10 Little-Known Insights About John Carpenter

When discussing cult classics from the past half-century, John Carpenter is a name that inevitably comes up. His multifaceted career as a director, screenwriter, producer, and composer has left an indelible mark across various genres and platforms.

Carpenter’s filmography is remarkably diverse, ranging from the 1990 TV-movie El Diablo—a project he was so passionate about that he nearly abandoned 1982’s The Thing to pursue it—to his renowned “Apocalypse Trilogy”. This trilogy, featuring The Thing, 1987’s Prince of Darkness, and 1994’s In The Mouth of Madness, is celebrated for its dark, unsettling themes and somber conclusions, showcasing his ability to navigate a wide array of cinematic styles.

Through his groundbreaking work, Carpenter not only defined the slasher sub-genre within horror but also inspired countless independent filmmakers to forge their own paths in the industry. Here are 10 additional intriguing facts about the visionary who famously admitted he never watches his own movies.

1. John Carpenter stands as one of the most accomplished independent filmmakers in history.

Halloween (1978)—Carpenter’s third film, succeeding the sci-fi comedy Dark Star (1974) and the crime-thriller Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)—was produced on a tight budget of roughly $325,000. It went on to earn $70 million globally, cementing its place as one of the most profitable independent films ever made.

The entire production embodied a do-it-yourself ethos: Carpenter and co-writer Debra Hill completed the script in just 10 days; the actors largely wore their own clothing; and Carpenter famously composed the film’s score. Although he earned a modest $10,000 for his work, he negotiated a deal that granted him 10 percent of Halloween’s total profits.

2. He has an immense passion for Godzilla films.

The radioactive creature made a lasting impact on Carpenter during his childhood. He watched early installments of the kaiju series, such as 1954’s Gojira, directed and co-written by Ishirō Honda, when he was just “a small child.” In 2022, he shared with Den of Geek that “Godzilla was incredibly intimidating back then, especially the original black-and-white version. I was also captivated by the special effects, which were so unique and impressive. Everything about it was fantastic.”

These movies were a “monstrous delight” for him during his childhood, and as a young boy, he even created short films inspired by them, such as Gorgo vs. Godzilla. This particular short—which Carpenter insists will never see a public release—allegedly showcases claymation versions of the two creatures battling for dominance in the monster movie world.

3. Despite his acclaim, Carpenter has no Oscars—though he contributed to an Oscar-winning project.

One might assume a filmmaker of Carpenter’s stature would have multiple Oscars displayed proudly. However, Carpenter has never won one himself—though he did collaborate on a project early in his career that secured an Academy Award. The Resurrection of Broncho Billy, a 1970 short film he edited, co-wrote, and scored during his time at the University of Southern California, won the Best Short Subject (Live Action) Oscar at the 43rd Academy Awards.

Out of all the feature-length films Carpenter directed or contributed to, only one garnered any attention from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This was Starman, a 1984 sci-fi romance. The film’s lead, Jeff Bridges, earned an Oscar nomination for his performance, though the award ultimately went to F. Murray Abraham for his role in Amadeus.

4. Carpenter was adamant about casting Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken.

In the dystopian action film Escape from New York (1981), Carpenter—drawing inspiration from the Watergate scandal when he wrote the screenplay in 1976—crafted one of cinema’s most iconic antiheroes, Snake Plissken. This ex-Special Forces operative seeks a pardon for his crimes by rescuing the U.S. president.

Kurt Russell, primarily recognized for his roles in Disney films at the time, was initially deemed an unlikely choice for the part by AVCO Embassy Pictures, the film’s financiers and distributors. However, Carpenter, having previously collaborated with Russell on the 1979 TV movie Elvis, overrode these concerns and cast Russell as the rugged mercenary.

Russell eagerly embraced the role and even contributed his own ideas. “When I read the script for Snake Plissken, I told John, ‘I know exactly what I want to do! I want to wear an eye-patch,’” Russell shared with Esquire in a 2015 interview. He elaborated, imagining that nuclear debris had damaged Plissken’s left eye. “Who knows? Maybe he can still see out of it? Maybe he can see through that eye-patch. He’s always in some discomfort because his left eye constantly troubles him,” the actor explained.

Russell later appeared in three more of Carpenter’s films, including his return as Plissken in the 1996 cult favorite, Escape from L.A.

5. The Thing marked Carpenter’s debut studio film—and it was met with harsh criticism from both critics and audiences.

While now celebrated as one of the greatest horror films of the 1980s—and possibly of all time—The Thing initially flopped at the box office in June 1982, grossing only $19.6 million domestically against a $15 million budget.

Coming on the heels of the heartwarming alien portrayal in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (which also debuted in June 1982), viewers were shocked by the film’s bleak atmosphere and gruesome special effects, crafted by Rob Bottin and FX icon Stan Winston.

