Dancing With the Stars Season 35 delivered a dramatic Horror Movie Night on October 27, 2026, with performances inspired by some of horror cinema’s most recognisable stories. The competition brought together 10 couples, four judges and a scoring system that carried over results from the previous week, making every point potentially important as the contestants fought to stay in the ballroom.

Beyond the spooky choreography and intense judging, the episode featured a major milestone for one couple and a double elimination that reduced the field ahead of Disney Night. With the next round approaching, the remaining contestants will have to turn their latest performances into momentum if they want to stay in the race for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.

Dancing With the Stars Horror Movie Night Ends in a Double Elimination

The October 27 episode followed Dedication Night, which concluded without an elimination. ABC had announced that judges’ scores and viewer votes from both Dedication Night and Horror Movie Night would be combined to determine which couples would leave the competition.

As a result, the latest episode was about more than how the celebrities performed on a single night. Their previous week’s scores and audience votes remained part of the elimination calculation, creating a two-week contest in which the combined results mattered.

The judging panel featured Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli, with Shirley Ballas joining them as the guest judge.

At the end of the episode, Jackson Olson and Emma Slater and Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess were eliminated. Their departures reduced the Season 35 competition from 10 couples to eight.

However, the elimination was not the only major talking point. One performance earned the season’s first perfect score, while several other couples delivered results that kept them firmly in contention.

Following Julia Stiles on the ballroom floor
Julia Stiles is one of the eight couples still competing after Horror Movie Night. Read our Julia Stiles DWTS Heath Ledger tribute report for more on her recent Dancing With the Stars story.

Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson Earn Season 35’s First Perfect Score

The standout scoring moment belonged to Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson, who performed a contemporary routine inspired by Saw.

Dancing to “Toxic” by 2WEI, the pair embraced the horror theme and earned 10 points from each of the four judges. Their total of 40 out of 40 marked the first perfect score of Season 35.

The judges praised several elements of the performance, including the acting, choreography, partnership and interpretation of the horror-inspired concept. The routine combined the episode’s cinematic theme with the technical and expressive demands of contemporary dance.

The achievement also strengthened the couple’s position in the two-week standings. Shum and Johnson had earned 36 points on Dedication Night, bringing their combined judges’ total to 76 out of 80.

That was the highest two-week judges’ total among the couples entering the elimination, giving the pair a strong scoring position as the competition moved towards its next stage.

Jackson Olson and Emma Slater Are Eliminated After Joker-Inspired Routine

Jackson Olson and Emma Slater performed a contemporary routine inspired by the Joker, using Frank Sinatra’s “That’s Life” as their musical backdrop.

Olson received 9 points from Inaba, Hough and Tonioli, followed by an 8 from guest judge Ballas. The scores produced a total of 35 out of 40.

The judges responded positively to Olson’s commitment to the character while also identifying areas in which the performance could have been stronger.

Although his Horror Movie Night score placed him in the middle of the leaderboard, Olson entered the elimination with a combined judges’ total of 67 points across the two weeks.

That total put him level with Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas in the combined standings. Nevertheless, the judges’ scores alone could not determine the final outcome because the audience votes from both weeks were also included.

Olson and Slater ultimately became one of the two couples eliminated from Season 35.

Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess Leave After Dracula-Inspired Viennese Waltz

Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess also exited the competition following Horror Movie Night.

The pair performed a Viennese waltz inspired by Bram Stoker’s Dracula, dancing to Annie Lennox’s “Love Song for a Vampire.”

Cameron received 7 points from Inaba, Hough and Tonioli, while Ballas awarded him 5. His final score was 26 out of 40.

Technical execution became a central part of the judges’ feedback. Hough praised Cameron’s ability to move across the floor but said his ballroom frame still needed improvement. Ballas also identified technical problems, while Tonioli encouraged Cameron to avoid leaning into his lead.

Cameron entered the elimination with a combined judges’ total of 58 out of 80, the lowest among the 10 couples. He and Burgess were subsequently eliminated alongside Olson and Slater.

Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy Score 37 on Argentine Tango

Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy delivered an Argentine tango inspired by zombie movies, earning 37 out of 40.

The judges awarded the couple 9, 10, 9 and 9 points. Despite a minor stumble during the performance, they finished near the top of the Horror Movie Night leaderboard.

The routine was also notable because it marked Chmerkovskiy’s return to the ballroom following his one-week suspension.

Their Horror Movie Night result brought their two-week judges’ total to 74 out of 80, tying them with Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov for second place behind Shum and Johnson.

Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov Deliver a Black Swan-Inspired Tango

Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov also earned a combined judges’ total of 74 out of 80 after scoring 36 out of 40 for an Argentine tango inspired by Black Swan.

The couple received four 9s from the judging panel. The judges praised Glenn’s use of the floor, musicality and intensity, while also offering technical criticism.

Her performance maintained her position among the competition’s stronger scorers following the previous week’s Dedication Night.

Glenn and Pashkov finished level with Dewan and Chmerkovskiy in the two-week judges’ standings, leaving both couples well placed on points as the competition continued.

