As one of the godfathers of the slasher genre,Halloweenhas left an unkillable legacy across both horror and cinema in general. While the image of Michael Myers in his fadedWilliam Shatnermask is iconic, the legendary franchise owes just as much of its enduring popularity toJamie Lee Curtis. Playing Laurie Strode, the teenage babysitter who crosses paths with Myers, Curtis was dubbed one of the original Scream Queens as she earned a place in horror fan’s hearts everywhere.
The hero to Myers' villain, Laurie was a simple teenager who liked hanging out with her friends before an encounter with the cold-blooded killer changed her life forever. The franchise charts her course from victim to survivor, creating one of thebest slasher movie characters ever. WhileCurtis is not in everyHalloweenmovie, and not all of her appearances are in the same timeline, her presence typically results in some of thebest entries in theHalloweenfranchise.
7’Halloween: Resurrection' (2002)
Released at the start of the reality television craze,Halloween: Resurrectionrevolves around an online game show where six contestants are given cameras and forced to spend the night in Myers' childhood home. Of course, Mikey does not take too kindly to intruders and begins turning the reality show into a snuff film.
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Curtis only appears in the opening scene, where she has locked herself inside a mental institution to try and hide from Michael. Soon enough he arrives and murders his nemesis, a move that fans predictably hated, resulting in most viewers labelingResurrectionas the worst entry in the franchise. Despite its cheese and questionable acting,Resurrectionis better than you rememberand worth a revisit.
Watch on Showtime
6’Halloween Ends' (2022)
The final entry in the recent reboot trilogy,Halloween Endssees Laurie on her way to finally finding peace as the specter of Michael Myers begins to disappear. When her granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) begins seeing dark loner Corey (Rohan Campbell), however, Laurie finds herself facing a new form of evil.
While 2018’sHalloweenstarted the new trilogy off strongly,Halloween Endsunfortunately ends things with a whimper. It is still great seeing Curtis kicking ass in her later years, butEndsmakes some questionable choices with her character, with the paranoid survivalist we saw previously now living a carefree lifestyle despite Myers still being on the run after murdering her daughter. It makes for some inconsistent characterization across the three movies.
Watch on Prime Video
5’Halloween Kills' (2021)
Picking up on the same night as the last movie,Halloween Killssees the town of Haddonfield scrambling as they realize Michael Myers is again stalking their streets. Wounded from her battle with Myers, Laurie is taken to the hospital, where she spends the night while Andi and her daughter Karen (Judy Greer) attempt to stop the killer before the town explodes into chaos.
Seen as a letdown compared to the previous movie,Halloween Killsunfortunately benches Laurie for the entire duration. Reduced to a supporting role in the hospital, Curtis spends her scenes waxing lyrical with her co-stars without even coming face to face with Myers once, makingKillsfeel like a wasted opportunity for more Strode vs. Myers moments.
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4’Halloween H20: 20 Years Later' (1998)
Curtis' comeback film to the franchise after 17 years,Halloween H20sees an older Laurie working as the headmistress at a private school. Having changed her name, Laurie lives a peaceful life with her teenage son John (Josh Hartnett) before Michael returns to paint the walls of the secluded academy red with blood.
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Pitched as a return toHalloween’s roots after the previous four films moved away from Laurie,H20almost feels like a combination ofHalloweenandScream. It is one of the better entries in the franchise as the students and staff are dispatched one by one, and it is a treat to see Curtis back in her most iconic role.
3’Halloween II' (1981)
Picking up exactly where the original ended,Halloween IIbegins with Laurie being transported to a hospital after surviving her encounter with the boogeyman. Rather than resting and recovering, however, her nightmare is extended as Michael finds the hospital and continues the hunt for his elusive victim.
WhileHalloweenwas never intended to be a franchise,Halloween IIdoes a good job of continuing the harrowing scenario that began in the first movie. By making Laurie’s original story a duology, it gives the strong-willed teen more time to grow and showcase her knack for survival, resulting in one of thebest final girls of all time.
Watch on Peacock
2’Halloween' (2018)
By the time this 11th entry rolled around, theHalloweenfranchise had become convoluted thanks to remakes, reboots, and multiple timelines. 2018’sHalloweenmakes the wise choice to ignore everything except the original movie and follows Laurie as the events of that night turned her into a paranoid survivalist, with her trauma causing friction with her adult daughter and teenage granddaughter. Soon enough, Laurie’s paranoia is proven right as Michael returns to kill again.
A legacy sequel that honors the original movie while adding its own twist on the formula,Halloweenis a great modern slasher movie that stands as one of the best entries in the franchise. It is fantastic to see Curtis back, and the gun-toting grandmother is a badass as she turns the tables on her tormentor, making it one of Curtis' best portrayals of the character.
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1’Halloween' (1978)
As the peaceful town of Haddonfield is getting ready for the annual Halloween celebrations, the residents are unaware that underneath all the costumes and masks, a real monster lurks among them. Tasked with babysitting for the night, teenager Laurie comes face to face with true evil as she fights to survive the night while the unstoppable Michael Myers stalks her.
The original and still the best,Halloweenwas a landmark moment in the horror genre. While not the original slasher movie, it is one of the most influential and helped set the template that other legendary franchises likeFriday the 13th,A Nightmare on Elm Street, andScreamwould follow. In between the killing, Curtis' Laurie is the glue that keeps the fright flick together, providing a human element to clash with Michael’s inhumane rampage.
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