Coming Soon: The Horror Show
Here at Hammer we love a good horror show, so it’s no surprise we’re all excited about The Horror Show, an ambitious programme of screenings, experiences and exhibitions that begins later this year at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. The scope of this celebration is epic, and fans of Hammer can look forward to the first US screening of the newly restored 4K version of Dracula (1958) plus some unique, very special treats…
A love and respect for the genre will permeate The Horror Show, and four-time Oscar-nominated actor Willem Dafoe, who serves on its advisory team, said: ‘Cinema in general engages your sense of wonder, but horror can explode it. It is a popular form, born of modest financial resources and with a strong, lasting independent streak. And it has all the same possibilities for originality, inventiveness, and freedom that it did in its infancy.’
The exhibition looks to harness these qualities and promises to be paradise for lovers of any branch of horror. On view from September 26, 2026, it will explore and celebrate horror cinema, highlighting its enduring themes, recurring motifs and much more in a remarkable journey through successive classics of the genre.
Visitors will enter the experience through a darkened gallery featuring a ‘soundscape’ of music, voices and sound effects, before emerging into a long hallway lined with evocative and suitably scary film posters. And this is where the fun (and the frights!) really begin! That’s because on either side of this central space, six chambers await, and each is devoted to a major aspect of horror movies.
For example, step into one and you’ll find yourself in a world of Gothic horror. This spooky space resembles a shadowed crypt but is adorned with original concept artwork and in-character photos of iconic stars. It serves as the setting for an array of ultra-rare, totally vamp-tastic objects, including the Academy Collection’s recently restored cape worn by Bela Lugosi in Dracula (1931). You’ll also find items from chillers including Hammer’s 1958 classic, Dracula (also known as Horror of Dracula), Sinners (2025) and Blade (1998).
Other chambers will plunge visitors into different aspects of horror history, namely Psychological (including original storyboards for Hitchcock’s 1960 masterpiece, Psycho), Science, Slasher, Religion and Ghosts.
Fun, informative and a bonanza for the senses, it represents a trip through cinema’s most nightmarish moments and should be a dream for aficionados of macabre movies. The exhibition will be accompanied by public programs and screenings that begin on September 26 with the retrospective film series, John Carpenter: Prince of Darkness. Focusing on the much-loved director (and one of Hammer’s most famous fans!) it will include screenings of favourites including Halloween (1978) and They Live (1988).
The 2026 Monster Mash on October 24 will feature the US premiere of the 4K restoration of Dracula (1958). This will be the version we discussed in a recent Q&A, and as Hammer’s Steve Rogers pointed out, ‘There’s only one proper version of Dracula – Terence Fisher’s director’s cut.’ This is it, restored and resplendent in the Academy Museum’s Ted Mann Theater.
And why not celebrate Halloween at the Academy Museum where a goth-themed after-hours party, Museum After Dark on October 31, includes a screening of The Craft (1996) plus tarot readings and a very special guest. There’s a 50th anniversary screening of Carrie (1976) with Oscar-winning actress Sissy Spacek on November 19, and The Horror Show’s grand finale blasts off in January, 2027 with a celebration of Hammer Films. The Academy Museum will host a terrifying, 10-film retrospective featuring rare and newly restored titles including some of the studio’s greatest works.
While this promises to be a truly epic celebration, we appreciate that a journey to Los Angeles to witness The Horror Show first-hand might not be possible for all our fans. Therefore, we are thrilled to confirm that upcoming screenings of the newly restored Dracula are being planned for the UK. In the meantime, we hope you continue to immerse yourselves in the legendary world of Hammer through our extensive collection of Blu-ray editions, books, fresh soundtracks, and so much more.
The Horror Show is made possible in part by leadership support from Hammer Films and John Gore Studios. Generous support provided by Regal. Additional support provided by the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture. Academy Museum Digital Engagement Platform supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies. Technology solutions generously provided by Christie®.
We’ll be bringing you more information about The Horror Show between now and its launch, but in the meantime, to keep right up to date with all things Hammer, simply subscribe to the newsletter now!
