Since Freddy Krueger first appeared in 1984, A Nightmare on Elm Street has become one of the most iconic horror franchises ever. With his razor-sharp glove, demonic humor, and nightmarish murders, Freddy has terrified generations of viewers.
Here is an overview of all A Nightmare on Elm Street movies in chronological order, including spin-offs and remakes.
1. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) – The classic that started it all
- Director: Wes Craven
- Starring: Robert Englund, Heather Langenkamp, Johnny Depp
Teenagers in the town of Springwood are haunted in their dreams by Freddy Krueger, a murderous demon with a terrifying glove full of knives.
With its creative murders, shocking effects, and an original twist on the slasher genre, this movie became an instant classic.
2. A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985) – The controversial sequel
- Director: Jack Sholder
- Starring: Mark Patton, Kim Myers, Robert Englund
Freddy returns and tries to possess the young Jesse Walsh, instead of killing victims in their dreams.
Known for its strong homoerotic subtext, this movie is hated by some fans but loved by others as a queer horror icon.
3. A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) – A fan favorite
- Director: Chuck Russell
- Starring: Heather Langenkamp, Patricia Arquette, Robert Englund
A group of teenagers in a psychiatric institution fight back against Freddy by controlling their dreams and developing superpowers themselves.
With imaginative nightmares and iconic kills, like Freddy’s famous “Welcome to prime time, bitch!” scene, this movie is considered one of the best sequels.
4. A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988) – Freddy’s most powerful moment
- Director: Renny Harlin
- Starring: Lisa Wilcox, Robert Englund
Freddy returns stronger than ever, while new victims try to stop him with the power of their dreams.
With fast action, bizarre dream sequences, and a Freddy increasingly spouting one-liners, this is one of the most entertaining installments in the series.
5. A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989) – Dark and artistic
- Director: Stephen Hopkins
- Starring: Lisa Wilcox, Robert Englund
Freddy uses Alice’s unborn child to return, hunting his victims with surreal nightmares.
With dark gothic imagery and a strong visual concept, but also less creative kills, this is a divisive sequel.
6. Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991) – Freddy’s over-the-top farewell
- Director: Rachel Talalay
- Starring: Lisa Zane, Robert Englund
The last teenager in Springwood is tracked down by Freddy, who then reveals his own background and motives.
The movie contains more slapstick humor than horror, with bizarre scenes like Freddy in a video game and a 3D-filmed climax.
Although intended as the ‘final end’, the movie was later followed by new sequels.
7. Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994) – Freddy in the real world
- Director: Wes Craven
- Starring: Heather Langenkamp, Robert Englund
This meta-horror movie takes place in the ‘real world’, where Freddy Krueger becomes a demonic entity hunting the cast and crew of the Nightmare movies.
A clever, self-aware horror movie that was ahead of its time, laying the groundwork for movies like Scream.
8. Freddy vs. Jason (2003) – The ultimate horror clash
- Director: Ronny Yu
- Starring: Robert Englund, Ken Kirzinger, Monica Keena
Freddy and Jason Voorhees are pitted against each other in an epic horror duel, while teenagers are trapped between the two murderous icons.
With brutal kills, humor, and pure nostalgia, the movie became a huge hit among horror fans.
9. A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) – The controversial remake
- Director: Samuel Bayer
- Starring: Jackie Earle Haley, Rooney Mara
A remake of the original starring Jackie Earle Haley as Freddy, playing a grimmer and more realistic version of the killer.
Although the movie has beautiful visuals and strong actors, it was heavily criticized for lacking the tension and atmosphere that made the original so special.
Spin-offs and extra content
Besides the movies, there have been other Nightmare on Elm Street projects:
Freddy’s Nightmares (1988-1990) – The Nightmare TV series
An anthology series where Freddy hosts various creepy stories, similar to Tales from the Crypt.
Although not every episode is about Freddy, the show remains a cult favorite among fans.
