From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
Puppet Master (film series)
American horror film series
American horror film series
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Puppet Master |
| image | PuppetMaster.jpg |
| caption | Region 1 (US) DVD box set containing the first seven installments. |
| director | Charles Band |
| David W. Allen | |
| David DeCoteau | |
| Jeff Burr | |
| David Schmoeller | |
| Ted Nicolaou | |
| Sonny Laguna | |
| Tommy Wiklund | |
| John Lechago | |
| producer | Charles Band |
| Hope Perello | |
| Gordon Gustafson | |
| Kirk Edward Hansen | |
| Vlad Paunescu | |
| Dana Scanlan | |
| Mona C. Vasiloiu | |
| Kurt Iswarienko | |
| Matt Wolpert | |
| Alan Bursteen | |
| Cary Glieberman | |
| writer | Kenneth J. Hall |
| David Pabian | |
| C. Courtney Joyner | |
| David Schmoeller | |
| Douglas Aarniokoski | |
| Steven E. Carr | |
| Jo Duffy | |
| Todd Henschell | |
| Benjamin Carr | |
| David S. Goyer | |
| Ted Nicolaou | |
| Shane Bitterling | |
| August White | |
| S. Craig Zahler | |
| music | Richard Band |
| Jeffrey Walton | |
| John Massari | |
| Peter Bernstein | |
| Jerry Smith | |
| distributor | Full Moon Features |
| runtime | 1,220 minutes (15 films) |
| country | United States |
| language | English |
| budget | $4.23 million (combined total) |
David W. Allen David DeCoteau Jeff Burr David Schmoeller Ted Nicolaou Sonny Laguna Tommy Wiklund John Lechago Hope Perello Gordon Gustafson Kirk Edward Hansen Vlad Paunescu Dana Scanlan Mona C. Vasiloiu Kurt Iswarienko Matt Wolpert Alan Bursteen Cary Glieberman David Pabian C. Courtney Joyner David Schmoeller Douglas Aarniokoski Steven E. Carr Jo Duffy Todd Henschell Benjamin Carr David S. Goyer Ted Nicolaou Shane Bitterling August White S. Craig Zahler Jeffrey Walton John Massari Peter Bernstein Jerry Smith Puppet Master is an American horror media franchise which focuses on a group of anthropomorphic puppets animated by an Egyptian spell, each equipped with its own unique and dangerous device and are represented as heroes, antiheroes and antagonists. The franchise was created by Charles Band and Kenneth J. Hall. The series consists of 15 films: 11 in the main series, one crossover film, two spin-offs, and a reboot.
Produced by Full Moon Features, the series was established in 1989 with the eponymous first installment, which has since been followed by five sequels, five prequels, a crossover with the characters of Demonic Toys, a spin-off film about the puppet Blade, a spin-off film about Retro Puppet Master's Doktor Death, a 2018 reboot entitled The Littlest Reich, two comic book mini-series, an ongoing comic book series, and a free-to-play multiplayer video game by October Games.
Films
| Film | U.S. release date | Director(s) | Screenwriter(s) | Producer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puppet Master | October 12, 1989 | David Schmoeller | Kenneth J. Hall and David Schmoeller (as Joseph G. Collodi) | Charles Band |
| Hope Perello | ||||
| Puppet Master II | November 17, 1990 | Dave Allen | David Pabian | Charles Band |
| Puppet Master III: Toulon's Revenge | October 17, 1991 | David DeCoteau | C. Courtney Joyner | |
| Puppet Master 4 | November 24, 1993 | Jeff Burr | Steven E. Carr | |
| Todd Henschell | ||||
| Keith S. Payson | ||||
| Jo Duffy | ||||
| Douglas Aarniokoski | ||||
| Puppet Master 5: The Final Chapter | September 21, 1994 | |||
| Curse of the Puppet Master | May 26, 1998 | David DeCoteau (as Victoria Sloan) | Benjamin Carr | Charles Band |
| Gordon Gustafson | ||||
| Kirk Edward Hansen | ||||
| Retro Puppet Master | December 31, 1999 | David DeCoteau (as Joseph Tennent) | Charles Band | |
| Vlad Paunescu | ||||
| Kirk Edward Hansen | ||||
| Puppet Master: The Legacy | December 16, 2003 | Charles Band | C. Courtney Joyner (as Gene Yarbrough) | Charles Band |
| Puppet Master vs Demonic Toys | December 18, 2004 | Ted Nicolaou | C. Courtney Joyner | Alan Bursteen |
| Cary Glieberman | ||||
| Puppet Master: Axis of Evil | July 27, 2010 | David DeCoteau | August White | Charles Band |
| Puppet Master X: Axis Rising | 2012 | Charles Band | Shane Bitterling | |
| Puppet Master: Axis Termination | September 15, 2017 | Roger Barron | ||
| Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich | August 17, 2018 | Sonny Laguna and Tommy Wiklund | S. Craig Zahler | Lorenzo di Bonaventura |
| Mark Vahradian | ||||
| Dallas Sonnier | ||||
| Jack Heller | ||||
| Blade: The Iron Cross | June 26, 2020 | John Lechago | Roger Barron | Charles Band |
| Puppet Master: Doktor Death | October 28, 2022 | Dave Parker | James Quinn | Charles Band |
| William Butler |
Cast and characters
Main article: List of Puppet Master characters
