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Creepshow

Creepshow is a 1982 American horror-comedy anthology film directed by George A.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Creepshow is a 1982 American horror-comedy anthology film directed by George A. Romero and written by Stephen King, in his screenwriting debut. It presents five horror tales framed by comic-book-style wraparound segments and was made as a tribute to 1950s EC horror comics. The film was followed by the sequel Creepshow 2 in 1987.

Background and production

Creepshow was developed as a comic-book-style horror anthology that recreated the look and feel of mid-century horror comics. George A. Romero directed the film from Stephen King's screenplay, marking King's screenwriting debut.

Format and stories

The film uses a wraparound structure and contains five separate tales of terror. Its stories include the "Father's Day" segment, "The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill", "Something to Tide You Over", "The Crate", and "They're Creeping Up on You!".

Reception and box office

Creepshow was commercially successful in the United States, where it grossed about $21 million. It has since become a cult favorite among horror fans.

Legacy

The film spawned the sequel Creepshow 2 in 1987 and later expanded into other Creepshow-related works, including comics and a television series listed in disambiguation references.

Key facts

  • Creepshow is an anthology film made up of five horror stories plus a framing narrative.
  • It was directed by George A. Romero and written by Stephen King as his first screenplay.
  • Two segments, "The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill" and "The Crate", were based on King stories, while the others were original material written for the film.
  • The film was designed as an homage to EC horror comics such as Tales from the Crypt.
  • It earned about $21 million in the United States.
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Canadian context

Creepshow was released theatrically in Canada as part of the North American market and later circulated widely on home video and television, contributing to its cult status among Canadian horror fans.

Frequently asked questions

What is Creepshow?
Creepshow is a 1982 American horror-comedy anthology film directed by George A. Romero and written by Stephen King.
Is Creepshow based on comics?
Yes. It was made as a tribute to EC horror comics and uses a comic-book-style presentation.
How many stories are in Creepshow?
The film contains five main stories, with an additional framing narrative.
What are the best-known segments in Creepshow?
"Father's Day", "The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill", "Something to Tide You Over", "The Crate", and "They're Creeping Up on You!" are the five principal segments.
Did Creepshow have a sequel?
Yes. Creepshow 2 was released in 1987.
How successful was Creepshow?
It earned about $21 million in the United States.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creepshow
    Supports: Basic identification, year, director, writer, anthology structure, segment sources, box office, and sequel.
  2. Wikipedia (German) — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creepshow
    Supports: Tribute to EC comics and comic-book-style presentation.
  3. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Creepshow
    Supports: Romero-directed King screenplay and sequel collaboration context.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creepshow_(disambiguation)
    Supports: Existence of related works including Creepshow 2, Creepshow 3, comics, and TV series.