John Carpenter is an American film director, producer, writer and composer. He has contributed to many projects as either the producer, writer, director, actor, composer or a combination of the five.
Films Feature films
Year Title Credited as Notes Director Writer ProducerComposer1974Dark Star Co-Written with Dan O'Bannon1976Assault on Precinct 13 Also editor1978HalloweenCo-Written with Debra HillSomeone's Watching Me! Television film1979Elvis 1980Co-written with Debra Hill1981Escape from New YorkCo-written with Nick Castle19821983Christine1984Starman1986Big Trouble in Little China1987Prince of Darkness1988They Live1992Memoirs of an Invisible Man1993Body BagsTelevision film1994In the Mouth of Madness1995Village of the Damned1996Escape from L.A.Co-written with Debra Hill & Kurt Russell1998Vampires2001Ghosts of MarsCo-written with Larry Sulkis2010
Other credits Year Title Credited as Notes Writer Producer Composer Editor1973Last Foxtrot in Burbank 1978Eyes of Laura Mars Zuma BeachTelevision film1979Better Late Than Never 1981 Halloween IICo-written with Debra Hill; Also uncredited director of additional scenes1982Halloween III: Season of the Witch19841986Black Moon Rising1990Television film1991Blood River1999Silent Predators2002Vampires: Los Muertos20052017The Terror of Hallow's Eve2018Halloween2021Halloween Kills2022Studio 666Opening credits theme onlyFirestarterHalloween Ends
Short films Year Title Director Writer Composer Notes 1969Captain Voyeur Also producer 1970The Resurrection of Broncho Billy Also editorMUBI 2016 The Puppet Man
Acting roles Year Title Role Notes 1974Dark Star Talby voice 1976Assault on Precinct 13 Gang Member Uncredited 1978Halloween Paul (Annie's boyfriend) / Michael Myers 1980The Fog Bennett Uncredited 1981Escape from New York Secret Service #2, helicopter pilot, and a violin player 1982The Thing Norwegian in video footage 1984Starman Man in helicopter 1986Big Trouble in Little China Worker in ChinatownThe Boy Who Could Fly Coupe de Villes band member 1988They Live Voice that says 'sleep' Uncredited voice role 1992Memoirs of an Invisible Man Helicopter pilot Credited as "Rip Haight" 1993Body Bags The Coroner 1994The Silence of the Hams Trenchcoat man and Gimp 1995Village of the Damned Man at gas station phone 2016The Puppet Man The Taxi Driver 2019The Rise of the Synths Narrator and Synth Rider's guide 2022Studio 666 Engineer Credited as "Rip Haight"
Television series Year Title Director Executiveproducer Composer Notes 2005–2006Masters of Horror Episodes: "Cigarette Burns" and "Pro-Life" 2015–2017Zoo Theme music only 2023Suburban Screams Theme music only,Episode: "Phone Stalker" TBAJohn Carpenter Presents
Podcast series Year Title Executive producer Notes / 2021Roanoke Falls 2022Angel to Some 2022Furnace
Video games Year Title Role Notes 1998Sentinel Returns Composer 2002The Thing Dr. Faraday Uncredited 2011F.E.A.R. 3 Narrator Also storyline consultant 2026John Carpenter's Toxic Commando ComposerHalloween: The Game Creative consultant and executive producer
Bibliography John Carpenter Presents Storm Kids John Carpenter's Asylum John Carpenter's Night Terrors John Carpenter's Tales for a Halloween Night John Carpenter's Tales of Science Fiction Cathedral (2026)
Reception This is a list of films directed by John Carpenter that grossed more than $8 million at the US box office according to Box Office Mojo. Carpenter's films have grossed domestically a total of more than $300 million, with an average of $18 million per film.
RankTitleLifetime gross (US$)Rating Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic1Halloween47.0 million96% (84 reviews)87 (21 reviews)2Starman28.7 million86% (36 reviews)70 (8 reviews)3Escape from L.A.25.4 million54% (59 reviews)54 (21 reviews)4Escape from New York25.2 million88% (72 reviews)76 (12 reviews)5The Fog21.3 million75% (69 reviews)55 (11 reviews)6Christine21.0 million70% (37 reviews)57 (10 reviews)7Vampires20.3 million43% (53 reviews)42 (19 reviews)8The Thing19.6 million84% (83 reviews)57 (13 reviews)9Memoirs of an Invisible Man14.3 million26% (35 reviews)48 (19 reviews)10Prince of Darkness14.1 million62% (39 reviews)50 (10 reviews)11Ghosts of Mars14.0 million 23% (111 reviews)35 (26 reviews)12They Live13.0 million86% (74 reviews)55 (22 reviews)13The Ward12.8 million33% (72 reviews)38 (18 reviews)14Big Trouble in Little China11.1 million76% (66 reviews)53 (14 reviews)15Village of the Damned9.4 million28% (39 reviews)41 (14 reviews)16In the Mouth of Madness8.9 million60% (50 reviews) 53 (17 reviews)17Assault on Precinct 13N/A96% (51 reviews) 89 (7 reviews)18Dark StarN/A74% (34 reviews) 66 (10 reviews)
See also John Carpenter's unrealized projects
References
Bibliography
External links