Music fuels the frights at Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood. This year’s fall event raises the bar by soundtracking its nightmares with more than blood-curdling screams and monsters revving up chainsaws.
Ozzy Osbourne is homaged in a haunted house that offers an immersive journey into the music of the Prince of Darkness and pays fitting tribute to the late, great metal legend. Then a ghost not too unlike Jimi Hendrix rises from beyond in the Sinners Club Juke that’s straight out of Ryan Coogler’s Academy Award-winning vampire film, recreating one of the film’s most iconic scenes. Then Horror Nights frequent collaborator, Guns N ‘Roses guitarist Slash adds another original, mesmerizing, and macabre music score for the annual Halloween theme park event. And that’s just the music-inspired set of scares, which gets major co-headlining support from 80’s to modern Horror Nights favorites.
Related: Ozzy Osbourne and ’80s Horror Get the Metal Merch Treatment at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights
So if you’re planning on making spooky season plans and love classic rock, 80’s horror, holiday mayhem and, of course, transcendent rhythm and blues (which vampires just can’t resist), then you can’t miss this year’s Halloween Horror Nights.
Here are some of our favorite moments from the West Coast Universal Studios event that succeeds in monster-mashing genres to bring park-goers into yet another year of fantastic frights from the world of music and the movies.
All hail Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness
Courtesy of: Universal Studios Hollywood
The legend of Ozzy Osbourne lives as you board the “Crazy Train” through a killer setlist of his beloved metal hits, including the aforementioned plus tracks like “Iron Man.”
“Each needle drop comes to life, making you come face to face with the Prince of Darkness’ musical alter egos, such as the Mad Doctor from 1983’s “Bark at the Moon”. Our favorite moment is the larger-than-life encounter with a giant bat that wields Ozzy’s head in a genius tribute take on the rock star’s infamous moment when he unwittingly bit the head off a real bat back in his Diary of a Madman tour days.
Pro-tip: Check out Ozzy’s Bar to raise a toast to the memory of the late metal god with drinks inspired by his music and feast on curry-inspired snacks the Indian cuisine-obsessed rock star would have approved of.
Slash presents killer sweet party music for a “Killceñera”
Guns N’ Roses and frequent Horror Nights collaborator Slash is back to soundtrack a new kind of original house at Universal Studios. Having previously scored Universal Monsters experiences for Horror Nights past, he’s enlisted to make music for a “Killceñera,” think a Sweet Sixteen (but make it fifteen) coming-of-age Latin Tradition. The generational guitarist blends John Hughes charm and Stephen King dread into his riffs that set the tone for the original horror house’s revenge story that is definitely Sixteen Candles meets Carrie by way of Latin Folklore. The blood-soaked tale raises hell with Slash’s signature sound infused with late 80’s to 90’s Latin rock vibes.
Courtesy of: Universal Studios Hollywood
Pro-Tip: Don’t miss the scare zone “El Circo de La Muerte” right at the exit of this house, which has a hidden mini-haunt.
Sinners takes it back to the dawn of rock with blues battling vampires
The veil of time gets ripped away when you enter the haunted house inspired by filmmaker Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners.” Witnessing the movie’s most powerful moment in a masterful 360-degree set piece brings you into the world of the Academy Award-winning picture. Horror Nights stunningly pulled off the night’s most awesome moment. It was sheer magic to see a performer as Sammie shadowplay to “I Lied To You,” which raises the spirits of music’s past and future all around you. And yes, one moment, as the Hendrix-infused guitar riff by Sinners’ composer Ludwig Göransson fills the space, you’ll see a purple trench-coated spectre and find yourself asking, “Jimi, is that you?” From there, it’s truly incredible to race your way along with the blues soundtrack as you hit each beat of the vampire showdown spectacular in the event’s most cinematic house.
Related: Shocking Ozzy Osbourne Bat Moment is now a Wild Theme Park Drink
Pro-tip: Pray you catch the little performance by Stack inviting you to Speakeasy’s fateful opening night. Fingers crossed Michael B. Jordan shows up to play the role he originated there at some point during the season.
Cult punk clownery unleashed with the Killer Klowns from Outer Space
Courtesy of: Universal Studios Hollywood
The Dickies severly underrated theme song for Chiodo Bros‘ cult Killer Klowns from Outer Space kicks off the big top fun of one of the most popular Horror Nights houses. In fact, we think it’s done a lot to introduce this ’80s B-movie gem to new audiences, as its freaky aliens have become Halloween staples thanks to the movie’s blend of sci-fi humor and grossly colorful practical effects. There’s a reason this particular house’s return is always met with excitement plus this year they’re not the only clowns in town.
Pro-tip: Hit this right after Ozzy for maximum campy fun.
Art the Clown goes looney with festive Terrifier Terror-Tram takeover
Art the Clown continues his festive reign as Horror Nights Hollywood’s nearly official master of scaremonies. And with this year’s holiday mayhem, we’ve found ourselves asking: Jack, who? (IYKYK). Damien Leone’s Terrifier franchise has quickly solidified itself as one of this generation’s horror mainstays, especially at Universal Studios’ annual Halloween events. Fan-favorite killer clown Art has become an instant icon, thanks to the Charlie Chaplin-meets-Mel Blanc level of character performance by David Howard Thornton, who radiates old-school charm as the mime from hell. A signature in his performance that all the Arts at Universal channel and look like they have a blast with. If you haven’t seen the Terrifier films, which are not for the faint of heart and harken back to grindhouse-era gore with dark slapstick humor, you might be shocked at why there are even kids’ Art the Clown costumes. But what can we say? Art has given horror fans a beloved, sweet, silent killer, beloved by young and old. While this isn’t Art’s first year at the event we’re very excited to see his kickass final girl Sienna Shaw show up as the warrior angel destined to destroy his evil.
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Pro-Tip: Select Terror Tram guests might be able to get a visit with Santa Art in select mall-Santa-inspired locations, including a secret one with an additional side quest surprise.
ABBA gets thrown into the final Stranger Things 5 mix
The last Stranger Things house at Horror Nights is one last ride into Hawkins, Indiana, circa 1987. Filled with the final season’s greatest showdowns, including Will vs. the Demogorgon and Eleven vs. Vecna, it’s this mom’s badass moment that steals the show. Set to ABBA’s Fernando, we get to see Karen Wheeler’s wine bottle battle against a Demogorgon that became one of the franchise’s all-time greatest scenes. It’s pure 80s action-star energy.
Courtesy of: Universal Studios Hollywood
Pro-Tip: Hit the lower lot early as this is stacked next to Ozzy and Killer Klowns as an eighties trifecta.
Gen X Horror Hellraiser Franchise Unboxed
Clive Barker’s eerie and seductive Pinhead invites guests into an intense descent into the Hellraiser series’ Lament Configuration box. The alt-kink-inspired imagery, along with its lords of pain and pleasure, comes to grotesque life with an experience that’s an awesome assault on the senses. The film’s industrial synth score and illicit human sound effects perfectly soundtrack the faithful recreation of its willing victims’ consequences as you spectate.
Pro-Tip: Don’t miss this one; it’s on the upper lot past the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood continues September 4-6, 10-13, 17-20, 23-27; 30; October 1-4, 7-11, 14-18, 21-25, 28-31; November 1, 2026.