House rankings for Halloween Horror Nights 2026 at Universal Studios Hollywood (California)
The Southern California Halloween haunt season has officially begun with the opening of Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights. This annual event offers haunted houses featuring popular horror franchises and intellectual properties, as well as some original concepts. Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood runs on 42 select nights from Sept. 3 through Nov. 1, 2026.
This is my personal ranking of all eight haunted houses including Hellraiser, Sinners, and more.
As with any ranking list, a lot of this comes down to personal taste. As I walk through a haunted house, I’m doing it from the point of view of appreciating the craft. Jump scares don’t particularly scare me, so I don’t judge haunted houses on scare factor. Instead, I base my rankings on the quality of scenery, makeup, lighting, sound and the other crafts that go into making a haunt a reality.
Without further delay, here are my official haunted house rankings for Halloween Horror Nights 2026 at Universal Studios Hollywood from least to most favorite, along with our videos inside each haunted house.
2026 Halloween Horror Nights in Hollywood houses ranked
- Sinners
- Killceanera
- Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness
- Dead Deader Deadest
- Hellraiser
- Stranger Things 5
- Evil Dead Burn
- Killer Klowns from Outer Space
8. Killer Klowns from Outer Space
Official Description: There’s nothing funny about these Klowns.If ever there’s a reason to be afraid of Klowns, this is it. The Killer Klowns from Outer Space have landed in this haunted house. And the joke’s on you if you get trapped in their cotton candy cocoons — becoming a gooey, gruesome snack.
My opinion: This house ranks lowest on my list because of a double whammy. First, it’s based on a film that I don’t personally enjoy. And second, it’s a house we’ve seen multiple times at Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood with little change. Although it’s never made the top of my list, this year it felt especially lackluster and not in its greatest form.
If Universal wants to feature a clown maze, there are plenty of other properties to choose from. But this one’s been done to death at this event. On the plus side, the unique look of the clowns from the movie are well represented in the masks used.
7. Evil Dead Burn
Official Description: Evil comes home. The Book of the Dead has been reopened, and now an infernal force consumes a family home. In this haunted house based on the new film, Evil Dead Burn, dodge possessed Deadites hell-bent on bloodshed, encounter not just the root of evil, but the whole family tree.
My opinion: When a haunted house is done well, it creates a sense of place unique to that particular house and it features a story that’s easy to follow without requiring prior homework. I think it’s fair to say a lot of guests go through movie-based haunted houses without having seen the movie it’s based on.
Knowing the source material should enhance your experience, but it shouldn’t be a requirement to understand and enjoy the attraction. I am a bit familiar with the Evil Dead films, but not this newest one. I found myself not really understanding the story and feeling like the environments could have easily been used for various other horror franchises. It was by no means a bad haunted house.
It just wasn’t too unique and didn’t feature any wow moments.
6. Stranger Things 5
Official Description: It’s Hawkins’ last stand. The Upside Down is invading Hawkins, and this time no one’s safe. In this haunted house based on the final season of Stranger Things, join the gang in Hawkins for one last adventure as you try to survive Demogorgons and the Mind Flayer. Will you defeat Vecna once and for all?
My opinion: Perhaps unfairly, I expect the haunted house featured in an actual soundstage to feel more grand than the others in pop-up tents. In the past, that has often been the case from the moment you step into the interior queue. The façade is typically in your face and makes a grand statement. That is unfortunately not the case for what is presumably the last Stranger Things maze we will see at Halloween Horror Nights as the series has come to an end.
If you’re a big fan of the show, perhaps this maze makes a bigger impression. For me, it was a non-offensive yet nothing to write home about haunted house. I’d seen them do better with this franchise in the past.
5. Hellraiser
Official Description: Your pain is their pleasure. Enter a realm of pure pain in a haunted house based on the original “Hellraiser” trilogy. You’ll journey through the depths of Hell and bear witness to Pinhead and the Cenobites’ nightmarish rituals. Then hope you don’t get trapped in your own.
My opinion: This was one of the houses I was looking forward to most. Mostly because Pinhead is one of the last truly iconic old-school horror icons to be featured at Halloween Horror Nights. The event was built on icons like Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Leatherface, Michael Myers, and more. Each of those icons has had various iterations of haunted houses through the years. But one glaring omission had been Pinhead, until now.
The Hellraiser house is full of memorable moments from the first three movies. Considering how often horror movies and characters are repeated throughout the years due to limited options, I was surprised it was decided to feature the first three films in this haunted house. I would have preferred this year’s house to focus on the original film with its sequels appearing in future iterations.
