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Clash of the Slasher Titans: The ’88 and ’89 Box Office Battles Between Michael, Jason and Freddy!

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Halloween, Friday the 13th, and A Nightmare on Elm Street all launched major horror franchises in the late ‘70s to early ‘80s, each playing a major role and influence in the golden age of slashers, and with them came three of the largest horror icons to date in Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, and Freddy Krueger. Despite these popular franchises spanning decades, amassing 31 films between them, the three slasher titans only occupied the same theatrical space in 1988 and 1989, all vying for box office domination. But what did these franchises look like in ’88 and ’89, and more importantly, who reigned supreme?


The Stats

Halloween

Released in 1978, John Carpenter’s seminal slasher struck fear into hearts everywhere and became so popular that it launched the slasher craze known as the golden age of slashers. The boogeyman at the center of the film, murdering his way through Haddonfield, was Michael Myers. Myers racked up 7 kills in Halloween, and would go on to slay 9 more in 1981’s Halloween II, a direct continuation of the story. But the following year marked an attempt to turn the series into an anthology, letting Myers step down from the spotlight in favor of witchcraft powered killer masks. The lack of Myers, and familiarity, had critics and fans alike outraged. It would take six years for another entry in the franchise to arrive.

Friday the 13th

1980 saw the birth of a new slasher series in Friday the 13th, but it wasn’t until the sequel, Friday the 13th Part 2, that it found its slasher icon. It’s easy to see why, too, as even with just a burlap sack for a mask, the giant Jason Voorhees made the bloodiest debut of them all with a kill count of 10. It wasn’t until 1982’s Friday the 13th Part III that he received his signature hockey mask. Regardless of look, Jason Voorhees became the most dependable and bloodthirsty of the slasher franchises, offering up a new sequel almost every single year of the ‘80s and with it a high body count. By the time he was ready to step into the box office battlefield of ’88, he’d already slaughtered 54 unwitting campers across 4 sequels (Friday the 13th: A New Beginning didn’t have Jason Voorhees either).

A Nightmare on Elm Street

Wes Craven unleashed Freddy Krueger into our nightmares with 1984’s A Nightmare on Elm Street. A latecomer compared to the other icons, Freddy Krueger quickly caught up to his older slasher siblings in terms of popularity. Instead of Haddonfield and Camp Crystal Lake, Krueger’s slaying ground took place within the dream realm of his teen victims. This meant a whole lot more creativity in his attacks, and with it a larger-than-life personality that threatened to hog the spotlight. By the time he entered the ’88 ring, his death count had reached 20 from his three films.


The Battle of 1988

Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood

First to enter the ring was Jason Voorhees, with the seventh entry of his sprawling franchise, on May 13, 1988. A Friday, of course. This sequel marked the first appearance by Kane Hodder in the role of Voorhees, and also the first time the masked killer would contend with a final girl with supernatural powers of her own. A sort of Carrie vs Jason Voorhees, directed by notable special effects artist John Carl Buechler, this film had to have many of its goriest scenes trimmed to avoid an X-rating. Even still, it didn’t slow down Voorhees’ death count of 16 victims. But, as the 7th entry in the series, it opened at number one at the box office that weekend and grossed $19.2 million in its theatrical run.

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master

Dropping into theaters on August 19, 1988, the fourth entry of this franchise came hot on the heels of the very popular sequel A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. The Dream Master, directed by Renny Harlin, wasted no time dispatching the previous film’s survivors before building up new heroine in Alice Johnson (Lisa Wilcox). Krueger slaughtered 6 teens before Alice used the dream powers of her fallen friends to battle the dream demon in an epic special effect driven showdown. The Dream Master dominated the box office on opening weekend, and became the highest grossing film of the franchise with $49.4 million (until Freddy vs. Jason came along, anyway).

