1984's A Nightmare On Elm Street is considered to be one of the most iconic horror movies of all time, and one that fans of the genre often praise heavily. Wes Craven's masterpiece really is a terrifying film the blends the idea of legitimate nightmares with a classic slasher story, all while having one of the scariest villains of all time in Freddy Krueger.
The film has plenty of comedy blended in with some dark humor and excellent one-liners, but there's no denying that it is an incredibly scary film. While there might be plenty of sequels, remakes and spin-offs for this franchise, that doesn't mean fans of the movie have to stay within this world for similar horror fun. There are plenty of other movies within this genre that have similar elements that any fan would appreciate.
Halloween (1978)
Much like A Nightmare On Elm Street, Halloween is another film that is considered to be a classic of the horror genre. The film may have turned into a franchise with sequels, but it is the 1978 John Carpenter original that still stands out as the best of the bunch.
Fans would certainly enjoy this movie as it has lots of similar themes. The fact that it relies on just a knife and the fact it is a simple slasher really works. However, having Michael Myers as a focal point as a major monster is also what makes it enjoyable, as he is a dominating and fearsome presence just like Freddy Krueger.
Hellraiser (1987)
Hellraiser is very similar to Halloween in the sense that it is truly a classic horror franchise with a recognizable character that people know and love. Pinhead is an iconic character and the fact that the movie focuses on both the human world and another realm is something that is very similar to A Nightmare On Elm Street.
It is in the dream world where Freddy exists, and in Hellraiser it is another world where the monsters are all inhabiting. That similarity would likely create a connection for fans and with this movie being just as scary, there would be no disappointment.
Dreamscape (1984)
While this movie is nowhere near on the same level when it comes to the sheer horror and scare elements, there is certainly similarities that fans would like. The movie focuses on a government-led idea where people are trained to enter the dreams of other people.
Of course, this doesn't end well, with one teenage using this power to assassinate people through their dreams. While he isn't as scary as Freddy, the idea of entering dreams to create death is something that fans of A Nightmare On Elm Street would certainly enjoy.
Slumber (2017)
While Freddy Krueger is obviously a terrifying aspect of A Nightmare On Elm Street, simply because he looks scary, that isn't the only reason the movie is scary. A major contributing factor is the fact that people cannot go to sleep, because once they do, they're open to being attacked by Freddy.
Trying not to fall asleep is something that everyone understands the hardship of, and that is why it is such a scary trigger. A movie that looks into that aspect brilliantly is Slumber, which has a demon that attacks his victims when they sleep, leading to them having to battle against it.
American Psycho (2000)
There are tons of slasher style horror movies that all follow the classic tropes of that genre, but the reason people love A Nightmare On Elm Street is that it has a unique approach on that. On top of that, it's because Freddy Krueger has got loads of personality, and while he might be scary, he is also very entertaining and interesting to watch.
That is what makes American Psycho such an interesting movie as well because Patrick Bateman is very compelling. He's a totally unique style of horror character and the way that he struts around and talks is something that would easily engage fans.
The House On Sorority Row (1982)
A classic slasher film that features a similar demographic of victims is The House On Sorority Row, with the sorority sisters all being targetted. The movie is all about revenge after a prank leads to a housemother accidentally being killed, and it gives the killer a true motive that audiences can connect with.
The movie sees the victims make the classic mistakes that are expected within slasher films of this era. It features the chases, the creepy moment and the big spook scares that help makes A Nightmare On Elm Street the movie that it is.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street (2007)
Of course, because this movie has got elements of a musical as part of it, there will be people who cannot connect with it. However, the classic tale of Sweeney Todd is played brilliantly here by Johnny Depp, who just so happens to have made his acting debut in...A Nightmare On Elm Street.
But that is not the reason why people will enjoy this movie. At its core, this is a great slasher and a film that is incredibly scary with a barbership basically being a home for murder in what becomes a very eerie movie.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Another movie that is considered to be a true classic of the horror genre is The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and this is another film that Nightmare fans would certainly love. Seeing a group of friends run out of gas and end up being met by Leatherface and his wild family, this movie is incredibly enjoyable with all the craziness that comes with it.
The film is great, not just because of Leatherface but the entire family of characters that are all happy to cause mayhem in their own individual ways. The movie brings plenty of terror and scares, which is why it is easy to see how fans would like this.
Friday The 13th Part 2 (1981)
While the original might be the strongest movie within this franchise, it is actually Jason's mother that plays a bigger role in that one. Because of that, it is Friday The 13th Part 2 which would likely be more interesting to Nightmare fans, purely because Jason Vorhees is such a similar character to Freddy.
He is an iconic villain and a huge part of the slasher world, which is why fans would appreciate this movie. Freddy Vs. Jason is a fantastic spin-off from both franchises, that most Nightmare fans would have seen, therefore this is one that they'd also want to see too.
Scream (1996)
The perfect film for fans of A Nightmare On Elm Street to watch is absolutely Scream. This is another Wes Craven movie and it has lots of similar elements to the classic horror. Of course, the biggest reason people will enjoy this movie is the fact that this is also a slasher, and the film uses the classic techniques of this type of horror to perfection.
However, it also happens to have the same blend of over the top humor, with a villain in Ghostface who is happy to crack wise comments, all while still being terrifying. Even though it doesn't dip into the sleep element, the film has no shortage of mystery with the killer being anonymous until the very end.