In 1984, audiences the world over were terrified in their seats when A Nightmare on Elm Street made its debut. Released in US cinemas in November, the movie told the story of a group of teenagers who become terrorised by an evil entity, who attacks them in their dreams.
The entity is a deceased child murderer, known as Fred Krueger who has somehow returned from beyond the grave as a vengeful being who can enter the dream-world. Each night, Krueger appears in the nightmares of his victims, and picks off the teens one by one.
Released to critical acclaim, as well as a healthy box-office, A Nightmare on Elm Street proved to be a big hit upon release. The film was well-received by critics, who appreciated its simple, yet effective premise, while audiences warmed to Krueger, and enjoyed the creepy elements of the movie.
As such, A Nightmare on Elm Street was soon followed by a succession of sequels which furthered the story and brought Krueger back for more horrific nightmares. The series also spawned a remake, an in-depth docu-film, and a crossover with the Friday the 13th movie series.
But how many A Nightmare on Elm Street movies are there, and more importantly what is the viewing order of the films? For all the gruesome details and more, keep reading.
—
The Nightmare on Elm Street movies
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
As noted above, the first entry in the horror series was A Nightmare on Elm Street. The film focused on a small group of teens, who live on the eponymous Elm Street in the town of Springwood, and who fall victim to the nightmarish entity, Fred Krueger.
In the movie, Nancy Thompson (Heather Langenkamp) and her friends find themselves becoming stalked in their dreams by a mysterious man with a burned face (Robert Englund). The man is decked out in a striped jumper and a fedora, and wears a glove on his right hand, which has a series of knives built into each finger.
After becoming the unwitting victims of the man, the teens start dying in disturbing ways. This leads Nancy to learn more about this frightening dream-entity, who was once a child murderer in the real world, called Fred Krueger. (91 mins)
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985)
Produced on a budget of around $1 million, A Nightmare on Elm Street went on to make a huge chunk of change at the box-office, cementing its place as a horror hit. Due to the incredible success of the film, a sequel quickly went into production, arriving a year later in 1985 under the title A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge.
In this movie, it has been five years since Krueger’s apparent defeat, and in this time Nancy Thompson has moved away from Elm Street. The Walshes now live in Nancy’s old house, including teenager Jesse (Mark Patton).
But when Jesse begins to experience a series of terrifying dreams, all involving a nightmarish man, it becomes clear that Krueger has returned. This puts Jesse in terrible danger, and threatens the lives of all around him. (87 mins)
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)
Upon release, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge received mixed reviews. The film was viewed as a less-appealing entry than its predecessor, and it was less successful at the box-office – costing more to make, and taking less than the first film.
However, there was still an appetite for further films featuring Freddy Krueger, and in 1987 a third movie hit cinema screens, titled A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. The film largely ignored the events Freddy’s Revenge, and relocated the action away from Elm Street and over to the Westin Hills Psychiatric Hospital.
In this film, teenager Kristen Parker (Patricia Arquette) is suffering from a series of disturbing dreams involving Krueger. These dreams impact Kristen and her fellow patients at the hospital, as well as intern therapist, Nancy Thompson. (96 mins)
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)
With A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors being viewed as more of a direct sequel to the original, as well as being a better movie in general, the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise was back on track. A fourth movie quickly entered production, and arrived in cinemas in 1988 under the title A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master.
Positioned as a direct sequel to Dream Warriors, The Dream Master picked up the story a year later with Kristen (Tuesday Knight) and her friends attempting to live a new life away from the psychiatric hospital. However, Krueger soon resurfaces, leading to more nightmares, as well as the introduction of a new victim: Alice Johnson (Lisa Wilcox). (93 mins)
A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989)
A year after the release of A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, a fifth film debuted. Titled A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child, the film picked up Alice’s story, with Krueger back in action and causing more dream deaths. (90 mins)
Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991)
Although A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child was a success at the box-office, it was clear the Nightmare franchise was running out of steam. Critics were becoming tired, audiences were beginning to dwindle, and a decision was made to bring Freddy Krueger’s journey to end with a sixth instalment titled Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare.
Shot partially in 3D, and conceived as an end point for the series, The Final Nightmare pitted another band of teens against Krueger. In the film, Freddy Krueger has killed nearly every child in the town of Springwood, and it is time for his reign of terror to end. (89 mins)
Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994)
Although Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare was envisioned as the final instalment in the Nightmare series, as with all good horror movie franchises the end is never really the end. Horror maestro, Wes Craven came up with an inventive way to bring Krueger back, and this would be excuse enough to revive the series.
However, unlike the previous films, this seventh instalment would be a stand-alone entry, which would detach itself from the existing continuity. Wes Craven’s New Nightmare would position itself as a ‘real’ story, with the events of the previous movies being viewed as fictional films.
In this movie, Krueger is a fictional horror character played by Robert Englund. He is the star of a series of successful films, and he is nothing more than a frightening figure on the big screen.
But when actress Heather Langenkamp (the same actress who played Nancy Thompson in two previous Nightmare films) starts to experience terrible dreams, the realms of fiction and reality begin to blur. Could Freddy Krueger be more than just a box-office bogeyman?
Taking the Nightmare series back to its scary roots, and introducing a post-modern twist, Wes Craven’s New Nightmare was an inventive entry in the series. The film added a fresh new take on the Nightmare formula, and proved that some horror icons deserve to live on beyond their ‘final’ movie. (112 mins)
Freddy vs. Jason (2003)
Following the release of Wes Craven’s New Nightmare, the Nightmare on Elm Street movie series went on hiatus. No new Nightmare movies were put into production, and the series appeared to have come to an end.