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers

Michael Myers’ long-awaited return to the big screen came on October 21, 1988. This sequel saw Myers awaken from a 10-year coma to pursue and murder his niece, little Jamie Lloyd (Danielle Harris). Donald Pleasence reprised his role as Myers’ adversary Dr. Sam Loomis. The return of this serial killing boogeyman marked a return to familiar slasher territory, and with it an all-time high (at the time) kill count for Myers with 15 kills. The Return of Michael Myers grossed $17.8 at the box office.

Box Office Champ: Freddy Krueger


The Battle of 1989

Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan

The 8th entry in this franchise arrived in theaters on July 28, 1989. It saw Kane Hodder return as Jason Voorhees, who this time opted to leave Crystal Lake by hitching a ride on the SS Lazarus, in route to New York City with a graduating high school class in tow. Never mind that Manhattan doesn’t really come into play until the end of the movie. Despite the change in scenery, Voorhees managed to top his previous kill count, amassing 18 kills this time. As for box office, Jason Takes Manhattan is the lowest earner of the franchise and grossed $14.3 million in its theatrical run.

A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child

Two weeks after Jason Takes Manhattan released in theaters, Freddy Krueger tested his box office power with A Nightmare on Elm Street 5, which released on August 11, 1989. Heroine Alice Johnson returned once again, only this time Krueger was after her unborn child. The icon slowed down his kills, too, with only 3 death scenes in the film. Ripped apart by critics upon release, and a low point overall in the franchise, it marked the second lowest grossing entry in the series with $22.2 million. It probably didn’t help that The Dream Child faced steep box office competition from The Abyss.

Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers

Keeping consistent with the Halloween theme, Halloween 5 dropped into theaters on October 13, 1989. Ignoring the previous entry’s final moments, which saw Jamie Lloyd following in her homicidal uncle’s footsteps, this sequel repeats the Michael Myers hunting Jamie Lloyd narrative. Myers still doesn’t manage to slay his young niece, but kills 13 victims in his attempts. In other words, a fairly boring redo of Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers. Audiences felt the same, as it only grossed $11.6 million in its theatrical run.


Box Office Champ: Freddy Krueger

In terms of box office numbers, Krueger won out both years, though this was a younger franchise hitting peak Freddy Krueger mania, so he had a clear advantage. In terms of body count, Jason Voorhees won out by far. 1988 and 1989 give an interesting glimpse into the state of these major franchises well into their run, and hints at where fatigue might set in. Numbers aside, which icon reigns supreme to you?

Horror journalist, RT Top Critic, and Critics Choice Association member. Co-Host of the Bloody Disgusting Podcast. Has appeared on PBS series' Monstrum, served on the SXSW Midnighter shorts jury, and moderated horror panels for WonderCon and SeriesFest.

Editorials

Six Shot-on-VHS Horror Movies to Watch After ‘Frogman’

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Frogman VHS

Nostalgia is a funny thing. From the unexpected resurgence of vinyl to modern-day flip phones, it’s pretty clear that the technical limitations of the past can often inspire the stylish trends of the future. One of my favorite examples of this is the ongoing analog horror craze, as I find it fascinating how many of the genre’s major creators appear to have been born after the decline of VHS tapes and eerie PSAs.

It’s almost like there’s a subconscious understanding that some stories are best told through fuzzy visuals and heavily compressed audio, which is why I appreciate flicks like Anthony Cousins’s Found Footage throwback Frogman, a cryptozoology-inspired scary movie that dares to incorporate lo-fi aesthetics into its storytelling during a time when most studios encourage filmmakers to make their projects look as generically slick and polished as possible. And if you also enjoyed Frogman and are on the lookout for more VHS-based gems, Bloody-Disgusting has got you covered, as we’ve come up with a list highlighting six shot-on-VHS classics for your viewing pleasure.

As usual, don’t forget to comment below with your own favorite analog thrillers if you think we missed a particularly spooky one. I’d also like to give a shout-out to Bloody-Disgusting’s own long-running V/H/S series, which won’t be included here for obvious reasons.

