John Carpenter is the prolific filmmaker behind sci-fi and horror hits like The Thing (1982) and Halloween (1978). Although he has not directed a feature film since 2010, he remains active in Hollywood as a producer and composer. In addition to his work, he has become known for his blunt movie reviews. While Carpenter has several favorite films that he offers high praise for, he also isn’t afraid to make it abundantly clear when he dislikes something.
In fact, his lack of enthusiasm over some of the most recent, biggest Hollywood hits has stirred interest and controversy. If you’re intrigued by Carpenter’s reviews, you can use our guide to find out where you can watch five movies that John Carpenter hates and five that he loves on platforms like HBO Max, Tubi, and more.
Double Indemnity (1944) - Loves
In a 2024 interview with Criterion, Carpenter cited Double Indemnity as his #1 favorite movie. The classic film noir tells the story of Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck), who convinces her insurance agent, Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray), to help her commit insurance fraud by tricking her husband into taking out a life insurance policy before murdering him. Carpenter praised the “moody” atmosphere of the film and said it gave him his “darkness and doomed characters,” just as he preferred on-screen.
Double Indemnity is the perfect movie for film noir enthusiasts. Dark, bleak, and uncomfortable, it’s a masterclass in film noir, defined by its tone, subject matter, and cinematography. It offers one of the most diabolical schemes and sensational femme fatales, keeping you on the edge of your seat. If you love the doomed characters and despicable schemes of films like Body Heat (1981), you’ll love Double Indemnity.
Halloween II (1981) - Hates
Halloween II is the direct sequel to Carpenter’s original Halloween movie. It picks up where the original left off, as Michael Myers (Dick Warlock) terrorizes Haddonfield Memorial Hospital in pursuit of survivor Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis). Despite co-writing Halloween II, Carpenter has been open about hating the sequel and admitted to struggling with the script and even writing parts of it while inebriated.
He ultimately handed off directing to Rick Rosenthal and later denounced the movie as an “abomination,” criticizing Rosenthal for not having a “feel” for the material. While Halloween II struggled to live up to the original’s iconic status, it’s a stronger follow-up than Carpenter and critics give it credit for. Between the ramped-up violence, unsettling hospital setting, and wild plot twist, it delivers the chills and thrills you want from a horror movie, so long as you temper your expectations.
Vertigo (1958) - Loves
Carpenter has frequently praised Alfred Hitchcock’s brilliance and even considers himself a “student of his work.” Although he listed Spellbound (1945) as one of his favorite movies in the Criterion interview, he clarified that his all-time favourite Hitchcock film will “always” be Vertigo. The twisty psychological thriller follows former detective John “Scottie” Ferguson (James Stewart), who suffers from vertigo and becomes obsessed with a woman he’s hired to follow as a private investigator.
Carpenter isn’t shy about his love for dark movies, making it unsurprising that Vertigo is a favorite of his, calling it a “perfect nightmare.” The film is a true nightmare that delves deeply into obsession, with its mind-bending premise and dizzying dolly-zoom effect. Vertigo is one of the easiest films on this list to agree with Carpenter about, as it’s a nightmarish, dark, and unforgettable exploration of obsession.
Halloween (2007) - Hates
Carpenter’s love/hate relationship with the Halloween franchise continued with Rob Zombie’s Halloween remake. The 2007 remake follows Michael Myers (Tyler Mane), who stalks Laurie Strode (Scout Taylor-Compton) 17 years after she survived his initial massacre. Although Carpenter encouraged Zombie to remake Halloween and “make it his own,” he ultimately denounced the remake. He criticized Zombie for going too deep into explaining Myers and his story, stating bluntly, as reported by The Guardian, “I don’t care about that.” His criticism may have been a bit harsher than usual, though, due to some bad blood between him and Zombie.
Still, what Carpenter dislikes is what some viewers love about the remake. It puts its own spin on Halloween, just as Carpenter encouraged, by making Myers a little more human and sympathetic. The first half of the movie feels original in its expansive Myers background, while the second half pays tribute to Carpenter with classic Halloween slasher vibes.
Rio Bravo (1959) - Loves
For the 2022 Sight and Sound Directors Poll, Carpenter listed one of his top 10 movies as the Western Rio Bravo. The film was one of four on the list directed by Howard Hawks. In the movie, small-town sheriff John T. Chance (John Wayne) struggles to keep the brother of a powerful rancher in custody until the arrival of the U.S. Marshal. Carpenter loved Rio Bravo so much that it heavily influenced two of his own films, Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) and Ghost of Mars (2001).
