Academy Museum Opens “The Horror Show” Exhibition

Artist Weekly Staff

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is opening “The Horror Show,” an immersive exhibition examining horror cinema through original props, costumes, production materials and interactive displays. The Los Angeles exhibition spans six thematic sections and is accompanied by screenings and other activities exploring the craft and history of the genre.

Key Takeaways

“The Horror Show” opens at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on September 26
The exhibition examines six horror themes: Gothic, Psychological, Science, Slasher, Religion and Ghosts
Displays include original film props, costumes and production materials
Interactive displays complement the exhibition’s physical artifacts and thematic sections
The exhibition is scheduled to remain on view through July 25, 2027

Academy Museum Opens “The Horror Show” on September 26

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is opening the Academy Museum Horror Show on September 26, presenting an immersive exhibition centered on horror cinema. The exhibition brings together film artifacts, costumes, props, production materials and interactive displays within a museum setting in Los Angeles.

The exhibition is structured around six themes: Gothic, Psychological, Science, Slasher, Religion and Ghosts. Each section addresses a distinct area of horror cinema while contributing to the exhibition’s broader examination of the genre.

The presentation combines physical film materials with interactive elements. Visitors can encounter objects connected to horror filmmaking while moving through displays organized according to the exhibition’s six thematic categories.

The Academy Museum has also scheduled screenings and other activities connected with the exhibition. Those activities extend the presentation beyond the physical exhibits and provide additional opportunities to engage with horror cinema.

“The Horror Show” is scheduled to remain on view through July 25, 2027. Its extended run gives the exhibition a substantial period for visitors to access the displays and related activities.

Exhibition Covers Six Major Horror Cinema Themes

The six sections organize the Academy Museum Horror Show around Gothic, Psychological, Science, Slasher, Religion and Ghosts. The structure allows the exhibition to address different forms of horror through separate thematic areas.

Gothic horror forms one of the exhibition’s categories, placing the genre’s Gothic elements within the museum presentation. Psychological horror receives its own section, separating stories centered on psychological elements from the exhibition’s other themes.

Science is another category in the exhibition. The section places science-related horror within the broader presentation alongside the other major themes.

Slasher films are represented as a separate category. The exhibition also includes dedicated sections for Religion and Ghosts, giving each theme a defined place within the visitor experience.

The six-part structure provides the organizational framework for the exhibition. Rather than presenting the material as a single undivided collection, the museum has arranged it according to specific horror subjects.

This structure also allows the physical objects and interactive displays to be connected with particular areas of horror cinema. Visitors can move between the categories while encountering different forms of film-related material.

Original Film Props and Costumes Anchor the Displays

Original props and costumes form a central part of the exhibition. The displays also include production materials connected with horror films, giving visitors access to physical objects associated with filmmaking.

Film props provide tangible examples of the objects created or used for productions. Costumes similarly connect the exhibition to the visual construction of characters and scenes in horror movies.

Production materials add another component to the exhibition. Together with props and costumes, they allow the museum to present elements of filmmaking alongside the finished films themselves.

The emphasis on physical objects also reflects wider museum and gallery interest in cinema-related material, including hand-painted film posters and other artifacts associated with film production and visual culture.

The Academy Museum has incorporated these materials into an exhibition focused specifically on horror cinema. The arrangement places the physical artifacts within the six-category structure covering Gothic, Psychological, Science, Slasher, Religion and Ghosts.

The objects therefore form part of a larger exhibition design rather than appearing as unrelated film memorabilia. Their placement within the thematic sections connects individual artifacts with the particular horror subjects represented in the exhibition.

The presentation also gives the exhibition a direct connection to film production. Props, costumes and production materials provide physical examples of the work involved in creating horror films and their visual worlds.

Interactive Installations Expand the Museum Experience

Interactive displays are another component of “The Horror Show.” The exhibition combines those elements with physical film artifacts to create a visitor experience that extends beyond static displays.

The interactive components are included alongside the exhibition’s props, costumes and production materials. Visitors can therefore encounter both physical objects and interactive elements while moving through the themed sections.

The format places the audience inside a museum presentation designed around horror cinema. The exhibition does not rely only on individual objects; it combines different types of displays within a single experience.

The use of interactive elements parallels the growing role of immersive audiovisual experiences that combine visual material, sound and installation formats within contemporary cultural presentations.

The six themes provide the framework for that experience. Gothic, Psychological, Science, Slasher, Religion and Ghosts each contribute a separate subject area within the exhibition.

The museum’s approach also connects the visual and physical aspects of horror filmmaking. Costumes and props provide material elements, while interactive displays add another form of visitor engagement.

The exhibition’s focus remains on horror cinema and its associated materials. Its displays bring together artifacts and interactive components under a single thematic structure rather than separating film history from the visitor experience.

The Academy Museum’s Los Angeles location provides the setting for the exhibition, placing the collection and interactive displays within an institution dedicated to motion-picture history and culture.

“The Horror Show” is scheduled to remain available through July 25, 2027. The length of the exhibition provides an extended period for audiences to visit the displays and participate in the associated activities.

Horror Screenings and Museum Activities Accompany the Exhibition

The Academy Museum is also presenting screenings and other activities alongside “The Horror Show.” These events provide additional film-related material connected with the exhibition’s focus on horror cinema.

Screenings give visitors an opportunity to engage with horror films as films, complementing the physical objects displayed throughout the exhibition. The activities also place the artifacts and production materials within a wider museum schedule centered on the genre.

The exhibition’s six themes remain central to the overall presentation. The screenings and other activities accompany the displays rather than replacing the exhibition’s physical collection.

The combination of exhibits and screenings gives the Academy Museum several formats for presenting horror cinema. Visitors can encounter costumes, props and production materials in the exhibition while also attending scheduled film-related activities.

The exhibition will remain on view until July 25, 2027. During that period, the Academy Museum Horror Show will continue to provide access to its six thematic sections, physical film materials and interactive displays.

The exhibition’s activities also maintain a direct connection between the museum’s objects and horror filmmaking. Props, costumes and production materials provide physical evidence of film production, while screenings present the finished cinematic work.

The result is a museum exhibition built around multiple forms of engagement with horror cinema. Its organization around six themes gives the displays a defined structure, while the combination of artifacts, interactive elements and screenings provides different ways to encounter the subject.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Academy Museum Horror Show?

“The Horror Show” is an immersive exhibition at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures focused on horror cinema. It features film artifacts, costumes, props, production materials and interactive displays.

When does The Horror Show open at the Academy Museum?

The exhibition is scheduled to open on September 26 at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles.

How long will The Horror Show remain on view?

“The Horror Show” is scheduled to remain on view through July 25, 2027.

What films and artifacts are featured in The Horror Show?

The exhibition includes original props, costumes and production materials from horror films. Its displays are organized around six themes: Gothic, Psychological, Science, Slasher, Religion and Ghosts.