Fright Nights (previously Halloween Family Fun Nights and Halloween Fright Nights) is a seasonal Halloween event held at Warner Bros. Movie World on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.[1] The event began in 2006 as Halloween Family Fun Night as a single night event and has since evolved into a major park event across a month.[2][3] It features themed mazes, shows and rides. Fright Nights (formerly Fright Nites) also refers to the Halloween special event at Thorpe Park in Chertsey, Surrey, England, which opened in 2002.[4]

Fright Nights
GenreHalloween
FrequencyAnnual
Location(s)Warner Bros. Movie World
27°54′26.17″S 153°18′45.54″E / 27.9072694°S 153.3126500°E / -27.9072694; 153.3126500
Inaugurated2006
WebsiteOfficial website

History

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Fellow Gold Coast theme park, Dreamworld was the first to hold a Halloween themed night event. This event occurred once in April 2004, rather than October when Halloween actually takes place.[5] This event has never been held since.

In 2006, Warner Bros. Movie World picked up on the idea and decided to run a single Halloween Family Fun Night held on 31 October with a Scooby-Doo theme. Due to the event being sold out, the park extended the event to become a 3-night event.[6][7]

This format remained until 2009 when Movie World decided to re-theme the event to target an older audience. The park advertised "extreme experiences at this event not suitable for children".[3] In 2010, Warner Bros. Movie World worked with Sudden Impact Entertainment and Lynton V. Harris to produce mazes based upon the Nightmare on Elm Street and Saw franchises.[8] Sudden Impact also created the Psycho maze. On 20 September 2010, it was announced that "Freddy's Nightmare Maze will be in Show Stage, the Saw Maze will be in a custom built area behind the Wild West Falls area and the Psycho 3D Maze will be in the Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster foyer/entrance".[9] The SAW maze was originally due to be built in a sound stage, however, this was booked and a custom built space was built as a replacement.[10]

Just after the conclusion of the 2010 event, it was announced that the event would return in 2011.[11] In the middle of August 2011, Warner Bros. Movie World began to announce mazes for the 2011 event. On 1 September 2011, full details for the 2011 event were released with the event's name changing to Fright Nights. The Saw and Psycho 3D mazes from 2010 will return alongside the new Zombie Apocalypse Maze (to be located in the adjacent Studio complex) and the new Arkham Asylum Maze (to be located in the show stage).[12][13][14][15]

In 2012, the event returned with new mazes and a collection of live shows.[16] The Psycho 3D Maze, the Les Damned de Burlesque show, and the Club Blood bar all returned. New mazes included The Film Vault, The Walking Dead Maze, and Hillbilly Slasher. New shows included the Creatures of Rock, Death Derby, and Thriller Dance.[17][18]

Fright Nights will return in 2013. It is scheduled to run on seven nights in October.[19] An attraction list has been announced with a new slew of mazes and shows. Returning is Club Blood but everything else is new with two new shows, Carnevil, and Space Cowboy being the two shows for this year. Four mazes, Hillbilly Slasher 2, The Darkness, a completely revisioned The Walking Dead maze, and Evil Dead maze. All rides were open on the night except for Justice League: Alien Invasion.

One of the most popular additions to the Fright Nights line up was the Ultimate Terror Tour, a VIP behind the scenes experience / tour which occurred at an additional cost during each night of the event season.[20] Each year, a new array of Terror Hosts would escort guests, with crowd favorite original characters such as Toxic, Seymour Graves, and Legendary Lee often returning.

Attraction history

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The following table contains a list of the scare zones and shows since the event was established in 2006.[21]

Year Name Slogan Mazes Shows Rides Precincts Panic Rooms Other
1 2006 Halloween Family Fun Night Fright Zone All rides
2 2007 Halloween Family Fun Nights It's baaack... Fright Zone Looney Tunes Halloween Show
3 other shows
All rides
3 2008 Halloween Family Fun Nights Arkham Asylum
Fright Zone
Scary Maze
Zombie Laser Hunt
Batman Show
Repeat Offender concert
All rides
4 2009 Halloween Fright Nights This time it's not so funny. Bedlam Manor
Dragon Alley
Fun House
Zombie Kill Zone
Bloody Freestyle MotoX
Les Damned de Burlesque
Nightmare House
6–9pm
Batwing Spaceshot
Lethal Weapon
Superman Escape
Wild West Falls
6–11pm
All other rides except Kids WB Fun Zone
5 2010 Halloween Fright Nights Oh yes... there will be blood. Freddy's Nightmare Maze
Psycho 3D maze
Saw Maze
Live Freak Show
The Offering
Zombie Motor Cross Live Show
6–9pm
Batwing Spaceshot
Lethal Weapon
Superman Escape
Wild West Falls
6–11pm
All other rides except Kids WB Fun Zone
6 2011 Fright Nights You won't come back the same. Arkham Asylum Maze
Psycho 3D maze
Saw Maze
Zombie Apocalypse Maze
Circus of the Damned
Les Damned de Burlesque
Saw Short Film
6–9pm
Batwing Spaceshot
Lethal Weapon
Superman Escape
6–11pm
Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster
Club Blood
7 2012 Fright Nights Can you survive the night? The Film Vault
Hillbilly Slasher
Psycho 3D Maze
The Walking Dead Maze
Creatures of Rock
Death Derby
Les Damned de Burlesque (Vampire Burlesque)
Thriller Dance
6–9pm
Arkham Asylum - Shock Therapy
Batwing Spaceshot
Green Lantern Coaster
Justice League: Alien Invasion 3D
Superman Escape
6–10:30pm
Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster
Club Blood
8 2013 Fright Nights Movie World's Dark Side Walking Dead Maze
Hillbilly Slasher 2 Maze
Evil Dead Maze
The Darkness Maze
Carnevil
Space Cowboy
6–9pm
Arkham Asylum - Shock Therapy
Batwing Spaceshot
Green Lantern Coaster
Superman Escape
6–10:30pm
Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster
Club Blood
9 2014 Fright Nights Live The Terror Cannibal Clowns Maze
The Evil Within Maze
The Ripper Maze
Wolf Creek 2 Maze
Hollywood Stunt Driver 2 6–9pm
Arkham Asylum - Shock Therapy
Batwing Spaceshot
Green Lantern Coaster
Superman Escape
6–10:30pm
Scooby Doo Spooky Coaster
10 2015 Fright Nights Live The Terror Friday the 13th Maze
Wyrmwood Maze
Evil Within Maze
Wolf Creek 2 Maze
Reel Horror Film Competition
Friday the 13th in 4D
6–9pm
Arkham Asylum - Shock Therapy
Batwing Spaceshot
Superman Escape
6–10:30pm
Scooby Doo Spooky Coaster
11 2016 Fright Nights This time you're not welcome. From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series Maze
The Conjuring 2 Maze
Friday the 13th (franchise) Maze
Wyrmwood Maze
Rise of The Dead

