The Best Nightmare on Elm Street Movies

Ranker Horror
Updated May 20, 2022 7.5K votes 1.4K voters
Over 1.4K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Nightmare on Elm Street Movies
Voting Rules
Only films in the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise

The best Nightmare on Elm Street movies instill fear in the hearts and souls of all horror fans to this very day. The films instantly became a quintessential staple in the horror community when they were released, and they helped birth one of the most memorable and beloved villains in all of cinema with Freddy Krueger. The films surpassed mere stardom and became a global sensation. From television shows to music videos to and even behind-the-scenes Nightmare documentaries, the Nightmare on Elm Street films were a revelation to the mainstream.

Browse through our list of the best Nightmare on Elm Street movies to see which ones are considered the best by voters just like you. With a staggering 8 films in the franchise and a remake to boot, there are plenty of options for every spooky mood audiences may find themselves in. Want a meta look at Freddy Krueger and horror itself? Take a look at Wes Cravens's New Nightmare. Want to see Freddy fight to the death against a fellow slasher king? Well, watch Freddy vs. Jason of course! Or why not just go with where it all started with the first Nightmare on Elm Street.

Pull up your favorite chair, get some bowls of your favorite Halloween candy and a favorite beverage, and prepare yourself for a night of scares with only the best Nightmare on Elm Street movies to watch. Or, you can watch the entire series and decide for yourself which Nightmare on Elm Street movies are the best, then come back and place your vote and enjoy a fun, dream-filled night of sleep!

Ranked by
  • A Nightmare on Elm Street
    1

    A Nightmare on Elm Street

    Robert Shaye
    976 votes
    • Actors: John Saxon, Ronee Blakley, Heather Langenkamp, Amanda Wyss, Johnny Depp
    • Released: 1984
    • Directed by: Wes Craven
    In the chilling horror classic A Nightmare on Elm Street, Nancy Thompson (Heather Langenkamp) finds herself tormented by a monstrous figure in her dreams. This spectral menace, known as Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund), wears a bladed glove and leaves a trail of terror in his wake. As teens in her town start dying mysteriously, Nancy realizes the peril is not confined to her nightmares. Directed by Wes Craven, this film weaves a web of psychological terror that blurs the lines between dream and reality. The movie was so impactful that it spawned a franchise of sequels, solidifying its place in horror cinema history.

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  • A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
    2
    • Actors: Heather Langenkamp, Patricia Arquette, Craig Wasson, Laurence Fishburne, Priscilla Pointer
    • Released: 1987
    • Directed by: Chuck Russell
    In A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, the infamous Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) returns to torment the youths of Springwood, Ohio. This time, his victims are a group of troubled teens at a psychiatric hospital. The narrative spotlights a young woman, Kristen Parker (Patricia Arquette), who possesses a unique ability to draw others into her dreams. She and the other patients band together under the guidance of returning character Nancy Thompson (Heather Langenkamp). They form the titular Dream Warriors, using their dream powers to battle Krueger in his own realm. This horror flick is known for its inventive dream sequences and creative special effects, adding an extra layer of surreal terror to this third installment of the popular franchise.

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  • Wes Craven's New Nightmare
    3

    Wes Craven's New Nightmare

    Marianne Maddalena
    859 votes
    • Actors: Robert Englund, Heather Langenkamp, Miko Hughes, David Newsom, Tracy Middendorf
    • Released: 1994
    • Directed by: Wes Craven
    In Wes Craven's New Nightmare, horror takes a meta turn. Heather Langenkamp, playing herself, is a retired actress famous for her role as Nancy Thompson in the Nightmare on Elm Street series. Her old nemesis, Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund), transcends fiction and invades reality, terrorizing Heather and her family. Directed by Wes Craven himself, this self-referential film blurs the line between cinema and life, wrapping up the Nightmare series with an innovative twist. The movie boasts a unique blend of suspense and horror, which earned it a Saturn Award nomination for Best Horror Film.

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  • A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
    4

    A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master

    Robert Shaye, Rachel Talalay
    752 votes
    • Actors: Robert Englund, Lisa Wilcox, Brooke Bundy, Rodney Eastman, Ken Sagoes
    • Released: 1988
    • Directed by: Renny Harlin
    A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master is a 1988 American slasher fantasy film and the fourth film in the Nightmare on Elm Street series. The film was directed by Renny Harlin, stars Robert Englund, Lisa Wilcox and Danny Hassel. It is the sequel to A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors and is followed by A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child. The film was released on August 19, 1988 to generally mixed to positive reviews, grossing over $49.3 million domestically, making it the highest grossing horror film at domestic box office released in the 1980s, and the most financially successful film in the franchise until the release of Freddy vs. Jason.
  • Freddy vs. Jason
    5

    Freddy vs. Jason

    Sean S. Cunningham
    792 votes
    • Actors: Robert Englund, Ken Kirzinger, Monica Keena, Jason Ritter, Kelly Rowland
    • Released: 2003
    • Directed by: Ronnie Yu
    In the cross-genre horror film Freddy vs. Jason, iconic movie monsters Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) and Jason Voorhees (Ken Kirzinger) come to life in a terrifying clash. As the denizens of Elm Street find their dreams hijacked by Freddy, they realize that their only hope lies in summoning Jason, the infamous slasher of Camp Crystal Lake. The plot thickens as these two titans of terror battle each other, leaving a trail of fear and destruction in their wake. Directed by Ronny Yu, this movie intertwines elements of supernatural horror with slasher tropes, creating a unique cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre. Despite its spine-chilling theme, Freddy vs. Jason is characterized by an undercurrent of dark humor, adding an unexpected twist to this classic tale of good versus evil - or more accurately, evil versus evil.

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  • Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare
    6

    Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare

    Robert Shaye, Aron Warner
    698 votes
    • Actors: Robert Englund, Lisa Zane, Shon Greenblatt, Lezlie Deane, Ricky Dean Logan
    • Released: 1991
    • Directed by: Rachel Talalay
    In Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare, the infamous Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) returns to torment the town of Springwood. Striking fear into the hearts of its residents, he manipulates their dreams with a ruthless efficiency that sends shivers down the spine. However, his reign of terror is challenged by the arrival of a mysterious teenager (Shon Greenblatt), who holds the key to his destruction. As the battle wages on in both reality and dreamland, viewers are left questioning - will this truly be Freddy's final nightmare or just another chapter in his horrifying legacy? A quintessential horror flick, this film weaves an intricate narrative of suspense and dread, captivating audiences with its chilling plot twists and unforgettable characters.

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