| Character | Original series | Crossover | Prequel series | Reboot | Spin-offs | Puppet Master | Puppet Master II | *Puppet Master III: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toulon's Revenge* | Puppet Master 4 | Puppet Master 5 | *Curse of the | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Puppet Master* | *Retro | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Puppet Master* | *Puppet Master: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Legacy* | Puppet Master vs. Demonic Toys | *Puppet Master: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Axis of Evil* | *Puppet Master X: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Axis Rising* | *Puppet Master: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Axis Termination* | *Puppet Master: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Littlest Reich* | *Blade: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Iron Cross* | *Puppet Master: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Doktor Death* | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1993 | 1994 | 1998 | 1999 | 2003 | 2004 | 2010 | 2012 | 2017 | 2018 | 2020 | 2022 | Blade | André Toulon | Alex Whitaker | Megan Gallagher | Dana Hadley | Frank Forrester | Carissa Stamford | Neil Gallagher | Carolyn Bramwel | Elsa Toulon | Michael Kenney | Patrick Bramwell | Wanda | Lance | Camille Kenney | Peter Hertz | Major Kraus | Dr.Hess | Lieutenant Eric Stein | General Mueller | Rick Meyers | Susie | Lauren | Cameron Phillips | Dr.Carl Baler | Dr.Leslie Piper | Jennings | Tom Hendy | Jason | Scott | Dr. Magrew | Robert Winsley | Jane Magrew | Robert 'Tank' Winsley | Joey Carp | Art Cooney | Afzel | Eric Weiss | Robert Toulon | Alexandra Toulon | Erica Sharpe | Jessica Ressell | Danny Coogan | Beth | Ozu | Don Coogan | Ben | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Max | Uncle Len | Elma Coogan | Kommandant Moebius | General Porter | Sergeant Stone | Major Collins | Elisa Ivanov | Edgar Easton | Ashley Summers | Markowitz | Nerissa | Detective Brown | Detective Lieutenant Jonas "Joe" Gray | Gloria | Barney | Erich Hauser | James D. Madison | April | Ryan | Jennifer | Carmen | Gladys | Dr. Lantmen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bert Rosario | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| William Hickey | Steve Welles | Guy Rolfe | Guy RolfeGreg Sestero | Guy RolfeGreg Sestero | Udo Kier | Greg Sestero | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Paul Le Mat | Mentioned}} | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Robin Frates | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Irene Miracle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Matt Roe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kathryn O'Reilly | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jimmie F. Skaggs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elizabeth Maclellan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sarah Douglas | Brigitta Dau | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Collin Bernsen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Greg Webb | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Charlie Spradling | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jeff Weston | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nita Talbot | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aron Eisenberg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Richard Lynch | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ian Abercrombie | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kristopher Logan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Walter Gotell | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gordon Currie | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chandra West | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Teresa Hill | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jason Adams | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Felton Perry | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stacie Randall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ian Ogilvy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nicholas Guest | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Willard Pugh | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duane Whitaker | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| George Peck | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Josh Green | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Emily Harrison | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Josh Green | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michael D. Guerin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marc Newburger | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jack Donner | Jack Donner | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jacob WitkinPeter Hertz | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Corey Feldman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Danielle Keaton | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vanessa Angel | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Silvia Šuvadová | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Levi Fiehler | Kip Canyon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jenna Gallagher | Jean Louise O'Sullivan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ada Chao Fang | Terumi Shimazu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taylor