Freak Show

6–9pm
Arkham Asylum - Shock Therapy
Batwing Spaceshot
Superman Escape
6–10:00pm
Scooby Doo Spooky Coaster
12 2017 Fright Nights If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear. From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series Maze
The Conjuring 2 Maze
Jigsaw Maze
Halloween Maze
Freak Show 6–9pm
Arkham Asylum - Shock Therapy
Batwing Spaceshot
Superman Escape
DC Rivals HyperCoaster
6–10:00pm
Scooby Doo Spooky Coaster
13 2018 Fright Nights Chaos returns Leatherface Maze
House of Kain Maze
Jigsaw Maze
Halloween Maze
The Peeler VR Experience 6–10pm
Arkham Asylum - Shock Therapy
Batwing Spaceshot
Superman Escape
DC Rivals HyperCoaster
Bloodwood Precinct
The Possessed Precinct
Sci Fear Precinct
Dark Room Panic Room
Quarantine Panic Room
Junkyard Dog Panic Room
The Crypt Panic Room
14 2019 Fright Nights Will you survive the five? It Maze
Leatherface Maze
Zombieland: Double Tap Maze
House of Kain Maze
Doll Haus Maze
A Grave Death Experience[22] 6–10pm
Arkham Asylum - Shock Therapy
Batwing Spaceshot
Superman Escape
Green Lantern Coaster
DC Rivals HyperCoaster
Doomsday Destroyer
Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster: Next Generation
Hell Born Precinct
Nightmares Precinct
Baby Faced Killers Precinct
Dead West Precinct
Dark Room Panic Room
Quarantine Panic Room
Satan's Coven Panic Room
Fallout Shelter Panic Room
2020 Cancelled due to delays and restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021
15 2022 Evil Returns It Maze
Zombieland: Double Tap Maze
Doll Haus Maze
Death Row Maze
The Conjuring Universe Maze
16 2023 No Hope. Just Survival Death Row Maze
The Conjuring Universe Maze
Circurse Maze
DCeased Maze
Hellship Maze
17 2024
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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ Warner Bros. Movie World. "Halloween Fright Nights at Warner Bros. Movie World". MyFun. Archived from the original on 9 October 2010. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  2. ^ Messenger, Jordan. "Movie World "Fright Nights" – A history". GCGuy.net. Archived from the original on 20 October 2010. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  3. ^ a b Warner Bros. Movie World (2009). Halloween Fright Nights Brochure.
  4. ^ "Fright Nights Halloween Event | Thorpe Park Resort". Thorpe Park. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  5. ^ Parkz Members (2004). "Fright Night". Parkz. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  6. ^ Jamberoo Fan (26 October 2006). "Halloween at Warner Bros. Movie World". Parkz. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  7. ^ ParkFan-Germany (5 October 2006). "Halloween at Warner Bros. Movie World". Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  8. ^ Lewis, Maria (23 September 2010). "Ghosts, ghouls, spectres". Gold Coast Bulletin.
  9. ^ "Warner Bros. Movie World - Gold Coast, Australia". Facebook. 20 September 2010. Archived from the original on 16 December 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2010. Alt URL
  10. ^ Messenger, Jordan (5 November 2010). "Lynton V Harris "Fright Night" Interview". Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
  11. ^ Movie World Fright Nights (5 November 2010). "Movie World Fright Nights's Photos - Profile pictures". Photo. Facebook. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  12. ^ Warner Bros. Movie World (17 August 2011). "This year, a new". Facebook. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  13. ^ Warner Bros. Movie World (16 August 2011). ""Why so serious?"..." Facebook. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  14. ^ Warner Bros. Movie World (1 September 2011). "Fright Nights". MyFunFright Nights at Warner Bros. Movie World. Archived from the original on 24 September 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  15. ^ Warner Bros. Movie World (1 September 2011). "Movie World's Freaky Fright Nights are Back!". Press Release. MyFun. Archived from the original on 15 September 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  16. ^ "Movie World Fright Nights". MyFun. 22 August 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  17. ^ Warner Bros. Movie World. "The Walking Dead". MyFun. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  18. ^ Warner Bros. Movie World. "Thriller Dance". MyFun. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  19. ^ "Overview". Warner Bros. Movie World. 2013. Archived from the original on 6 August 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  20. ^ frightnights.com.au https://frightnights.com.au/attractions/ultimate-terror-tour-platinum. Retrieved 5 April 2021. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. ^ Wilson, Richard. "Halloween hits Movie World". Roller-Coaster.com.au. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  22. ^ Movie World's latest attraction is the stuff of nightmares, retrieved 5 April 2021
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