Screen Rant

A Nightmare On Elm Street

The Nightmare on Elm Street is a horror franchise that began with the 1984 film directed by Wes Craven. The series centers on Freddy Krueger, a former child killer who, after being burned alive by the parents of his victims, returns as a vengeful spirit who kills teenagers in their dreams. The franchise became a cornerstone of the horror genre, spawning nine films, a television series, novels, comics, video games, and more. Freddy Krueger, portrayed by Robert Englund in most of the films, is one of the most iconic characters in horror history. The series is known for its imaginative and terrifying dream sequences, blending slasher elements with supernatural horror.

+ See More
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) Movie Poster
Created by
Wes Craven
First Film
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Latest Film
A Nightmare on Elm Street
First TV Show
Freddy's Nightmares
Latest TV Show
Freddy's Nightmares
First Episode Air Date
October 8, 1988

Cast
Robert Englund, Heather Langenkamp, Johnny Depp, Patricia Arquette, Lisa Wilcox, Mark Patton, Jackie Earle Haley, John Saxon, Amanda Wyss, Ken Sagoes
Spin-offs (Movies)
Freddy vs. Jason
TV Show(s)
Freddy's Nightmares
Movie(s)
A Nightmare on Elm Street, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child, Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare, Wes Craven’s New Nightmare, Freddy vs. Jason, A Nightmare on Elm Street
Character(s)
Freddy Krueger, Nancy Thompson, Kristen Parker, Jesse Walsh, Alice Johnson, Tina Gray, Dr. Neil Gordon, Kincaid, Joey Crusel, Amanda Krueger

latest

Bill Skarsgard as Pennywise smiling In IT
This Horror Movie Character Shockingly Has A Higher Kill Count Than Most Horror Legends

A comparison between four iconic horror movie characters proves that an underrated villain actually has a staggering kill count in their series.

Patricia Arquette screaming and contorting her face in Nightmare on Elm Street 3
Nightmare On Elm Street: Patricia Arquette Has One Major Condition For Potential Franchise Return

There's a chance the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise could get Patricia Arquette to come back, but they'll have to meet her big condition first.

A Nightmare on Elm Street Dream Warriors Kristen in pain and Freddy Krueger
Patricia Arquette Is Right About Her Nightmare On Elm Street Character (& Deserves Another Chance)

Patricia Arquette starred in the best A Nightmare On Elm Street sequel, and she's right about wanting to change one thing about her character.

3:03
Scary Terry from Rick and Morty showing his clawed hands and Freddy Krueger smiling in A Nightmare on Elm Street
3 Horror Franchises That Could Return as an Animated Series

In an age of reboots and legacy sequels, not every horror franchise can stand the test of time. But a shift to animation can be the solution.

Collage of Robert Englund roles, including Freddy Krueger and parts from The Adventures of Ford Fairlane and A Star is Born
Marvel's Nightmare on Elm Street Reveals a Special Secret Behind Freddy Krueger the Movies Never Touched On

A forgotten Marvel comic series adds something new to the A Nightmare on Elm Street movies by expanding secret details about Freddy Krueger's origin.

A collage of Freddy and his victims in Nightmare on Elm Street
Freddy Krueger's True Anatomy Manages to Make the Nightmare on Elm Street Mascot Even Scarier Than We Realized

The A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise has only shown glimpses of how Freddy Krueger's body works, but a forgotten Marvel comic expands everything.

3
3:04
Wes Craven with a Freddy glove Next to Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger
Why Wes Craven Didn’t Return for A Nightmare on Elm Street 2

Despite A Nightmare on Elm Street getting rave reviews upon release, Wes Craven decided to not return for Freddy's Revenge.

3:01
Freddy Krueger smiling next to Heather Leagenkamp in The Midnight Sun and Johnny Depp holding a blade as Sweeney Todd
What is the Cast of A Nightmare on Elm Street Doing Now?

Many actors grew to stardom after 1984's A Nightmare on Elm Street, but what are they up to now?

2:47
Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger and the burned, clawed killer from Night Killer
5 Movies That Ripped Off A Nightmare on Elm Street

With A Nightmare on Elm Street being one of the best horror movies of the '80s, it was bound to be ripped off by other filmmakers.

3:09
Collage of Chucky and Megan dolls
3 Horror Franchise Crossovers We’d Love to See

Hollywood has given fans plenty of fantastic horror franchises but not as many crossovers as we'd like.

2:34
Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams in Ash vs Evil Dead Next to Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger
A Nightmare on Elm Street’s Evil Dead Easter Egg Explained

Sam Raimi's Evil Dead is shown in 1984's A Nightmare on Elm Street, and the fun easter egg has a deeper meaning than you might think.

2:37
Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger in A Nightmare on Elm Street in Front of 1428 Elm House
Why A Nightmare on Elm Street 1984’s Ending Is So Confusing

A Nightmare on Elm Street is one of the most iconic horror movies of all time, but the ending is actually quite confusing.

2:41
Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger with Needle Fingers in Nightmare on Elm Street Dream Warriors
A Nightmare on Elm Street: Wes Craven’s Dream Warriors Script Compared to the Final Cut

Wes Craven originally drafted a script for A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, but not a lot of it made it to the film's final cut.

2:36
Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger in Freddy vs Jason and Putting his Makeup on at Flashback Weekend Chicago
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984): 3 Most Impressive Practical Effects

Before CGI became a common practice in Hollywood, A Nightmare on Elm Street depended on practical effects to bring Freddy to life.

2:52
Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger in Freddy vs Jason in Front of Jason Voorhees Hockey Mask
The 2 Actors Who Almost Played Freddy Krueger Before Robert Englund

With A Nightmare on Elm Street celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2024, Screen Rant is looking back at the actors who almost played Freddy Krueger.

2
2:57
Robert Englund in V and Galaxy of Terror
A Nightmare on Elm Street- What Was Robert Englund Known For Before Freddy Krueger?

Robert Englund is best known for playing Freddy Krueger in A Nightmare on Elm Street, but he began his acting career before 1984.

3:06
Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger In Front of Slashed Green Film Strips
Nightmare on Elm Street: Is Dream Warriors the Definitive Movie in the Franchise?

Wes Craven's original A Nightmare on Elm Street is typically considered the best in the franchise, but is Dream Warriors actually better?

Freddy (Robert Englund) smiles and splays his claw in A Nightmare on Elm Street
Recasting Freddy Krueger For A Nightmare On Elm Street: 9 Actors Who Can Replace Robert Englund

Though there are no new A Nightmare on Elm Street installments scheduled, there are several actors who could replace Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger.

30
6:05
Robert Englund & Heather Langenkamp smiling during Nightmare on Elm Street interview
A Nightmare On Elm Street Interview: Robert Englund & Heather Langenkamp Talk 40th Anniversary & Fan Interactions

A Nightmare on Elm Street stars Robert Englund and Heather Langenkamp reflect on the movie's 40th anniversary and meaningful fan interactions.

3:08
Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger in Nightmare on Elm Street Next to Scary Terry From Rick and Morty
Could Nightmare on Elm Street Succeed as an Animated TV Show?

The future of the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise is unclear, but could an animated show with Freddy Krueger work?

2
See More