AMC and AMC+ have officially unveiled the trailer for their long-running, annual genre programming event, “FearFest,” and this year, they’re crowning a true icon of style and spooky spirit: award-winning artist, musician, and devoted horror enthusiast Janelle Monáe (Glass Onion, Antebellum) is the official host.
The event is set to deliver an unprecedented 650+ hours of iconic horror film franchises, new series, specials, and more, making it the essential viewing destination for the Halloween season.
The “Carnival of Frights” Trailer: Monáe’s Macabre Vision
This year’s official “FearFest” trailer, titled “Carnival of Frights,” brings a fresh, artful, and stylish take on classic terror. The trailer was brought to life by legendary, award-winning director and frequent Monáe collaborator, Alan Ferguson.
Evoking a sophisticated, classical carnival experience, the creative embodies Monáe’s deep relationship with the horror genre: it’s artful, over-the-top, and driven by her genuine, infectious passion. The joy of horror is front and center as Monáe pays homage to fan-favorite movie villains, from Freddy Krueger’s terrifying finger blades to Michael Myers’ menacing knife. She truly reigns as this year’s official HalloQueen.
Presenting Sponsors: BACARDÍ Rum and Kraft Heinz Join the Fray
To support the massive scope of the event, AMC Networks has brought on two powerhouse brands as presenting sponsors: BACARDÍ Rum and Kraft Heinz.
BACARDÍ Rum: The Ultimate Spirit of the Season
BACARDÍ Rum is partnering with FearFest to serve as the ultimate spirit of the season, blending custom content with immersive fan experiences. This includes:
- Wondaween Title Sponsor: BACARDÍ will serve as the title sponsor of Monáe’s legendary Wondaween bash (in partnership with WME/Wondaland Arts Society), crafting unique, spooky cocktails for the most iconic Halloween celebration of the year.
- Signature Cocktail: Fans can enjoy Monáe’s signature “FearFest” Halloween cocktail, the BACARDÍ Rave Yard Mojito.
- Curated Collection: BACARDÍ Rum is also sponsoring “FearFest Favorites by Janelle Monáe” on AMC+, where fans can stream Monáe’s hand-curated list of her favorite horror films throughout October.
Kraft Heinz and Velveeta
Kraft Heinz has secured an expanded cross-platform sponsorship that highlights Velveeta in custom content across linear television and social media. Velveeta will also sponsor the “Best of FearFest” collection on AMC+ for the entire month, proving that even gooey, cheesy comfort food can find a place in the horror lineup.
Programming Highlights: Over 650 Hours of Terror
Viewers can look forward to a staggering schedule packed with franchise favorites and exciting new entries:
- Iconic Franchises: Relive the scares with complete collections of A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Friday the 13th, and Final Destination.
- Stephen King Classics: Celebrate horror anniversaries with the Stephen King library, including It (2017), the original IT mini-series, The Shining (celebrating its 45th Anniversary), and Misery (celebrating its 35th Anniversary).
- New Originals: Catch new episodes of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon and the debut of the all-new series in the Anne Rice Universe, Talamasca: The Secret Order.
- Ghoul Specials: Don’t miss ghoulish holiday specials like The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs: FearFest, which will feature a double-feature screening of A Nightmare on Elm Street and Freddy vs. Jason.
FearFest 2025:
Wednesday, October 1
FearFest Halloween Kickoff Marathon
3 pm: Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
5 pm: Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
7 pm: Halloween (1978)
9 pm: Halloween II (1981)
11 pm: Halloween III: Season of the Witch at 11p
Thursday, October 2
6 pm: Trick ‘r Treat
8 pm: Friday the 13th (2009)
10 pm: Jeepers Creepers
Friday, October 3
AMC Premiere Event
8 pm: It (2017)
Saturday, October 4
Freddy vs. Jason Weekend
8 am: Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter
10 am: Friday the 13th: A New Beginning
12 pm: Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives
2 pm: Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood
4 pm: Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
6 pm: Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday
8 pm: Friday the 13th (1980)
10 pm: Friday the 13th Part 2
12 am: Friday the 13th Part III
2 am: Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter
4 am: Friday the 13th: A New Beginning
Sunday, October 5
Freddy vs. Jason Weekend Continues
6 am: Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare
8 am: A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child
10 am: ; A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
12:15 pm: A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
2:30 pm: A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge
4:30 pm: A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
6:45 pm: Freddy vs. Jason
Monday, October 6
5:30 pm: House of Wax (2005)
8 pm: Ghost Ship
10 pm: Thir13n Ghosts
Tuesday, October 7
Creature Feature
9 am: Eight Legged Freaks
11:30 am: Leprechaun
1:30 pm: Pumpkinhead
3:30 pm: The Thing
6 pm: Pet Sematary
8 pm: Lake Placid
