Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights 2025 is an event like no other — a cinematic horror spectacular that transforms the park into a living, breathing nightmare. This year, I had the honor of being invited by Universal Studios Hollywood and the HHN team for my very first visit, and let me tell you — it lived up to every ounce of the hype and then some.
From the fog-filled walkways to the terrifyingly detailed haunted houses, this was one of the best theme park experiences I’ve ever had. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the event or a first-timer like I was, HHN is a must-do every single year.
Event Overview: Dates, Atmosphere & What to Expect
Halloween Horror Nights runs September 4 through November 2, 2025, on select nights starting around 7:00 PM and stretching past midnight. Once the sun goes down, the entire park shifts — the lighting, the music, even the air feels different. It’s eerie, cinematic, and completely immersive.
Each area of the park is alive with fog, flashing lights, and monsters lurking just out of sight. The scares don’t stop in the mazes — they follow you down every walkway and corner.
Pro Tip: Download the Universal Studios Hollywood App. It’s essential for checking maze wait times, navigating scare zones, finding food, and staying ahead of the crowds.
The Haunted Houses: Every Nightmare You Can Handle
This year’s haunted house lineup at Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights is the strongest it’s ever been — and that’s saying something. What sets this year apart is how creative, cinematic, and wildly immersive each maze feels. These aren’t just walk-throughs; they’re living short films brought to life with terrifying precision, sensory overload, and unbelievable acting performances.
Each maze has its own world, tone, and purpose — whether it’s pure shock value, nostalgia, or deep cultural storytelling. Here’s a breakdown of all eight haunted houses and why each one left its mark.
Five Nights at Freddy’s (Soundstage 15)
A perfect choice to open the lineup — especially if you grew up playing the Five Nights at Freddy’s games. You start as the new night guard at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, and within seconds, it’s clear that you won’t make it past your shift.
What stood out most here was the attention to detail: flickering lights, distant laughter, and the eerie hum of malfunctioning animatronics that somehow felt alive. The jump scares land hard, but it’s the design that’s the real star. Each room feels pulled straight from the game — from the control office to the shadowy party hallways.
It’s not the scariest maze of the night, but it nails the tension and builds atmosphere perfectly.
Fallout (Year-Round Haunt Venue)
For anyone who’s played the Fallout games, walking into this maze is like stepping inside that world for real. You move through a post-apocalyptic hellscape filled with radiation sirens, broken vault doors, and twisted human experiments gone wrong.
What makes Fallout work is its scope. It feels huge — with multiple environments, shifting lighting, and a sense of danger around every corner. There’s social commentary woven through the chaos too, echoing how humanity rebuilds after destruction. It’s engrossing, gritty, and completely unforgiving in tone — a standout for gamers and story-driven horror fans alike.
Jason Universe (Mummy Queue)
The moment you hear the distant ch-ch-ch ah-ah-ah, you know what’s coming — and somehow it’s still not enough to prepare you. This maze takes you right to Camp Crystal Lake, recreating some of the most iconic and brutal moments in horror history.
Fog creeps along the forest floor, rain drizzles overhead, and Jason Voorhees himself appears when you least expect it. The mix of practical blood effects and perfectly timed lighting cues make this one a crowd favorite.
It’s fast-paced, violent, and drenched in nostalgia. Jason fans, you’re going to eat this one up.
Monstruos 3: The Ghosts of Latin America (Parisian Courtyard) ★ My Top Pick!
Monstruos 3 isn’t just a maze — it’s art. It’s a celebration of Latin American folklore that transforms legends like La Llorona, La Muelona, and La Siguanaba into living nightmares.
Every section feels like a storybook page turned horrifyingly real, with glowing altars, intricate costume design, and actors who perform with absolute conviction. The soundscape — filled with wails, whispers, and distant church bells — sets a chilling tone.
This maze is both terrifying and culturally beautiful. It stands as a love letter to myth and heritage, showing that horror can carry history and soul. For me, this was one of the absolute highlights of the entire event.
Terrifier (Curious George Tent 1)
Nothing could prepare you for this level of gore. Based on Damien Leone’s Terrifier films, this maze is a full-on assault on the senses. Art the Clown stalks every hallway, grinning as he leaves behind scenes so graphic that you might actually look away (and still see it in your mind after).
The mix of practical blood effects, lighting, and sound is relentless — the wet splatters, the screeches, the distant carnival music warped beyond recognition. It’s sick, it’s smart, and it’s unapologetically extreme.
Easily one of the most disturbing attractions in HHN history — and that’s a compliment.
Scarecrow: Music by Slash (T-Pad) ★ Another Standout!
Every year, Slash proves that music and horror belong together, and this maze is pure evidence of that. The score is hypnotic — an industrial, metallic heartbeat that drives the story of nature’s revenge.
Inside, you move through decrepit barns and twisted cornfields where the Scarecrow reigns supreme. The combination of real props, mechanical puppetry, and lighting syncs perfectly with Slash’s soundtrack.
What makes this maze elite is how it plunges the audience into another reality. The sound literally vibrates through you — it’s loud, aggressive, and cinematic. The craftsmanship here is unreal.
WWE Presents: The Horrors of The Wyatt Sicks (Jurassic World Queue) ★ A Personal Favorite as a WWE Fan
As someone who’s followed WWE for years, this maze hit me emotionally. Knowing the creative brilliance of the late Bray Wyatt and seeing his legacy evolve into this full-scale horror experience gave me chills.
The atmosphere is perfect — lanterns flicker as you enter a twisted version of Bray’s world, complete with Uncle Howdy, Mercy the Buzzard, Abby the Witch, Rambling Rabbit, and Huskus the Pig. Each scene feels like a love letter to his artistry and his unique understanding of fear and storytelling.
