Trick ‘r Treat will get a theatrical release this October for the first time ever

Like many of you, Michael Dougherty’s Trick ‘r Treat has become an annual Halloween tradition for me, but there aren’t many of us who have seen the film on the big screen. Although Trick ‘r Treat did receive a handful of screenings at festivals, it has never gotten a theatrical release… until now. Regal Cinemas will be bringing Trick ‘r Treat to theaters this October, which is great news for horror fans.

Trick ‘r Treat features four stories taking place on Halloween night, each linked by the appearance of Sam, a supernatural creature who enforces the rules of the holiday. With a cast that includes Brian Cox, Anna Paquin, Dylan Baker, Rochelle Aytes, and Leslie Bibb, Trick ‘r Treat is a hell of a lot of fun. The movie was first screened in 2007 and went on to be shown at Fantasia Fest, Screamfest Horror Film Festival, and San Diego Comic-Con, but it would take two years before Warner Bros. finally released the film direct-to-DVD.

The movie has developed quite a devoted cult following over the years, and fans have desperately wanted a sequel. Michael Dougherty has spoken of a possible sequel, but he also thinks the movie might be better left alone. “I think there’s something to be said about not sequelizing it,” Dougherty said in 2019. “In a business that is obsessed with franchising and spinoffs and prequels and sequels, maybe there’s something to be said about just leaving it alone.” Dougherty continued, “I’m intrigued by the idea and it’s completely up to Legendary. It’s been a few years since we initially talked about it and there’s been a regime change since then. They still have the property and they love it and there’s still a long line of merchandise and a continuing line of comic books based on the film but the ball is in their court. The moment they say they’re interested and ready to go, we’ll see if the stars align.“

Along with the first theatrical release of Trick ‘r Treat, Regal Cinemas will also be bringing Scream 2, The Lost Boys, and Halloween back to the big screen for spooky season.