The Haddonfield bogeyman Michael Myers might be synonymous with wearing a plain white mask that was modeled off William Shatner’s Captain Kirk from Star Trek, but the truth is that this version was only ever used twice throughout the entire Halloween franchise.
Known also as “The Shape,” Michael Myers wears a minimum of 11 different versions of that mask throughout all 12 Halloween movies. From creepy to surprised, elongated to goblin, and drawn-on eyebrows to big bushy beards, here are all of Michael Myers’ masks ranked from worst to best.
Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers — Don Shanks
You won’t find yourself asking, “What the hell were they thinking with that mask?” than you will while watching Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989). Michael’s elongated mask with its slick-back hair is just horrible. And the fact that he hasn’t even bothered to tuck the collar in proves that no one involved in the making of this film cared.
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers — George P Wilbur
Despite being a fairly decent entry in the Halloween franchise, Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988) has one of the worst masks of them all. George P Wilbur’s round-ish, surprised-looking mask looks nothing like William Shatner (there’s even a good where it has blonde hair)! It might be a notch above Don Shanks’ in Halloween 5, but it’s marginal.
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later — Chris Durand
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998) has four Michael Myers masks (a sin in its own right). It should have stuck with the mask from Curse that Michael (Chris Durand) is wearing in the opening scene, because, due to reshoots, he then frequently switches between an alien-looking mask and one with giant eye-holes. There’s also a terrible CGI mask.
Halloween II (1981) — Dick Warlock
We’re still not done with the bad and the ugly masks just yet. Halloween II (1981) replaces original Michael Myers actor Nick Castle with Dick Warlock, whose head is obviously bigger than his predecessor’s, because the mask looks so outwardly-stretched that it’s pretty obvious there’s a different guy behind it. The worst part is that he also looks quite sad.
Related: Does Michael Myers Actually Talk In ‘Halloween Kills’?!
Rob Zombie’s Halloween II — Tyler Mane
Michael Myers’ mask in Rob Zombie’s Halloween II (2009) is actually only half a mask, as the other half was shot off by Laurie Strode (Scout Taylor-Compton) in the previous film. In the 2009 sequel, Tyler Mane’s Michael Myers is a drifter; he wears a parka, carries a duffel-bag, and has a big old, bushy beard that sticks out the bottom of his half-mask. Enough said.
Rob Zombie’s Halloween — Tyler Mane
Now, to say that Michael’s mask in Rob Zombie’s Halloween (2007) is bad would be untrue. It’s just, quite frankly, a little boring and derivative. As it’s sculpted off Tyler Mane’s face and head, it looks pretty authentic and, of course, by default very creepy. But perhaps it’s a little too well-tailored. Or maybe it’s the incredibly long hair he’s stuffed underneath it.
Halloween: Resurrection — Brad Loree
This is where things start to take a brighter turn. Yes, Halloween: Resurrection (2002) is a dumpster fire, but Michael Myers (Brad Loree) isn’t that bad. His mask might take quite a bit of getting used to (it has eyebrows and, at times, the hair has way too much volume), but it still has that quintessential Michael Myers look. Again, once you get past the eyebrows.
Halloween (1978) — Nick Castle
Most fans wouldn’t dare say a bad word about John Carpenter’s 1978 film, which includes Nick Castle’s mask. As we’re sure you know, it’s a reconditioned Captain Kirk (Star Trek) mask modeled off William Shatner. But is it perfect? Well, it’s iconic, but it’s no longer the most frightening version in the franchise. Obviously, that goes to our number-one.
Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers (George P Wilbur)
Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995) is a bad film. Sure, it might have some of the best kills in the Halloween franchise, but it’s a stinker. Michael Myers (George P Wilbur), however, is one the most terrifying versions of the bogeyman. And it all comes down to his mask, which looks like an angry goblin with crazy hair. It sounds funny, but it’s pretty nightmarish.
David Gordon Green’s Halloween Trilogy (James Jude Courtney)
Falling just shy of the top-spot is James Jude Courtney’s mask in the latest series of Halloween films. While it goes through many changes — in Halloween (2018), it’s old and grimy; in Halloween Kills (2021), it’s half-burned; in Halloween Ends (2022), it’s all of the above — it’s always the same mask, and it’s absolutely perfect and menacing and soulless.
Halloween Kills‘ 1978 Flashback Scenes (Airon Armstrong)
Kudos still goes to David Gordon Green’s Halloween Kills, though. Despite the film getting mostly negative reviews, the film’s 1978 flashback sequences were praised by fans and critics. A younger Michael Myers (played by Airon Armstrong) has what many fans believe to be the definitive look for the Haddonfield bogeyman: a clean, fresh, moon-white mask.
Which is your favorite Michael Myers mask in the Halloween movies? Let Disney Fanatic know in the comments down below!