John Carpenter

Best known as a Director based on credits in that role in 20 films, with $308,198,839 worldwide aggregate box office (rank #589)

Best-known technical roles: Halloween (Character Creator), Halloween (Executive Producer), Halloween (Composer), Halloween Kills (Character Creator), Halloween Kills (Executive Producer)

Best-known acting roles: Man in Helicopter (Starman), Secret Service #2/Helicopter Pilot/Violin Player (Escape from New York), Helicopter Pilot (Memoirs of an Invisible Man), Worker in Chinatown (Big Trouble in Little China), The Coupe De Villes (The Boy Who Could Fly)

Born: January 16, 1948 (76 years old)

Also credited as: Frank Armitage, Uncredited

Summary
News
Acting Credits
Technical Credits

Career Summary

		Movies	Domestic Box Office	International Box Office	Worldwide Box Office
As an Actor	Supporting	1	$28,700,000	$0	$28,700,000
	(Unclassified)	5	$66,610,079	$140,617	$66,750,696
In Technical Roles	Director	20	$282,989,243	$25,209,596	$308,198,839
	Composer	9	$395,291,453	$181,511,954	$576,803,407
	Screenwriter	8	$128,266,938	$33,865	$128,300,803
	Character Creator	3	$315,448,030	$176,220,017	$491,668,047
	Executive Producer	3	$315,448,030	$176,220,017	$491,668,047
	Score Producer	3	$315,448,030	$176,220,017	$491,668,047
	Score Recordist	2	$251,368,170	$134,899,081	$386,267,251
	Story Creator	2	$25,537,565	$0	$25,537,565
	Producer	1	$14,400,000	$0	$14,400,000

Latest Ranking on Selected Box Office Record Lists

Record	Rank	Amount
Top Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 19,901-20,000)	19,991	$95,310,079
Top Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 64,101-64,200)	64,166	$140,617
Top Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 33,201-33,300)	33,243	$95,450,696
Top Grossing Composer at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 101-200)	117	$395,291,453
Top Grossing Director at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 301-400)	328	$282,989,243
Top Grossing Executive Producer at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 401-500)	490	$315,448,030
Top Grossing Producer at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 2,901-3,000)	2,976	$14,400,000
Top Grossing Screenwriter at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 1,001-1,100)	1,020	$128,266,938
Top Grossing Story Creator at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 1,701-1,800)	1,738	$25,537,565
Top Grossing Composer at the International Box Office (Rank 201-300)	217	$181,511,954
Top Grossing Director at the International Box Office (Rank 1,701-1,800)	1,719	$25,206,513
Top Grossing Executive Producer at the International Box Office (Rank 1,001-1,100)	1,066	$176,220,017
Top Grossing Screenwriter at the International Box Office (Rank 7,601-7,700)	7,617	$33,865
Top Grossing Composer at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 101-200)	152	$576,803,407
Top Grossing Director at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 501-600)	589	$308,195,756
Top Grossing Executive Producer at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 701-800)	707	$491,668,047
Top Grossing Producer at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 3,801-3,900)	3,874	$14,400,000
Top Grossing Screenwriter at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 1,701-1,800)	1,775	$128,300,803
Top Grossing Story Creator at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 2,001-2,100)	2,055	$25,537,565

See the Acting Credits tab for all Acting Box Office Records and the Technical Credits tab for all Technical Box Office Records.

Limited and VOD Releases: Prospects for Limited Releases are Never, Rarely this Dire

March 13th, 2020

The COVID-19 outbreak hangs heavily over the film business this weekend, and raises a lot of questions about how much business we will see at the box office. It is going to affect family films most of all, because families are more likely to stay home than adults when it comes to diseases like this. However, the second group to be affected could be art house films, because these tend to only play in large cities, and large cities have been hit harder by the outbreak so far. The advise is to stay three feet away from anyone else, which is impossible if you are using the New York City subway system, for example. I don’t think any of the films on this week’s list are going to thrive, at least not in theaters. That’s too bad, because there are several that deserve audiences, including Big Time Adolescence, Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Always, and others. More...