There are moments in the house where we see Pinhead in all his glory with some really nice makeup effects. For practical reasons, the character is also often portrayed as a mask. I’m not a fan of the back-and-forth design choice, but I do like that we get to see him as full makeup for at least part of the experience.
4. Dead Deader Deadest
Official Description: It doesn’t get deader than this. Uncover the dark secrets of the Deville Family Funeral Home in this haunted house, where reanimated corpses have risen from their graves.
My opinion: This is the first original haunted house on my list not based on an intellectual property. I’m not surprised at all to find it in the top half of my list. The franchises may be great for marketing, but I typically find myself enjoying the original houses most.
If I were to use one word to describe Dead Deader Deadest, it would be “classic”. This house has all the makings of a classic haunted attraction. The setting of a funeral home is classic. Corpses rising from the dead is classic.
And so much more about this house feels right on point with what made us fall in love with the spookiness of Halloween. The house features various environments that all fit naturally within the funeral home storyline. This one made me feel like a kid and put a big smile on my face.
3. Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness
Official Description: Bow before the Prince of Darkness. Ozzy Osbourne’s shocking image was as haunting as his heavy metal hits. Now you’ll enter the Prince of Darkness’s kingdom where music and mayhem collide and everything’s gone off the rails. Veer through a decaying world ripped straight from Ozzy’s lyrics in this haunted house inspired by one of rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest legends. Let the madness begin!
My opinion: I can’t say I’ve ever owned an Ozzy Osbourne album, but the sounds of his discography are ingrained in pop culture. Even if you’re not a hard rock fan, you probably know and enjoy some of Ozzy’s unforgettable melodies. The environments of this maze are so cool. I especially enjoyed walking through the crazy train.
As someone who typically doesn’t like the use of masks over makeup, I loved the design of the Ozzy masks in this house. The variations of Ozzy’s music throughout flowed naturally and the visuals were eye candy. Without spoiling too much, there’s a particularly fun moment of a giant bat holding Ozzy’s head in reference to an Ozzy Osbourne story that made headlines back in the 1980s. This house was both a lot of fun and a loving tribute to the Prince of Darkness.
I would have loved to see Ozzy react to this house himself. I think he would have loved it.
2. Killceanera
Official Description: Revenge is the best gift. In this haunted house with music by Slash, you’re invited to Lola’s quinceanera, where she’ll exact her monstrous vengeance on her bullies.
My opinion: Haunted houses based on Latin American folklore have become a staple at Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood. And they typically end up toward the top of my list. This one is no different. I particularly enjoyed the story of a girl seeking revenge and felt it was clearly told through the visuals and audio throughout the house. Although a lot of the puppets and costumes may have looked familiar from previous year’s standalone houses, I think the way they were repurposed here is exactly how reused elements should be used.
Additionally, the inclusion of a house featuring the music of musician Slash has become an annual tradition as well. I tend to really enjoy these original pieces of music. But this year’s score may be my favorite. The original song “15 Candles” is a bit of an earworm in the best way possible. And the actor on the façade’s balcony performs the heck out of it. If you don’t catch the moment while waiting in line, I highly recommend taking time to stop to watch and hear the song all the way through. I loved this house.
1. Sinners
Official Description: Sink your teeth into Sinners. This juke joint’s opening night might be your last. Pierce the veil and experience the horror of the film Sinners as the Smokestack Twins defend Club Juke from a hive mind of bloodthirsty vampires.
My opinion: I must admit, I’ve never seen the movie Sinners. I know. I had every intention. I just never got around to it. But now, I must. This haunted house made me want to see the movie more than I ever had.
This house is gorgeous. The scenery is stunning. The two-story levels are appreciated. It’s great to see a stunt in a Halloween Horror Nights house. The performer casting is fantastic. And those glowing red eyes are to die for. This house simply excited me as I strolled through. This one is worthy of a standing ovation. Don’t miss it.
More Halloween Horror Nights experiences
In addition to all these haunted houses, guests can enjoy the Terror Tram starring Art the Clown, the stunt show The Purge: Dangerous Waters, various scare zones, specialty event food and merchandise, and keep their eyes out for Nikki from Obsession wandering around the event. Halloween Horror Nights is running on select nights now through November 1, 2026 at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Jeff DePaoli is an event producer living in Los Angeles. He is the producer and host of “That Halloween Podcast” and works throughout the year with Halloween events including Midsummer Scream and Creep It Real OC, as well as the event he founded, Wicked New England. Learn more and claim free gifts at DePodcastNetwork.com
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