A Nightmare On Elm Street Movies Ranked Worst to Best

Freddy Krueger is one of horror’s greatest icons, and the Nightmare on Elm Street series gave us some of the most creative, surreal, and downright gruesome kills in horror history. 

Let's take a look back on the first six movies, the original run before New Nightmare and Freddy vs. Jason, or the 2010 remake. Here’s how they stack up, from worst to best.

6. Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991)

This was supposed to be the big send-off, complete with a fun, terrifying 3D gimmick. Instead, it ended up flat, silly, and not nearly as fun as it should’ve been.

“I remember going to see that in the theater—I was super excited about it. But the 3D was only in the last 10 minutes, and it just wasn’t fun. I don’t even really remember the story, which says it all.”

Favorite Kill: Carlos and the hearing aid. “Freddy cranks his hearing up, sticks a Q-tip in his ear, and then drops pins until his head explodes. That’s a great scene.”

5. A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989)

The concept of a “dream child” sounded like it could be awesome, but the execution felt muddy. Instead of going darker, it leaned harder into Freddy’s one-liners and lost the edge.

“I remember flipping through Fangoria and getting hyped for it, but man… what a disappointment. It could’ve been haunting, but it fell flat.”

Favorite Kill: Dan’s motorcycle transformation. “Freddy becomes the bike, fusing metal into flesh until Dan crashes. That was crazy.”

Runner-Up: Greta’s feeding death. “Freddy force-feeds her until her face swells. Gruesome, but it looked really good.”

4. A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985)

The black sheep of the series. Its possession angle makes it stand apart, and while it felt off compared to the first movie, over time it’s become easier to appreciate.

“When I first saw it, I didn’t like it. It was just so different from part one. But watching it later, I saw it in a new light.”

Favorite Kill: The pool party massacre. “Freddy just goes wild—electrocuting, burning, slashing. He takes out like seven people in one go. Total chaos.”

3. A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)

Flashy, colorful, and packed with energy, this one isn’t the scariest, but it’s one of the most rewatchable. The soundtrack and effects are pure ’80s horror gold.

“This was the first Nightmare I saw in the theater. At first, I thought it was too bright, not scary enough. But on rewatch, I love it. It’s just so easy to watch.”

Favorite Kill: Debbie’s cockroach transformation. “That’s disgusting, crazy, and the effects are amazing.”

Runner-Up: Sheila’s classroom death. “Freddy sucks the breath right out of her—in broad daylight. Such a creepy effect.”

2. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

The original still stands tall. Dark, gritty, and dreamlike, it set the standard for surreal horror and gave us Freddy as we’ll always remember him.

“This is where it all began—Wes Craven nailed it. It feels like a scary movie in a way the later ones just didn’t.”

Favorite Kill: Glenn’s blood geyser. “Freddy pulls him into the bed, and blood just erupts like a fountain. Iconic.”

Runner-Up: Tina’s ceiling death. “Watching her dragged up the wall and across the ceiling is terrifying. That scene is done so well.”

1. A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)

The fan favorite, and for good reason. It took everything that worked in the first film and expanded it into something bigger, creepier, and more fun.

“Dream Warriors is the best. I remember renting it and being blown away. It built perfectly on part one and gave us characters we actually cared about.”

Favorite Kill: Philip’s marionette death. “Freddy pulls out his veins and uses him like a puppet, walking him off the building. That scene was crazy—one of the best in the whole series.”

Final Thoughts

Looking back, not every Nightmare on Elm Street film hits the mark, but the series still shines.

“Out of the six, I’d give the series a three out of five overall. Part one, part three, and part four really stand out, and that’s enough to make it one of my favorite horror franchises to revisit.”