John Carpenter

John Carpenter

Known for: Directing
Biography: 1948-01-16 (76 years old)

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Biography

An American film director, screenwriter, producer, editor, composer, and occasional actor.


Although Carpenter has worked in numerous film genres in his four-decade career, his name is most commonly associated with horror and science fiction.


Most films in Carpenter's career were initially commercial and critical failures, with the notable exceptions of Halloween (1978), The Fog (1980), Escape from New York (1981), and Starman (1984).


However, many of Carpenter's films from the 1970s and the 1980s have come to be viewed as cult classics, and he has been acknowledged as an influential filmmaker. Cult classics that Carpenter directed include: Dark Star (1974), Assault on Precinct 13 (1976), The Thing (1982), Christine (1983), Big Trouble in Little China (1986), Prince of Darkness (1987), They Live (1988) and In the Mouth of Madness (1995).


His films are characterized by minimalist lighting and photography, static cameras, use of steadicam, and distinctive synthesized scores. Carpenter is also notable for having composed or co-composed most of the music of his films; some of them are now considered cult as well, with the main theme of Halloween being considered a part of popular culture. His music is generally synthesized with accompaniment from piano and atmospherics. He released his first studio album Lost Themes in 2015, and also won a Saturn Award for Best Music for Vampires (1998).


Carpenter is an outspoken proponent of widescreen filming, and all of his theatrical movies (with the exception of Dark Star and The Ward) were filmed anamorphic with a 2.35:1 or greater aspect ratio. The Ward was shot in Super 35, the first time Carpenter has ever used that system. Carpenter has stated he feels that the 35mm Panavision anamorphic format is "the best movie system there is", preferring it over both digital and 3D film. Many of Carpenter's films have been re-released on DVD as special editions with numerous bonus features.


Carpenter has been the subject of the documentary film John Carpenter: The Man and His Movies, and American Cinematheque's 2002 retrospective of his films. Moreover, in 2006, the United States Library of Congress deemed Halloween to be "culturally significant" and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.


In 2010, writer and actor Mark Gatiss interviewed Carpenter about his career and films for his BBC documentary series A History of Horror. Carpenter appears in all three episodes of the series. He was also interviewed by Robert Rodriguez for his The Director's Chair series on El Rey Network.


Many filmmakers have been influenced by Carpenter, including James Cameron, Quentin Tarantino (The Hateful Eight was heavily influenced by The Thing), Guillermo del Toro, Robert Rodriguez, Edgar Wright, Danny Boyle, Nicolas Winding Refn, Bong Joon-ho, among others.


The video game Dead Space 3 is said to be influenced by Carpenter's The Thing, The Fog and Halloween, and Carpenter has stated that he would be enthusiastic to adapt that series into a feature film.

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Filmography

all 173

Movies 158

self 94

Writer 27

Director 24

TV Shows 15

Producer 6

Narrator 2

Music
Halloween: The Boogeyman

Halloween: The Boogeyman (2023)

Movie
Creator / Executive Producer / Main Title Theme Composer / Director
John Carpenter's Suburban Screams

John Carpenter's Suburban Screams (2023)

TV
Self
Amityville: An Origin Story

Amityville: An Origin Story (2023)

TV
Self - Interviewee
In Search of Darkness: Part III

In Search of Darkness: Part III (2022)

Movie
Original Music Composer / Executive Producer / Characters
Halloween Ends

Halloween Ends (2022)

Movie
6
Self
Blumhouse's Compendium of Horror

Blumhouse's Compendium of Horror (2022)

TV
Self
Halloween in Hollywood

Halloween in Hollywood (2022)

Movie
Charles Band’s Full Moon Freakshow

Charles Band’s Full Moon Freakshow (2022)

TV
Original Music Composer
Firestarter

Firestarter (2022)

Movie
7.67
Engineer / Music
Studio 666

Studio 666 (2022)

Movie
Self - Interviewee
In Search of Tomorrow

In Search of Tomorrow (2022)

Movie
Writer
Halloween Kills

Halloween Kills (2021)

