Nightmare on Elm Street - Watch Order: Core Saga

1984 - 19916 Films9h 6m3.3 Average

The core Freddy Krueger saga encompasses six films that tell the complete story of the Springwood Slasher's reign of terror. Beginning with his introduction and ending with his supposed final defeat, this watch order excludes the later meta-commentary and crossover films.

This represents the traditional Elm Street experience, following Freddy's evolution from terrifying nightmare stalker to the more comedic horror icon of the later sequels. These six films form the canonical Freddy mythology before the franchise expanded into different territories.

1
A Nightmare on Elm Street poster

A Nightmare on Elm Street

19841h 31m4.3
Director: Wes Craven
Cast: Heather Langenkamp, Robert Englund, Johnny Depp, John Saxon, Ronee Blakley

Teenagers in a small town are dropping like flies, apparently in the grip of mass hysteria causing their suicides. A cop's daughter, Nancy Thompson, traces the cause to child molester Fred Krueger, who was burned alive by angry parents many years before. Krueger has now come back in the dreams of his killers' children, claiming their lives as his revenge. Nancy and her boyfriend, Glen, must devise a plan to lure the monster out of the realm of nightmares and into the real world...

Horror
2
A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge poster

A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge

19851h 27m3
Director: Jack Sholder
Cast: Robert Englund, Mark Patton, Kim Myers, Robert Rusler, Clu Gulager

Jesse Walsh moves with his family into the home of the lone survivor from a series of attacks by dream-stalking monster, Freddy Krueger. There, he is bedeviled by nightmares and inexplicably violent impulses.

Horror
3
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors poster

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors

19871h 36m3.8
Director: Chuck Russell
Cast: Patricia Arquette, Heather Langenkamp, Craig Wasson, Robert Englund, Ken Sagoes

During a hallucinatory incident, Kristen Parker has her wrists slashed by dream-stalking monster, Freddy Krueger. Her mother, mistaking the wounds for a suicide attempt, sends her to a psychiatric ward, where she joins a group of similarly troubled teens.

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

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master

19881h 33m3.1
Director: Renny Harlin
Cast: Robert Englund, Rodney Eastman, Danny Hassel, Andras Jones, Tuesday Knight

Freddy Krueger is resurrected from his apparent demise, and rapidly tracks down and kills the remainder of the Elm Street kids. However, Kristen, who can draw others into her dreams, wills her special ability to her new friend, Alice.

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5
A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Child poster

A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Child

19891h 30m2.7
Director: Stephen Hopkins
Cast: Robert Englund, Lisa Wilcox, Erika Anderson, Valorie Armstrong, Michael Ashton

Alice finds the deadly dreams of Freddy Krueger starting once again. This time, the taunting murderer is striking through the sleeping mind of her unborn child.

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6
Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare poster

Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare

19911h 29m2.7
Director: Rachel Talalay
Cast: Robert Englund, Lisa Zane, Shon Greenblatt, Lezlie Deane, Yaphet Kotto

Just when you thought it was safe to sleep, Freddy Krueger returns in this sixth installment of the Nightmare on Elm Street films, as psychologist Maggie Burroughs, tormented by recurring nightmares, meets a patient with the same horrific dreams. Their quest for answers leads to a certain house on Elm Street -- where the nightmares become reality.

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