Ezra Frech and Connor Wood Score 35 and 37 Respectively

Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach earned 35 out of 40 for a jazz routine inspired by The Invisible Man.

Frech received an 8 from Inaba and 9s from Hough, Ballas and Tonioli. The judges recognised his athletic ability and the technical demands of the choreography, although Inaba and Hough felt the storytelling could have been stronger.

His combined judges’ total reached 72 out of 80, keeping him ahead of several contestants who entered the elimination with lower scores.

Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold, meanwhile, scored 37 out of 40 with a contemporary routine inspired by Annabelle: Creation.

Inaba and Hough awarded 10s, Ballas gave the pair an 8, and Tonioli awarded a 9. The judges praised Wood’s storytelling and execution, while Arnold’s choreography also received positive feedback from Ballas.

Their combined judges’ total across Dedication Night and Horror Movie Night was 69 out of 80.

Maura Higgins, Julia Stiles and Tatyana Ali Survive

Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas scored 32 out of 40 with a contemporary routine inspired by The Lost Boys.

Their scores were 9 from Inaba, 8 from Hough, 7 from Ballas and 8 from Tonioli. The judges praised Higgins’ performance quality while identifying areas where her contemporary technique could improve.

Higgins entered the elimination with a combined judges’ total of 67 out of 80 and survived the double elimination despite finishing level with Olson and Slater on judges’ points.

Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa received 26 out of 40 for an Argentine tango inspired by The Omen. Stiles earned 7s from Inaba and Hough, a 4 from Ballas and an 8 from Tonioli.

Ballas was particularly critical of the technical execution, while the other judges also identified issues involving stiffness, posture and how Stiles handled the routine. Despite the low score, Stiles survived, with a two-week total of 62 out of 80.

Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik scored 28 out of 40 for a paso doble inspired by Sinners. Ali received 8 from Inaba, 8 from Hough, 4 from Ballas and 8 from Tonioli.

The judges recognised the performance’s power and theatrical quality but differed in their assessment of its technical execution and use of paso doble characteristics.

Ali entered the elimination with 60 out of 80, the second-lowest combined judges’ total among the 10 couples, ahead of only Cameron and Burgess. She nevertheless survived and advanced to the next round.

Dancing With the Stars Horror Movie Night Leaderboard

The following table shows the couples’ Horror Movie Night scores and combined judges’ totals from the two-week period.

Couple	Horror Movie Night	Two-week judges’ total
Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson	40/40	76/80
Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy	37/40	74/80
Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov	36/40	74/80
Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach	35/40	72/80
Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold	37/40	69/80
Jackson Olson and Emma Slater	35/40	67/80
Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas	32/40	67/80
Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa	26/40	62/80
Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik	28/40	60/80
Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess	26/40	58/80

These totals provide context for the competition, but they do not reveal the complete elimination calculation. Viewer votes from Dedication Night and Horror Movie Night were also combined with judges’ scores from both episodes.

Who Remains on Dancing With the Stars Season 35?

Following the double elimination, eight couples remain in the competition:

• Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov
• Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson
• Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik
• Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach
• Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold
• Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas
• Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa
• Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy

All eight will continue competing for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.

When Is Dancing With the Stars Disney Night? Date, Time and Guest Judge

The next episode will temporarily move away from the show’s regular Tuesday schedule.

Disney Night is scheduled for Monday, November 2, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on ABC and Disney+. The remaining couples will perform routines inspired by Disney films and songs, and the episode will also feature the team-dance round.

Cynthia Erivo will serve as the guest judge, joining Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli.

There will be no new episode on Tuesday, November 3. The programme is scheduled to return to its regular Tuesday schedule on November 10.

For fans of the show
The DWTS franchise continues to expand beyond the weekly competition and into fan events. Explore our Dancing With the Stars Con 2026 guide for details about the upcoming convention.

Conclusion

Horror Movie Night changed the shape of Dancing With the Stars Season 35, sending Jackson Olson and Tyler Cameron home while delivering the season’s first perfect score through Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson’s Saw-inspired contemporary routine.

With eight couples remaining, the combined judges’ scores and viewer votes have set the stage for another round of performances. Disney Night on November 2 will give the remaining contestants a fresh opportunity to impress the judges and audiences as they continue their pursuit of the Mirrorball Trophy.

Source and Research Disclaimer

This article has been prepared using the information available in the sources provided below, including ABC press materials and entertainment reporting from ABC7, E! News, TV Insider and Entertainment Weekly. The article reflects the details presented in those sources and does not imply independent verification beyond the supplied material. Programme schedules and other details may be updated by ABC or Dancing With the Stars after publication.

Sources

• ABC Press: Dancing With the Stars: Horror Movie Night
• ABC Press: Dancing With the Stars Episode Information
• ABC7: Dancing With the Stars Horror Movie Night Recap
• E! News: Dancing With the Stars Double Elimination
• TV Insider: Dancing With the Stars Disney Night Schedule
• Entertainment Weekly: Tyler Cameron Addresses His Dancing With the Stars Elimination

Featured Image Credit: ABC / Disney