History Creator / JohnCarpenter

* ''Someone's Watching Me'' (1978), a [[MadeForTVMovie made-for-TV]] thriller about a woman being stalked by a [[ThePeepingTom peeping Tom]].
* ''Elvis'' (1979), a made-for-TV Music/ElvisPresley biopic; Carpenter's first collaboration with Creator/KurtRussell.

* ''Film/TheResurrectionOfBronchoBilly'' (1970) (short film)(writer, editor, composer only)

* ''Film/EyesOfLauraMars'' (1978, writer only)

* ''Someone's Watching Me'' (1978), a [[MadeForTVMovie made-for-TV]] thriller about a woman being stalked by a [[ThePeepingTom peeping tom]].

* ''Film/BodyBags'' (1993, 2 segments and wraparound)

* ''Series/MastersOfHorror'' (2005–06, 2 episodes)

* ''[[VideoGame/FirstEncounterAssaultRecon F.E.A.R. 3]]'' (2011, cutscenes contributor)

* ''Film/{{Halloween|2018}}'' (2018, producer and composer)
** ''Film/HalloweenKills'' (2021, producer and composer)

* AntiHero: Most of the heroes in his movies aren't clean-cut, or tend to make mistakes that get people killed.

* ''Film/EyesOfLauraMars'' (1978)

* ''Elvis'' (1979): a made-for-TV Music/ElvisPresley biopic; Carpenter's first collaboration with Creator/KurtRussell.

* ''Film/SomeonesWatchingMe'' (1978), a [[MadeForTVMovie made-for-TV]] thriller about a woman being stalked by a [[ThePeepingTom peeping tom]].

* ''Someone's Watching Me!'' (1978), a [[MadeForTVMovie made-for-TV]] thriller about a woman being stalked by a [[ThePeepingTom peeping tom]].

* ''Film/TheFog1980'' (1980)

* SomethingCompletelyDifferent:
** ''Film/{{Starman}}'' may come as a surprise to anyone who is familiar with most of his films as it is the most light-hearted work of his whole career. It is mostly devoided of the violent and bleak thematics commonly seen in his other movies, despite it occasionally feature moments where the pacifist alien played by Creator/JeffBridges learns about the darker aspects of human condition.
** ''Film/BigTroubleInLittleChina'' is a goofy, light-hearted action fantasy.

* ''Film/TheFog'' (1980)

* CorruptChurch: Not so much "corrupt" as harboring a dark and terrible secret. ''Film/TheFog'' has a Catholic priest's ancestor — also a priest — who had a hand in the death of Blake and his men, the church in ''Film/PrinceOfDarkness'' has {{Satan}} itself [[SealedEvilInACan sealed in a container]] in its basement, which a sect known as the Brotherhood of Sleep has been keeping secret for a long time (admittedly for the noble goal of preventing its unsealing). Finally, ''Film/JohnCarpentersVampires'' has Jan Valek, the MonsterProgenitor of the vampire race, whose creation was caused by a failed reverse exorcism sanctioned by the Catholic Church. Also, Cardinal Alba [[spoiler:made a deal with Valek to be turned after the ceremony, thus playing this trope straight.]]

[floatboxright: Genres:
+ {{Horror}}, {{Thriller}}, ScienceFiction, {{Action|Genre}}
]

His films are characterized by minimalist lighting and photography, static cameras, use of steadicam, and distinctive synthesized scores (usually self-composed). Many of today's best directors, including Creator/TimBurton and Creator/ChristopherNolan, state that they were heavily influenced by Carpenter's style and filmography.

Tends to indulge in InCaseYouForgotWhoWroteIt.

Since the release of ''Film/GhostsOfMars'' in 2001 he has gone into a state of semi-retirement, although he returned to the director's chair for several episodes of ''Series/MastersOfHorror'' and the movie ''Film/TheWard''.

+ {{Horror}}, {{Thriller}}, ScienceFiction, [[ActionGenre Action]]

+ {{Horror}}, {{Thriller}}, ScienceFiction, {{Action}}

Not to be confused with John Carpenter, the famous $1,000,000 winner on the show Series/WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire, or with John Carpenter, the man tried and acquitted for the murder of [[Series/HogansHeroes Bob Crane]].

+ {{Horror}}, {{Thriller}}, ScienceFiction

* Two of the three segments and the wraparound in ''Film/BodyBags'' (1993)

* Two episodes of ''Series/MastersOfHorror'' (2005-06):

Not to be confused with John Carpenter, the infamous $1,000,000 winner on the show Series/WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire, or with John Carpenter, the man tried and acquitted for the murder of [[Series/HogansHeroes Bob Crane]].

* ''Someone's Watching Me!'' (1978), a [[MadeForTVMovie made-for-TV]] thriller about a woman being stalked by a PeepingTom.

* {{Gorn}}: ''Film/TheThing1982'' and ''Cigarette Burns''.

* WidescreenShot: Almost all his movies from ''Assault on Precinct 13'' on were shot using the anamorphic Panavision widescreen process, and his compositions often make full use of the wide frame. In an interview, he said it was some of the best advice he got as a young filmmaker - shooting widescreen instantly makes your film look more professional and less cheap.

John Howard Carpenter (born January 16, 1948) is an American film director and screenwriter, known primarily for his work in the horror and science fiction genres. His career is speckled with films considered genre classics, as well as a number of movies that initially performed poorly at the box office, but went on to be VindicatedByCable.

* WidescreenShot: Almost all his movies from ''Assault on Precinct 13'' on were shot using the anamorphic Panavision widescreen process, and his compositions often make full use of the wide frame.

Not to be confused with John Carpenter, the infamous $1,000,000 winner on the show Series/WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire