Over time, you pick up on the tricks. You start to spot where a scareactor might be hiding. When you see a dark corner or a strange gap in the wall, you can almost guess when someone will jump out.

But that doesn’t make Halloween Horror Nights any less fun for me. It just means I appreciate the event differently now.

Now, instead of just counting jump scares, I pay more attention to the production design, costumes, effects, and how well Universal pulls me into another world.

In that sense, Halloween Horror Nights 2026 might be one of the best years I’ve had.

This year, Universal Studios Hollywood features eight haunted houses. Some are based on well-known properties like Sinners, Stranger Things, Hellraiser, and Evil Dead Burn, while others are original ideas like KILLceañera: Music by SLASH and Dead, Deader, Deadest.

I went through all eight on opening night, so here’s how I’d rank them.

8. Killer Klowns from Outer Space

I don’t think I’m really the target audience for Killer Klowns from Outer Space.

I haven’t seen the movie, and cheesy 1980s clown horror just isn’t scary to me. So this ended up being the least frightening maze of the night.

Visually, though, I can’t really complain. The maze is much more colorful than almost anything else at Halloween Horror Nights. Universal does a great job bringing the movie’s weird world to life, even for someone like me who isn’t attached to it. The sensory touches, like the smell of cotton candy, are a fun bonus.

The best part comes near the end, when a Klown uses a police officer like a puppet. The scareactor’s timing, lip-syncing, and physical performance really sell the illusion. It’s fun, but since I don’t have nostalgia for the movie or a fear of clowns, this is the maze I’d skip if I came back.

7. Evil Dead Burn

I haven’t seen Evil Dead Burn, and that turned out to be both a good and bad thing for this maze. I could mostly follow what was going on, but I didn’t know enough about the movie to get the context for a lot of the scenes.

That doesn’t mean the house was ineffective. If anything, Evil Dead Burn shows you don’t have to know the movie to enjoy a Halloween Horror Nights maze. The over-the-top kill scenes are fun to watch, and a few even made me want to see the movie.

The bathroom scene stood out to me, and the house gets more violent as you go, so there’s always something to see. But since I’m not familiar with the movie, it mostly felt like walking through a bunch of scenes for fans, instead of one continuous story.

I’d do it again, but only if the line was short.

6. Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness

It’s hard not to smile when you walk into a Halloween Horror Nights maze and suddenly hear “Crazy Train.”

That might also be the main issue with Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness as a horror maze. The house looks amazing and turns Ozzy’s music and style into a wild walk through his songs. Even though I mostly know his music, there was a lot to enjoy.

The giant bat animatronic was my favorite thing to see in the house. And of course, the soundtrack is unbeatable.

But some of the scares don’t really fit with the music. Sometimes scareactors pop out with Ozzy’s famous laugh, but it sounds more like someone having fun than something scary. Instead of thinking, “Something scary is about to happen,” I just thought, “Awesome, it’s Ozzy.” That’s probably not what a haunted house is going for.

But as a celebration of Ozzy Osbourne inside a Halloween Horror Nights maze, it works really well. If you’re a fan of his music, you should definitely check it out.

5. Stranger Things

Stranger Things was the biggest letdown of my night.

That might sound harsh, but the maze actually looks amazing. The set design is an easy 10 out of 10, and as someone who knows the series well, it’s impressive to see places and moments from Stranger Things 5 brought to life. There are even little details to look for, like Eleven’s Dungeons & Dragons stat sheet at the end.

However, in terms of scare factor, the Stranger Things maze is the least scary of them all. Even worse, our walkthrough had some big pacing issues. We had to stop a few times because too many people were ahead of us. Haunted houses really depend on timing, and when that gets thrown off, it’s easier to see the scares coming or to see the same scene over and over again. Sinners made me feel like I was inside the movie; Stranger Things just felt like familiar scenes strung together.

Fans will still find a lot to enjoy. I just wouldn’t wait in a long line to do it again.