2018 Preview: October

October 1st, 2018

September turned out to be a solid month. The Nun beat expectations to become a $100 million hit, while there were also several midlevel hits in the mix. Granted, it lost ground when compared to last September, but last September broke records, and this September held on better than expected. Hopefully this means October will be able to continue 2018’s winning ways. There are several potential $100 million hits, starting with Venom and A Star is Born, which open the first weekend. Meanwhile, both First Man and Halloween could break the century mark later in the month. By comparison, last October, no movie topped $100 million, with Blade Runner 2049 coming the closest. 2018 should extend its lead over 2017 during the full month, potentially by a significant margin. More...

Home Market Releases for August 7th, 2018

August 8th, 2018

It is a deceptively busy week on the home market, and not in a good way. There’s no one big release, at least not on DVD / Blu-ray, but there’s a sea of mediocrity this week. I’m not talking about quality here, but sales rank. There are a lot of films that wouldn’t even be filler during a normal week, but this week are selling well enough to be mentioned. There are several that are worth picking up, including limited releases like Bye Bye Germany and Revenge, classics like The Changeling, and even some Anime titles like Big Fish & Begonia or Tsuredure Children. Deadpool 2 is by far the biggest release of the week and I suspect the Blu-ray will be the Pick of the Week when it comes out, but I don’t want to give it that title until than. As a result, there’s no real winner this week. There were a lot that came close. More...

2012 - Holiday Gift Guide - Part III

December 15th, 2012

We are getting closer and closer to Christmas and we are getting to the crunch time for gift shopping. After checking out first run releases and franchise box sets in Part I and TV on DVD releases in Part II, this week we look at limited releases, classics, and foreign films. Some are pretty obvious choices, as we had a few limited releases that broke into the mainstream during their theatrical releases, but there are also a few more films that slipped beneath the radar the last time around. The biggest of these is... More...

All Acting Credits

Release Date	Title	Role	Domestic Box Office	International Box Office	Worldwide Box Office
Apr 28, 1995	Village of the Damned	Man at Gas Statio…	$8,729,915		$8,729,915
Feb 28, 1992	Memoirs of an Invisibl…	Helicopter Pilot	$14,358,033		$14,358,033
Aug 15, 1986	The Boy Who Could Fly	The Coupe De Villes	$7,177,431		$7,177,431
Jul 1, 1986	Big Trouble in Little …	Worker in Chinatown	$11,100,000	$108,967	$11,208,967
Dec 14, 1984	Starman	Man in Helicopter	$28,700,000		$28,700,000
Jul 10, 1981	Escape from New York	Secret Service #2…	$25,244,700	$31,650	$25,276,350

Averages			$15,885,013	$70,309	$15,908,449
Totals	6		$95,310,079	$140,617	$95,450,696

Supporting Roles

Release Date	Title	Opening Weekend	Maximum Theaters	Domestic Box Office	Worldwide Box Office	Domestic Share
Dec 14, 1984	Starman	$2,872,022	1,271	$28,700,000	$28,700,000	100.0%

Averages		$2,872,022	1,271	$28,700,000	$28,700,000	100.0%
Totals	1			$28,700,000	$28,700,000

Latest Ranking on All Acting Box Office Record Lists

Record	Rank	Amount
Top 100 Stars in Supporting Roles at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 40,601-40,700)	40,611	$28,700,000
Top Live Action Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 18,301-18,400)	18,341	$95,310,079
Top Above the Line Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 5,601-5,700)	5,648	$28,700,000
Top Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 19,901-20,000)	19,991	$95,310,079
Top Live Action Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 60,801-60,900)	60,831	$140,617
Top Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 64,101-64,200)	64,166	$140,617
Top 100 Stars in Supporting Roles at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 47,001-47,100)	47,074	$28,700,000
Top Live Action Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 30,801-30,900)	30,878	$95,450,696
Top Above the Line Stars at the Wordwide Box Office (Rank 7,401-7,500)	7,434	$28,700,000
Top Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 33,201-33,300)	33,243	$95,450,696

