The Crypt Keeper Returns to Host AMC’s 30th Anniversary ‘FearFest’

The Crypt Keeper is back! AMC has announced that the iconic host of the 1990s cult classic “Tales from the Crypt” will officially host this year’s “FearFest,” marking the 30th anniversary of the network’s annual horror and genre programming event.

Original voice actor John Kassir returns to provide the character’s signature cackle and wit. The 2026 event kicks off Thursday, Oct. 1, on AMC and AMC+, featuring more than 650 hours of iconic horror films, franchises, new series, specials, and more.

Fans will notice a fresh look for the Master of Scaremonies. Special effects legend and “The Walking Dead” director Greg Nicotero redesigned and rebuilt the legendary puppet at his studio, KNB EFX, updating the character’s movement and look for modern audiences. Nicotero also directed the Crypt Keeper in a series of custom promo spots for the event.

“What a great honor and privilege to recreate this iconic character and get a chance to revisit some of his clever quips and puns with John Kassir again,” Nicotero said. “Having the chance to recreate Kevin Yagher’s amazing puppet at my studio and ‘direct him’ in a series of FearFest spots was like going back in time.”

In addition to “Tales from the Crypt” marathons, this year’s schedule features blockbusters from the “Halloween,” “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” “Friday the 13th,” and “Final Destination” franchises. The lineup also highlights an extensive Stephen King library—including “It” (2017), “The Shining,” and “Misery”—alongside the network premiere of “The Terror: Devil in Silver” and the AMC+ original series “YAGA,” starring Carrie-Anne Moss and Noah Reid.

Check out the full 2026 AMC “FearFest” broadcast schedule below:

Thursday, Oct. 1 — “Halloween” Kickoff Marathon

• 11 a.m. – Halloween III: Season of the Witch
• 1 p.m. – Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
• 3 p.m. – Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
• 5 p.m. – Halloween II (1981)
• 7 p.m. – Halloween (1978)
• 9 p.m. – TNA iMPACT!
• 11 p.m. – Tales from the Crypt Marathon

Friday, Oct. 2 — “Insidious” 15th Anniversary Marathon

• 8 p.m. – Insidious
• 10:30 p.m. – Insidious: Chapter 2
• 1 a.m. – Insidious: Chapter 3

Saturday, Oct. 3 — Stephen King Marathon

• 6:30 a.m. – Graveyard Shift
• 8:30 a.m. – Pet Sematary
• 10:30 a.m. – Silver Bullet
• 12:30 p.m. – Stephen King’s It (Part 1)
• 2:45 p.m. – Stephen King’s It (Part 2)
• 5 p.m. – Christine
• 7 p.m. – It (2017)
• 10 p.m. – Carrie (2013)
• 12:15 a.m. – Misery

Sunday, Oct. 4 — Slasher Sunday

• 12:15 p.m. – Halloween (2007)
• 2:45 p.m. – A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
• 5 p.m. – Friday the 13th (1980)
• 7 p.m. – Halloween II (1981)
• 9 p.m. – The Terror: Devil In Silver (Ep. 103)

Monday, Oct. 5 — “Final Destination” Marathon

• 8 p.m. – Final Destination (2000)
• 10 p.m. – Final Destination 2
• 12 a.m. – The Final Destination (2009)

Tuesday, Oct. 6

• 5:45 p.m. – Thir13en Ghosts
• 7:45 p.m. – Ghost Ship
• 9:45 p.m. – Jeepers Creepers

Wednesday, Oct. 7 — “Chucky” Marathon

• 3 p.m. – Child’s Play 3
• 5 p.m. – Child’s Play 2
• 7 p.m. – Child’s Play (1988)
• 9 p.m. – Bride of Chucky
• 11 p.m. – Seed of Chucky
• 1 a.m. – Curse of Chucky
• 3 a.m. – Cult of Chucky

Thursday, Oct. 8

• 4:30 p.m. – Stephen King’s It (Part 1)
• 6:45 p.m. – Stephen King’s It (Part 2)
• 9 p.m. – TNA iMPACT!
• 11 p.m. – Carrie (2013)

Friday, Oct. 9 — “Run Michael Run” Marathon

• 1 p.m. – Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
• 3 p.m. – Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
• 5 p.m. – Halloween II (1981)
• 7 p.m. – Halloween (1978)
• 9 p.m. – Halloween (2007)
• 11:30 p.m. – Halloween II (2009)

Saturday, Oct. 10 — Creature Feature

• 11 a.m. – Leprechaun
• 1 p.m. – Gremlins
• 3:30 p.m. – The Fly
• 5:30 p.m. – The Thing
• 8 p.m. – Tremors
• 10 p.m. – Lake Placid
• 12 a.m. – Cujo

Sunday, Oct. 11 — Stephen King Marathon

• 7 a.m. – Silver Bullet
• 9 a.m. – Children of the Corn
• 11:15 a.m. – Misery
• 1:45 p.m. – Christine
• 3:45 p.m. – Carrie
• 6 p.m. – It (2017)
• 9 p.m. – The Terror: Devil In Silver (Ep. 104)

Monday, Oct. 12 — “A Nightmare on Elm Street” Marathon

• 11 a.m. – A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child
• 1 p.m. – A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
• 3:15 p.m. – Wes Craven’s New Nightmare
• 5:45 p.m. – A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
• 8 p.m. – A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
• 10:15 p.m. – A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge
• 12:15 a.m. – A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)
• 2:15 a.m. – Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare

Tuesday, Oct. 13

• 5:30 p.m. – House of Wax
• 8 p.m. – Thir13en Ghosts
• 10 p.m. – Ghost Ship

Wednesday, Oct. 14

• 6 p.m. – Halloween (1978)
• 8 p.m. – Christine
• 10 p.m. – It (2017)