Critics were equally harsh. Vincent Canby, the film critic for The New York Times, tore into The Thing in his review, labeling it “instant junk” and “a pointless, dreary, overblown film that blends horror and science fiction into something that fails at both.” He also suggested it might only appeal to those who found amusement in scenes like a “head scuttling on spider-like legs” or “charred bodies melded together like barbecue-glazed ribs.” (We admit it—guilty as charged.)

The backlash left Carpenter deeply disenchanted with Hollywood. “I take every failure personally, but The Thing hit me the hardest,” Carpenter shared with Time Out New York in 2008. “The film was despised. Even by sci-fi enthusiasts. They felt I had broken some unspoken trust, and the criticism was relentless. Even Christian Nyby, the original film’s director, criticized me.”

6. Carpenter was set to direct Firestarter, but his dismissal followed the failure of The Thing.

In the early 1980s, Stephen King adaptations were considered surefire hits by studios. Carpenter was no exception: he was initially slated to direct Firestarter, the 1984 adaptation of King’s popular 1980 novel. However, after The Thing bombed critically and financially, Universal Pictures—the studio behind Firestarter—removed Carpenter from the project.

Carpenter rebounded with 1983’s overlooked gem Christine, based on King’s novel released that same year. He even persuaded Bill Phillips, the screenwriter originally tied to Firestarter, to write the script for Christine.

Ultimately, Firestarter grossed approximately $17 million globally, while Christine brought in around $21 million.

7. Carpenter declined the opportunity to direct Top Gun ...

While Carpenter has created numerous cult classics, he also has a long list of unmade projects. From Meltdown (a ’70s thriller Carpenter described as “a bit like Halloween set in a nuclear power plant”) to a film about Santa Claus, the movies he never made are almost as legendary as those he did.

Beyond Firestarter, Carpenter nearly took on several iconic ’80s films, including the 1986 blockbuster Top Gun. However, he rejected it outright. “I read the script and thought, ‘I wouldn’t touch that for a million dollars,’” he told The Daily Beast in a 2021 interview.

Carpenter particularly disliked the original ending. “They battle the Russians in the final act? Seriously? That would trigger World War III. It’s ridiculous,” he told Entertainment.ie.

Carpenter’s critique of the Top Gun script has even sparked a theory among movie enthusiasts that the film’s ending was altered due to his feedback.

8. ... Yet, he successfully obtained his commercial pilot’s license.

Even though he declined Top Gun, the director found another way to soar. Around 1983, he secured his commercial pilot’s license and shared with The New Yorker that it was a personal challenge to overcome his fears. “I earned my commercial pilot’s license simply because I thought, if I’m going to portray tough characters in films, I should experience that bravery myself.”

While he called flying “incredible” and “unparalleled,” he mentioned to GQ in 2021 that he has reduced his flying activities lately. “I couldn’t fly [a helicopter] regularly due to various reasons, so I decided, ‘This isn’t feasible.’ Continuing would have risked my safety and potentially others’ as well.”

9. Carpenter was in a marriage with actress Adrienne Barbeau.

Carpenter crossed paths with Swamp Thing actress Adrienne Barbeau while working on his 1978 TV horror special, Someone’s Watching Me!, and the couple tied the knot just a year later.

“My only knowledge of John was that he directed horror films,” Barbeau shared with Roger Ebert in a 1980 interview. “I walked in anticipating a tough, hardened individual, but instead, I found this kind, gentle man with salt-and-pepper hair... I believe I started falling for him almost instantly.”

Barbeau, then widely recognized for her role in the sitcom Maude and her Broadway performance as Rizzo in Grease, starred in two of Carpenter’s most iconic films: Escape from New York and 1980’s The Fog. In 1984, the couple had a son, Cody, who pursued a creative career like his parents. Cody is now a Hollywood composer, contributing to the scores of Halloween (2018), Halloween Kills (2021), and Halloween Ends (2022).

10. Nowadays, Carpenter prefers staying at home, enjoying video games and watching basketball.

Carpenter is undeniably one of the greatest figures in horror history—and rightfully so. Yet, despite his legendary status, his current focus lies elsewhere.

When Business Insider called him a “master of horror films” in a 2023 interview, the director of They Live responded casually: “That’s kind. Sorry, I’m enjoying a Popsicle.” He continued, “I’m no master of anything. I just want to relax, play video games, and watch basketball. That’s my only concern. I don’t want to cause any trouble.”

So, what games does this humble horror legend enjoy? Recent favorites include Fallout 76, Borderlands, Ratchet And Clank, and Horizon: Forbidden West. He’s also expressed enthusiasm for the Assassin’s Creed series, telling The A.V. Club in 2022: “I really enjoyed [Assassin’s Creed] Valhalla—it was fantastic. I’m particularly fond of the earlier games, where you had to scale towers and synchronize. That was brilliant.”

Although he has expressed that Dead Space would “translate brilliantly into a film,” he is not currently officially involved in any video game adaptations. However, he is developing his own game, John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando, which is scheduled for release later this year.