However, New Line Cinema, the studio which owned the rights to the Nightmare films, was keen to revive Freddy Krueger. And because the studio had recently gained the rights to the Friday the 13th movie series, it was interested in combining the two horror properties for a crossover picture.
This crossover picture arrived in cinemas in 2003 under the title, Freddy vs. Jason. The movie would see Freddy Krueger cross paths with Jason Voorhees, as the two terrorise more helpless teens. (98 mins)
A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)
Although Freddy vs. Jason was a box-office success, the movie received a mixed response from critics and long-time fans. As such, initial plans to produce a sequel soon fell by the wayside, and instead a decision was made to reboot the Nightmare series instead.
The plan was to introduce Freddy Krueger to a new generation who didn’t grow up with the original film series. This ninth film would be a remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street, ignoring everything that came before, and retelling the story with new actors taking on the roles of Krueger and Nancy. (95 mins)
Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy (2010)
With the original Nightmare series essentially put to bed, and the 2010 remake playing in cinemas, a direct-to-video docu-film was released to celebrate the success of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies. This four-hour film looked back at the original franchise, and offered fans a behind-the-scenes journey through all of the movies (except the remake).
Featuring input from cast members, directors, and franchise producer Bob Shaye, Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy was an informative discussion about one of the most imaginative horror franchises in history. The docu-film covered everything from storylines and characters, through to visual effects and production problems, and became an invaluable resource for Krueger devotees in the process. (239 mins)
The Nightmare on Elm Street movies in production order
To date (and including the docu-film), there are ten entries in the Nightmare on Elm Street movie series. Should you wish to watch all of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies in production order please follow this list:
- A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
- A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985)
- A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)
- A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)
- A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989)
- Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991)
- Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994)
- Freddy vs. Jason (2003)
- A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)
- Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy (2010)
__
Are the Nightmare on Elm Street movies all part of the same series?
The Nightmare on Elm Street movies are divided into three categories: The original series, the remake, and the docu-film. The movies break down as follows:
The original Nightmare on Elm Street series
- A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
- A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985)
- A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)
- A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)
- A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989)
- Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991)
- Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994)
- Freddy vs. Jason (2003)
The Nightmare on Elm Street remake
- A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)
The Nightmare on Elm Street docu-film
- Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy (2010)
__
Freddy’s Nightmares
In addition to the film series, you may also wish to know that Freddy Krueger appeared in a short-lived, two-season television show called Freddy’s Nightmares. The series – which starred Robert Englund as Krueger – aired between 1988 and 1990.
Freddy’s Nightmares was conceived as an anthology show separate to the main film series. Krueger appeared in the show, but was not the focus of each episode, so the series is regarded as one for completists only.
__
Who are the cast of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies and are the films the work of the same director?
Notable actors in the Nightmare on Elm Street movie series include Robert Englund, Heather Langenkamp, John Saxon, Ronee Blakely, Johnny Depp, Mark Patton, Patricia Arquette, Laurence Fishburne, Tuesday Knight, Rodney Eastman, Ken Sagoes, Nan Martin, Alice Cooper, Lisa Wilcox, Tom Arnold, Roseanne Barr, Miko Hughes, Lin Shaye, Ken Kirzinger, Monica Keena, Kelly Rowland, Jason Ritter, Lochlyn Munro, Katharine Isabelle, Garry Chalk, Jackie Earle Haley, Kyle Gallner, Rooney Mara, Katie Cassidy, Thomas Dekker, Kellan Lutz, and Clancy Brown.
In terms of the directors, the Nightmare on Elm Street movie series is the work of multiple directors.
- Wes Craven directed A Nightmare on Elm Street and Wes Craven’s New Nightmare
- Jack Sholder directed A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge
- Chuck Russell directed A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
- Renny Harlin directed A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
- Stephen Hopkins directed A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child
- Rachel Talalay directed Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare
- Ronny Yu directed Freddy vs. Jason
- Samuel Bayer directed A Nightmare on Elm Street 2010
- Daniel Farrands and Andrew Kasch directed Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy
__
Which is the best Nightmare on Elm Street movie?
According to IMDb, the Nightmare on Elm Street movie series is rated as follows:
- A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) – 7.4/10
- A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985) – 5.4/10
- A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) – 6.6/10
- A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988) – 5.6/10
- A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989) – 5.0/10
- Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991) – 4.7/10
- Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994) – 6.4/10
- Freddy vs. Jason (2003) – 5.7/10
- A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) – 5.2/10
- Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy (2010) – 8.6/10
__
Whether your a Nightmare newbie or you’re a long-time fan, you may wish to know that a boxset containing seven of the Nightmare movies is available on Blu-ray.
The Nightmare on Elm Street 1 – 7 Blu-ray boxset includes A Nightmare on Elm Street, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child, Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare, and Wes Craven’s A New Nightmare.
The Nightmare on Elm Street 1 – 7 Blu-ray boxset is available from all good entertainment retailers including Amazon US and Amazon UK.
__
Disclaimer: I earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
__
__
I hope this information about the Nightmare on Elm Street film series has proved useful. Should you wish to know more about other long-running movie series on It’s A Stampede!, please check out one of the recommended reads below.
It's A Stampede! 
Leave a comment