The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has announced a new exhibition devoted to horror films titled The Horror Show, opening on 26 September.
The Horror Show will feature six thematic "chambers" devoted to major strains of horror cinema, filled with rare and original props, costumes, production materials and interactive displays.
The exhibition will be accompanied by film screenings and public programmes, including the retrospective film series, John Carpenter: Prince of Darkness, and a 50th anniversary screening of Carrie (1976) with Sissy Spacek.
"Our teams have done a phenomenal job creating an immersive and thrilling journey through the history of horror films, making an exhibition that is both emotional and experiential," said Amy Homma, director and president of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
The Horror Show will be on view at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures through 25 July 2027
"Along with our amazing programming teams, we have selected a variety of film and educational programming to accompany the exhibition that is sure to excite all types of horror fans."
The new exhibition's themed galleries, or chambers, are divided into 'gothic', 'psychological', 'science', 'slasher', 'religion', and 'ghosts'.
The gothic chamber resembles a shadowed crypt and features objects from films including Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) and Sinners (2025).
The psychological gallery resembles a white clinical space and features props and costumes from films such as The Babadook (2014) and Misery (1990).
Thematic gallery "chambers"
The laboratory setting of the science chamber will house production elements from films like Alien (1979) and The Substance (2024).
In the slasher gallery, designed as a killer's home, guests will encounter rare objects from films such as Halloween (1978) and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974).
The religion chamber resembles a witches' circle and houses costumes and objects from Midsommar (2019) and The Exorcist (1973).
Finally, the ghosts gallery is themed after a haunted living room, with objects on view from films including The Conjuring (2013) and Poltergeist (1982).
Family-friendly 'Zombies!' show
The only way out of the exhibition is through a space called 'The Blood Room', described as "an immersion in the many textures and shades of cinematic blood" with "gallery walls layered with gore".
“The Horror Show is an exploration of horror’s emotional, cultural, and symbolic power and examines why horror matters so deeply to many different types of communities,” said Jessica Niebel, the museum's senior exhibitions curator.
The Horror Show will be on view through 25 July 2027.
While parental guidance is advised, the Academy Museum will also offer a small-scale, family-friendly exhibition called Zombies! in an adjacent gallery, on view from 26 September through 25 July 2027.
Images courtesy of the Academy Museum