4. KILLceañera: Music by SLASH

KILLceañera has something the houses based on big franchises can’t copy: it feels familiar culturally, but you still don’t know exactly what’s coming next. Universal’s original story is about Lola’s quinceañera turning into a deadly revenge plot, keeping HHN Hollywood’s tradition of houses inspired by Latin American culture and myths. SLASH wrote an original score with Spanish guitar, including the song “15 Candles.”

That cultural influence makes the house feel more real than a lot of the other mazes. It was also my pick for the best-looking maze and the best atmosphere at the whole event.

My biggest complaint, which goes for HHN in general but stood out here, is the mannequins.

When a maze mixes real scareactors with fake bodies, you’re supposed to wonder which ones will move. But some of the dummies in KILLceañera looked so fake that the illusion was gone right away.

Still, the atmosphere makes up for those issues, and I’d gladly go through this house again.

3. Dead, Deader, Deadest

This was the big surprise of Halloween Horror Nights 2026. Universal describes Dead, Deader, Deadest as an original haunted house taking guests through an abandoned funeral home where disturbing acts once occurred.

Going in, I didn’t expect much. The name says “dead” three times, so I figured there would be zombies. And yes, there are definitely zombies. The story wasn’t super clear as I walked through, though. I got that it was a funeral home run by a weird owner, with chemicals that brought the dead back to life. But honestly? It didn’t really matter.

Dead, Deader, Deadest had the best scare sequence of my whole night. Near the end, zombies attack from almost every direction. Animatronic bodies move on the floor while live scareactors come at you from other spots, making it feel like an all-out assault on your senses.

For someone used to HHN’s usual jump-scare rhythm, this was one of the few times that actually surprised me. It’s my pick for the scariest maze of 2026, the best original maze, and the biggest surprise of the event.

2. Hellraiser

I didn’t think Hellraiser would end up this high on my list. I know the franchise and have seen the movies that inspired the maze, but I’ve never really been a big Hellraiser fan. However, this maze was really good.

Universal based the house on the original trilogy—Hellraiser, Hellbound: Hellraiser II, and Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth—and sends guests through the Lament Configuration into the world of Pinhead and the Cenobites.

Universal starts building the atmosphere even before you go inside. As you get closer, you see the Lament Configuration, and Pinhead appears outside, talking to people waiting in line. It’s a great way to make you feel like you’re about to leave Universal Studios and step into a freaky, nightmarish world.

Inside, the sets and costumes look amazing. The best moment was when I saw what looked like a Pinhead statue. But it wasn’t actually a statue. A scareactor was perfectly hidden and suddenly revealed himself, giving me one of the best jump scares of the night because it broke the usual HHN pattern.

That’s the kind of thing I want to see more often. Hellraiser didn’t just copy the movie’s look. It actually used those visuals to surprise and scare guests. Even though I didn’t expect much, this is the maze I most want to go through again.

1. Sinners

Nothing else was going to take the top spot. Sinners was the house I was most excited to see before Halloween Horror Nights, and it still lived up to my expectations. I’ve watched Ryan Coogler’s film several times, so I know the characters, locations, and style really well. Universal doesn’t just show you scenes from Sinners. It makes you feel like you’ve stepped into Sinners.

That feeling starts before you even enter the maze. The loading room itself sets up the world, which is something I hadn’t really experienced at HHN in this way before. Once you’re inside, the mix of costumes, sets, lighting, and practical effects is amazing.

My favorite part is the scene where vampires attack Club Juke. Instead of scareactors just popping out from the walls, the attack comes from all sides. Vampires show up above you in the rafters and below you, making it feel much more chaotic. There’s even a part where a vampire comes down on cables.

Another small but effective detail is the glint in the vampires’ eyes. It might seem minor compared to a huge animatronic or fancy room, but those little touches make the illusion work.

Was Sinners the scariest house this year? No. But that’s why I don’t think Halloween Horror Nights should be judged only by scare factor anymore. Sinners was my favorite maze because it shows off everything Universal’s designers do best. The sets, costumes, and effects were amazing. Most importantly, everything worked together to make me feel like I was inside a movie I already knew really well.

If you only have time for one maze at Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood this year, make it Sinners.

