The Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, created by Wes Craven in 1984, introduced horror fans to one of the most iconic villains in cinema history: Freddy Krueger. With his signature glove of razor-sharp blades, Freddy haunts the dreams of teenagers, killing them in their sleep. Over the years, the franchise expanded into multiple films, crossovers, and a remake.
Here's a guide on how to watch the Nightmare on Elm Street movies in both chronological and release order. We also show you all the platforms and offers to stream these movies online in India.
How to watch the Nightmare on Elm Street movies in chronological order
Unlike some horror franchises that might jump around in time, A Nightmare on Elm Street was followed by relatively straightforward sequels, meaning the chronological and release order are the same. This makes it easier for viewers to follow Freddy's terrifying journey through the nightmares of Elm Street.
- A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
- A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985)
- A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)
- A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)
- A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989)
- Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991)
- Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994)
Crossover
- Freddy vs. Jason (2003)
Remake
- A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)
The original classic from 1984 introduces us to Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) and Nancy Thompson (Heather Langenkamp). Teenagers in the small town of Springwood are haunted by nightmares of a burned man with a glove of knives, and Nancy soon realizes that death in dreams means death in real life.
Set five years after the original, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge follows a new protagonist, Jesse Walsh, as Freddy attempts to possess him and enter the real world through his body.
Often regarded as one of the best sequels, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors returns to the concept of dream manipulation as a group of teenagers, under psychiatric care, team up with Nancy to fight Freddy in their dreams.
In A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, Freddy returns to continue his killing spree, now targeting the survivors of the previous film. Alice Johnson, a new heroine, becomes the "Dream Master" capable of defeating Freddy.
In A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child, Freddy finds a new way to haunt the dreams of Alice by targeting her unborn child, leading to one of the darker and more surreal films in the franchise.
As the title suggests, Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare was intended to be Freddy's final outing, exploring his origins and ending with his apparent death. It has a lighter, more comedic tone compared to the earlier movies.
Wes Craven’s New Nightmare marked a new chapter in the Elm Street saga. This meta-horror film brings Freddy into the real world as he haunts the actors and filmmakers involved in the original movie, offering a fresh twist on the Nightmare formula.
Robert Englund’s last outing as Freddy Krueger came in the crossover event Freddy vs Jason (2003). In this crossover event, Freddy is pitted against another slasher icon, Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th franchise.
Englund was later replaced by Jackie Earle Haley who played Freddy in the 2010 remake also titled A Nightmare on Elm Street. This remake reimagines Freddy’s origins and returns to the tone of the original film. However, it was not well-received, especially by longtime fans of the franchise.
How to watch the Nightmare on Elm Street movies in release order
The list below shows you all the Nightmare on Elm Street films in order of their release date along with all offers to stream, buy or rent these movies online in India. Get your claws on and embark on a memorably nightmarish binge!
