Few horror villains are as iconic as Freddy Krueger. Likewise, few can compete with the sheer amount of films he's appeared in. Freddy has been a mysterious killer, a comedian, a reboot—but, above all, he's the embodiment of a gruesome nightmare.
With so many iterations, sequels, and reboots beg the question, could they all be just as killer as the series' first film? Few horror franchises are able to maintain a consistent fear factor, as familiarity tends to undo a sense of fear. Naturally, not every Nightmare On Elm Street film is a dream to sit through.
Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare (4.9)
Watching Freddy's Dead, it's hard to believe that this was once a horror franchise. Freddy has gradually become more of a comedian over the course of the series, and Freddy's Dead is the character at his most campy. Unfortunately, this just doesn't work as a horror movie.
It's hard to watch because despite being the sixth entry in the franchise it looks to be the cheapest. Whether intentional or not, Freddy's Dead successfully killed an iconic horror franchise. This was not the send-off that Freddy deserved. But, hey, he got in some great one-liners before the end.
A Nightmare On Elm Street (2010) (5.2)
This is the most recent attempt at breathing new life into a long-dead franchise, and there's a reason why there hasn't been a sequel for ten years. While Jakie Earle Haley is a great actor, nobody can outshine Robert Englund's performance as Freddy. In general, this movie has trouble stepping out from the shadow of the original.
The reboot has little creativity to add to this franchise. There are no new ideas, and the overall style is run of the mill. Nightmare 2010 goes for dark and gritty, but it ends up putting viewers to sleep. What if that was Freddy's goal all along?
A Nightmare On Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (5.2)
The Dream Child succeeds only in making the Nightmare series feel old. That being said, there are some interesting ideas throughout, although they are poorly executed. The idea that a child in the womb is often sleeping and dreaming gives this film a fun spin, but it's too little too late.
There aren't any memorable dream sequences, kills, or even one-liners from Freddy. The film drags aimlessly through a plot that could have been genuinely engaging. This lackluster entry is the first sign of a hallmark horror franchise digging its own grave.
A Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (5.5)
A Nightmare On Elm Street 2 is only the second film in the series, yet it's probably the strangest. The protagonist is for some reason turning into Freddy Krueger from the inside out. This provides an interesting angle on teen horror tropes. Unfortunately, the film doesn't do these ideas any justice, leaving audiences scratching their heads.
In recent years, Nightmare 2 has received a bit of a cult following in light of some of the film's now obvious LGBTQ+ subtext. Through this lens, the story takes on a whole new gloriously campy form. It's a great pick for any bad movie night.
A Nightmare On Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (5.7)
The Dream Master isn't entirely bad, but it also doesn't offer up anything new. This is firmly a mid-tier entry in the Nightmare franchise. It's very much a retread of previous films, and thus entirely forgettable.
The Dream Warriors are back and once again terrorized by Freddy despite apparently defeating him for good in the previous film. Once again, there is a chosen one who is supposedly the only dreamer with the power to kill Freddy for good... until the sequel.
Freddy Vs. Jason (5.7)
Don't be fooled by the low score; Freddy Vs. Jason is one of the more exciting entries in either villain's series. This movie knows exactly what is it—a goofy sequel to a franchise that refuses to die. There's a great sense of humor throughout and lots of inventive kills.
Leaning all the way into horror-comedy is a great direction for the franchise, as Freddy is more of a comedian in each movie. It helps the character that he isn't surrounded by a sequel that takes itself too seriously.
Wes Craven's New Nightmare (6.4)
Wes Craven returns for the seventh entry in the series and brings some meta-theatrics along with his horror expertise. There are a lot of new ideas in this film, namely that Freddy Krueger is escaping the movie world and terrorizing the cast and crew. Freddy is back to his menacing roots with an all-new design.
The new design isn't bad, though it isn't as memorable as the striped sweater and bubbly burns. It fits the idea that Craven is going for though, as this film's Freddy is more of a demon than a super-powered ghost.
A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (6.6)
Dream Warriors is the best sequel in the series. There's a great cast, heavy themes, and the best soundtrack out of the whole franchise. The plot follows a group of teenagers in the midst of an epidemic of teen suicides. Little do doctors know, the suicides are staged by none other than the man of their dreams.
Freddy has a great balance between quippy one-liners and shocking scares. It's easily the best written Freddy from any of the Nightmare movies. Dream Warriors also features a young Patricia Arquette and the return of Heather Langenkamp as Nancy.
A Nightmare On Elm Street (7.5)
No shockers here; nothing beats the original. A Nightmare On Elm Street is one of the most innovative and unique horror movies of all time. The idea of a killer who preys on victims in their dreams is a revolutionary horror idea. A legend was born here, or at least, dreamt of.
Going back to the original, it's almost surprising how seriously frightening it is. Freddy is far from the comedian he would evolve into, and he's often obscured in the shadow during surreal dream sequences. This isn't just the best Nightmare On Elm Street movie, it's one of the all-time greatest horror movies.