After COVID-era streaming experiments sent the previous sequel to Prime Video, the Drac Pack is officially back where it belongs: the big screen.
Sony Pictures Animation and Amazon MGM Studios have revealed a fifth Hotel Transylvania movie, titled The Haunting of Hotel Transylvania, with a wide theatrical release set for October 8, 2027.
The Franchise Returns to Theaters
Sony Pictures Animation debuted the original Hotel Transylvania in 2012. The film was a surprise hit, grossing $355 million worldwide. Its sequels kept climbing: Hotel Transylvania 2 earned $475 million, and Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation brought in $530 million. The fourth installment, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania, skipped theaters and premiered on Prime Video in 2022.
Now Sony and Amazon MGM Studios are joining forces for the first time on the franchise, with Sony taking the lead on the North American theatrical release and certain foreign territories, while Amazon MGM Studios oversee international distribution across the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Mexico, Italy, Australia, Brazil and New Zealand.
This is also a milestone moment for the Hotel Transylvania property, marking the return of one of Sony Animation’s most successful series to a wide theatrical window after a streaming-only detour.
A Spooky New Adventure for Drac and Mavis
The new film’s premise shifts the series into haunted-house territory. After happily settling into retirement, Drac discovers that the legendary monster hotel is being plagued by spooky and unexplained happenings. Mavis, who now runs the resort, and the rest of the Drac Pack must solve a supernatural mystery that proves to be their most spellbinding adventure yet.
Jennifer Kluska and Alan Hawkins are directing, with Lawrence Jonas producing and Genndy Tartakovsky and Michelle Murdocca serving as executive producers. The involvement of Tartakovsky is especially significant. He helped shepherd the original trilogy’s distinct visual energy, which blended spooky cartoon aesthetics with genuine family warmth.
“From the beginning, Hotel Transylvania has invited audiences into a world where monsters feel like family.” — Kristine Belson and Damien de Froberville, Presidents of Sony Pictures Animation
Courtenay Valenti, Head of Film at Amazon MGM Studios, echoed that sentiment in a statement, calling the franchise “a beloved tradition for families around the world” and praising its balance of irreverent humor with genuine heart.
Why It Matters
The Haunting of Hotel Transylvania is more than just another sequel announcement. It arrives during a broader reckoning in Hollywood about franchise strategy after streaming, and this fifth film argues that nostalgia-tested IP still has theatrical legs — provided it is packaged with the right partners. Sony and Amazon MGM are betting that a robust global footprint can still monetize animated sequels on cinema screens rather than pushing them straight to streaming.
For fans of the series, it also means a continuation of the original voice cast’s work with characters that have remained surprisingly durable for over a decade. If the first-look image holds up, the tonal mix of spooky and sweet should remain intact. For a companion read on a major summer entertainment project facing fan backlash, see our piece on Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey casting debate.
