Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood kicked off on Thursday, September 4, for a new season of frights running through select nights on November 2. This year, Universal Studios Hollywood has crafted a lineup of haunted houses that appeals to a wider audience than ever before—from gamers and WWE fans to die-hard horror aficionados and newcomers alike.
For The Gamers
While it’s not the first year Halloween Horror Nights has tapped into the video game world (in 2023, they hosted a “The Last of Us” house), it’s the first year I recall there being two houses dedicated to the medium. This year’s lineup includes houses inspired by “Five Nights at Freddy’s” and “Fallout,” and sure, they’re based on film and television adaptations of the games, but there’s a crossover in that fan base.
The “Five Nights at Freddy’s” house is a delight for FNAF fans, as it transports them into the world of their favorite video game-turned-movie franchise. The house is gorgeous, and Universal’s partnership with the Jim Henson Creature Shop to get screen-accurate animatronics and puppets within the house makes a huge difference. The scares are there, but the real thrill is the sense of awe as you navigate the gorgeously crafted world, feeling less terror and more like you’ve stepped directly into the screen.
“Fallout,” on the other hand, left much to be desired. As a long-time “Fallout” fan, I went in wary; the franchise has scary elements but isn’t built on horror. The environments felt more familiar than frightening, and having battled Raiders and Ghouls for so long, they just didn’t scare me. It’s a house that relies heavily on its characters for frights, and for me, it fell short. That said, it’s not all bad in the “Fallout” house. The Power Armor created by Universal looked terrific, and the yao guai that shows up in the house is a must-see for any “Fallout” fan.
For the WWE Fans
Although not a first, it has been over two decades since Universal Studios Hollywood last partnered with the WWE. In 2000, Halloween Horror Nights hosted “The Undertaker: No Mercy,” a house inspired by the iconic wrestler The Undertaker. For 2025, Universal has teamed up with this generation’s spooky wrestlers, The Wyatt Sicks. The group originated from the creative mind of wrestler Bray Wyatt, who passed in 2023, but was resurrected in 2024 by his brother, Bo Dallas, also known as Uncle Howdy – the fearless leader of The Wyatt Family. The chilling crew, which also includes Ramblin Rabbit, Mercy the Buzzard, Abby the Witch, and Huskus the Pig, has quickly emerged as one of the most disturbing and disruptive groups in WWE history, with its ominous presence and portrayal of dark and twisted characters.
Called “The Horrors of The Wyatt Sicks, this is a house WWE fans and fans of The Wyatt Sicks are sure to love. Still, even as a non-wrestling fan, I found myself immersed in this spooky world of backwoods characters and the environments Universal created, even if I didn’t fully understand it.
For the Horror Fans
This year’s lineup of horror IPs at Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood is unrivalled thanks to incredible franchises like “Terrifier,” “Friday the 13th,” and “Poltergeist.”
Art the Clown and the “Terrifier” house is probably one of the most highly anticipated houses in Horror Nights’ history. Hordes of fans turned out to opening night of Halloween Horror Nights in Art the Clown t-shirts, closet play, and more, highlighting the character’s popularity as a modern horror icon. The house pays tribute to the franchise and some of Art the Clown’s most iconic kills, and is a can’t-miss at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights.
Be warned, however: Art the Clown’s popularity means the lines are terrifyingly long. Plan to obtain a pass that provides expedited access or arrive early, as wait times were as high as three hours at one point during the night.
Another highlight of this year’s event was Jason Universe, a celebration of 45 years of “Friday the 13th.” Fans of the iconic horror franchise will travel through time and experience various iterations of Jason Voorhees at Crystal Lake, along with recreations of some of his most infamous kills. The house is a must-see for any “Friday the 13th” fan.
Rounding out the horror houses at this year’s event is “Poltergeist.” The house, which first appeared as part of the 2018 Halloween Horror Nights lineup, returns with refreshed lighting and set pieces, transporting guests into the haunted Cuesta Verde home of the Freeling family from the 1982 film.
Of course, the horror doesn’t end with the houses. Enter the Blumhouse returns to Terror Tram this year, celebrating 15 years of Blumhouse. Visitors disembark the Studio Tour tram and set off on foot to encounter iconic Blumhouse villains like The Grabber from “The Black Phone,” the possessed from “Exorcist: The Believer,” the diabolical M3GAN, the ruthless killers from “The Purge” franchise, the terrifying demons from the “Insidious” chapters, and Babyface Killer from “Happy Death Day,” among others.
You can also experience The Purge: Dangerous Waters, a live stunt show that takes visitors on a fiery, rock-fueled adventure, located at the same site as the park’s Waterworld attraction.
For Everyone Else
You don’t have to be a fan of a huge IP to enjoy Halloween Horror Nights. This year’s event features two original houses and three original scare zones.
Scarecrow, a house that originated at the Universal Orlando Resort before making its way to Hollywood in 2022, returns for 2025 with an all-new soundtrack provided by longtime Halloween Horror Nights collaborator and rock icon SLASH. Set in the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, this ecological horror story finds the scarecrows and the crows left behind by the farmers out to reclaim the land and seek revenge on the farmers and their families that remain. The house remains largely unchanged from 2022, but the addition of a new soundtrack by SLASH brings a fresh vibe to the house.
Rounding out the houses at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights in Hollywood is “Monstruos 3: The Ghosts of Latin America.” The third and final house in a trilogy of houses built around Latin American folklore puts visitors face-to-face with Latin American spirits La Llorona, La Muelona, and La Siguanaba.
Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood Creative Director John Murdy and team offer up a fitting sendoff to this series of houses that have been a favorite of mine since Monstruos debuted in 2023. The house features big scares and even bigger puppets depicting some of the most nightmarish spirits you’ve likely never heard of, but will not soon forget.
“Monstruos 3” exits into one of this year’s scare zones: Noche de Brujuas. Extending the Latin American theme into streets, this scare zone was by far my favorite. Here you’ll come face to face with an array of witches who have set up camp in the nearby streets. The only thing I loved more than the scare zone was the artwork on the tarot-like card designs featured within it.
Other scare zones include the popular “Murder of Crowz,” which I’m still fond of, but admittedly feels a bit out of place being in front of the Fast & Furious coaster building, and Carnival of Carnage, which will be pure hell for anyone suffering from a fear of clowns.
The blend of classic frights, modern horror, and unexpected fandoms makes this one of my favorite visits to Halloween Horror Nights yet. It truly is a season of scares with something for everyone.
Halloween Horror Nights continues on select nights through November 2. A variety of Halloween Horror Nights ticket options are available for purchase for the Universal Studios Hollywood event. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit UniversalStudiosHollywood.com.
