Universal Studios Hollywood went all out for Halloween Horror Nights 2025, stacking the lineup with massive IPs like Terrifier, Five Nights at Freddy’s, and even Jason Voorhees himself. But with a lineup this flashy, the question remains: did the houses live up to the hype? Here’s how I ranked this year’s houses, from best to worst.
Which Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood House is best?
Without a doubt, 2025 outshined 2024 in almost every way. Universal clearly poured its budget into major IPs this year, and for the most part, it paid off. Not every house was a hit, but most delivered more than they didn’t. Below, I’ve ranked all the houses from best to worst. (Spoiler: the only one I didn’t care for was Fallout—the rest simply fall in the order I enjoyed them.)
Terrifier
When Terrifier was first announced, I couldn’t believe it was actually happening. Art the Clown has gone from a cult horror figure in an indie slasher to headlining one of the biggest Halloween events in the world—it’s surreal. The hype leading up to the event was enormous, especially after Orlando’s version opened and people couldn’t stop talking about it. Honestly, the buzz was so loud I started to worry the house might not live up to it.
But to my very excited surprise, it absolutely did. The Terrifier house was gross, chaotic, funny, and flat-out entertaining from start to finish. I was cracking up half the time, gagging the other, and genuinely impressed by the effects. The water effects in particular stood out—there were more here than in your average house (though not quite “Jurassic Park wet,” so no poncho needed).
What really sealed the deal, though, were the scare actors. Every Art in the house fully embraced the role, throwing in unscripted moments and interacting with guests in ways that made the scares feel unpredictable—exactly what you want from a character like Art. My only complaint is the line: it never dipped below 100 minutes all night. If you don’t have Express, make this your first stop.
Five Nights at Freddy’s
When I first heard HHN was bringing Five Nights at Freddy’s to life, I thought the timing was strange. FNaF 2 hasn’t released yet, and Universal didn’t really tie into the first movie either. But if there’s one thing you can count on, it’s the FNaF fandom showing up. The crowds alone proved this was one of the most hyped houses of the year.
That said, my expectations were tempered because Orlando’s version got mixed reactions. Luckily, that worked in my favor, because this maze was actually a ton of fun. It’s one of the few where I felt like I didn’t miss a single scare. The mix of animatronics and puppets was really effective, and the animatronics themselves looked fantastic.
The highlight for me was the opening room: Freddy Fazbear singing “Talking in Your Sleep.” It’s a perfect needle drop in the movie, and an even better way to set the tone for the house. While not the scariest maze of the night, it was one of the most entertaining and definitely a crowd-pleaser.
Scarecrow: Music by SLASH
This house took me by surprise in the best way. I already liked the idea after seeing Scarecrow: The Reaping at Universal Horror Unleashed, but this version went above and beyond. In terms of raw scares, this was hands down the scariest house of the night.
The actors were relentless. One scare actor managed to hit us three times in a row—something I almost never see—and I couldn’t stop laughing about it afterward. The energy inside this maze was electric, and pairing it with an original score from SLASH just made it that much more intense.
What I loved most was how it balanced scares with fun. Even after a dozen jump scares, I left this one grinning ear to ear. It’s a reminder that even with all the flashy IPs, an original concept done well can steal the show.
Jason Universe
This was one of my most anticipated houses, and for good reason. Jason Voorhees has been tied up in legal limbo for years, leaving fans starved for new content. Finally seeing him back at HHN felt like a huge moment.
The house itself didn’t disappoint. The sets were creative, the scares were frequent, and the actors fully captured Jason’s menacing presence. I especially loved how the house showcased different versions of Jason throughout the years—like a greatest hits tour for longtime fans.
The only downside is that itt was short. Probably one of the shortest houses of the year. If it had been just a bit longer, I could’ve easily ranked it higher. But as a lifelong Jason fan, it still felt special.
WWE Presents: The Horrors of the Wyatt Sicks
This was the house I didn’t expect but was thrilled to see. For those who don’t know, the Wyatt Sicks are WWE’s horror-inspired faction led by Uncle Howdy (Bo Dallas), and they serve as a continuation of Bray Wyatt’s legacy after his tragic passing.