Movie
8.3
Self
The History of Metal and Horror

The History of Metal and Horror (2021)

Movie
Original Film Writer
Prince of Darkness

Prince of Darkness (2021)

Movie
Self
In Search of Darkness: Part II

In Search of Darkness: Part II (2020)

Movie
Self
AGFA Mystery Mixtape #4: Follow Your Own Star

AGFA Mystery Mixtape #4: Follow Your Own Star (2020)

Movie
Self (Archival Footage)
The Movies That Made Us

The Movies That Made Us (2019)

TV
Narrator
The Rise of the Synths

The Rise of the Synths (2019)

Movie
Self
1982: Hollywood Summer

1982: Hollywood Summer (2019)

Movie
Writer
Myers: The Evil of Haddonfield

Myers: The Evil of Haddonfield (2019)

Movie
Self
In Search of Darkness

In Search of Darkness (2019)

Movie
Self
Back in Haddonfield: Making Halloween

Back in Haddonfield: Making Halloween (2019)

Movie
Self
The Original Scream Queen

The Original Scream Queen (2019)

Movie
Self
The Legacy of Halloween

The Legacy of Halloween (2019)

Movie
Self
Journey of the Mask

Journey of the Mask (2019)

Movie
Self
The Sound of Fear

The Sound of Fear (2019)

Movie
Self
Henchman: The Al Leong Story

Henchman: The Al Leong Story (2018)

Movie
Self
Purgatory: Entering John Carpenter's 'Escape From New York'

Purgatory: Entering John Carpenter's 'Escape From New York' (2018)

Movie
Self
John Carpenter: Live Retrospective

John Carpenter: Live Retrospective (2018)

Movie
Writer
Halloween

Halloween (2018)

Movie
5.87
Self
Dark Glamour: The Blood and Guts of Hammer Productions

Dark Glamour: The Blood and Guts of Hammer Productions (2017)

Movie
Self
Monstres, l'ennemi de l'intérieur

Monstres, l'ennemi de l'intérieur (2017)

Movie
Self - Keyboards
John Carpenter: Live At Primavera Sound 2016

John Carpenter: Live At Primavera Sound 2016 (2016)

Movie
Self
It Takes a Village: The Making of Village of the Damned

It Takes a Village: The Making of Village of the Damned (2016)

Movie
The Taxi Driver
The Puppet Man

The Puppet Man (2016)

Movie
Self
Jean-Michel Jarre: The Rise of Electronic Music

Jean-Michel Jarre: The Rise of Electronic Music (2015)

Movie
Self
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015)

TV
2
Self
Track Stories

Track Stories (2015)

TV
Self
Why Horror?

Why Horror? (2014)

Movie
Self
The Director's Chair

The Director's Chair (2014)

TV
Self
The Real History of Science Fiction

The Real History of Science Fiction (2014)

TV
Writer
Halloween: Harvest of Souls, 1985

Halloween: Harvest of Souls, 1985 (2013)

Movie
Self
The Birds: Hitchcock's Monster Movie

The Birds: Hitchcock's Monster Movie (2012)

Movie
Writer
Halloween Awakening: The Legacy of Michael Myers

Halloween Awakening: The Legacy of Michael Myers (2012)

Movie
Writer
Halloween: Resurgence

Halloween: Resurgence (2012)

Movie
Composer
The Nightmare Isn't Over! The Making of Halloween II

The Nightmare Isn't Over! The Making of Halloween II (2012)

Movie
Composer
Stand Alone: The Making of Halloween III: Season of the Witch

Stand Alone: The Making of Halloween III: Season of the Witch (2012)

Movie
Writer
Lockout

Lockout (2012)

Movie
4.33
Thanks
Plaga zombie: zona mutante: revolución tóxica

Plaga zombie: zona mutante: revolución tóxica (2012)

Movie
Self - Host
Charlie Brown: Blockhead's Revenge

Charlie Brown: Blockhead's Revenge (2011)

Movie
Self
Nightmare Factory

Nightmare Factory (2011)

