The Hills Have Eyes
A horror franchise about cannibal clans in the desert.
The Hills Have Eyes is an American horror franchise built around five films, a graphic novel, and related merchandise. Created by Wes Craven—the filmmaker behind the *Nightmare on Elm Street* and *Scream* series—the story follows a group stranded in a desert who are stalked by a family of mutated cannibals living in the nearby hills. The franchise began with the 1977 original and was later rebooted with a 2006 remake. The films have earned an unverifiable combined box office; the 2006 remake grossed approximately $70 million worldwide, while the original 1977 film had a very limited theatrical release with no reliable reported gross. The cast has included Dee Wallace, Aaron Stanford, Michael Berryman, and Emilie de Ravin. Critical response to most of the movies has been mixed. In July 2007, Fox Atomic Comics released a graphic novel tied to the remake continuity, titled *The Hills Have Eyes: The Beginning*. Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray with art by John Higgins, it explores how the mutants—transformed by radiation from nuclear testing—became the horrific creatures seen in the films.
- Field
- Horror film franchise
- Creator
- Wes Craven
- First film release
- 1977
- Number of films
- 5
- Total box office
- unverifiable; 2006 remake grossed ~$70 million worldwide, 1977 original had no reliable reported gross
- Notable cast
- Dee Wallace, Aaron Stanford, Michael Berryman, Emilie de Ravin
Lore & Background
The franchise began with the 1977 film The Hills Have Eyes, directed by Wes Craven. It was rebooted with a 2006 remake, followed by a 2007 prequel. The films' combined box office is unverifiable; the 2006 remake grossed approximately $70 million worldwide, while the original 1977 film had a very limited theatrical release with no reliable reported gross. The series has featured actors and actresses including Dee Wallace, Aaron Stanford, Michael Berryman, and Emilie de Ravin.
Reader's Guide
The Hills Have Eyes franchise is significant as a creation of Wes Craven, a major figure in horror cinema. The series explores themes of survival and family against monstrous adversaries. Most of the films have received mixed reception from critics. The franchise expanded into comics with a graphic novel titled The Hills Have Eyes: The Beginning, released in July 2007 to coincide with The Hills Have Eyes 2. Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, and drawn by John Higgins, the graphic novel reveals the genesis of the mutants, who were once normal people, ignorant to the rest of the world, and how they evolved into horrific creatures. The franchise's legacy lies in its enduring premise of ordinary people confronting extreme horror in an isolated setting.
Did You Know?
- The franchise consists of five horror films (1977 original, 1984 sequel, 1995 TV movie, 2006 remake, and 2007 prequel), a graphic novel, and merchandise.
- The first film was released in 1977, and the series was rebooted in a 2006 remake.
- A graphic novel titled The Hills Have Eyes: The Beginning was released in July 2007, and in the remake continuity the mutants were affected by radiation from nuclear testing.
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