Now, onto the list…


6. Zero Day (2003)

School shootings are one of the scariest realities of the modern world, but the complicated political elements behind these tragedies mean that most genre filmmakers don’t even try to tell stories about them. There are a few exceptions, however, and one of the most notable is Ben Coccio’s Zero Day, a deeply uncomfortable Found Footage character study that explores just how far ill-intentioned teenagers might go to prove a point.

Inspired by the real-world Columbine Basement Tapes, in which the mass-murderers kept a record of their plans and motivations, Coccio’s film follows a fictional video diary where troubled friends Andre and Calvin discuss their homicidal intentions. Another case where the gritty visuals make the story hit even harder, I’d recommend this one for discerning fans of True Crime media.


5. August Underground (2001)

Out of all the movies on this list, Fred Vogel’s August Underground is simultaneously one of the most fascinating and the hardest to recommend. A simulated snuff film following the exploits of a degenerate serial killer and his deranged filmmaker friend, the low production value and amateurish visuals make this shot-on-video experience even more uncomfortable as you begin to question if it really is just a movie.

And while Vogel would go on to expand on this controversial production with a series of slightly more agreeable sequels that boasted improved visuals, none of the follow-ups can quite compare to the raw thrills of the original. Just make sure that you don’t accidentally pick this one for family movie night if you dare to give it a watch.


4. WNUF Halloween Special (2013)

Frogman VHS list

The only entry on this list produced after the decline of VHS-based media, this 2013 classic still holds up as a convincing masterclass in authentic period-piece horror. A simulated recording of a public access show gone terribly wrong, the WNUF Halloween Special should be on everyone’s spooky season watchlist – though I’d argue that it’s best enjoyed as a background conversation piece during Halloween parties.

From the hilarious yet extremely believable retro advertisements to the not-so-subtle hints of the satanic panic motivating the story, this is a delightful experience even if you weren’t alive back when this kind of TV was still on the air.

And if you like this one, don’t forget to check out the Out There Halloween Mega Tape, which was made by the same director.


3. The McPherson Tape (1989)

Originally made popular by bootleg copies circulating the underground VHS trading scene, there’s no discussing shot-on-video horror without bringing up one of the grandaddies of modern-day Found Footage, the legendary McPherson Tape. Also known as UFO Abduction, this homemade thriller follows a birthday party gone wrong as the Van Heese family is visited by extraterrestrials.

While the flick works better as a terrifying hoax rather than a proper movie due to its odd pacing and general lack of traditional story structure, it’s still a must-watch for Found Footage fans. Just be sure to track down the gritty original, not the 1998 remake, Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County.


2. Ghostwatch (1992)

Frogman VHS movies

The term “made-for-TV” used to carry some seriously negative connotations in the world of film, with most audiences assuming that this kind of classification meant that they were about to watch low-budget schlock unsuitable for the big screen. However, there were plenty of clever filmmakers that managed to turn the limitations of broadcast television into storytelling tools, and a great example of this is Stephen Volk’s excellent mockumentary, Ghostwatch.

Starring real TV host Sir Michael Parkinson and borrowing details from the infamous Enfield Poltergeist case, this controversial TV special attempted to do for hauntings what Orson Welles’s War of the Worlds radio adaptation did for aliens. And while we’ve seen scarier Found Footage ghost stories in the decades since Ghostwatch premiered, I’d argue that the chilling authenticity behind the production makes it well worth revisiting in 2024.


1. America’s Deadliest Home Video (1993)

Jack Perez’s pioneer POV thriller may not be that well known these days, but this obscure little gem is actually responsible for many Found Footage tropes that we now take for granted. Telling the story of an amateur cameraman who finds himself being kidnapped by a group of criminals during a road trip, this video diary from hell still holds up as a horrific example of grounded Found Footage.

While some questionable acting and convenient story beats sometimes break the carefully crafted immersion, America’s Deadliest Home Video stands out by not only being one of the first of its kind, but also by embracing its amateurish roots instead of being embarrassed by them.


Frogman, which actually was released on VHS, is now available on VOD outlets.

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