Thursday, Oct. 15

• 4 p.m. – Halloween II (2009)
• 6:30 p.m. – Halloween (2007)
• 9 p.m. – TNA iMPACT!
• 11 p.m. – Ghost Ship

Friday, Oct. 16 — “Friday the 13th” Marathon

• 10 a.m. – Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday
• 12 p.m. – Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
• 2 p.m. – Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives
• 4 p.m. – Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood
• 6 p.m. – Friday the 13th (1980)
• 8 p.m. – Friday the 13th Part 2
• 10 p.m. – Friday the 13th Part III

Saturday, Oct. 17 — “Final Destination” Double Feature

• 7 p.m. – Final Destination (2000)
• 9 p.m. – Final Destination 2

Sunday, Oct. 18 — Freddy vs. Jason Marathon

• 6:15 a.m. – Friday the 13th Part III
• 8:15 a.m. – Friday the 13th (1980)
• 10:15 a.m. – Friday the 13th Part 2
• 12:15 p.m. – A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
• 2:30 p.m. – A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge
• 4:30 p.m. – A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
• 6:45 p.m. – Freddy vs. Jason
• 9 p.m. – The Terror: Devil in Silver (Ep. 105)

Monday, Oct. 19

• 5 p.m. – From Dusk Till Dawn
• 7 p.m. – Tremors
• 9 p.m. – Jeepers Creepers

Tuesday, Oct. 20

• 6 p.m. – Friday the 13th (2009)
• 8 p.m. – Halloween (2007)
• 10:30 p.m. – Halloween II (2009)

Wednesday, Oct. 21 — “Insidious” Marathon

• 7 p.m. – Insidious
• 9:30 p.m. – Insidious: Chapter 2
• 12 a.m. – Insidious: Chapter 3

Thursday, Oct. 22

• 5 p.m. – Tremors
• 7 p.m. – Lake Placid
• 9 p.m. – TNA iMPACT!
• 11 p.m. – Final Destination (2000)

Friday, Oct. 23

• 5:45 p.m. – Carrie
• 8 p.m. – It (2017)
• 11 p.m. – Silver Bullet

Saturday, Oct. 24 — Fear the ’80s

• 7:30 a.m. – The Return of the Living Dead
• 9:30 a.m. – Cujo
• 11:30 a.m. – The Fly
• 1:30 p.m. – Fright Night
• 4 p.m. – The Lost Boys
• 6 p.m. – Christine
• 8 p.m. – A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
• 10:15 p.m. – Friday the 13th (1980)
• 12:15 a.m. – Halloween III: Season of the Witch

Sunday, Oct. 25 — “Halloween” Marathon

• 10:30 a.m. – Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
• 12:30 p.m. – Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
• 2:30 p.m. – Halloween (2007)
• 5 p.m. – Halloween II (1981)
• 7 p.m. – Halloween (1978)
• 9 p.m. – The Terror: Devil In Silver (Ep. 106)

Monday, Oct. 26 — “Friday the 13th” Marathon

• 9 a.m. – Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives
• 11 a.m. – Friday the 13th: A New Beginning
• 1 p.m. – Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood
• 3 p.m. – Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
• 5 p.m. – Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday
• 7 p.m. – Friday the 13th (2009)
• 9 p.m. – Friday the 13th (1980)
• 11 p.m. – Friday the 13th Part 2
• 1 a.m. – Freddy vs. Jason
• 3:15 a.m. – Friday the 13th Part III

Tuesday, Oct. 27 — “A Nightmare on Elm Street” Marathon

• 4:45 p.m. – Freddy vs. Jason
• 7 p.m. – A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
• 9:15 p.m. – A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge
• 11:15 p.m. – A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
• 1:30 a.m. – A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)

Wednesday, Oct. 28 — “Final Destination” Marathon

• 6 p.m. – Final Destination (2000)
• 8 p.m. – Final Destination 2
• 10 p.m. – The Final Destination (2009)

Thursday, Oct. 29

• 6 p.m. – It (2017)
• 9 p.m. – TNA iMPACT!
• 11 p.m. – Thir13en Ghosts

Friday, Oct. 30 — “Halloween” on Halloween Marathon

• 4:30 a.m. – Halloween (1978)
• 6:30 a.m. – Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
• 8:30 a.m. – Halloween II (2009)
• 11 a.m. – Halloween III: Season of the Witch
• 1 p.m. – Halloween (1978)
• 3 p.m. – Halloween II (1981)
• 5 p.m. – Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
• 7 p.m. – Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
• 9 p.m. – Halloween (1978)
• 11 p.m. – Halloween (2007)
• 1:30 a.m. – Halloween II (2009)
• 4 a.m. – Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers

Saturday, Oct. 31 — “Halloween” on Halloween Marathon

• 6 a.m. – Halloween II (1981)
• 8 a.m. – Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
• 10 a.m. – Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
• 12 p.m. – Halloween II (2009)
• 2:30 p.m. – Halloween III: Season of the Witch
• 4:30 p.m. – Halloween (2007)
• 7 p.m. – Halloween (1978)
• 9 p.m. – Halloween II (1981)
• 11 p.m. – Halloween (1978)
• 1 a.m. – Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
• 2 a.m. – Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers

Sunday, Nov. 1 — Halloween Hangover

• 6 a.m. – Christine
• 8 a.m. – Halloween (1978)
• 10 a.m. – The Terminator
• 12:30 p.m. – Predator
• 3 p.m. – Men in Black
• 5 p.m. – Men in Black II
• 7 p.m. – Jurassic World: Dominion