M. Graham | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tom Sandoval | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jerry Hoffman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Erica Shaffer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scott Anthony King | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Paul Thomas Arnold | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brad Potts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kurt Sinclair | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tania Fox | Tania Fox | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thomas Lennon | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jenny Pellicer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nelson Franklin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lo Mutuc | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michael Pare | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vincent Cusimano | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Angelica Briones | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Griffin Blazi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Roy Abramsohn | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Todd Gajdusek | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jenny Boswell | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chad Patterson | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Emily Sue Bengtson | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Erin Eva Butcher | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Melissa Moore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ashton Wolf |
Puppets
| Puppet | Puppet Master | Puppet Master II | Toulon's Revenge | Puppet Master 4 | Puppet Master 5 | Curse of the | Retro | The Legacy | vs. Demonic Toys | Axis of Evil | Axis Rising | Axis Termination | The Littlest Reich | Blade: The Iron Cross | Puppet Master: Doktor Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blade | |||||||||||||||
| Pinhead | |||||||||||||||
| Jester | |||||||||||||||
| Tunneler | |||||||||||||||
| Six Shooter | Arms and Credits Only | ||||||||||||||
| Leech Woman | Archival Footage}} | ||||||||||||||
| Torch | Poster Only | Credits Only | |||||||||||||
| Decapitron | |||||||||||||||
| Djinn | |||||||||||||||
| Gengie | |||||||||||||||
| Shreddar Khan | |||||||||||||||
| Mephisto | Toulon Poster Only | ||||||||||||||
| Dr. Death | Archival Footage}} | ||||||||||||||
| Drill Sergeant | Head Only | ||||||||||||||
| Cyclops | |||||||||||||||
| Retro-Blade | |||||||||||||||
| Retro-Pinhead | |||||||||||||||
| Retro-Six-Shooter | |||||||||||||||
| Tank | |||||||||||||||
| Matt/Mutant | |||||||||||||||
| Ninja | Mentioned}}'' | ||||||||||||||
| Blitzkrieg | |||||||||||||||
| Bombshell | |||||||||||||||
| Kamikaze | |||||||||||||||
| Weremacht | |||||||||||||||
| Happy Amphibian |
Development
Following the closure of his previous business venture, Empire Pictures, Charles Band relocated to the United States and founded Full Moon Productions. Band's goal with Full Moon was to create low-budget horror, science fiction and fantasy films that mirrored the quality of films with more generous budgets. After partnering with Paramount Pictures and Pioneer Home Entertainment, Full Moon began production on its first feature film, Puppet Master. Originally intended for a theatrical release in summer 1989, Puppet Master was ultimately pushed to a direct-to-video release on October 12, 1989, as Band felt he was likely to make more money this way than he would in the theatrical market.
The film proved to be successful, and would receive a sequel, Puppet Master II, in 1990, and a prequel, Puppet Master III: Toulon's Revenge, in 1991, the latter of which was the first installment to feature Guy Rolfe. Rolfe reprised the role of Toulon for three additional films. After his death in 2003, he posthumously appeared in The Legacy through extensive use of archival footage. In 1993 Full Moon began shooting another two sequels simultaneously, Puppet Master 4 and Puppet Master 5: The Final Chapter. The latter, as the title indicates, was intended to be the final installment of the series.
After the release of The Final Chapter in September 1994, Full Moon opted to retire Puppet Master and announced that a spin-off trilogy titled Puppet Wars would begin production in 1995. The spin-off trilogy was cancelled, leaving the series to continue its legacy through merchandising and a growing cult following.
Due to demand from video retailers and fans for a new installment, four years after retirement, the franchise was revived by the production of a sixth entry, Curse of the Puppet Master, in 1998. This was the first installment not to have David W. Allen involved with stop-motion special effects. By this time, Paramount had ended its deal with Full Moon, so the film used a combination of rod and string puppets, as well as archival footage to conserve costs. In September 1999, Full Moon Features released Totem, featuring characters similar to the Totems of the fourth film.