Final Thoughts

After years of going to Halloween Horror Nights, I know it’s hard for these mazes to really scare me anymore. There are only so many ways to hide a scareactor around a dark corner before regulars start to notice the pattern.

Jump scares are still fun. Darkness can still get to me, especially when I’m walking through an area without a crowd. And Dead, Deader, Deadest showed that Universal can still surprise me when they mix different effects in new ways.

But fear isn’t really why I keep coming back anymore. I want to see what Universal’s creative teams come up with. I want to see cool practical effects, great costumes, and settings that make me forget I’m just in a theme park for a little while. Plus, I’m eager to see how well they can recreate a movie I’ve watched over and over. By those standards, Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood 2026 is a great year.

It might not be the scariest year I’ve had. It is, however, one of the best-looking. And honestly, that might matter even more to me now.

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For those who want to experience the world of Evil Dead Burn in real life, Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights is creating new haunted houses based on the sixth film in the franchise. The scares begin on September 3rd at Universal Studios Hollywood and August 28th at Universal Orlando Resort.

Tickets are now on sale for Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort.

Check out the teaser below:

The original film was released in 1981 and spawned a series and other films, making it one of the most terrifying horror properties today. It catapulted Bruce Campbell’s career, who would star in many Evil Dead projects and appear in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy.

The Evil Dead Burn haunted houses will feature the Price family’s secluded vacation home in the woods, with the Deadites scaring guests throughout.

Merchandise for the film will be available at both parks and will include t-shirts, hats, acrylic figures, and more.

Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights will run from Thursday, September 3 through Sunday, November 1. Universal Orlando Resort’s Halloween Horror Nights runs from Friday, August 28 through Sunday, November 1.

For ticket information, please visit http://www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com.

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In addition to the haunted houses and Terror Tram, The Purge: Dangerous Waters is back, along with four Scare Zones. Halloween Horror Nights begins on Thursday, September 4. Tickets are available at https://www.halloweenhorrornights.com.

Here’s the full list and official descriptions of the haunted houses and attractions available at 2025’s Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood:

Five Nights at Freddy’s

Five Nights at Freddy’s is one of the most popular video game franchises that spawned a hit movie, making it Blumhouse’s highest-grossing movie to date. With the new haunted house inspired by the film, guests will have to survive the possessed animatronics.

Synopsis: Guests will follow in the footsteps of Mike, who was recently fired and desperate for work so that he can keep custody of his little sister, after he accepts a position as a night security guard in an abandoned themed entertainment center: Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria. The terror will start as guests navigate the corridors and learn that nothing at Freddy’s is what it seems when they encounter the supernatural and become lured into the black heart of an unspeakable nightmare.

The journey will bring guests face-to-face with full-scale replicas of the eerie characters from the film—Freddy Fazbear, Chica, Bonnie, Foxy, and Mr. Cupcake—as they stalk visitors through iconic scenes, including the security room and the showroom where the chilling characters performed. The larger-than-life characters for the haunted houses were created in collaboration with Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, who also masterfully produced the animatronics and corresponding costumes for the fan-favorite film.

Fallout

Fallout is a huge video game franchise by Bethesda Game Studios, and the live-action series based on the game has become a hit with critics and fans, with season 2 on the horizon. The new haunted house will be inspired by the Prime Video series, which is set in the year 2296, 200 years after the nuclear destruction of civilization. There are state-of-the-art vaults, with many used as dark experiments, and above them is The Wasteland, which is filled with mutated animals and creatures.

Synopsis: In this terrifying haunted house, fans will encounter iconic scenes and characters that will put them into the frightening action of the popular series. The journey begins beneath the surface in Vault 33, where guests follow vault-dweller Lucy MacLean as she escapes a bloody massacre, only to discover an evil hidden secret. From there, visitors venture to the surface, where they must dodge attacks from Scavengers and Raiders, desperate survivors who will do anything to remain alive, as well as mutated cockroaches known as RAD Roaches. As guests travel through the hellish Wasteland, they will go through iconic locations like the Super Duper Mart and encounter The Ghoul, an ageless bounty hunter who has endured radiation exposure for centuries. Additionally, they will come face-to-face with a young squire named Maximus and gaze in awe at his T-60 armor. With frightful terrors at every turn of the eerily authentic haunted house, fans will question if they can ever escape the horrors of The Wasteland.

