Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood has officially begun. This year’s stellar lineup includes haunted houses inspired by movies such as Sinners, Evil Dead Burn, and Hellraiser. For the first time, Halloween Horror Nights features Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness, a haunted house honoring the late rock legend.
Each year, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood kicks off the haunt season, but this year’s line-up has fans buzzing! From announcing a Sinners maze to a walkaround character from Curry Baker’s Obsession, we couldn’t wait to experience this year’s event.
Curious about this year’s mazes? Here’s our ranking of all the mazes at Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood.
8. Stranger Things 5
Stranger Things returns for another year at Halloween Horror Nights. Its production design is great but pales in comparison to last year’s build. What makes it fun is seeing scenes from the final season, such as Karen Wheeler facing off against a Demogorgon, Will using his powers on a Demogorgon, and Eleven facing off against Vecna. You can also spot Dustin, Steven, and Joyce in the maze.
While the set pieces are grand, the scares just weren’t there.
Official synopsis:
The Upside Down is invading Hawkins, and this time no one’s safe. In this haunted house based on the final season of Stranger Things, join the gang in Hawkins for one last adventure as you try to survive Demogorgons and the Mind Flayer. Will you defeat Vecna once and for all?
7. Dead Deader Deadest
An original IP where guests walk through the Deville funeral home, filled with reanimated corpses and more. While the setting is gruesome, the story doesn’t exactly stand out. However, the maze design makes it interesting, especially in the morgue, where bodies rise on the metal beds as we walk past them. The scents in this maze will be unforgettable, with one room in particular being noticeably pungent.
Official synopsis:
Uncover the dark secret of the Deville Family Funeral Home in this haunted house, where reanimated corposes have risen from their graves.
6. Killer Klowns From Outer Space
What’s more frightening than walking into a giant tent where Killer Klowns await you at every turn? As someone who fears clowns, I didn’t want to walk into this. The brightly colored maze, paired with joyful circus tunes, plays as you encounter the Klowns in every room. Scares were abundant in this maze, as the Klowns taunt, stalk, and sometimes laugh at your fear. Though it was fun, returning for a third time felt repetitive.
Official synopsis:
If ever there’s a reason to be afraid of Klowns, this is it. The Killer Klowns from Outer Space have landed in this haunted house. And the joke’s on you if you get trapped in their cotton candy cocoons — becoming a gooey, gruesome snack.
5. Killceañera
Universal Studios Hollywood has done a great job with its Latin American mythology-themed mazes in years past, such as La Llorona and Monstruos. In Killceañera, Lola exacts revenge on her bullies during her quinceañera, and we are right in the center of it all. From the line queue, you can see Lola standing on the balcony of the maze singing. The progression of the story builds as monsters come for you from every corner. Seeing awful messages written on the walls about Lola sets the tone of her pain, until eventually things take a turn and those messages start to target you! Paired with music by Slash, created exclusively for this maze. Do not miss this one!
Official synopsis:
In this haunted house with music by Slash, you’re invited to Lola’s quinceañera – where she’ll exact her monstruous revenge on her bullies.
4. Evil Dead Burn
Based on the recent film Evil Dead Burn, guests will walk through the Price’s vacation home. First, you’re greeted by the Severed Head of Deadite Jessica, which will eerily track you as you walk past. Highlighted by its smoke and fire effects, this maze was the most confusing to navigate if you don’t have someone to follow, which adds to the scare element. At times you’re in pitch darkness and in close proximity to the scareactors, so be warned.
Official synopsis:
An infernal force has taken hold of a family home, and it’s hungry for its next victim. Dodge Deadites hell-bent on bloodshed in this haunted house based on the new film, Evil Dead Burn.
3. Hellraiser
Cult-fave movie Hellraiser makes its first appearance at Halloween Horror Nights. Within the maze, Cenobites lurk at every turn. The maze design plunges guests into darkness as they navigate through chains, with scareactors relentlessly popping out from every corner.
Official synopsis:
In this haunted house based on the original Hellraiser trilogy, enter a realm of pure pain where Pinhead and his tormented Cenobites derive their hellish pleasure.
2. Ozzy Osbourne: The Prince of Darkness
This maze was specially designed to honor the late rock legend. Descend into “Osbourne Station,” and you’re immediately greeted with Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” and the rock icon’s unmistakable laugh. Spectacular production design pays tribute to his life, career, and music. This maze had plenty of jump scares, but it was also the most fun maze we experienced this year.
Official synopsis:
Ozzy Osbourne’s shocking image was as haunting as his heavy metal hits. Now you’ll enter the Prince of Darkness’s kingdom where music and mayhem collide — and everything’s gone off the rails. Veer through a decaying world ripped straight from Ozzy’s lyrics in this haunted house inspired by one of rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest legends. Let the madness begin!
1. Sinners
The critically acclaimed movie Sinners was our most anticipated maze of this year’s event. The movie came to life as guests walked through the Club Juke while blues music played. Don’t let your guard down, though; Remmick and his vampires will haunt you along the way. The maze truly fired on all cylinders – from the Michael B. Jordan look-alike welcoming us in to an interactive pre-show queue as a nod to the “I Lied To You” track from the movie.
The Universal Creative team even turned small details, like the vampires’ eye shine, into a practical effect seen on the scareactors. The massive set pieces make us feel like we were walking through iconic scenes. This maze is both immersive and frightening, and a must-do at this year’s event.
Official synopsis:
The blues become red when bloodthirsty vampires pierce the veil and crash the party in this haunted house based on the hit film, Sinners.
