The Definitive Ranking of Every A Nightmare on Elm Street Movie

Almost unmatched in popularity among horror franchises, “A Nightmare on Elm Street” is one of the genre’s most esteemed heavyweights. A significant portion of its acclaim can be attributed to its uniquely creative concept, but a large part is owed to its antagonist – Freddy Krueger. This character has become a household name, even among those who have never watched a movie from the “A Nightmare on Elm Street” series, and even among those who typically avoid horror films altogether. Part icon of pop culture and part captivating character, Freddy holds a significant place in the world much like Darth Vader does.

For several decades, the slasher horror genre has been dominated by “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” boasting seven core installments, a collaboration with “Friday the 13th,” and a remake. While the series varies in quality, it has proven to be a consistent success. Among the nine films in this collection, which one stands out as the best, and which is most terrifying?

#9 – A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)

The following two films might be hard to watch, but the 2010 reboot is downright impossible to get through. Despite Jackie Earle Haley’s valiant efforts, no one can fill Robert Englund’s shoes. If you’re going to attempt a replacement, don’t burden him with weak dialogue or make him appear as though he’s a fish. Furthermore, avoid creating a movie that resembles a 2007 heavy metal music video in its aesthetics.

Actress Maika Monroe expresses interest in playing a role in a new “A Nightmare on Elm Street” movie, hinting at a potential reboot of the franchise. Robert Englund might not participate directly, but there’s an opportunity for him to make a brief appearance and pass the infamous glove to a new dream demon character.

#8 – Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991)

It’s clear what director Rachel Talalay aimed to achieve with “Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare,” but given her extensive involvement in the series, it’s puzzling why she chose a graphically violent animated film instead of wrapping up the franchise using elements that made it successful during its prime.

The excessive humor in “A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child” failed to resonate critically or financially, leading to no subsequent attempts to mimic its style. Since director Rachel Talalay was involved with the successful films in the franchise, she could have steered the series back on track post-“Dream Child.” Unfortunately, Freddy’s character shifted from a terrifying dream stalker to a Bugs Bunny-like figure, and when it wasn’t delving into unnecessary background details, the movie resembled an episode of “Twin Peaks.

#7 – A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989)

As a movie critic, I’d rephrase it like this: “What truly stands out in ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child’ is its captivating promotional artwork. However, this image encapsulates one of the film’s major flaws – Freddy Krueger, once a chilling figure of terror, has lost his menace. Instead, he’s transformed into a comical antagonist, donning a costume reminiscent of a comic book villain and dismembering cardboard cutouts of teenagers.

The Dream Master” demonstrated that the series could continue without Nancy, and Freddy Krueger had become a significant part of popular culture. However, it became evident in the next installment that Freddy was losing steam, suggesting that this sequel might not have been as successful or thrilling as earlier ones. The film lacked depth and wasn’t particularly scary, which could be a sign that New Line Cinema should retire their profitable franchise character.

#6 – Freddy vs. Jason (2003)

Generally speaking, “Freddy vs. Jason” is usually an enjoyable movie, but it doesn’t offer much more than mindless entertainment. As a horror film, it falls short when it comes to generating fear. This can be attributed, in part, to the polished studio aesthetic that was common among many horror films similar to “Scream,” such as “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” “Urban Legend,” and “The Faculty,” released between 1997 and 2004.

For fans eagerly anticipating the showdown between these iconic horror characters, “Freddy vs. Jason” certainly delivers. On the whole, it’s a stronger installment in the “A Nightmare on Elm Street” series compared to its counterpart, “Friday the 13th”. Despite facing numerous production challenges, “Freddy vs. Jason” surpasses expectations and is better than many might have anticipated, although it still falls short of greatness overall.

#5 – A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985)

Many fans of Elm Street find themselves disliking “A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge,” and I can see why. From the school bus sequences at the beginning and end, to the central plot about possession, it’s clear that New Line struggled to adapt Wes Craven’s original concept into a franchise.

