Moustapha Akkad

Moustapha Akkad

Moustapha Akkad was born in Aleppo. Syria in 1930. His passion for movies grew at an early age and this is why at the age of 19 he wanted to go to the States and follow his dream. When he left Syria his father gave him the money for the ticket and a copy of the Qura'an, telling him it was all he could manage. In the USA he studied theatre arts at UCLA and got his masters from USC. He started his professional work in TV where he did a biography on the different ethnic groups in the States and how their backgrounds affect their lives in America. NBC offered him a better salary if he chose not to put his name on the project, and this is where he learned a great lesson. That for a film maker recognition is more important than money. In 1976 he made his first feature film, The Message (1976), where he directed and produced; the film was about the birth of Islam starring Anthony Quinn and Irene Papas. The film did not score at the American box office because the face of the prophet Mohammed (the main character in the movie) did not show on the screen due to religious reasons, but it did well world-wide. In 1978 John Carpenter came to him with the screenplay for Halloween (1978) and Akkad produced it while Carpenter directed it. The movie was a big success. In 1981 he went back to directing when he directed Anthony Quinn again in Lion of the Desert (1980), a movie funded by Muammar Gaddafi and due to his political persona the movie did not score at the box office. It was about Libyan freedom fighter Omar Al-Mokhtar and Libyans' fight for freedom against the colonizing Italians, and was his last directorial project. After that he went back to producing the Halloween sequels. In 1995, he decided to make a film about the life of Saladin the great Muslim leader who fought the crusaders but he was never able to get the appropriate funding. On 9 November 2005 he was killed in a terrorist attack in Amman, Jordan. As a director he was greatly affected by David Lean (Lawrence of Arabia (1962)) but had his own amazing touches.

  • Title : Moustapha Akkad
  • Popularity : 1.285
  • Known For : Production
  • Birthday : 1930-07-01
  • Place of Birth : Aleppo, Syria
  • Homepage :
  • Also Known As : مصطفى العقاد
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Moustapha Akkad Movies

  • 2006
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    Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film

    Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film

    6.7 2006 HD

    This historical and critical look at slasher films, which includes dozens of clips, begins with Halloween, Friday the 13th, and Prom Night. The...

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  • 2010
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    Halloween: The Inside Story

    Halloween: The Inside Story

    7.4 2010 HD

    This feature-length documentary takes a look at one of the most successful film franchises of all time as it goes behind the scenes of John...

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  • 2003
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    Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest

    Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest

    8 2003 HD

    Using original interviews with director John Carpenter, stars Jamie Lee Curtis and P.J. Soles, and crew members, 'Halloween': A Cut Above the Rest...

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  • 1976
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    The Making of an Epic: Mohammad, Messenger of God

    The Making of an Epic: Mohammad, Messenger of God

    6.7 1976 HD

    Documentary on the making of "Mohammad, Messenger of God" (1976).

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  • 1999
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    Halloween: Unmasked

    Halloween: Unmasked

    5.7 1999 HD

    A retrospective documentary on the making of the movie "Halloween," featuring exclusive interviews with director John Carpenter, producer Debra Hill,...

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  • 2001
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    Halloween 4: Final Cut

    Halloween 4: Final Cut

    5.8 2001 HD

    Retrospective documentary on the making of "Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers."

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  • 2006
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    Halloween: 25 Years of Terror

    Halloween: 25 Years of Terror

    6.833 2006 HD

    Follow the evolution of the 'Halloween' movies over the past twenty-five years. It examines why the films are so popular and revisits many of the...

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  • 2010
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    Halloween: The Inside Story

    Halloween: The Inside Story

    7.4 2010 HD

    This feature-length documentary takes a look at one of the most successful film franchises of all time as it goes behind the scenes of John...

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  • 1981
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    Halloween II

    Halloween II

    6.6 1981 HD

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  • 1988
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    Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers

    Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers

    6.2 1988 HD

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  • 1989
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    Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers

    Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers

    5.3 1989 HD

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  • 2002
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    Halloween: Resurrection

    Halloween: Resurrection

    4.608 2002 HD

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  • 1998
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    Halloween H20: 20 Years Later

    Halloween H20: 20 Years Later

    6 1998 HD

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  • 1976
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    The Message

    The Message

    7.3 1976 HD

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  • 1976
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    The Message

    The Message

    7.3 1976 HD

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  • 1981
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    Lion of the Desert

    Lion of the Desert

    7.3 1981 HD

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  • 1976
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    The Message

    The Message

    8.5 1976 HD

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  • 1976
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    The Message

    The Message

    8.5 1976 HD

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  • 2007
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    Halloween

    Halloween

    6.2 2007 HD

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  • 2018
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    Halloween

    Halloween

    6.554 2018 HD

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  • 1995
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    Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers

    Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers

    5.2 1995 HD

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  • 1981
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    Lion of the Desert

    Lion of the Desert

    7.3 1981 HD

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  • 1978
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    Halloween

    Halloween

    7.562 1978 HD

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  • 1982
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    Halloween III: Season of the Witch

    Halloween III: Season of the Witch

    5.2 1982 HD

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  • 1985
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    Appointment with Fear

    Appointment with Fear

    2.2 1985 HD

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  • 1986
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    Free Ride

    Free Ride

    3 1986 HD

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  • 1981
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    Halloween II

    Halloween II

    6.6 1981 HD

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  • 2002
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    Halloween: Resurrection - WebCam Special

    Halloween: Resurrection - WebCam Special

    7 2002 HD

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