This isn’t just a maze — it’s a tribute. It captures Bray’s vision of horror as a psychological mirror, blending sadness, madness, and heart. For WWE fans, this one will hit deep.
Poltergeist (Curious George Tent 2)
If you love classic supernatural horror, this maze is everything you want it to be. The recreation of the film’s iconic house — complete with glowing televisions and collapsing walls — is spectacular.
The way you move between reality and the spirit world feels seamless, with clever use of lighting, projection, and practical effects. The actors embody the restless spirits perfectly, switching between calm and chaos in an instant.
This maze is pure nostalgia — beautifully executed, eerie, and filled with that ‘80s horror soul.
Terror Tram: Enter the Blumhouse ★ A Must-Do
You can’t come to HHN and skip the Terror Tram. This year’s version is packed with the most terrifying villains from Blumhouse — including The Grabber, M3GAN, and The Purge crew.
Walking through real studio backlots surrounded by these cinematic nightmares is surreal. Every turn feels like you’ve stepped into a film — the scale, the production, the intensity. It’s easily one of the best experiences Universal has ever crafted.
Overall Maze Impressions
Every single maze this year delivered something unique. Monstruos 3 stood out for its cultural storytelling. Scarecrow: Music by Slash was a sensory masterpiece. Terror Tram: Enter the Blumhouse was cinematic perfection. And The Wyatt Sicks maze brought emotion and legacy into horror in a way few mazes ever have.
The actors across the board were fully locked in — committed to every scream, every jump, every stare. It’s that kind of passion that makes HHN so special. Whether they were crawling through fog or suddenly appearing inches from your face, each one gave 110%, making it impossible not to get lost in the nightmare.
Shows: Must-See Spectacle
The Purge: Dangerous Waters ★ Start Your Night Here!
I strongly suggest making this your first stop once you enter the park. The entire production — from fire effects to the performers’ energy — is absolutely electric. Every seat gives a great view, and it perfectly sets the tone for the chaos that follows throughout the night.
Chainsaw Man: The Chaos
For anime fans, this original stage show is a treat. It’s over-the-top, fun, and bloody — just as it should be.
Scare Zones & Street Experiences
Even between mazes, you’re not safe. The streets are filled with themed scare zones crawling with creatures and actors that don’t miss a beat.
The Carnival of Carnage, Noche de Brujas, and Chainsaw Clownz zones were chaotic perfection — each one distinct in tone but equally terrifying.
And don’t forget Center Plaza — the cultural heartbeat of the event. It’s a vibe. Between scares, you can relax, grab food, enjoy the live DJs, or simply people-watch. The energy here is celebratory and communal — a place to reset, refuel, and dive right back into the chaos.
Eats, Drinks & Merch
Themed food is everywhere — from Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza Place to the Terrifier Clown Café and Slash Bar. Drinks are fun, theatrical, and Instagram-worthy, with glowing cups, smoky effects, and strong pours.
And yes — the merch is elite. Limited-edition shirts, house-specific collectibles, posters, mugs, and even HHN-exclusive pins. Bring your wallet — you’ll want something to take home.
Ticket Tips & Express Pass Breakdown
| Ticket Type | What You Get | Starting Price* |
|---|---|---|
| General Admission | Full event access. | $77+ USD |
| After 2 PM Day/Night Combo | Daytime park + HHN access. | $115+ USD |
| Universal Express Pass | Skip lines once per attraction. | $229+ USD |
| Express Unlimited | Skip lines all night. | $269–$299 USD |
| Frequent Fear Pass | Visit multiple nights. | $179+ USD |
Pro Tip: The Universal Express Pass is 1000% worth it. Lines can stretch over an hour for some mazes, and this pass lets you maximize every moment of your night.
Personal Advice from Experience
While I was there creating content, I can honestly say — put your phone away. This is an experience you’ll want to live fully. The actors, the energy, the unpredictability of it all — it’s best enjoyed with your head up and eyes open (and trust me, you’ll be looking over your shoulders constantly).
The actors deserve major credit. Whether inside the houses or patrolling the streets, they’re phenomenal. Each performer fully commits to their role, keeping guests on edge and adding to the authenticity of the night.
If you’re a first-timer:
- Make The Purge: Dangerous Waters your first stop.
- Don’t skip Monstruos 3 or Scarecrow: Music by Slash.
- Visit Center Plaza midway through the night — it’s the perfect break point.
- And most importantly, just be present. This event is about immersion — not screens.
Family Factor
While HHN isn’t designed for kids, you’d be surprised how many brave families attend — and some kids absolutely thrive on the thrill. It’s not for everyone, but it’s definitely a shared experience that makes for great memories if you have horror-loving teens in tow.
Final Take
Halloween Horror Nights 2025 is easily one of the best events Universal Studios Hollywood has ever put on. It’s a perfect mix of artistry, fear, culture, and fun — every maze and scare zone crafted with passion and detail.
Monstruos 3, Scarecrow: Music by Slash, and Terror Tram: Enter the Blumhouse were my standout experiences, but every inch of the park had something special to offer. Add in The Purge: Dangerous Waters, the Center Plaza vibes, the merch, and the energy — and you’ve got an event that’s as entertaining as it is terrifying.
This isn’t just something you do once. It’s something you come back to every year.
Editor-in-Chief | Owner
I’m a dedicated aficionado of all things movies, pop culture, and entertainment. With a passion for storytelling and a love for the silver screen, I’m constantly immersed in the world of cinema, exploring new releases, classics, and hidden gems alike. As a fervent advocate for the power of film to inspire, entertain, and provoke thought, I enjoy sharing my insights, reviews, and recommendations with fellow enthusiasts.