Also in 1999, a second prequel (taking place at an even earlier time than Toulon's Revenge) was released, titled Retro Puppet Master. The original idea for the seventh installment was for it to take place following Toulon's Revenge, with Toulon and his puppets escaping Germany by train, after which they are confronted by Nazis and demons. This idea was abandoned because the distributor, the Kushner Locke Company, thought it would offend the German audience, although it later formed the basis for the ninth installment of the series, Puppet Master: Axis of Evil. Retro Puppet Master was an anomaly to the series, in that the main theme composed by Richard Band was completely absent, and with its PG-13 rating, this was the first installment not to be rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America. The films following this would all fall under not rated.
An eighth entry, entitled The Legacy, was released in 2003, however only a fraction contains original footage; the remainder is archival footage used to summarize the series thus far. A year later, a crossover film featuring the animated playthings of Full Moon's Puppet Master and Demonic Toys series aired on Sci-Fi Channel, although it was said it did not take place in the same continuity as either of those franchises.
In June 2009, the Full Moon website posted updates about the latest installment, revealing the roster of puppets to be included, as well as principal cast members Levi Fiehler and Jerry Hoffman. Puppet Master: Axis of Evil was released on DVD, Blu-ray and streaming in 2010.
In 2012, Full Moon released the tenth installment, entitled Puppet Master X: Axis Rising, which continued the story and events from the previous film.
In 2017, Full Moon announced that Puppet Master: Axis Termination would debut exclusively on Full Moon Streaming in three parts starting in September 2017.
In 2018, a reboot was produced under the title Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich.
In 2020, a spin-off film revolving around the puppet Blade was released under the title Blade: The Iron Cross.
In 2022, a second spin-off film about Doktor Death (from Retro) was released as Puppet Master: Doktor Death.
In March 2023, a third spin-off centered around Leech Woman was announced with Puppet Master: Furnace Leech Woman. The status of the film is currently unknown after a series of delays and conflicting back and forth messages from the director and Full Moon suggesting it may have been cancelled or postponed.
Reception
The most well-received Puppet Master installments are generally those released before the series' four-year hiatus. As the series was revived at a time when Full Moon Features was no longer partnered with Paramount Pictures, the studio's finances grew increasingly tight, and as a result, the quality of each subsequent Puppet Master title (as well as numerous other Full Moon productions) suffered. On Rotten Tomatoes, the only two installments that have been rated by critics are Puppet Master, which has a 43% rating out of 7 reviews, and Puppet Master II, which has a 33% rating out of 6 reviews. The films have scored slightly higher with audiences, rating 51% and 47%, respectively.
Home media
VHS
Most Puppet Master films were originally released direct to video on VHS.
DVD
The Puppet Master films have been released on DVD in very small quantities. A box set containing the first seven installments of the series was released by Full Moon (along with a bonus disc of trailers for other Full Moon films), but was recalled shortly after. However, in 2007, Full Moon Features reacquired the rights to the first five films, and the box set has since been reissued and is available directly from Full Moon, as well as through several online retailers. The first three films were included as part of an 18-disc Full Moon Features collection, and have since been individually released as a Spanish-subtitled import collection. In 2007, Razor Digital released an uncut DualDisc version of the first film, featuring both the standard and stereoscopic versions of the film, but with very poor picture quality. In 2012, Echo Bridge home entertainment released all 9 films in one DVD collection, while the first three films were licensed for a UK release by 88 Films.
Starting in 2010, the first Puppet Master was re-released on DVD with a new remastered widescreen transfer, while the second and third films were released with new transfers on September 18, 2012 (both individually or in a box set with the first film). The remastered editions of the fourth and fifth films were released on March 24, 2016, but only through a box set which is identical to Full Moon's original set with the bonus disc of trailers, except they also contain the remastered editions of the first 3 films (Curse of the Puppet Master and Retro Puppet Master still remain unrestored).
Blu-ray
The original Puppet Master film was released on Blu-ray in a remastered widescreen transfer on July 27, 2010. On September 18, 2012, the first three films were released on Blu-ray in a set, the second and third films also remastered in widescreen. The first 3 films have also been released on Blu-ray in the UK by 88 films.
The fourth installment was released on Blu-ray October 12, 2015, while the fifth installment was released on February 1, 2016.