Movie
Self
The Original Monster Mash

The Original Monster Mash (2011)

Movie
Self
Let There Be Light: The Odyssey of Dark Star

Let There Be Light: The Odyssey of Dark Star (2010)

Movie
Self
Halloween: The Inside Story

Halloween: The Inside Story (2010)

Movie
Self
A History of Horror

A History of Horror (2010)

TV
Director
The Ward

The Ward (2010)

Movie
2
Thanks
Nunca más asistas a este tipo de fiestas

Nunca más asistas a este tipo de fiestas (2010)

Movie
Writer
Halloween: Black Eyes

Halloween: Black Eyes (2010)

Movie
Self
Fasten Your Seatbelt: The Thrilling Art of Alfred Hitchcock

Fasten Your Seatbelt: The Thrilling Art of Alfred Hitchcock (2009)

Movie
Self
Nightmares in Red, White and Blue

Nightmares in Red, White and Blue (2009)

Movie
Self
Monsterland

Monsterland (2009)

Movie
Self
Tales from the Script

Tales from the Script (2009)

Movie
6
Self
The Master's Touch: Hitchcock's Signature Style

The Master's Touch: Hitchcock's Signature Style (2009)

Movie
Self
In the Master's Shadow: Hitchcock's Legacy

In the Master's Shadow: Hitchcock's Legacy (2008)

Movie
Self
Fantastic Flesh: The Art of Make-Up EFX

Fantastic Flesh: The Art of Make-Up EFX (2008)

Movie
Self
Pure Cinema: Through the Eyes of Hitchcock

Pure Cinema: Through the Eyes of Hitchcock (2008)

Movie
Self
Bernard Herrmann: Hitchcock's Maestro

Bernard Herrmann: Hitchcock's Maestro (2008)

Movie
Self
Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown

Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown (2008)

Movie
Self
Bloodsucking Cinema

Bloodsucking Cinema (2007)

Movie
Writer
Halloween

Halloween (2007)

Movie
5.59
Self
Commemoration: Howard Hawks' 'Rio Bravo'

Commemoration: Howard Hawks' 'Rio Bravo' (2007)

Movie
Self - Subject
Big John

Big John (2006)

Movie
Director
Pro-Life

Pro-Life (2006)

Movie
Self
Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet

Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet (2006)

Movie
Self
Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon

Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon (2006)

Movie
Self
Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film

Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film (2006)

Movie
Self
Halloween: 25 Years of Terror

Halloween: 25 Years of Terror (2006)

Movie
Self (archive footage)
Working with a Master: John Carpenter

Working with a Master: John Carpenter (2006)

Movie
Self
Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story

Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story (2006)

Movie
Director
Cigarette Burns

Cigarette Burns (2005)

Movie
Self
Hollywood's Greatest Villains

Hollywood's Greatest Villains (2005)

Movie
Self
The Perfect Scary Movie

The Perfect Scary Movie (2005)

Movie
Director
Masters of Horror

Masters of Horror (2005)

TV
10
Writer
The Fog

The Fog (2005)

Movie
3.5
Self
Snake Plissken: Man of Honor

Snake Plissken: Man of Honor (2005)

Movie
Writer
Assault on Precinct 13

Assault on Precinct 13 (2005)

Movie
6
Self
Hollywood's Creepiest Creatures

Hollywood's Creepiest Creatures (2004)

Movie
Self
100 Scariest Movie Moments

100 Scariest Movie Moments (2004)

TV
Self
Christine: Ignition

Christine: Ignition (2004)

Movie
Self
Christine: Fast and Furious

Christine: Fast and Furious (2004)

Movie
Self
Christine: Finish Line

Christine: Finish Line (2004)

Movie
Self
John Carpenter: The Man and His Movies

John Carpenter: The Man and His Movies (2004)

Movie
Self
Something to Do with Death

Something to Do with Death (2003)

Movie
Self - Filmmaker
The Wages of Sin

The Wages of Sin (2003)

Movie
Self - Filmmaker
An Opera of Violence

An Opera of Violence (2003)

Movie
Self
Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest

Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest (2003)

Movie
Self
Do You Remember Laurie Zimmer?

