Universal Studios Orlando’s Horror Nights 2025. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
Now that haunt season has kicked off with Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Orlando, it is time to rank all ten haunted houses, including the popular franchise-themed ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’, ‘Terrifier’, ‘Fallout’, and more.
“Can you survive five nights?”
Release Date: Oct 27, 2023
Run Time: 1 hr 50 min
Budget: $20,000,000
To celebrate the start of the Halloween season, Moviefone is ranking every maze at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando.
Universal Studios Orlando’s Horror Nights 2025. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
In this Western horrorscape, demons are clawing their way out of Hell to possess unsuspecting humans, and it’s up to bounty hunters Hatchet and Chain to stop them. While this house had some cool light effects and set pieces, such as the demon in the fireplace, the story was not as cohesive as it could have been. However, it is still a fun house and a good original creation.
Official synopsis:
In this Old West town, all hell is breaking loose. Red-hot lava demons are trying to possess everyone, melting everything in their path. Your only hope: Hatchet and Chains with their mystical weapons.
Universal Studios Orlando’s Horror Nights 2025. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
This haunted house begins with a warning from a gravedigger, and soon, guests descend into the depths of the underworld. There are hellish creatures in every nook and cranny, but the ending was a bit anticlimactic compared to the rest of the maze.
Official Synopsis:
Welcome to your funeral, where things are about to go from bad to worse. You’ll enter your grave and then the underworld, where flesh-eaters who feed on the dead will hunt you for all eternity.
Universal Studios Orlando’s Horror Nights 2025. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
It is always a treat to see a horror classic like Jason at Halloween Horror Nights. This house is filled with various Jasons from across the ‘Friday the 13th’ film franchise, and even a special appearance of Pamela Vorhees. The scares in the first half of the maze felt too few and spread out, and it wasn’t until the second half of the maze that the numerous Jasons jumped out at guests relentlessly. It was a good maze, but not as great as some of the other Jason mazes from the past.
Official Synopsis:
Come face-to-face with the iconic horror villain Jason Voorhees. Step into the terrifying world of this silent killer. Flee through the woods and into his sinister shack. Enter the summer camp where his gruesome legend began. Jason is back, and nothing can save you now!
“They were warned…They are doomed…And on Friday the 13th, nothing will save them.”
Release Date: May 9, 1980
Run Time: 1 hr 35 min
Budget: $550,000
Universal Studios Orlando’s Horror Nights 2025. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
Inspired by Nordic mythology, this haunted house has stunning set designs. Following the tragic story about the protector of the land who became corrupt. Her vengeful spirit and her monsters taunt guests through various settings, such as tunnels covered in runes. This beautifully designed house offers up a great story and good jump scares.
Official Synopsis:
In a remote northern village, a wicked being rises from the dead, bringing a horde of monsters and demons from the fjords to wreak havoc on the townspeople. Try to escape the belly of the beast.
Universal Studios Orlando’s Horror Nights 2025. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
Based on the Prime Video series and video game of the same name, this maze does a great job taking guests through various locations from the show and encounters with characters such as Lucy, Maximus, and Cooper Howard/ the Ghoul. While not particularly scary, the production design of the haunted house was a feast for the eyes. Keep your eyes peeled for an Easter Egg tease for season 2.
Official Synopsis:
Face your fears in post-apocalyptic LA, devastated by nuclear war, based on the hit show and game franchise “Fallout.” You’ll travel into the vaults and be attacked by raiders alongside Lucy. You’ll escape to the wasteland and confront the bounty hunter, The Ghoul. You’ll even encounter Maximus with the Brotherhood of Steel and see T-60 power armor.
“The world deserves a better ending.”
Air Date: April 10th, 2024
Universal Studios Orlando’s Horror Nights 2025. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
Based on the lore from the ‘Firefly Fun House’ TV segments, this house pays tribute to Bray Wyatt’s legacy and puts guests face-to-face with Uncle Howdy, Rambling Rabbit, Mercy the Buzzard, Huskus the Pig, and Abby the Witch. Even for non-WWE fans, it’s cool to be so immersed in this world, especially with the screen tunnel featuring wrestling personalities.
Official Synopsis:
Enter the eerie arena of The Wyatt Sicks, where you’ll go through an ominous doorway into the maniacal minds of Uncle Howdy, Rambling Rabbit, Mercy the Buzzard, Abby the Witch, and Huskus the Pig.
Universal Studios Orlando’s Horror Nights 2025. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
Do dolls creep you out? If so, this house dials the scares up to 100. Guests are shrunk down to doll-size as they traverse through this twisted dollhouse filled with unnatural recreations of mutilated dolls and toys. Ever wondered what it’s like to be in the ‘Toy Story’ villain Sid’s bedroom? This is it. Every corner is a mangled nightmare waiting for its next victim. Great jump scares, even greater horrific images.
Official Synopsis:
You’re about to become doll-sized and witness the unnatural creations of a twisted little girl. You’ll be hunted by burnt fashion dolls, toys she’s melded together and undead horrors in her dollhouse.
Universal Studios Orlando’s Horror Nights 2025. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
Based on the popular video game and movie, this haunted house features larger-than-life animatronics and puppets created by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. With eight-foot-tall animatronics and ghost kids lurking around every corner, this haunted house will definitely get your heart pumping. Fans of the franchise will love this house.
Official Synopsis:
Freddy and the Gang Are Dying to Meet You. You wouldn’t last one night at Freddy’s, let alone five. You’re about to be hunted by deadly animatronics Freddy, Bonnie, Chica and Foxy as you flee through creepy, abandoned hallways.
Universal Studios Orlando’s Horror Nights 2025. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
A terrifying maze featuring Art the Clown and his many gruesome kill scenes from the movies. This is the most grotesque of all ten houses. Art the Clown pops out at every corner, and each kill scene gets more gruesome. If you’re sensitive to smells, a portion of this maze is filled with the stink of feces. Guests are also put through a “blood bath” where water rains down on them in a tunnel. There is an option for a “dry path” if you prefer not to get wet, but what’s the fun in that?
Official Synopsis:
Nothing can prepare you for this grisly haunted house based on all three of Damien Leone’s Terrifier films. Try your luck against the sadistic Art the Clown in his twisted funhouse. Witness Art’s gleefully grotesque handiwork of torture. You’ll be left literally dripping with terror and drenched with fear. It’s a whole new level of gore!
“You never forget your first kill.”
Release Date: Jan 25, 2018
Run Time: 1 hr 24 min
Budget: $35,000
Universal Studios Orlando’s Horror Nights 2025. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.
The standout of the event is ‘El Artista: A Spanish Haunting’. It takes place in 19th-century Spain, and the story follows an artist who is tormented inside his manor as he desperately seeks inspiration. This is the most hauntingly beautiful house, including a demon flying on a zipline above guests in the courtyard.
Aside from the incredible production design, each creature encountered are so unique – like the monster made out of book pages. The maze is evenly paced with jump scares, and has the best story out of the original mazes.
Official Synopsis:
In 19th century Spain, a tortured artist moves to an isolated country manor to seek inspiration. Instead, the art comes alive and possesses him. You’re about to be part of the permanent exhibition.
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights runs from August 29 through November 2, 2025.
Universal Studios Orlando’s Horror Nights 2025. Photo: Wendy Lee Szany.