandro Amenabar wrote, directed and scored the film.

Who plays Cole Sear, the boy who sees dead people, in The Sixth Sense (1999)?

Haley Joel Osment plays Cole Sear in The Sixth Sense (1999) and earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination at age 11, one of the film's six Oscar nominations.

Which actor plays true-crime writer Ellison Oswalt in Sinister (2012)?

Ethan Hawke plays Ellison Oswalt, the true-crime author who finds a box of murderous Super 8 reels in Sinister (2012), directed by Scott Derrickson; the pagan deity behind them is Bughuul.

Which actress made her feature debut in The Witch (2015)?

Anya Taylor-Joy made her feature debut as Thomasin in The Witch (2015), Robert Eggers's 1630s New England folk tale, which won Eggers the directing award at Sundance.

Who physically portrays the doll M3GAN, with Jenna Davis voicing her?

Amie Donald, a New Zealand child dancer, performs M3GAN's movements inside the suit while Jenna Davis provides the voice; Akela Cooper wrote the script from a story with James Wan.

In which California location do OJ and Emerald try to film a UFO in Nope?

Agua Dulce, in the high desert north of Los Angeles, is where the Haywood ranch and Jupiter's Claim sit in Nope (2022), Jordan Peele's third film as director, which he shot on location there.

Which actress plays TV reporter Gale Weathers in the Scream films?

Courteney Cox plays ambitious TV reporter Gale Weathers, introduced in Scream (1996); she met David Arquette, who plays Deputy Dewey Riley, on that film, and they married in 1999.

Which anthology film marked Art the Clown's feature debut?

All Hallows' Eve (2013), Damien Leone's anthology built around his earlier shorts, gave Art the Clown his first feature appearance, played by Mike Giannelli; David Howard Thornton took over for Terrifier (2016).

Who directed the 2012 animated comedy Hotel Transylvania, his first feature?

Genndy Tartakovsky, creator of Dexter's Laboratory and Samurai Jack, made his feature debut with Hotel Transylvania (2012), applying 2D squash-and-stretch physics to the CGI film, which grossed $358 million.

ParaNorman was the first stop-motion film to use which technology to make its characters' faces?

A colour 3D printer: ParaNorman (2012) was the first stop-motion feature to print its replacement faces in full colour, producing tens of thousands of them; Laika animated it over about two years in Hillsboro, Oregon.

Who plays Winston Zeddemore, the fourth Ghostbuster, in the 1984 film?

Ernie Hudson plays Winston Zeddemore, who joins the team midway through Ghostbusters (1984); the part had been written with Eddie Murphy in mind before Murphy passed on it.

Columbia Pictures worried about Ghostbusters' budget, which was roughly how much?

$25-30 million: Columbia approved a budget of roughly $25-30 million for Ghostbusters, high for a comedy; filming ran from October 1983 to January 1984 in New York and Los Angeles before the June 8, 1984 release.

In The Craft (1996), what is the name of the powerful earth deity the four girls worship?

Manon is the invented deity the coven invokes in The Craft (1996), with Fairuza Balk's Nancy growing dangerously drunk on his power; Robin Tunney, Neve Campbell and Rachel True complete the four.

Which Addams Family (1991) star earned a Golden Globe nomination for playing Morticia?

Anjelica Huston earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy as Morticia in The Addams Family (1991), and reprised the role in Addams Family Values (1993).