Which 1978 film began the Halloween horror franchise?

The 1978 film Halloween began the Halloween horror franchise.

Directed by John Carpenter and co-written with Debra Hill, Halloween follows escaped mental patient Michael Myers as he returns to Haddonfield, Illinois, on Halloween night. The film introduced Laurie Strode, played by Jamie Lee Curtis, and established Michael as a nearly silent, masked killer. Its restrained style, stalking suspense, and synthesizer score strongly influenced later slasher films.

The title is sometimes confused with Halloween II, the 1981 sequel, or with other seasonal horror films such as Black Christmas. Halloween is the franchise’s original film and the one that established the central conflict between Michael and Laurie. Although later entries changed continuity, the 1978 movie remained the reference point for several reboots and sequels, including the 2018 film that follows it directly.