Academy Museum launches ‘The Horror Show’ exhibition

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles is launching ‘The Horror Show’, an immersive exhibition exploring over a century of horror cinema. Opening this Saturday, the exhibit features 364 original artifacts, including costumes, props, drawings, and posters representing 167 different titles.

The exhibition is organized into six thematic ‘chambers’—such as Psychological, Science, Slasher, and Gothic—designed to guide visitors through the genre's evolution. Notable items include Jack Nicholson’s jacket and axe from ‘The Shining’, Michael Myers’ original costume from ‘Halloween’, and items related to ‘Freddy Krueger’, ‘Chucky’, and ‘Dracula’.

Curator Jessica Niebel noted that the exhibit explores why the genre is significant, stating that horror allows people to experience fear and confront societal anxieties within a safe environment. To complement the display, the museum will host a series of horror film screenings, including a retrospective by John Carpenter featuring Jamie Lee Curtis. ‘The Horror Show’ is scheduled to run through July 25, 2027.