All Technical Credits

Release Date	Title	Role	Domestic Box Office	International Box Office	Worldwide Box Office
Oct 14, 2022	Halloween Ends	Character Creator Executive Producer Composer Score Producer	$64,079,860	$41,320,936	$105,400,796
May 13, 2022	Firestarter	Composer	$9,739,250	$5,290,994	$15,030,244
Oct 15, 2021	Halloween Kills	Character Creator Executive Producer Composer Score Producer Score Recordist	$92,002,155	$38,849,007	$130,851,162
Oct 19, 2018	Halloween	Character Creator Executive Producer Composer Score Producer Score Recordist	$159,366,015	$96,050,074	$255,416,089
Jul 8, 2011	The Ward	Director	$7,760	$1,244,254	$1,252,014
Mar 2, 2010	Elvis	Director
Sep 25, 2007	Someone’s Watching Me!	Director
Aug 24, 2001	John Carpenter’s Ghosts of …	Director Screenwriter Composer	$8,434,601		$8,434,601
Oct 30, 1998	Vampires	Director	$20,268,825		$20,268,825
Aug 9, 1996	Escape from L.A.	Director Screenwriter	$25,426,861		$25,426,861
Apr 28, 1995	Village of the Damned	Director Screenwriter	$8,729,915		$8,729,915
Feb 3, 1995	In the Mouth of Madness	Director	$8,924,549	$1,524	$8,926,073
Feb 28, 1992	Memoirs of an Invisible Man	Director	$14,358,033		$14,358,033
Oct 13, 1989	Halloween 5: The Revenge of…	Composer	$11,642,254		$11,642,254
Nov 4, 1988	They Live	Director Screenwriter	$13,447,978	$1,665	$13,449,643
Oct 23, 1987	Prince of Darkness	Director Composer	$14,182,000	$393	$14,182,393
Jul 1, 1986	Big Trouble in Little China	Director	$11,100,000	$108,967	$11,208,967
Jan 10, 1986	Black Moon Rising	Screenwriter Story by	$6,637,565		$6,637,565
Dec 14, 1984	Starman	Director	$28,700,000		$28,700,000
Dec 9, 1983	Christine	Director	$21,200,000	$28,951	$21,228,951
Oct 22, 1982	Halloween 3: Season of the …	Producer Composer	$14,400,000		$14,400,000
Jun 25, 1982	The Thing	Director	$14,244,703	$791,642	$15,036,345
Jul 10, 1981	Escape from New York	Director Screenwriter	$25,244,700	$31,650	$25,276,350
Feb 1, 1980	The Fog	Director Screenwriter Composer	$21,445,318	$550	$21,445,868
Oct 17, 1978	Halloween	Director	$47,274,000	$23,000,000	$70,274,000
Aug 2, 1978	Eyes of Laura Mars	Screenwriter Story by	$18,900,000		$18,900,000
Nov 5, 1976	Assault on Precinct 13	Director
Jan 16, 1975	Dark Star	Director

Averages			$27,489,848	$14,765,758	$36,103,206
Totals	28		$659,756,342	$206,720,607	$866,476,949

Director Credits

Release Date	Title	Opening Weekend	Maximum Theaters	Domestic Box Office	Worldwide Box Office	Domestic Share
Jul 8, 2011	The Ward	$7,760	11	$7,760	$1,252,014	0.6%
Mar 2, 2010	Elvis
Sep 25, 2007	Someone’s Watching Me!
Aug 24, 2001	John Carpenter’s Ghost…	$3,804,452	2,048	$8,434,601	$8,434,601	100.0%
Oct 30, 1998	Vampires	$9,106,497	1,793	$20,268,825	$20,268,825	100.0%
Aug 9, 1996	Escape from L.A.	$8,912,557	2,312	$25,426,861	$25,426,861	100.0%
Apr 28, 1995	Village of the Damned	$3,222,450	1,919	$8,729,915	$8,729,915	100.0%
Feb 3, 1995	In the Mouth of Madness	$3,441,807	1,531	$8,924,549	$8,926,073	100.0%
Feb 28, 1992	Memoirs of an Invisibl…	$4,601,954	1,753	$14,358,033	$14,358,033	100.0%
Nov 4, 1988	They Live	$4,827,903	1,463	$13,447,978	$13,449,643	100.0%
Oct 23, 1987	Prince of Darkness	$4,657,401	1,239	$14,182,000	$14,182,393	100.0%
Jul 1, 1986	Big Trouble in Little …	$2,723,211	1,092	$11,100,000	$11,208,967	99.0%
Dec 14, 1984	Starman	$2,872,022	1,271	$28,700,000	$28,700,000	100.0%
Dec 9, 1983	Christine	$3,408,904	1,101	$21,200,000	$21,228,951	99.9%
Jun 25, 1982	The Thing	$3,107,897	910	$14,244,703	$15,036,345	94.7%
Jul 10, 1981	Escape from New York	$4,162,385	579	$25,244,700	$25,276,350	99.9%
Feb 1, 1980	The Fog		30	$21,445,318	$21,445,868	100.0%
Oct 17, 1978	Halloween		781	$47,274,000	$70,274,000	67.3%
Nov 5, 1976	Assault on Precinct 13
Jan 16, 1975	Dark Star