Rio Bravo is one of the funnest films on Carpenter’s list of favorites. It’s pure Western fun, balancing charm, witty humor, and explosive gunfights. Although it features the genre’s typical violence, it also delves deeper into its characters, enabling standout performances from Dean Martin and Angie Dickinson. Rio Bravo is a must-see for fans of Hawks’ Westerns, including Red River (1948) and The Big Sky (1952).
Barbie (2023) - Hates
Barbie is Greta Gerwig’s live-action take on Mattel’s Barbie toy line, tracking Barbie (Margot Robbie) and Ken (Ryan Gosling) as they venture into the real world on Barbie’s quest for self-discovery. Carpenter wasn’t as brutal as he tends to be in his criticism of Barbie, but he admitted he didn’t “get it” to the Los Angeles Times. He said it wasn’t his “generation,” so the “patriarchy business” and themes went right over his head. However, he did mention Robbie was “fabulous,” even though Barbie wasn’t for him specifically.
Barbie is more likely to appeal to specific viewers, including those who grew up playing with the doll, and to audiences who love powerful, female-centered movies like Little Women (2019) and Lady Bird (2017). However, I would also argue that Barbie can be for everyone if you approach it with an open mind and are willing to listen to its message or delve into a little bit of Barbie history.
Chinatown (1974) - Loves
Chinatown centers on private investigator J.J. Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson), who gets pulled into a complex web of deceit when an imposter hires him to investigate her alleged husband. Given his love of film noir, it’s not surprising that Carpenter included Chinatown, one of the best neo-noir films, on his top 10 list of favorites in the 2022 Sight and Sound Directors Poll.
The film nails the neo-noir genre by pairing its dark, cynical whodunnit premise with a compelling deep dive into contemporary issues, such as systemic corruption in Los Angeles and within police forces. It’s the type of movie that gets under your skin with how poignantly it portrays the way individual moral battles sometimes feel futile in the face of systemic abuse. If you love the darkness of Vertigo and Double Indemnity, but with a theme as deep as L.A. Confidential (1997), Chinatown is an excellent choice.
Oppenheimer (2023) - Hates
Oppenheimer is a biographical drama that tackles the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) as he oversees the Manhattan Project during World War II. Like Barbie, Carpenter’s assessment of Oppenheimer isn’t overly harsh, but more skeptical. As reported by IndieWire, he questioned why so many critics were praising it as the “movie of the century,” when he didn’t see it as such, though he classified it as “alright.”
Carpenter likely isn’t the only one who didn’t get the hype around Oppenheimer. With a talk-heavy historical premise and a three-hour run time, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. However, it is a masterpiece for those who truly dive into the story, bringing history to life in vivid detail while capturing an intense moral dilemma. If you love historical drama and deep character studies, like The Theory of Everything (2014) and The Intimation Game (2014), you’ll find more than a lukewarm appreciation for Oppenheimer.
Halloween Kills (2021) - Loves
Halloween Kills is the sequel to Halloween (2018) and centers on determined survivor Laurie Strode (Curtis), who teams up with Tommy Doyle (Anthony Michael Hall) to stop Myers’ reign of terror once and for all. Given Carpenter’s criticism of previous Halloween remakes and sequels, it’s pretty surprising he gave his stamp of approval for Halloween Kills. He went so far as to call Halloween Kills the “quintessential” and “ultimate” slasher film when talking to Entertainment Weekly, citing its intensity and brilliance.
Carpenter is quite right about Halloween Kills. It’s a slasher movie through and through. While it might not be the most complex or the deepest in terms of plot, it is undoubtedly the most brutal Halloween movie, with the highest body count and the most creative, bloody deaths. If you love movies like Hatchet (2006) and Madman (1981) and think the bloodier the slasher, the better, you’ll enjoy Halloween Kills.
The Substance (2024) - Hates
The Substance is a horror movie that follows Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), who is drawn to a mysterious product that promises a better version of herself, with horrifying results. Unlike with Barbie and Oppenheimer, Carpenter was quite blunt with his hatred for The Substance. When asked what he liked about The Substance at Fan Expo, he stated, “Zero.” When asked what he disliked about the movie, he said, “Everything.”
It is surprising to hear how much he hated The Substance, especially since it actually pays homage to Carpenter’s The Thing through its body horror and practical effects. Like The Thing, it also uses body horror to explore thoughtful themes, delving into sexism and ageism in its tale of Sparkle. It’s possible that Carpenter didn’t connect with the more feminine themes of The Substance, much as he struggled with Barbie. Regardless, The Substance remains a must-see for fans of thoughtful horror and grotesque body horror.