The house leaned heavily into that tribute, starting with Bray’s lantern glowing in a rocking chair and following it through encounters with each member of the Wyatt Sicks. For fans like me, it was incredible—emotional, scary, and deeply respectful of Bray’s impact. The final scare, with the message “For Bray,” hit hard in the best way. It felt like I was seeing an old friend for the first time again.
That said, I can’t ignore that people unfamiliar with the Wyatt storyline probably walked out a little confused. For me, it was one of the most memorable houses of the year, but it lands here on the list because it relies so much on prior knowledge.
Monstruos 3: The Ghosts of Latin America
The Monstruos houses are always a pleasant surprise, and this one followed the tradition. Narrated by El Muerte, the story drew on legends and folklore from Latin America. If you don’t know the myths, you might have trouble following along, but the atmosphere and scares made up for it.
The set design was excellent, and there was one moment that stood out above the rest: coming face-to-face with El Muerte as he whispered, “Are you afraid of the dark?” before the lights cut out, revealing a hidden façade. It was such a clever effect that completely caught me off guard.
While it wasn’t quite as impactful as the top-tier IP houses this year, it was still a strong entry and proof that HHN’s original concepts deserve just as much love as the blockbusters.
Poltergeist
Poltergeist is back, and while it’s a solid house, it felt like an odd choice for such a stacked year. This is essentially a remake of the 2018 version, which I never experienced myself, so I can see why longtime fans were excited.
The façade was fantastic, and the house flowed well overall. But some of the scare triggers felt mistimed, which meant I ended up missing a few of the big moments. In fact, for the giant skull scenes, I had to lean back into the room just to catch them.
It’s not a bad house at all—it’s actually really well designed—but compared to this year’s lineup, it just didn’t stand out.
Fallout
This was the one true miss for me. I love the Fallout games, and I enjoyed Amazon’s adaptation, so I was excited at first. But the more I thought about it, the more nervous I got. HHN rarely adapts video games, and since this was based squarely on the show, I worried it wouldn’t lean into the scarier aspects of Fallout’s world.
And that’s exactly what happened. The house was essentially a scene-for-scene recreation of the show. While the sets were well-built and fans of the series probably enjoyed the accuracy, it just wasn’t scary. Fallout’s wasteland is full of terrifying potential, but this maze never tapped into that. It felt more like a walkthrough exhibit than a haunted house.
Overall, HHN Hollywood 2025 was a massive improvement over last year, with some houses that will go down as all-time favorites. Terrifier stole the show, FNaF and Scarecrow were pure fun, and even the houses lower on the list had their moments. The only true letdown was Fallout, and even that had impressive sets if not scares.
This was absolutely a year worth doing all eight houses, whether you map out a plan to hit them all or invest in Express (or even better, the R.I.P. Tour). Universal raised the bar in 2025, and I can’t wait to see how they try to top it next year.
What shows are at HHN?
In addition to the houses, HHN Hollywood featured two live shows this year: the returning Purge: Dangerous Waters at the WaterWorld theater and the U.S. debut of Chainsaw Man: The Chaos at the DreamWorks theater. Universal has been testing the waters with importing shows from Japan lately—earlier this year at Fan Fest Nights we got the Jujutsu Kaisen show from Universal Japan, and for Halloween, they brought over Chainsaw Man to give fans something new and different.
If you’ve never seen Purge: Dangerous Waters, it’s worth checking out at least once. Essentially, it’s the daytime WaterWorld stunt show reimagined with a Purge overlay, complete with explosions, fights, and chaotic energy. It’s fast-paced and fun, especially for fans of the Purge franchise. Personally, I skipped it this year to make sure I had enough time for all the houses, but if you haven’t caught it in previous years, I’d recommend carving out the time.
On the flip side, Chainsaw Man: The Chaos was a brand-new addition to HHN Hollywood. The animated 4D short drops you into a story where a demon attacks the park, forcing the Devil Hunters to save the day. With water effects, immersive visuals, and clever use of the DreamWorks theater’s 4D tech, it was both refreshing (literally, given SoCal’s heat) and entertaining. Even if you’ve never seen Chainsaw Man before, you can enjoy the spectacle without needing any background knowledge. It’s a great way to take a break from the crowds while still soaking in the HHN atmosphere.