Averages		$4,204,086	1,240	$17,686,828	$19,262,427	91.3%
Totals	20			$282,989,243	$308,198,839

Producer Credits

Release Date	Title	Opening Weekend	Maximum Theaters	Domestic Box Office	Worldwide Box Office	Domestic Share
Oct 22, 1982	Halloween 3: Season of…	$6,333,259	1,328	$14,400,000	$14,400,000	100.0%

Averages		$6,333,259	1,328	$14,400,000	$14,400,000	100.0%
Totals	1			$14,400,000	$14,400,000

Writer Credits

Release Date	Title	Opening Weekend	Maximum Theaters	Domestic Box Office	Worldwide Box Office	Domestic Share
Aug 24, 2001	John Carpenter’s Ghost…	$3,804,452	2,048	$8,434,601	$8,434,601	100.0%
Aug 9, 1996	Escape from L.A.	$8,912,557	2,312	$25,426,861	$25,426,861	100.0%
Apr 28, 1995	Village of the Damned	$3,222,450	1,919	$8,729,915	$8,729,915	100.0%
Nov 4, 1988	They Live	$4,827,903	1,463	$13,447,978	$13,449,643	100.0%
Jan 10, 1986	Black Moon Rising	$2,775,388	907	$6,637,565	$6,637,565	100.0%
Jul 10, 1981	Escape from New York	$4,162,385	579	$25,244,700	$25,276,350	99.9%
Feb 1, 1980	The Fog		30	$21,445,318	$21,445,868	100.0%
Aug 2, 1978	Eyes of Laura Mars			$18,900,000	$18,900,000	100.0%

Averages		$4,617,523	1,323	$16,033,367	$16,037,600	100.0%
Totals	8			$128,266,938	$128,300,803

Latest Ranking on All Technical Box Office Record Lists

Record	Rank	Amount
Top Grossing Composer at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 101-200)	117	$395,291,453
Top Grossing Director at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 301-400)	328	$282,989,243
Top Grossing Executive Producer at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 401-500)	490	$315,448,030
Top Grossing Producer at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 2,901-3,000)	2,976	$14,400,000
Top Grossing Screenwriter at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 1,001-1,100)	1,020	$128,266,938
Top Grossing Story Creator at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 1,701-1,800)	1,738	$25,537,565
Top Grossing Composer at the International Box Office (Rank 201-300)	217	$181,511,954
Top Grossing Director at the International Box Office (Rank 1,701-1,800)	1,719	$25,206,513
Top Grossing Executive Producer at the International Box Office (Rank 1,001-1,100)	1,066	$176,220,017
Top Grossing Screenwriter at the International Box Office (Rank 7,601-7,700)	7,617	$33,865
Top Grossing Composer at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 101-200)	152	$576,803,407
Top Grossing Director at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 501-600)	589	$308,195,756
Top Grossing Executive Producer at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 701-800)	707	$491,668,047
Top Grossing Producer at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 3,801-3,900)	3,874	$14,400,000
Top Grossing Screenwriter at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 1,701-1,800)	1,775	$128,300,803
Top Grossing Story Creator at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 2,001-2,100)	2,055	$25,537,565