Hellraiser (franchise)

Hellraiser
Official franchise logo
Based on	The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker
Starring	Doug Bradley Various (See list below)
Distributed by	Entertainment Film Distributors (1) New World Pictures (2) Miramax Films (3-8) Dimension Extreme (9) Lionsgate Films (10) Disney Platform Distribution (Hulu) (11) Paramount Pictures (international) (11)
Release date	1986–present
Countries	United Kingdom United States
Language	English

Hellraiser is a British-American horror media franchise that consists of eleven films, as well as various comic books, and additional merchandise and media. Based on the novella The Hellbound Heart by English author Clive Barker, the franchise centers around the Cenobites which includes the primary antagonist named Pinhead.

The overall plot of the franchise focuses on a puzzle box, the Lament Configuration. It opens a gateway to the Hell-like realm of the Cenobite lifeforms. The Cenobites are an order of former humans who have become monsters who harvest human souls to torture in their sadistic experiments.

Barker created the franchise and served as writer/director of the original film. He has stated that he signed away the story and character rights to the production company prior to the release of the first film, not realizing the critical and financial success it would be.^[1] The franchise was rebooted with an eleventh film, which was released on Hulu in 2022, as well as a television series continuation in development at HBO.^[2][3]