In 2018, the, at the time, eleven official films in the series comprising Puppet Master through Puppet Master: Axis Termination were released as a limited edition Blu-ray set encased in a wood and metal box designed after the trunk belonging to the character of André Toulon. In addition to the films, the set contained an extra Blu-ray containing supplements related to the film series as well as a small figure of the puppet character Blade.
In early 2020, a Blu-ray box set containing the same contents as the previous set, minus the special packaging and Blade figure, was released via Full Moon's retail website.
Digital
In December 2008, Charles Band authorized the first Puppet Master film for digital download through the iTunes Store; his first foray into the digital market.
For the first time in the series, Puppet Master: Axis Termination debuted digitally on Full Moon's Amazon channel in three parts beginning on September 15, 2017.
Streaming
As a part of ''Full Moon Features'''s Streaming App, the entire Puppet Master catalog was made available to stream as well as the Full Moon Amazon Channel.
Other media
Comics
A four-issue comic book limited series titled The Puppet Master Adventure was written and drawn by Australian comic book creators Dave de Vries and Glenn Lumsden and printed by Eternity Comics. It was followed by a two-issue sequel titled Children of the Puppet Master also by de Vries and Lumsden.
An ongoing comic book series titled Puppet Master was written by Shawn Gabborin and published by Action Lab Comics begun in 2015. The series was an instant hit among fans and is known for its attention to detail regarding the Puppet Master lore.
A one-shot comic released as a tie-in with Blade: The Iron Cross, published by Full Moon Comix. Despite the title, the story takes place after the events of Puppet Master III.
Video game
Main article: Puppet Master: The Game
An official video game adaptation created by October Games has been in development as early as 2012.
In Baby Oopsie, exclusive gameplay was shown on a television screen whilst the end credits reveal the game had been officially licensed by Full Moon and was in active development.
In September 2021, Full Moon released a trailer for the game, early access for the game released in late 2022 on Steam. the free-to-play game officially released on Steam on March 1, 2023.
References
References
- "Texas Frightmare Weekend Exclusive: "BONE TOMAHAWK", "1408" Producers Team For "PUPPET MASTER" Reboot!".
- Puppet Master 5 "Videozone" documentary
- (September 28, 2004). "September 28: First look at PUPPETMASTER VS. DEMONIC TOYS!".
- "HILL'S CHARLES BAND INTERVIEW - Part 2". Puppet Master.
- "PUPPET MASTER: AXIS OF EVIL, DEMONIC TOYS 2, GINGERDEAD MAN 3? FULL MOON Sequel-Mania!". Icons of Fright.
- (9 March 2009). "Charles Band to Remake 'Puppetmaster' in 3-D". [[Bloody Disgusting]].
- "Puppet Master: Furnace Leech Woman is the next entry in Full Moon franchise". Joblo.com.
- "Puppet Master". [[Rotten Tomatoes]].
- "Puppet Master 2: His Unholy Creations". [[Rotten Tomatoes]].
- "Puppet Master". [[Rotten Tomatoes]].
- "Puppet Master 2: His Unholy Creations". [[Rotten Tomatoes]].
- "Puppet Master Remastered 8 DVD Box Set".
- "Puppet Master Blu-ray".
- "Welcome to FullMoonDirect - Horror, Sci-Fi and Fantasy Films".
- "The Ultimate Puppet Master Collectable Trunk".
- "Puppet Master 12 Blu-ray Box Set".
- (25 August 2017). "New Puppet Master Film to Premiere on Amazon". comingsoon.net.
- "Puppet Master Series".
- "Puppet Master Complete Collection".
- (2021-09-27). "October Games Announces Puppet Master The Game and New Full Moon Character in Horror Legends".
- Wilson, Mike. (December 13, 2022). "'Puppet Master: The Game' Open Beta Announced for March 2023, New Game Mode Revealed".
- Scott, Ryan. (December 13, 2022). "PUPPET MASTER: THE GAME Arrives In 2023".
- Hamman, Cody. (December 13, 2022). "Puppet Master video game gets an Open Beta release in March of 2023".
- Hamman, Cody. (April 21, 2023). "Puppet Master video game Open Beta is free to play on Steam".
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
Ask Mako anything about Puppet Master (film series) — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report