What is the best spot for food at HHN?
If you can’t decide on just one thing to eat this year, Universal is making it easy with their HHN meal pass. For $65, you get two entrées plus four snacks, desserts, or non-alcoholic drinks. Honestly, considering how fast $65 can disappear in a single HHN food run, that’s not a bad deal. Of course, I know a lot of people aren’t showing up for the non-alcoholic options, so let’s talk about the actual food and drink highlights around the park.
For quick service and strong drinks, my top pick is SLASH’s bar. Unlike last year when The Weeknd’s bar had long waits, this one was smooth sailing—hardly any line, decent prices, and surprisingly good tacos. I tried the taco trio, but the Thai Beef Taco stood out as the best of the bunch. If you’re grabbing a drink, I’d recommend the Danse with the Dead. It was light, refreshing, and perfect for cooling off on a hot SoCal night. It also seemed to be the most popular order around me, which tells me it might just be the crowd favorite.
If you’re after themed food, Hollywood & Dine is the place to stop. They leaned into the Fallout theme this year with clever items like Deviled Eggs, which believe it or not aren’t eggs at all, and Rad-Away Lemonade. Fun little nods for fans, and they make for a solid pit stop if you’re roaming the upper lot. One place I’d avoid unless you’re truly dedicated is Fazbear’s Pizza. The line was spilling out the door all night, and in the end, it’s just the same pizza you can get at the park year-round—just served in a themed box. That said, I did hear a lot of buzz about the themed cupcake, so if you’ve got a sweet tooth and don’t mind the wait, it might be worth it.
What merch do they have at HHN?
With Universal spending big on IPs this year, you’d expect the merchandise to reflect that — and it does, though not always in the ways you’d think. Normally, HHN leans heavily on event-wide merch that mashes all the properties together, but this year they went a step further. Almost every major IP had its own dedicated lineup of merch, and I thought that was a fantastic move. Even though I only walked away with a standard HHN 2025 shirt, I was impressed with how much variety there was across the board.
One detail that really surprised me: prices didn’t go up. I was half-expecting a hike considering the costs tied to partnerships with WWE, Jason Voorhees’ return, and Terrifier taking center stage. But no — prices stayed about the same as previous years. It might seem like a small thing, but resisting the urge to bump prices when fans are guaranteed to buy anyway is something people notice. Credit where it’s due, Universal.
As for the merch itself, the FNaF collection was easily the standout. It felt like they had the largest variety: shirts, jackets, plushies, pins, and plenty more. Basically, something for every kind of fan or collector. On the flip side, the WWE Presents: The Horrors of the Wyatt Sicks line felt underwhelming. I saw a T-shirt online before the event that I was excited to pick up, but I couldn’t even track it down in the shops. Jason Universe merch also felt like more of an afterthought — tucked away in a small corner with just a handful of items.
Is Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood really worth it?
Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood 2025 was a major step up from last year, with big-name IPs that mostly lived up to the hype. Terrifier stole the show, Five Nights at Freddy’s and Scarecrow: Music by SLASH were standouts, and even the smaller houses had their moments. The only real miss was Fallout, which looked impressive but lacked scares.
Outside the mazes, Universal delivered plenty of extras. Chainsaw Man: The Chaos brought something new with fun 4D effects, and Purge: Dangerous Waters continued to be a crowd-pleaser. Food and drinks were highlights too, from the Thai Beef Tacos and refreshing cocktails at SLASH’s bar to themed snacks at Hollywood & Dine. Even the merch lineup impressed, with full collections for most IPs and no noticeable price hikes.
Overall, 2025 was one of the strongest HHN years in recent memory. To fully enjoy it, I highly recommend investing in an Express Pass (or even the R.I.P. Tour) so you can experience every house without wasting the night in long lines. If express isn’t in your budget, I’ll be posting a guide to help you get through the night in a way to experience the most you possibly can.
Universal set a high bar this year, and if this is the direction HHN is headed, 2026 already looks promising. If you’re debating it, I highly recommend you make room for Halloween Horror Nights in your Spooky Itinerary this year.
