Synopsis
Strange things begin to occur as a tiny California coastal town prepares to commemorate its centenary. Inanimate objects spring eerily to life; Rev. Malone stumbles upon a dark secret about the town's founding; radio announcer Stevie witnesses a mystical fire; and hitchhiker Elizabeth discovers the mutilated corpse of a fisherman. Then a mysterious iridescent fog descends upon the village, and more people start to die.
Key facts
Cast
Adrienne Barbeau, Tom Atkins, Jamie Lee Curtis, Hal Holbrook, Janet Leigh, Nancy Kyes, Ty Mitchell, John Houseman
Original language
English
First release
February 1, 1980 (United States)
Production companies
AVCO EMBASSY PICTURES CORPORATION
Home video distributors
Magnetic Video (United States), Embassy Home Entertainment (Germany, United States), Nelson Entertainment (United States), Cel (Australia)
Setting
California
Filming locations
California
Crew
Screenplay
Debra Hill, John Carpenter
Producer
Barry Bernardi, Debra Hill, Pegi Brotman
Cinematography
Dean Cundey
Editing
Charles Bornstein, Dean Cundey, Tommy Lee Wallace
Music
John Carpenter
Trailer
Stills
Reviews
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Festival History
- Festival du Nouveau Cinéma 2026 - Special Presentations
- Grimmfest 2026 - Special Q&A screening
- Popcorn Frights Film Festival 2025 - Features
- Fright Night Film Fest 2021
Titles
| Original title | The Fog | English |
| Québec French title | Le brouillard | |
| Alternate title | John Carpenter's The Fog |
VHS & home video releases
| VHS | Embassy Home Entertainment (cat. no. 2003) | 1980, Germany, clamshell |
| VHS | Magnetic Video (cat. no. 4067) | 1980, United States, slipcase |
| VHS | Embassy Home Entertainment (cat. no. 2003) | 1985, United States, slipcase |
| VHS | Nelson Entertainment (cat. no. 2003) | 1987, United States, slipcase |
| VHS | Cel (cat. no. 90252) | 1989, Australia, clamshell |
| Betamax | Magnetic Video (cat. no. 4067) | 1980, United States, slipcase |
| Betamax | Embassy Home Entertainment (cat. no. 2003) | 1985, United States, slipcase |
Soundtracks
| Vinyl LP | The Fog (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - John Carpenter, Bob Walter, Jim Cypherd (1984) | 18 releases, 1984-2022: Colosseum, Death Waltz Recording Company, Silva Screen, Varèse Sarabande (+1 more) |
| 7" vinyl | The Fog - John Carpenter (2015) | 2 releases, 2015-2018: Silva Screen |
| CD | The Fog (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - John Carpenter, Bob Walter, Jim Cypherd (1984) | 10 releases, 1984-2018: Silva America, Silva Screen, StudioCanal, Varèse Sarabande (+1 more) |
| Cassette | The Fog (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - John Carpenter, Bob Walter, Jim Cypherd (1984) | 1 release, 1984: Varèse Sarabande |
Releases & classifications
| Theatrical | United States | February 1, 1980 |
| Theatrical | Chile | February 7, 1980 |
| Theatrical | France | March 19, 1980 |
| Theatrical | Italy | March 22, 1980 |
| Theatrical | Netherlands | May 14, 1980 |
| Theatrical | Japan | May 24, 1980 |
| Theatrical | Sweden | June 30, 1980 |
| Theatrical | Mexico | July 17, 1980 |
| Theatrical | Germany | August 27, 1980 |
| Theatrical | Argentina | August 28, 1980 |
| Theatrical | United Kingdom | November 6, 1980 |
| Theatrical | Ireland | November 7, 1980 |
| Theatrical | Portugal | November 5, 1981 |
| Classification | Germany | 16 |
| Classification | United Kingdom | 15 |
| Classification | United States | R |
Versions & editions
| Original version (English) | ||
| Home video Betamax | United States | 1980 4067 |
| Home video VHS | Germany | 1980 2003 |
| Home video VHS | United States | 1980 4067 |
| Home video VHS | United States | 1985 2003 |
| Home video Betamax | United States | 1985 2003 |
| Home video VHS | United States | 1987 2003 |
| Home video VHS | Australia | 1989 90252 |
| Home video | France | August 18, 1999 |
| Home video | Italy | August 27, 2002 |
| Home video | Sweden | August 11, 2004 |
| Home video | Sweden | June 1, 2007 |
| Home video | Netherlands | February 19, 2008 |
| Home video | United Kingdom | August 4, 2008 |
| Home video | France | September 23, 2008 |
| Home video | Sweden | January 7, 2009 |
| Home video | France | November 7, 2018 |
| Home video | Italy | October 16, 2019 |
Full credits
| Director | John Carpenter |
| Cast | Adrienne Barbeau (Stevie Wayne), Tom Atkins (Nick Castle), Jamie Lee Curtis (Elizabeth Solley), Hal Holbrook (Father Malone), Janet Leigh (Kathy Williams), Nancy Kyes (Sandy Fadel), Ty Mitchell (Andy), John Houseman (Mr. Machen), James Canning (Dick Baxter), Charles Cyphers (Dan O'Bannon), John F. Goff (Al Williams), George Buck Flower (Tommy Wallace), Regina Waldon (Mrs. Kobritz), Jim Haynie (Dockmaster), Darrow Igus (Mel), John Carpenter (Bennett), Darwin Joston (Dr. Phibes), Fred Franklyn (Ashcroft), John Strobel (Grocery Clerk), Tommy Lee Wallace (Ghost), Lee Socks (Ghost), Ric Moreno (Ghost), Rob Bottin (Blake), Charles Nicklin (Blake (voice)), Debra Hill (Blonde Girl on Bleachers (uncredited)), John Allen Vick (Sheriff David Simms) |
| Screenplay | Debra Hill, John Carpenter |
| Producer | Barry Bernardi, Debra Hill, Pegi Brotman |
| Executive producer | Charles B. Bloch |
| Cinematography | Dean Cundey |
| Editing | Charles Bornstein, Dean Cundey, Tommy Lee Wallace |
| Music | John Carpenter |
| Production design | Tommy Lee Wallace |
| Visual effects | Richard Albain Jr. |
| Sound | William L. Stevenson |
| Costumes | Bill Whitten, Stephen Loomis |
Additional data: TMDB.
Source: Cinémathèque québécoise, linked catalogue data (CC BY 4.0)
