ANNOUNCED: First-ever ‘Hellraiser’ haunted house coming to both Halloween Horror Nights events
Halloween Horror Nights has revealed another haunted house for its 35th anniversary event, and for the first time in the event’s history, guests will step inside the nightmarish world of “Hellraiser.”
The all-new “Hellraiser” haunted house will debut at both Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood, drawing inspiration from the original three films in the horror franchise. Guests will encounter iconic locations, terrifying Cenobites and the infamous Pinhead when Halloween Horror Nights begins Aug. 28 in Orlando and Sept. 3 in Hollywood.
Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) is a separately ticketed event at Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood featuring haunted houses, scare zones, and live entertainment. This announcement for “Sinners” adds to the growing lineup of experiences coming to Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 35th year.
The announcement marks the first time Clive Barker’s influential horror series has been adapted into a Halloween Horror Nights haunted house.
Journey through the original ‘Hellraiser’ trilogy
Based on 1987’s “Hellraiser,” 1988’s “Hellbound: Hellraiser II” and 1992’s “Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth,” the haunted house places guests directly inside the franchise’s disturbing mythology centered around the mysterious Lament Configuration puzzle box. According to Universal, the experience begins as guests enter the iconic puzzle box itself, unknowingly opening a gateway into another dimension inhabited by the Cenobites.
From there, visitors will travel through several memorable locations from the films, including Frank Cotton’s attic, where his pursuit of forbidden pleasure first led him into Hell, and the Channard Institute, where the Lament Configuration continues to tempt victims with promises that quickly become eternal torment.
The experience concludes inside the Labyrinth, where Pinhead and the Cenobites await to claim new souls. Adding an authentic touch, Doug Bradley will voice Pinhead for both coasts’ haunted houses.
A landmark horror franchise joins HHN
Created by Clive Barker, “Hellraiser” debuted in 1987 and quickly became one of horror’s defining supernatural franchises.
The films introduced audiences to the Cenobites—otherworldly beings who blur the lines between pain and pleasure—and established Pinhead as one of horror’s most recognizable villains. Universal describes the series as helping redefine supernatural horror through its mix of psychological terror, graphic imagery and philosophical themes.
Although the franchise has inspired numerous sequels over the decades, Halloween Horror Nights will specifically focus on the mythology and locations established in the original trilogy.
New merchandise available now
Alongside the announcement, Universal also revealed new limited-release merchandise themed to the haunted house.
The collection includes a “Hellraiser” T-shirt and a Pinhead acrylic figure compatible with this year’s separately sold Infernal Carnival collectible display. The merchandise is available now at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood and will become available July 1 through Universal’s online store.
Halloween Horror Nights 35 continues to grow
“Hellraiser” becomes the latest haunted house announced for Halloween Horror Nights 35, joining previously revealed experiences including houses based on Hellraiser, Stranger Things Season 5 and Sinners, as well as the original haunted house centered on H.R. Bloodengutz. The event will also feature the return of icons Jack the Clown and Dr. Oddfellow as part of this year’s anniversary celebration.
Universal has confirmed that additional haunted houses and event details for both Orlando and Hollywood will be announced in the coming weeks.
Interesting note: Pinhead has previously made several appearances on “The Simpsons,” most memorably in the 1994 “Treehouse of Horror V” episode, where he joins a lineup of classic horror icons including Dracula, Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger. Matt Selman of “The Simpsons” stopped short of confirming anything, but his latest comments about Universal have fans dreaming of Treehouse of Horror at HHN.
For more information, visit UniversalOrlando.com/HHN.
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