Terrifier

The Terrifier films are a few of the most disturbing horror films out there, and a fourth film is in the works. Art the Clown terrorizes his victims in the most gruesome and goriest ways. Now, the supernatural killer is getting his own haunted house at Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights.

Synopsis: During Halloween Horror Nights, guests will experience an unfathomable level of gore as they try to escape becoming Art the Clown’s next victim. “Terrifier” is a grisly haunted house oozing with a new sense of terror that takes guests into Art the Clown’s gruesome Funhouse, which first appeared in Terrifier 2. Guests will be overwhelmed by the sights, sounds, smells and dread of Art’s grotesque kills, gleefully displayed for all to see. As fans make their way through the claustrophobic corridors, they will encounter familiar faces, including Vicky and the Little Pale Girl, and witness iconic kills from the franchise. Chaos reigns at the Clown Café, terror festers in a revolting bathroom and holiday cheer turns deadly in a Christmas nightmare. Guests must escape Art’s twisted world—or become his next gruesome display.

Jason Universe

If we could name the holy trinity of horror villains out there, Jason would be one of the top three spots. The Friday the 13th franchise has spawned many movies and video games, and the killer will be having his own haunted house to stalk old and new fans.

Synopsis: “Jason Universe” will take Halloween Horror Nights guests on a vengeance tour throughout the summer camp to see where it all began, from the creaking floorboards of Jason’s ramshackle cabin to the decaying main lodge and the eerie forest that offers no refuge for his victims. Around every corner, fans will be inundated with infamous killer moments from Jason’s heinous homicidal career as he taunts and stalks his victims who learn too late that the legend is real.

WWE’s The Horrors of the Wyatt Sicks

WWE has had its fair share of creepy wrestlers, including the Undertaker and Kane. Currently, the Wyatt Sicks is taking that spot with Uncle Howdy, aka Bo Dallas, as the group’s ring leader. The Wyatt Sicks was born out of Bo’s mind to honor his brother, Bray Wyatt. Their intro in the WWE was unsettling as they frightened WWE superstars, even “slaughtering” some of them. The group even had Main Event Jey Uso shaking.

Synopsis: Horror fans brave enough to travel through the light of the lantern will find themselves transported into the maniacal minds of The Wyatt Sicks, where each member reigns supreme within their own horrific domains. There, Uncle Howdy together with Ramblin Rabbit, Mercy the Buzzard, Abby the Witch and Huskus the Pig will be waiting to take bloody retribution on a world that has abandoned them. Along the way, guests will be stalked by the eerie presence of The Fiend, Bray’s sadistic alter ego, who looms within the shadows and beckons them to let him in.

Poltergeist

Synopsis: Amazon MGM Studios’ supernatural cult horror classic Poltergeist will bring guests “into the light” only at Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights event. Considered one of the “scariest films of all time” when it debuted in 1982, the haunted house will transport guests into nightmarish scenes with terrifying characters from the movie, including the iconic Freeling family home.

Scarecrow featuring music by Slash

Synopsis: At an abandoned Depression-era farm, vengeance takes root. Scarecrows are taking revenge on those who ravaged the land. The only harvest that will be reaped is you. Features an original score by Slash.

Monstruos 3: The Ghost of Latin America

Synopsis: One wails. One bites. One beguiles. La Llorona, La Muelona and La Siguanaba await in the dark. Three legends La Muerte wants you to meet, but you’ll wish you never did.

Terror Tram: Enter the Blumhouse

Terror Tram: Enter the Blumhouse is back at the historic Universal backlot. Guests will encounter iconic villains from the Blumhouse franchise including The Grabber from The Black Phone, the possessed from Exorcist: The Believer, M3GAN, The Purge killers, demons from Insidious, Blissfield Butcher from Freaky and Babyface Killer from Happy Death Day.

Purge: Dangerous Waters

Synopsis: “The Purge: Dangerous Waters” stunt show returns to the Waterworld venue, taking guests on a fiery, rocket-fueled adventure while they fight to survive the night.

