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John Saxon, Ronee Blakely, Heather Langenkamp, Amanda Wyss, Nick Corri ... see more see more... , Johnny Depp , Robert Englund , Charles Fleischer , Joe Whipp , Lin Shaye , Jason Adams , David Andrews , Ed Call , Mimi Craven , Don Hannah , Jeff Levine , Sandy Lipton , Mimi Meyer-Shaye , Joe Unger , Shashawnee Hall , Jack Shea , Jsu Garcia , Ronee Blakley , Joseph Whipp

A decade of wisecracking sequels have not diminished the power of this striking horror film from the director of Scream. Teenagers in a small town are dropping like flies, apparently in the grip of ma... read more read more...ss hysteria causing their suicides. A cop's daughter (Heather Langenkamp) traces the cause to child molester Fred Krueger (Robert Englund), 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. The teenaged leads are sympathetic and intelligent, unlike the dumb victims presented in most films of the period, and they are ably backed up by veterans like John Saxon and Ronee Blakley. Director Wes Craven creates moments of real dread by examining the line between nightmares and reality, as well as the "sins of the parents" theme, and although the film is quite gory, it never resorts to cheap bloodletting for its effect. A unique and disturbing experience, this film is highly recommended for horror buffs. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

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78% liked it

375,796 ratings

Critics

95% liked it

42 critics

R, 1 hr. 31 min.

Directed by: Wes Craven

Release Date: June 1, 1984

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DVD Release Date: August 21, 2001

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Stats: 21,405 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (21,405)

  • aquateen2
    April 8, 2012
    aquateen2
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img]

    Wes Craven's benchmark creature of terror: Freddy Kreuger. Combined with the brilliantly intelligent premise has strongly helped make this deservedly remain one of the greatest suspense horror's of all t... read moreime. It's an incredibly smart slasher movie that never loses it's ability to bring forth a unique enigmatic and eery sense of isolation among it's victims. The victims? Us.
  • StarCrossedVoyager
    November 15, 2011
    StarCrossedVoyager
    It has ages fairly well but the massive amount of copy-cat films has made this film seem not so good to a new viewer. I'm sure that when it came out it was amazing, and it is a really good story with a superb soundtrack. The acting was believable and the tension was created perfe... read morectly. I look forward to seeing the rest in the series.
  • fb100000040220993
    September 26, 2011
    fb100000040220993
    This movie is a true classic. The concept is pure genius and ended up advancing the entire slasher genre. Even after nearly 30 years and countless sequels, the idea of a murderer hunting his victims through their dreams remains disturbing. As for Freddy, this is the character ... read moreat his filthy, sadistic best. There are moments in the film that haven't aged well, and they really dropped the ball with the ending, but this will always be one of the greatest horror movies ever made.
  • DreamExtractor
    August 15, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    One of the greatest horror flms in the history of movies, a all time classic, really scary.
  • fb619846742
    August 14, 2011
    fb619846742
    An effectively-made, slightly campy horror film that knows how to scare correctly while developing one of the most terrifying, legendary killers in all of cinema. Unlike so many horror movies that are usually plagued with terrible dialogue, wooden characters, dumb decisions, and ... read moreand overdose of "campy"-ness, this one gets most of it right. Heather Lagenkamp's solid, at-times over-the-top performance as the lead is what makes the film worth it, seeing that she is a character we care for, notably due to her mother's drinking problem (brilliant little subplot tossed in nicely by director Wes Craven) and father's arrogance (John Saxon, playing it straightforward). Sure, it's corny from time to time, but Craven is a master of suspense and plays his cards right for a majority of the film's duration, which results in some genuinely spooky moments.
  • fb100002090596996
    June 25, 2011
    fb100002090596996
    Now, let me say that I did enjoy the movie. I never got bored and honestly wouldn't mind watching it again... but my major concern are the very poor effects the movie lays on you. I mean truly terrible effects that are (hopefully, I haven't seen it yet) cleaned up in the 2009 re-... read moremake. The story is explained a little poorly, meaning it isn't that good. It's simple and unrealistic, but it is a major psychological trip on your brain. It is hard to understand a very simple story... I mean, how odd is that? Within the movie, odd nightmares are common... deadly nightmares are frequent. And, to top it all off, the creepy jump rope song... it's just like Dead Space's twinkle little star song. It's just so inappropriate that it's scary... I can still remember the haunting lyrics. "1, 2, Freddy's coming for you. 3, 4, better lock your door. 5, 6, grab you're crucifix. 7, 8, gonna stay up late. 9, 10, never sleep again."... too bad sleep deprivation will prevent that from happening... meaning that you are going... to... DIE...
  • fb100000257973100
    May 29, 2011
    fb100000257973100
    Around the time that this film was made, the entire slasher genre of films was already made a complete mockery of. You had the countless, terrible sequels to staple horror films, the low budget exploitation films, and the entire name of horror was a complete joke. Then, out of no... read more where, a little horror film about nightmares and dreams comes about and everyone is forced to take the genre seriously. A Nightmare On Elm Street is, when boiled down, one of the most intelligent and still effective horror films that has been made. In terms of direction, Wes Craven shows his origins of being a master film maker sense his films The Last House On The Left and The Hills Have Eyes. He makes the film work by keeping the origins of the main killer, Fred Kruger (Robert Englund), a complete mystery. Plus, how he is able to make the transitions from the real world to the dream realms is also effective. Now you have the script. To this day with this film being twenty plus years old, the script is still fresh and smart as it tackles the mysteries of dreams and the effect that they have on people. Another thing to point out is how it takes the themes of Loss of Innocence. Now, the acting. For the most part, the acting is one dimensional with the exception of Englund, Heather Langenkamp, and Johnny Depp (this being his first film). These three carry the film on their shoulders and do a good job on making this film great. But, between all three, it is, of course, Englund that steals the show. Now for the score. It is mostly repetitive, but for the basic of the main theme that this film is known for, it is wonderful. The score of a film is suppose to set the tone and that is what this film does. Overall, this is an effective horror that does have some flaws.
  • ajv2688
    January 17, 2011
    ajv2688
    I wish I'd never seen this movie, not that it's bad, but because it's too good. By that I mean that it's the scariest thing I've ever seen on film, and it gives me nightmares just thinking about it, so I better end this review now.
  • sanjurosamurai
    January 15, 2011
    sanjurosamurai
    freddy is an absolute icon, which probably overvalues this first film a bit but his legend allows it. the film does have some genuine frights and englund is masterful as the larger than life villain, the film deserves respect for its contribution to 80's culture.
  • fb733768972
    October 9, 2010
    fb733768972
    Whatever You Do Don't Fall Asleep, that's the catch phrase here, and I found myself falling for every scare here. This film sets the bar high, but if is wasn't for the stupid ending, I may have enjoyed this film a little more. I waiting for everything to come together and make se... read morense at the the end, but the end made the film more confusing. I loved A Nightmare On Elm Street, but the ending sucks!

