Prince of Darkness
“Before man walked the earth...It slept for centuries. It is evil. It is real. It is awakening.”
Synopsis
A priest discovers an ancient canister containing a strange liquid in an abandoned church. When a group of graduate students and scientists are tasked with studying it, they unknowingly unleash an evil force waiting to destroy all of humanity.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Bong Joon Ho Reveals the John Carpenter Film That Terrified Him!Official
Type: Featurette • Published 2025-08-26
Top Cast
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Donald Pleasence
Priest
Lisa Blount
Catherine Danforth
Victor Wong
Prof. Howard Birack
Jameson Parker
Brian Marsh
Dennis Dun
Walter
Susan Blanchard
Kelly
Anne Marie Howard
Susan Cabot
Ann Yen
Lisa
Ken Wright
Lomax
Dirk Blocker
Mullins
Jessie Lawrence Ferguson
Calder
Peter Jason
Dr. Paul Leahy
Robert Grasmere
Frank Wyndham
Thom Bray
Etchinson
Joanna Merlin
Bag Lady
Alice Cooper
Street Schizo
Betty Ramey
Nun
Release History & Theatrical Window
October 23, 1987
Wide Cinema Exhibition
June 24, 2003
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$3M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$14.2M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
4.73x
+$11.2M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- John Carpenter
- Screenplay & Story
- John Carpenter
- Original Score
- John Carpenter, Alan Howarth
- Original Title
- Prince of Darkness
- Country of Origin
- United States of America, Netherlands
- Spoken Languages
- Latin, English
- Runtime
- 1h 42m
- Production Budget
- $3M
- Worldwide Gross
- $14.2M
- Production Studios
- Alive Films, Larry Franco Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
John Carpenter
John Carpenter
John Carpenter, Alan Howarth
Gary B. Kibbe
Steve Mirkovich
Larry Franco, Andre Blay, Shep Gordon
Department Leadership Roster
John Carpenter
Director
John Carpenter
Screenplay
John Carpenter
Original Music Composer
Alan Howarth
Original Music Composer
Larry Franco
Producer
Gary B. Kibbe
Director of Photography
Steve Mirkovich
Editor
Daniel A. Lomino
Production Design
Robert Grasmere
Visual Effects Supervisor
Jeff Imada
Stunt Coordinator
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Prince of Darkness.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Prince of Darkness.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Prince of Darkness
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Prince of Darkness about?
A priest discovers an ancient canister containing a strange liquid in an abandoned church. When a group of graduate students and scientists are tasked with studying it, they unknowingly unleash an evil force waiting to destroy all of humanity.
Who directed Prince of Darkness?
Prince of Darkness was directed by John Carpenter.
Who stars in Prince of Darkness?
The principal cast of Prince of Darkness includes Donald Pleasence, Lisa Blount, Victor Wong, Jameson Parker, Dennis Dun.
When was Prince of Darkness released and how long is it?
Prince of Darkness was released in 1987 with a total runtime of 1h 42m.
What was the box office and production budget of Prince of Darkness?
Prince of Darkness had a reported production budget of $3M and grossed $14.2M at the worldwide box office (4.73 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Prince of Darkness?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Prince of Darkness was composed by John Carpenter, Alan Howarth.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Prince of Darkness?
Prince of Darkness holds official age classifications: DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); FR: 12 (Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.); GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).