Why did cult director John Carpenter quit Hollywood?
John Carpenter is behind multiple legendary 80s horror and sci-fi movies. Most notably, he worked on “Halloween” (1978). Not only did he direct it, but he wrote and composed it himself. Beyond Halloween, his film “The Fog” (1980) was a commercial hit, and his filmography includes other, smaller cult classics like “The Thing” (1982) and “They Live” (1988). However, his movies weren’t always hits, and he’s spent multiple decades straying from his original path of mass-market Hollywood fame.
Growing up, Carpenter loved low-budget 50’s horror movies, and began making his own before he got to high school. It’s no surprise, then, that his big break came with “Halloween.” He was praised for his ability to make great movies with a low budget, and the film contributed to the development of the slasher genre. One of his early thrillers, “Assault on Precinct 13,” kicked off his collaborative relationship with producer Debra Hill. In 1982, he released “The Thing,” which failed with audiences due to its bleakness.
From there, things began to take a downward turn for Carpenter. He was supposed to direct “Firestarter” (1984), but lost the job to Mark L. Lester. He was contracted to direct multiple movies with Universal Studios, but they decided to buy him out after his disappointing run. In 1986, Carpenter released “Big Trouble in Little China,” a big-budget action movie with 20th Century Fox. It lost up to $14 million at the box office. Not only was it catastrophic for the studio, but it made it nearly impossible for Carpenter to find funding for the following movies.
Carpenter hasn’t directed a movie in 15 years, but he’s found ways to stay involved in the industry. He took on the roles of executive producer, co-composer, and creative consultant for “Halloween” (2018), a sequel to his movie. He’s dived back into music, composing soundtracks for video games and releasing instrumental albums with his son and godson.
Despite his commercial decline, Carpenter left his mark on horror, influencing other big names in film like Quentin Tarantino and Hans Zimmer. In a Variety interview, he said, “Whether I’m always successful, I don’t care. I’m living my dream, and there is nothing better as a human being.” Evidently, Carpenter seems to be doing just fine, regardless of what the dollar signs indicate.
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