The sun sets on Universal Studios Hollywood and Halloween Horror Nights 2024 awakens. This year’s event features 8 meticulously crafted haunted houses, 4 scare zones, the iconic terror tram, and much more for a scary good time. From the pulsating beats of The Weeknd: Nightmare Trilogy to the eerie silence of A Quiet Place, HHN Hollywood immerses you in a diverse array of thrilling experiences. Join us as we guide you through the must-see mazes of this year’s Halloween Horror Nights!

The Weeknd: Nightmare Trilogy – A Haunting Return to Horror Nights

The Weeknd returns to this year’s HHN with The Weeknd: Nightmare Trilogy. We were in awe of 2022’s The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare, and this year’s maze is absolutely of the same caliber. Drawing inspiration from The Weeknd’s recent albums, After Hours and Dawn FM, along with a brand-new horrifying tale, the house blends surreal visuals with creative and intriguing scares. From a paparazzi-filled alleyway to a room made entirely of dollar bills, each turn leads to a unique blend of music, scares, and impressive set design. Whether you’re a fan of his music or not, don’t miss the chance to transport into a world where The Weeknd’s musical fantasies take on a nightmarish reality.

Our Ranked Top Five Haunted Houses

#1 – The Weeknd: Nightmare Trilogy

Swirling spotlights and a fever dream hellscape – Experience the twisted fantasies of pop superstar The Weeknd in this creative and atmospheric maze. While not the scariest offering, The Weeknd: Nightmare Trilogy impresses with a massive entryway facade, creative scares and clever callbacks to his music. It was an unforgettable journey through the dark side of fame that we’re still thinking about!

#2 – Dead Exposure: Death Valley

Nuclear zombies are out to get you – Dead Exposure: Death Valley proved to be a sleeper hit, offering fantastic pacing and jump scares. Set in a secret military outpost gone wrong, this original concept maze delivers a unique twist on the zombie apocalypse theme. Its creative premise and vibrantly detailed theming make it a standout experience.

#3 – A Quiet Place

Don’t make a sound – Don’t miss A Quiet Place, located in the former Walking Dead attraction. This maze marks a first for Halloween Horror Nights, featuring actors using American Sign Language. We were amazed by the incredibly lifelike animatronic aliens we encountered while navigating through recognizable scenes from the first two films. They even managed to creep us out during the lights on Annual Passholder walkthrough. The unique sound design adds an extra layer of tension that we didn’t expect.

#4 – Insidious: The Further

Scenes from the Further – Step into the nightmarish realm of “The Further” from the Insidious series. Even if you’re not a fan of the movies (I say this because I personally am not), the haunting atmosphere and some unexpected scares have made this one of the scarier offerings. It could have benefited from relying less on “boo boxes,” but the overall maze was well conceived. 

#5 – Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Legacy of Leatherface

50 years of terror –Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Legacy of Leatherface is a non-stop thrill ride that showcases different versions of the iconic villain Leatherface from across the franchise. With its super gory set design and effective jump scares, this maze is a must see for horror fans.

Honorable Mentions

Monstruos 2: The Nightmares of Latin America gives you all the frights and then some! We came face to face with infernal rider El Charro, devil dog El Cadejo and more  in this maze that takes you on a wild ride through some truly terrifying Latin American folklore. 

Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines features iconic female monsters like the Bride of Frankenstein and a soundtrack by Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash. It’s housed in Soundstage 12 where iconic Universal Monsters movies like Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931) and Bride of Frankenstein (1935) were filmed!

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire was not overly scary but offers a fun and nostalgic experience. Based on the latest film in the franchise, it took us through scenes from Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Though it was much too warm to fully capture the movie’s icy atmosphere, the creative set design and familiar characters provided an entertaining break from the more intense haunted houses.

Terror Tram: Enter The Blumhouse

Terrifying characters from Blumhouse have taken over the Terror Tram. When it’s time to step off the tram into the backlot, be prepared for the best “welcome” we’ve ever had the pleasure of screaming through. You’ll face the murderous android M3GAN (we love her), the sinister Grabber from The Black Phone, the serial killer from Freaky, and more. Walking through the Bates Motel set, past the Psycho house, and through the War of the Worlds set never gets old. The only downside to this year’s tram was that it skipped the drive-through of the Jupiter’s Claim set from NOPE.

Scare Zones

Universal Hollywood’s scare zones offer unique, immersive experiences that complement the haunted houses. In Chainsaw Punkz, you’ll encounter hordes of stylishly punk chainsaw-wielders, and the Murder of Crowz zone features an entire family of massive crow creatures, including a closely guarded baby crow animatronic that we couldn’t help but love. Luchadores Monstruosos and Skull Lordz round out the rest of the scare zones.

Live Entertainment

Beyond the scare zones, Halloween Horror Nights offers a variety of live entertainment options. Don’t miss “The Purge: Dangerous Waters,” a must-see live show featuring intense stunts and bloodier action than previous years. For a change of pace, check out Late Night with Chucky, a new interactive “talk show” experience starring the infamous horror icon. While it wasn’t without its flaws, this show proved to be a unique twist on the traditional scare format overall—and a fun intraaction with one of our favorite slashers!

Tips for Surviving Halloween Horror Nights

Plan Your Attack

Arrive early at CityWalk to beat the crowds and get through security before the 7 PM start time. Consider purchasing an Express Pass for shorter wait times at popular attractions. Weekdays in September and early October tend to be less crowded, so plan accordingly!

Dress for Success

Comfort is key when navigating this sprawling event. Wear breathable clothing and comfortable shoes as you’ll be covering lots of ground across the Upper Lot, Lower Lot, and backlot areas. We attended on the infamous “heat wave weekend” so also brought neck fans and collapsible water bottles. Both ended up being lifesavers for us! 

Prioritize and Pace Yourself

Start with the most popular haunted houses like Insidious: The Further on the Upper Lot to avoid longer lines later. Take strategic breaks at live shows like Late Night with Chucky (yay, air conditioning!) or The Purge: Dangerous Waters to rest your feet. Monitor wait times on the app.

Fuel Up and Have Fun

Eat a full meal before entering to avoid long food lines during the event. Prioritize themed food and drink offerings, like specialty cocktails at Chucky’s Dive Bar or BBQ at Leatherface’s on the Lower Lot. One of our favorite haunts when we need a break and a snack is the Dia de Los Muertos in the upper lot. It features specialty drinks, Mexican street food options and a vibrant atmosphere with roaming actors.

Plan well and prioritize, and you’ll be in for an exciting spooky season evening. While some attractions may have minor drawbacks—and we can’t forget our yearly gripe of backed-up lines in the haunted attractions—the event delivers an impressive array of scares, stunning visuals, immersive storytelling and overall vibes that are not to be missed. Whether you’re a horror aficionado or a thrill-seeking novice, Universal Studios Hollywood has crafted a Halloween spectacular that will leave you breathless, exhilarated, and eagerly anticipating the next season!