Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) is the premier theme park industry Halloween event held annually. The event is hosted by Universal Studios theme parks, including Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Singapore and Universal Studios Japan. As a major yearly highlight for horror-genre fans, speculation on what’s in store next year begins well before the conclusion of the current year event. Let’s go through all the details pertaining to Universal Studios Hollywood HHN.
All Things HHN
Halloween Horror Nights features world class terrifying entertainment blended into several different categories:
- Haunted Houses: Elaborate and seemingly never-ending mazes with intricate sets, authentic costuming and makeup along with immersive storylines. Typically, haunted houses are based on popular horror movie franchise IPs where horror icons come to life after death. Mixed in are original, unique horror concepts specifically created for Halloween Horror Nights.
- Scare Zones: These are themed common areas throughout the park where scareactors interact with guests passing through. Jump scares are abound! These zones are in unavoidable walkways and create a spooky atmosphere with themed decorations and eerie music.
- Live Shows: Halloween Horror Nights features live special performances each evening, ranging from horror-themed live action shows to music and dance performances.
- Attractions: Some of the park’s most popular rides and attractions are open during the event. You will have the opportunity to experience these attractions, typically with minimal wait times. Some attractions do close earlier than the event.
- Event-Specific Merch: Exclusive Halloween Horror Nights merchandise, such as t-shirts, hoodies, hats, magnets and other collectibles are available for purchase in stores and kiosks at every turn. These items often feature themes from the haunted houses, the scare zones or may be themed to Halloween Horror Nights in general. Shops are open outside of the event!
- Decorations: The park is decorated extensively for Halloween, creating a spooky and dark and sometimes macabre atmosphere.
- Photo Ops: Plenty of exclusive photo opportunities with sets and some scareactors to capture all of the terror.
- Music and Sound Effects: Expect eerie soundtracks, atmospheric music, and scary sound effects that enhance the horror.
- Themed Food and Drink Offerings: Look for special Halloween Horror Nights themed specially food and drink items throughout the park. This might include creepy cocktails, Halloween Horror Nights inspired entrees and snacks, and terrifying treats.
I recently attended Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood for the launch of the 2024 event. It was fun, scary, thrilling and, yes, horrifying. It lived up to the hype! Let’s take a deeper dive into the horror of my experience!
The Basics of Universal Studios Hollywood HHN
Gates open for horror fans beginning at 6:30 pm with the houses and scare zones opening at 7:00 pm. Your horror might vary each evening as on the night I attended, the houses started admitting “victims” immediately.
Closing times vary, but typically the event is open until 2:00 am in August, September and October. November dates typically peel back closing time to 1:00 am.
The Haunted Houses (including Terror Train) at Universal Studios Hollywood HHN ranked in order of my preference:
A Quiet Place
Based on the popular horror franchise of the same name, silence your screams if you want to survive the terrifying, post-apocalyptic world. Like the Abbott family, you must keep quiet as you travel from the farmhouse to the woods, to the foundry. As soon as you make a sound, monstrous creatures who can hear the slightest noise, will hunt you down and silence you for good. The alien monster animatronics in this house are world class! Don’t scream. They may hear you.
Terror Tram: Enter the Blumhouse
This is the part where you RUN! Terrifying Blumhouse characters have taken over the Studio Backlot Tour and turned it into Terror Tram. Face the murderous android M3GAN, The Grabber, Babyface Killer, The Purge and Norman Bates. It’s a highly interactive blend of scare zones and haunted houses complete with relentless scareactors.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Who ya gonna call? A bone-chilling new specter has escaped from an ancient artifact, and he’ll stop you cold. The Ghostbusters must team up to save you and the rest of the world from a second Ice Age. This house has a bit of humor in it with dozens of Stay Puft Marshmallow men. But don’t let your guard down as the jump scares are real.
The Weeknd: Nightmare Trilogy
You’ll be dancing in the flames! The Weeknd returns in a new haunted house spawned from After Hours, Dawn FM and a horrifying new tale. Get ensnared by the most iconic moments inspired by his music videos and live performances combined with the dark mind of The Weeknd’s gory nightmares.
Dead Exposure: Death Valley
The dead are walking! Enter a top-secret government facility where an experiment to create super soldiers has gone horribly wrong, turning people into radioactive zombies. And they escape just as you arrive! And, they are very hungry.
Monstruos 2
The Nightmares of Latin America: Hispanic horror legends come alive. Resist the infernal rider El Charro or he’ll take your soul. Don’t turn your back on the devil dog El Cadejo or you’ll be lost forever. And you’d better behave or the boogeyman El Cucuy will get you. Again. And again. And again.
Insidious: The Further
Touted as the scariest house of the 2024 season! Enter The Further as demons try to ensnare you. The Red-Faced Demon will lure you into his lair. KeyFace will unlock your fears. And more. This house is considered to be one of the scariest houses that Universal has ever developed. I must agree!
Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines
It’s an all female horror cast! Get caught in an epic battle as Saskia Van Helsing and the Bride of Frankenstein go up against Dracula’s daughter and her monstrous mavens. Featuring music by Slash, this original storyline is unique, engaging, gory and of course horrrfying.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Legacy of Leatherface
What is that horrible death-like smell?! Leatherface and his cannibalistic kin will lure you into their gore-filled slaughterhouse. Fall victim to a gruesome original story never seen on screen in honor of the 1974 movie’s 50th anniversary. Be forewarned that house is one of the most bloodiest, goriest and violent houses in the lineup this year.
The four scare zones with my rankings in order of preference:
Luchadores Monstruosos
¡Ojo! You’re about to get caught in the middle of a Lucha Libre horror film as two luchadores battle masked monsters.
Chainsaw Punkz
Get revved up for your night of terror as soon as you enter and as you try to exit. Chainsaw-wielding punk rockers with masks and mohawks will close in on you.
Skull Lordz
All hail the royal court of the undead, where gothic kings and queens reign. Beware! Cross into their spectral kingdom at your own peril.
Murder of Crowz
You’ve foolishly ventured into a massive crow’s nest. Now the huge fearsome flock will descend upon you and peck your bones clean.
Two live shows will terrify and entertain you at the same time at Halloween Horror Nights 2024:
The Purge: Dangerous Waters
Bloody and violent, this fiery stunt spectacular puts you in the world of The Purge like you’ve never seen it before. The plot has a surprising twist, but a word of warning: there are a lot of violent kills with blood splatter throughout the performance. The show takes place in the Waterworld theater transformed for the evening.
Late Night with Chucky
Murderous and humorous. Chucky’s your host and he’s ready to roast. Be in the audience for his killer new live talk show, where Chucky will answer your questions in real time.
Dying of hunger or thirst?
Outside of the many quick service stands, there are several uniquely themed venues offered this year.
- The Carl Laemmle Patio features Chucky’s Dive Bar.
- Universal Plaza serves up a celebration in honor of Dia de Los Muertos featuring an array of Latin Folklore-themed food, snacks, and cocktails.
- The Weeknd: Nightmare Trilogy Bar is located on the 2nd floor of Jurassic Cafe in the Lower Lot.
How to survive a night at Universal Studios Hollywood HHN:
Age restrictions?
While there is no age restriction, Universal suggests that HHN is not age appropriate for children under the age of 13. While each parent knows their children better than anyone, many houses are based on horror movies containing graphic violence. The horror is real. The blood and gore is real. Often putrid smells are real (enhancing the immersion in the houses). The jump scares are very real. I would imagine the nightmares following this event would also be real for younger children.
Arrive early!
Crowds flock to this event. Pre-purchase your tickets and arrive early in order to maximize your time. Remember, you may need to plan on parking in a garage, pass through security and then through turnstiles before you ever land in the event. With limited time and large crowds you’ll be able to experience more horror.
Quicker access to the terror.
Express pass is available for purchase for Halloween Horror Nights. This upcharge provides guests with one entrance into each house (including Terror Tram) with limited or no wait. I consider it the only way to tour Halloween Horror Nights given that some houses often experience waits of up to a 90-120 minutes on the most popular evenings. While this option isn’t inexpensive, it is worth it. Express will give you one queue bypass per house/show and provide the best chance of experiencing all houses, shows, zones as well as the ability to enjoy food and beverage options. On the night we toured, we wrapped up our evening at 11:58 pm with two hours of terror left in the evening!
Eat prior
I might suggest having a larger meal before the event, saving rooms for snacking. A larger meal will take time out of your event. And who doesn’t love a Stay Puft Marshmallow Man S’more as a snack?
Shopping!
Merch is available in most every store open during daytime park hours. I might offer that you purchase your souvenirs and Halloween Horror Nights attire before the night’s event if you’re touring during the day!
RIP Tour.
For even more horror exclusivity, the RIP Tour offers all the benefits of Express, but also includes dinner, valet parking and a VIP trolley tour for Terror Tram.
The Afterlife of Universal Studios Hollywood HHN
We survived! I was actually quite surprised how much I enjoyed Halloween Horror Nights when I first attended in Orlando a few years ago. Universal Hollywood added a much deeper dimension to this event, and I am already looking forward to what they have in store for 2025!
If you’re a fan of Halloween, horror and even blood and guts then Halloween Horror Nights is for you! The Magic For Less Travel can partner with you with your Halloween Horror Nights vacation at either Universal Studios Hollywood or Universal Orlando Resort (which has an even bigger footprint and even more horrific offerings). Request a quote today as there is still time to experience the horror!
Oh, by the way. Never. Go. Alone!
See you in the fog!
