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Academy Museum Launches “The Horror Show” Exhibit 2026-27

7/10/2026

Summary

Academy Museum Opens Horror show

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles will open “The Horror Show” exhibition on September 26, 2026, running through July 25, 2027 in the Marilyn and Jeffrey Katzenberg Gallery.
Curators Jessica Niebel, Nicholas Barlow and Alexandra James Salichs organize chambers—Gothic, Psychological, Science, Slasher, Religion and Ghosts.
The museum will host a “John Carpenter” series Sept 26-28, a “Monster Mash” Oct 24 with the “Horror of Dracula” premiere, and a “Zombies!” exhibit selling merchandise onsite.

Summary

Academy Museum Unveils Horror

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures opened an immersive horror exhibition that blends history with emotion.
Director Amy Homma says the show targets fans and newcomers to broaden the museum’s audience.
Senior Exhibitions Curator Jessica Niebel calls the exhibit an exploration of horror’s emotional, cultural and symbolic power.
The museum frames the exhibit as a way for audiences to confront fears and grasp horror’s cultural relevance.

History

Historical Context

In 1985 Universal Studios Florida launched Halloween Horror Nights, a five-haunted-house event that attracted about 5,000 guests and a $1 million promotional budget. The show rode the rise of the Halloween franchise, which by 2023 was the U.S.’s top-grossing horror series at roughly $1.09 billion. Today the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, curated by Jessica Niebel and Amy Homma, presents “The Horror Show” exhibition.

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Academy Museum Opens Horror show

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles will open “The Horror Show” exhibition on September 26, 2026, running through July 25, 2027 in the Marilyn and Jeffrey Katzenberg Gallery.
Curators Jessica Niebel, Nicholas Barlow and Alexandra James Salichs organize chambers—Gothic, Psychological, Science, Slasher, Religion and Ghosts.
The museum will host a “John Carpenter” series Sept 26-28, a “Monster Mash” Oct 24 with the “Horror of Dracula” premiere, and a “Zombies!” exhibit selling merchandise onsite.

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