However, without a doubt, “Freddy’s Revenge” remains distinctive and, in some aspects, progressive when it comes to LGBTQ representation within mainstream horror. Despite Jesse Walsh being portrayed as straight, the movie subtly hints at something else. This film, released before its makeover in “Dream Warriors”, is the second and final time Freddy appeared with a less polished look that, surprisingly, adds charm to his character. On a double feature night, “Freddy’s Revenge” serves as an intriguing and oddly fitting sequel to the original film.

#4 – Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994)

Wes Craven’s “Wes Craven’s New Nightmare” is worthy of all the acclaim it has earned, yet it can be somewhat disappointing to watch. The meta aspects Craven introduces here are impressive, but he would refine them beautifully two years later in “Scream.” In fact, this “A Nightmare on Elm Street” film could have benefited from a longer runtime of around 2 hours and 30 minutes.

It was intriguing to see Freddy Krueger swiftly navigate through the set of his upcoming movie’s franchise, and equally captivating was the concept of him moving from the screen world into reality. However, these aspects could have been delved into more deeply. Thankfully, what we do get is quite powerful, particularly an examination of the semi-real life of Heather Langenkamp, the star of the franchise, and her on-screen son, portrayed by Miko Hughes from “Pet Sematary”. “New Nightmare” serves as the most compelling sequel to the original film not because of its overall quality, but due to its strong connection back to the source.

#3 – A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)

In the 1980s, Renny Harlin, who later directed Deep Blue Sea and Die Hard 2, showcased his blockbuster talent with A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master. This movie became the highest-grossing slasher film of its time when adjusted for inflation, earning approximately $130 million in 2025 dollars. Interestingly, it was also the sequel that sold the most tickets in the series, aside from Freddy vs. Jason.

The success of “Dream Master” is quite understandable, as it built upon the moderate success and critical praise of “Dream Warriors.” Moreover, the movie exhibits the audaciousness typical of a summer blockbuster, featuring scenes where a character gets pulled into a cinema screen and another transforms into a cockroach. Notably, it also subtly references the initial summer blockbuster, “Jaws.” Known as the “MTV” version of Freddy Krueger due to director Harlin’s flair, it’s evident why this film is admired. While “Dream Master” occasionally oversteps its bounds, leading to a disappointing and underfunded death scene for the beloved character, Rick, the positive aspects tend to outshine the negative ones.

#2 –A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)

Freddy’s portrayal in “A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors” solidified his status as an ’80s horror legend. This slasher sequel directed by Chuck Russell is widely regarded as one of the greatest ever made, and it stands shoulder to shoulder with the original in terms of popularity. Indeed, it comes very close to dethroning the original when it comes to claiming the top spot.

In this particular movie, slightly nudging Freddy Krueger further into the frontlines proved incredibly effective, yet it could potentially pose problems for the franchise down the line. It’s the very fact that it works so flawlessly in this film that leaves me genuinely amazed. A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors manages to juggle multiple elements quite skillfully, and it does so with remarkable success. The movie not only keeps Freddy Krueger terrifying but also delves slightly into his backstory, which is just right. The film brings back Heather Langenkamp as Nancy and John Saxon as Donald Thompson in a way that feels natural while also serving as a fitting conclusion for both characters. Moreover, the sequel introduces an entirely new cast of young characters, each one of whom leaves a lasting impression.

#1 –A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Despite Dream Warriors being fantastic, nothing can surpass the creative brilliance of Wes Craven’s initial A Nightmare on Elm Street. This franchise’s scariest movie, it maintains a strong pace from its brief emphasis on Tina and never falters until its disappointing, hastily added conclusion. In essence, while it’s not a flawless horror film, it comes very close.

By the mid-80s, the slasher genre was showing signs of exhaustion, but Freddy Krueger emerged as the perfect icon to keep it alive for a while longer. His screen time in the first movie is minimal, which makes his appearances all the more chilling. Robert Englund is the one and only actor who can convincingly play the role of the slasher antagonist; attempts to replace him in the second film fell flat.

2025-01-18 23:10