Box office and legacy

Released in October 1978, Halloween grossed more than $70 million worldwide, making it one of the most profitable independent films ever made.

The flick’s minimalist scares and strong female lead inspired countless imitators and established many of the slasher genre’s defining rules - from the “final girl” trope to the unstoppable masked killer.

Today, it’s preserved in the U.S. National Film Registry for its cultural and historical importance.