10 pm: Tremors
12 am: Child’s Play
2 am: Cujo
4 am: Anaconda
Wednesday, October 8
8 pm: The Last Drive-in with Joe Bob Briggs: A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
10:55 pm: Freddy vs. Jason
Thursday, October 9
2:30 pm: Stephen King’s It Part 1
4:45 pm: Stephen King’s It Part 2
7 pm: Christine
9 pm: It (2017)
Friday, October 10
Run Michael Run Marathon
2 pm: Halloween III: Season of the Witch
4 pm: Halloween (1978)
6 pm: Halloween II (1981
8 pm: Halloween (2007)
10:30 pm: Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
12:30 am: Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
Saturday, October 11
Final Destination Marathon
1 pm: Final Destination (2000)
3 pm: Final Destination 2
5 pm: Final Destination 3
7 pm: The Final Destination (2009)
9 pm: Final Destination 5
11 pm: Final Destination (2000)
Sunday, October 12
Fear the ‘80s Marathon
8 am: Fright Night (1985)
10:30 am: Poltergeist
1 pm: Christine
3 pm: Silver Bullet
5 pm: Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
7 pm: Friday the 13th (1980)
Monday, October 13
Halloween Marathon
2 pm: Halloween III: Season of the Witch
4 pm: Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
6 pm: Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
8 pm: Halloween (1978)
10 pm: Halloween II (1981)
Tuesday, October 14
A Nightmare of Freddy Marathon
11:30 am: Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare
1:30 pm: Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child
3:30 pm: A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
5:45 pm: A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
8 pm: A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
10:15 pm: A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge
Wednesday, October 15
6 pm: Trick ‘r Treat
8 pm: Jeepers Creepers
10 pm: I Know What You Did Last Summer
Thursday, October 16
7:15 pm: The Omen
9:45 pm: Carrie (2013)
Friday, October 17
Friday the 13th Marathon
11 am: Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday
1 pm: Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan
3 pm: Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives
5 pm: Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood
7 pm: Freddy vs. Jason
9:15 pm: Friday the 13th (1980)
11:15 pm: Friday the 13th Part 2
1:15 am: Friday the 13th Part III
Saturday, October 18
Stephen King Marathon
8:45 am: Pet Sematary
10:45 am: Graveyard Shift
12:45 pm: Thinner
2:45 pm: It (2017)
5:45 pm: Carrie (2013)
8 pm: Christine
10 pm: Misery
12:30 am: Silver Bullet
2:30 am: Cujo
Sunday, October 19
Michael vs. Everyone Marathon
8:30 am: Halloween III: Season of the Witch
10:30 am: Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
12:30 pm: Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
2:30 pm: Halloween (2007)
5 pm: Halloween II (1981)
7 pm: Halloween (1978)
Monday, October 20
1:30 pm: Stephen King’s It Part 1
3:45 pm: Stephen King’s It Part 2
6 pm: Friday the 13th Part 2
8 pm: Friday the 13th (2009)
10 pm: Freddy vs. Jason
Tuesday, October 21
5 pm: Thir13en Ghosts
7 pm: Final Destination (2000)
9 pm: Final Destination 2
Wednesday, October 22
No Survivors Marathon
4:30 pm: Jeepers Creepers
6:30 pm: Halloween (2007)
9 pm: Ghost Ship
11 pm: Friday the 13th (2009)
Thursday, October 23
6 pm: Trick ‘r Treat
8 pm: I Know What You Did Last Summer
10:15 pm: Scream 4
Friday, October 24
Supernatural Marathon
11:30 am: The Exorcist
2:15 pm: The Shining
5:45 pm: Poltergeist
8:15 pm: The Conjuring
10:45 pm: The Omen (2006)
1:15 am: Insidious: The Last Key
Saturday, October 25
Halloween Marathon
1 pm: Halloween III: Season of the Witch
3 pm: Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
5 pm: ; Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
7 pm: Halloween (1978)
9:30 pm: Halloween (2007)
11:30 pm: Halloween II (1981)
Sunday, October 26
Final Destination Marathon
11 am: Final Destination (2000)
1 pm: Final Destination 2
3 pm: Final Destination 3
5 pm: The Final Destination (2009)
7 pm: Final Destination 5
Monday, October 27
7 pm: Thir13en Ghosts
9 pm: House of Wax (2005)
11:30 pm: Ghost Ship
Tuesday, October 28
6 pm: Final Destination 5
8 pm: Final Destination (2000)
10: pm: Trick ‘r Treat
Wednesday, October 29
7 pm: Poltergeist
9:30 pm: A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
11:45 pm: A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge
Thursday, October 30
Halloween on Halloween Marathon
2 pm: Halloween III: Season of the Witch
4 pm: Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
6 pm: Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
8 pm: ; Halloween (2007)
10:30 pm: Halloween (1978)
12:30 am: Halloween II (1981)
2:30 am: Halloween III: Season of the Witch
4:30 am: Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
Friday, October 31
Halloween on Halloween Marathon Continues
6:30 am: Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
8:30 am: Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
10:30 am: Halloween (1978)
12:30 pm: Halloween II (1981)
2:30 pm: Halloween III: Season of the Witch
4:30 pm: Halloween (2007)
7 pm: Halloween (1978)
9 pm: Halloween II (1981)
11 pm: Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
1 am: Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
3 am: Halloween (1978)