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Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
September 21, 2007
Variety Staff, Variety

A highly imaginative horror film that provides the requisite shocks to keep fans of the genre happy. Full Review

J. R. Jones
September 21, 2007
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

Craven vitalizes the nightmare sequences with assorted surrealist novelties. Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

A Nightmare on Elm Street... puts more emphasis on bizarre special effects, which aren't at all bad. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Still stands on its own as an intriguing and chilling example of how horror works best when the characters and the audience don't have to be lobotomized. Full Review

Charles Cassady
December 14, 2010
Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media

First feature for knife-handed horror idol Freddy. Full Review

David Nusair
October 19, 2010
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

...a low-key horror effort that's ultimately not quite as enthralling as its premise might've indicated... Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.
October 4, 2010
Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed

An imaginative, menacing, and scary film with top notch performances, an original premise, and horrifying villain... Full Review

Staci Layne Wilson
May 4, 2010
Staci Layne Wilson, Horror.com

Seeing the movie again, I was reminded that while the Krueger character did have some taunting, humorous dialogue, it was more eerie than funny. Krueger was truly a menacing, terrifying boogeyman in t... Full Review

Sean Axmaker
April 18, 2010
Sean Axmaker, Seanax.com

... ingenious exploitation that plays on primal fears and subconscious anxieties... Full Review

Josh Larsen
April 16, 2010
Josh Larsen, LarsenOnFilm

...decidedly anti-art - at one point, a teen dozes off while reading Shakespeare - yet it still manages to rank among the top horror movies of all time. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Freddy Krueger: I'm your boyfriend now Nancy.
    • Nancy Thompson: Whatever you do, don't fall asleep.
    • Nancy Thompson: One, two, Freddy's coming for you. / Three, four, better lock your door. / Five, six, grab your crucifix. / Seven, eight, gonna stay up late. / Nine, ten, never sleep again.
    • Nancy Thompson: I brought something out from my dream...
    • Freddy Krueger: Hey, Tina! Watch this. [cuts off two fingers with fingerknives]
    • Freddy Krueger: Gonna get you.
    • Nancy Thompson: It's only a dream!
    • Freddy Krueger: Come to Freddy.
    • Nancy Thompson: God damn you!
Submit a Fact | View All

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A Nightmare on Elm Street Trivia

  • I which movie did Heather Langenkamp play Nancy a girl who has nightmares that are the same as her friends.  Answer »
  • "One, two- Freddie comes for you. Three, four- Better lock the door. Five, six- Get your crucifix. Seven, eight- Better stay up late. Nine, ten- Never sleep again." Name THE FIRST one of a series of movies that has this rhyme in it.  Answer »
  • What horror movie involes a badly burned man with knives on his fingers?  Answer »
  • In what "Nightmare on Elm Street", does the character Nancy (Heather Langenkamp) die in?  Answer »
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