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood will be scaring guests on select nights starting on Thursday, September 4 and ending on Sunday, November 2.

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The film follows the Lamberts, a family trying to survive evil supernatural forces as their son is possessed by a demonic entity. The haunted house will follow the Lamberts as they are transported into “The Further,” the ethereal location where ghosts and demons reside in.

Insidious: The Further will feature the iconic red door and creepy figures including The Red-Faced Demon, the grim KeyFace, Bride in Black, and the Man Who Can’t Breathe. The maze will have guests go from red door to red door as they must escape from the evil creatures.

Tickets are now available to purchase at https://www.halloweenhorrornights.com/.

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Halloween Horror Nights will terrorize Universal Studios Hollywood on Thursday, September 7th. Attendees can expect eight haunted houses, three original scare zones and the signature Terror Tram.

The Purge: Dangerous Waters

The Purge: Dangerous Waters will introduce open water to the film franchise. Here’s the synopsis for the live show set on the WaterWorld attraction.

Synopsis: “It’s a race against time when a politician and his entourage escape to an island to avoid The Purge. Sanctuary is fleeting when the island is quickly overrun by Purgers and the hunt is on. Located in the WaterWorld venue and featuring adrenaline-filled action sequences, stunts, spectacular lighting and laser effects, high fall fire burns and massive explosions, The Purge: Dangerous Waters celebrates an evening of anarchy without thought of punishment or fear of retribution.”

Blumhouse: Behind the Screams

Blumhouse: Behind the Screams is a mixture of an exhibit and character encounters with displays of authentic film props and costumes and surprises.

Synospsis: “Blumhouse: Behind the Screams is an original concept that showcases a selection of Blumhouse horror films, including the highly anticipated films Five Nights at Freddy’s and The Exorcist: Believer, and fan-loving hits like M3GAN and The Black Phone. This unique experience breaks the fourth wall and invites guests to explore these films as they step through the silver screen for an up-close look at authentic film props, costume displays and terrifying character encounters.”

Here are the titles and description of the three scare zones:

• “El Terror de las Momias” is a Latin-themed scare zone and an extension of the “Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America” haunted house that takes guests on a desperate attempt to escape an ancient army of unearthed mummies.
• Located on New York Street, the “Toyz” scare zone dares guests to play in the toy box of terror where a wicked toymaker used dark magic to bring his evil toys to life.
• A welcome wagon of “Ghostz,” featuring a horde of blood-soaked, chainsaw-wielding ghosts, gather at the entrance to Halloween Horror Nights to rattle nerves.

The list of haunted houses also includes popular properties. Check them out and their description from Universal Studios below:

• “The Last of Us” is based on Naughty Dog and Playstation’s award-winning post-pandemic video game.
• “Stranger Things 4” transports guests to Hawkins, Indiana where they will face off against the evil Vecna in the fourth season of Netflix’s original series.
• “The Exorcist: Believer” features a terrifying new chapter as Chris MacNeil fights a nefarious demonic force which has possessed two girls.
• “Universal Monsters: Unmasked” expands on the Universal Monsters legacy with horror icons The Invisible Man, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Phantom of the Opera and The Hunchback of Notre Dame coming together for the first time ever in a chilling new story.
• “Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count” features the infamous slasher doll and his best kills throughout the series and films.
• “Evil Dead Rise” brings guests to a new twisted tale in the Evil Dead franchise, based on the 2023 box office hit.
• “Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America” includes Latin American folklore’s most terrifying ghosts and creatures.
• “Holidayz in Hell” takes visitors on a petrifying trip through a series of psychotic seasonal celebrations.
• “Terror Tram…The Exterminatorz” puts guests on the world-famous Universal backlot and in the middle of an insect uprising led by the devious Larry Larva whose goal is to exterminate humans from the Earth. Horror fans will also walk along the Jupiter’s Claim set from Nope where they will encounter The Tethered from Us in an epic crossover from two of director Jordan Peele’s epic blockbusters.

For Halloween Horror Nights info and tickets, visit Universal Studios Hollywood’s website.

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