Do You Remember Laurie Zimmer? (2003)

Movie
Writer
Halloween: Resurrection - Web Cam Special

Halloween: Resurrection - Web Cam Special (2002)

Movie
Self
Scoring Resident Evil

Scoring Resident Evil (2002)

Movie
Self
Masters of Horror

Masters of Horror (2002)

Movie
Executive Producer / Music
Vampires: Los Muertos

Vampires: Los Muertos (2002)

Movie
5
Self
Tales from the Mist: Inside 'The Fog'

Tales from the Mist: Inside 'The Fog' (2002)

Movie
Writer
Halloween: Resurrection

Halloween: Resurrection (2002)

Movie
5.68
Self
Through the Night with...

Through the Night with... (2002)

TV
Self
Red Desert Nights: Making Ghosts of Mars

Red Desert Nights: Making Ghosts of Mars (2001)

Movie
Self - interviewee
Hidden Values: The Movies of the Fifties

Hidden Values: The Movies of the Fifties (2001)

Movie
Director
Ghosts of Mars

Ghosts of Mars (2001)

Movie
4.89
Self
Dario Argento: An Eye for Horror

Dario Argento: An Eye for Horror (2001)

Movie
Self
Scream and Scream Again: A History of the Slasher Film

Scream and Scream Again: A History of the Slasher Film (2000)

Movie
Self
Mario Bava: Maestro of the Macabre

Mario Bava: Maestro of the Macabre (2000)

Movie
Self
The American Nightmare

The American Nightmare (2000)

Movie
Self
Guns for Hire: The Making of 'The Magnificent Seven'

Guns for Hire: The Making of 'The Magnificent Seven' (2000)

Movie
Thanks
Nunca asistas a este tipo de fiestas

Nunca asistas a este tipo de fiestas (2000)

Movie
Self
Halloween: Unmasked

Halloween: Unmasked (1999)

Movie
Writer
Silent Predators

Silent Predators (1999)

Movie
Director
Vampires

Vampires (1998)

Movie
5.1
Self
The Thing: Terror Takes Shape

The Thing: Terror Takes Shape (1998)

Movie
Writer
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later

Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)

Movie
5.66
Director
Escape from L.A.

Escape from L.A. (1996)

Movie
5.75
Writer
Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers

Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)

Movie
5.58
Self
After Sunset: The Life & Times of the Drive-In Theater

After Sunset: The Life & Times of the Drive-In Theater (1995)

Movie
Director
Village of the Damned

Village of the Damned (1995)

Movie
5
Director
In the Mouth of Madness

In the Mouth of Madness (1995)

Movie
4.33
Trenchcoat Man / Gimp
The Silence of the Hams

The Silence of the Hams (1994)

Movie
The Coroner (segment "The Morgue")
Body Bags

Body Bags (1993)

Movie
6
Director
Memoirs of an Invisible Man

Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992)

Movie
1
Self
Fear in the Dark

Fear in the Dark (1991)

Movie
Writer
Blood River

Blood River (1991)

Movie
Writer
El Diablo

El Diablo (1990)

Movie
Self
Horror Cafe

Horror Cafe (1990)

Movie
Writer
Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers

Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989)

Movie
5.62
Self
First Works

First Works (1989)

Movie
Self
Stephen King's World of Horror

Stephen King's World of Horror (1989)

Movie
Voice That Says 'Sleep' / Screenplay / Director / Original Music Composer
They Live

They Live (1988)

Movie
5.46
Main Title Theme Composer
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)

Movie
5.72
Self
The Making of 'They Live'

The Making of 'They Live' (1988)

Movie
Director
Prince of Darkness

Prince of Darkness (1987)

Movie
4.33
The Coupe de Villes
The Boy Who Could Fly

The Boy Who Could Fly (1986)

Movie
6
Worker in Chinatown (uncredited) / Director / Original Music Composer
Big Trouble in Little China

