The Halloween reboot trilogy was one of the most important events in modern horror cinema, thanks mainly to a method that repositioned the franchise, and other revivals could repeat that trick. While its two sequels received mixed reviews, 2018's Halloween was credited with successfully updating a cult classic. However, Halloween also prompted a reevaluation of the franchise's relationship with continuity and its role in producing sequels. The consequences of this strategy extend throughout all genres of cinema, promising a new age of storytelling potential.

Halloween returned in 2018, depicting killer Michael Myers and protagonist Laurie Strode 40 years after their first meeting. This Halloween franchise reboot was a direct sequel to the original 1978 movie of the same name, ignoring all other entrants to the franchise. Halloween decided to disregard nine of its own previous films and pick up from its strongest storyline - that of Laurie Strode. This proved triumphant, aided greatly by Jamie Lee Curtis' return as the iconic "final girl." Halloween was a sensation and generated two sequels, Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends. However, Halloween's legacy trick has ramifications and benefits far beyond the cult slasher franchise.

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How Halloween's Final Trilogy Was Different From Other Reboots

Michael Myers in his filthy old beat up mask looking directly into the camera with eyes like black holes

The final Halloween trilogy changed the way classic movie franchises traditionally handle existing canon. Previously, franchises would either produce direct sequels that tied to the events of the preceding movie, tell an entirely separate standalone story, or perform a complete reboot of the series, erasing or replicating previous events. When Halloween returned in 2018 with its partial reboot, it bucked that long-established pattern.

By disregarding only selected sequels and then delivering highly successful and profitable installments, Halloween shattered the cinematic presumption surrounding canon. The final Halloween trilogy demonstrated that unfavorable sequels are not inextricably linked to a franchise's future. They do not need to be narratively acknowledged or justified in subsequent movies, and can, therefore, be omitted from the continuity if in service to the greater narrative.

Why Halloween's Canon Trick Could Be Great For Other Franchises

Halloween Ends Jamie Lee Curtis Laurie Strode Michael Myers

The method deployed by the final Halloween trilogy prompts an examination of the sanctity of canon, proposing that a more fluid approach can actually be an advantage, rather than a continuity oversight. Terminator: Dark Fate tried something similar in 2019, only acknowledging the first two entries and ignoring the rest. Although Terminator proved less successful, horror movie franchises in 2023 and beyond can benefit from Halloween's approach to the legacy sequel. The upcoming I Know What You Did Last Summer sequel could, for example, dismiss the direct-to-video third installment and the Amazon Prime series, and pick up continuity with the original, returning main characters.

A Nightmare On Elm Street could employ the tactic to revive original, deceased protagonist Nancy, like Halloween did with Laurie. Thanks to Halloween, franchises blemished with subpar sequels are no longer obligated to incorporate them into a continuing narrative, which for horror - a genre proliferated with cheaply produced sequels - can only be good news. This might also solve the eternal struggle between Freddy Krueger's horror and humor, since sillier sequels could be dismissed, and Freddy could return to his best for an A Nightmare On Elm Street legacy reboot. The Halloween movie reboot trilogy forever altered the rules surrounding continuity and canon, and cinema is better for it.

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