The Academy of Motion Picture Museum has decided to hold a large-scale horror-themed exhibition from September 20th to July 25th, 2027. The Los Angeles Museum of Art Horror Show aims to “celebrate the tremendous cultural influence and enduring popularity of horror, and bridge the gap between film and experience.”
The Horror Show celebrates horror films by centering on the question, “Why are horror films so deeply important to so many people?” The museum said in a statement:
“The Horror Show recognizes horror as one of the most emotionally resonant and innovative types of filmmaking and celebrates its radical creativity and artists,” said Academy Museum Director and President Amy Homma. “We look forward to our guests exploring and experiencing filmmaking that has influenced generations.”
“Throughout the history of film, horror has excited and moved audiences, serving as a powerful means of expression and a tool for social commentary,” said exhibition senior curator Jessica Knebel. “Through these stories, people have found catharsis and community among horror fans around the world. We can’t wait for everyone, from horror aficionados to horror enthusiasts, to see the horror show.”
The exhibition unfolds with an introductory sound installation leading to a corridor that introduces six galleries with gothic, psychological, scientific, slasher, religious, and ghost themes.
The museum says visitors will be able to meet their favorite creatures, monsters and objects, and get a behind-the-scenes look at their storytelling and creation. The exhibition will feature “Alien” (1979), “A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984), “Black Swan” (2010), “Dracula” (1931), and “Frankenstein” (1 The project will “explore expressions of identity, sexuality, and ability” in films such as “The Grudge” (2017), “Get Out” (2017), “Halloween” (1978), and “The Grudge.” (1998), “Midsommar” (2019), “Misery” (1990), “Poltergeist” (1982), “The Ring” (1998), “The Blair Witch Project” ‘The Exorcist’ (1999), ‘The Exorcist’ (1973), ‘The Shining’ (1980), ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ (1991), and ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ (1974).
The Horror Show will include a public program of screenings, gallery talks, and tours. The museum says, “Parental guidance is recommended for minor visitors.”
The exhibition is curated by Jessica Knebel, Senior Exhibition Curator, Nicholas Barlow, Assistant Curator, and Alexandra James Salix, Curatorial Assistant.
This horror show follows the Marilyn and Jeffrey Katzenberg Gallery’s major exhibitions since its opening: Hayao Miyazaki, Rebirth: Black Cinema, John Waters: Trash Pope, Color in Motion: Cinema’s Explorations of Color, and the current “Jaws” exhibition, which closes on July 26th.