Big Trouble in Little China (1986)

Movie
6.2
Writer
Black Moon Rising

Black Moon Rising (1986)

Movie
Self
Stephen King's World of Horror

Stephen King's World of Horror (1986)

Movie
Director
Starman

Starman (1984)

Movie
4.5
Executive Producer
The Philadelphia Experiment

The Philadelphia Experiment (1984)

Movie
5.2
Director
Christine

Christine (1983)

Movie
4.38
Writer
Halloween III: Season of the Witch

Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)

Movie
5.48
Director
The Thing

The Thing (1982)

Movie
5.72
Narrator
The Making of 'The Thing'

The Making of 'The Thing' (1982)

Movie
Self
Take One: Fear on Film

Take One: Fear on Film (1982)

Movie
Screenplay / Producer / Original Music Composer
Halloween II

Halloween II (1981)

Movie
6
Director
Escape from New York

Escape from New York (1981)

Movie
5.38
Bennett / Screenplay / Director / Original Music Composer
The Fog

The Fog (1980)

Movie
5.54
Self
Fear on Film: Inside 'The Fog'

Fear on Film: Inside 'The Fog' (1980)

Movie
Writer
Better Late Than Never

Better Late Than Never (1979)

Movie
Director
Elvis

Elvis (1979)

Movie
Director
Someone's Watching Me!

Someone's Watching Me! (1978)

Movie
Paul (voice) / Michael Myers (uncredited) / Screenplay / Director / Original Music Composer
Halloween

Halloween (1978)

Movie
6.79
Writer
Zuma Beach

Zuma Beach (1978)

Movie
Writer
Eyes of Laura Mars

Eyes of Laura Mars (1978)

Movie
Director
Assault on Precinct 13

Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)

Movie
5.33
Director
Dark Star

Dark Star (1974)

Movie
Editor
Last Foxtrot in Burbank

Last Foxtrot in Burbank (1973)

Movie
Writer
The Resurrection of Broncho Billy

The Resurrection of Broncho Billy (1970)

Movie
Director
Captain Voyeur

Captain Voyeur (1969)

Movie
Camera Operator
Good Morning, Dan

Good Morning, Dan (1968)

Movie
The Rifleman

The Rifleman (1958)

TV
6.67
Self
Clive Barker: A to Z of Horror

Clive Barker: A to Z of Horror

TV
Writer
Escape from New York

Escape from New York

Movie
Self
The Reality Trip

The Reality Trip

Movie
Original Music Composer
Death of a Unicorn

Death of a Unicorn

Movie
Hollywood Trailblazer: The Debra Hill Story

Hollywood Trailblazer: The Debra Hill Story

Movie
Characters
Untitled "Halloween" Reboot

Untitled "Halloween" Reboot

Movie
Executive Producer
Blumhouse's The Thing

Blumhouse's The Thing

Movie
Self
Carpenter on Quatermass

Carpenter on Quatermass

Movie

Ratings

Average 5.88
Based on 3.37 Million movie and tv ratings over time
1958
1995
2005
1998
2023
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John CarpenterJohn CarpenterJohn CarpenterJohn CarpenterJohn CarpenterJohn CarpenterJohn CarpenterJohn CarpenterJohn CarpenterJohn Carpenter

Information

Known For
Directing

Gender
Male

Birthday
1948-01-16 (76 years old)

Birth Name
John Howard Carpenter

Birth Place
Carthage, United States of America

Religion
atheism

Relationships
Adrienne Barbeau (1979-01-01 - 1984-01-01)

Spouse
Sandy King

Children
Cody Carpenter

Relatives
Daniel Davies

Citizenships
United States of America

Residences
Los Angeles, United States of America

Also Known As
Martin Quatermass, Frank Armitage, John T. Chance, Rip Haight, John Howard Carpenter, ジョン・カーペンター, ジョン・ハワード・カーペンター, 존 카펜터, 约翰·卡朋特

Awards
The George Pal Memorial Award


This article uses material from Wikipedia.
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