The Strangers (film series)

The Strangers is an American horror film franchise that began with the 2008 film The Strangers, written and directed by Bryan Bertino. The series revolves around masked home invaders who terrorize their victims with seemingly no discernible motive. The core theme explores the randomness and senselessness of violence.

The first film, The Strangers, stars Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman as a couple who are attacked by three masked individuals known as Dollface, Pin-Up Girl, and Man in the Mask. The film received mixed reviews but was a box office success, leading to a sequel, The Strangers: Prey at Night, released in 2018. Prey at Night, directed by Johannes Roberts, follows a different family who are targeted by the same masked killers at a secluded mobile home park. This sequel leaned more heavily into slasher film tropes and featured a soundtrack of 1980s pop hits.

In 2024, a prequel trilogy was announced and released, consisting of The Strangers: Chapter 1, The Strangers: Chapter 2, and The Strangers: Chapter 3, all directed by Renny Harlin. These films explore the origins of the strangers and their first encounter with a couple on a cross-country road trip.

The series is known for its intense atmosphere, use of practical effects, and emphasis on suspense over explicit gore. The masked antagonists have become iconic figures in the horror genre.