View source for A Nightmare on Elm Street (franchise)

{{short description|American supernatural slasher franchise}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox media franchise
| title = ''A Nightmare on Elm Street''
| image = A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise.svg
| creator = [[Wes Craven]]
| origin = ''[[A Nightmare on Elm Street]]'' (1984)
| owner = Estate of Wes Craven<br />[[New Line Cinema]] ([[Warner Bros. Entertainment]])
| years = 1984–present
| books = ''[[Behind the Screams]]'' (2018)
| novels = {{Plainlist|
* [[A Nightmare on Elm Street: Suffer the Children|''Suffer the Children'']] (2005)
* [[A Nightmare on Elm Street: Dreamspawn|''Dreamspawn'']] (2005)
* [[A Nightmare on Elm Street: Protégé|''Protégé'']] (2005)
* [[A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Dealers|''The Dream Dealers'']] (2006)
}}
| comics = [[A Nightmare on Elm Street (comics)|''A Nightmare on Elm Street in comics'']]
| films = {{Plainlist|
* ''A Nightmare on Elm Street'' (1984)
* [[A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge|''Freddy's Revenge'']] (1985)
* [[A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors|''Dream Warriors'']] (1987)
* [[A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master|''The Dream Master'']] (1988)
* [[A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child|''The Dream Child'']] (1989)
* ''[[Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare]]'' (1991)
* ''[[Wes Craven's New Nightmare]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Freddy vs. Jason]]'' (2003)
* [[A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010 film)|''A Nightmare on Elm Street'']] (2010)
}}
| direct-to-video = ''[[Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy]]'' (2010)
| soundtracks = {{Plainlist|
* [[Freddy vs. Jason (soundtrack)|''Freddy vs. Jason'']] (2003)
* [[Freddy vs. Jason (score)|''Freddy vs. Jason score'']] (2003)
* [[A Nightmare on Elm Street (soundtrack)|''A Nightmare on Elm Street'']] (2010)
}}
| music = {{Plainlist|
* [[Dream Warriors (song)|Dream Warriors]]
* [[Are You Ready for Freddy]]
* [[A Nightmare on My Street]]
* [[Nightmare (Tuesday Knight song)|Nightmare]]
* [[I'm Awake Now]]
}}
| otherlabel1 = Character(s)
| otherdata1 = [[List of A Nightmare on Elm Street characters|List of characters]]
| tv_series = ''[[Freddy's Nightmares]]'' (1988–1990)
| video_games = [[A Nightmare on Elm Street (video game)|''A Nightmare on Elm Street'']] (1990)
}}

'''''A Nightmare on Elm Street''''' is an American [[Supernatural horror films|supernatural]] [[Slasher film|slasher]] [[multimedia franchise|media franchise]] consisting of nine films, a television series, novels, [[comic books]], and various other media. The franchise began with the film ''[[A Nightmare on Elm Street]]'' (1984), written and directed by [[Wes Craven]]. The overall plot of the franchise centers around the fictional character [[Freddy Krueger]], the [[Ghost|apparition]] of a former child killer who was burned alive by the vengeful parents of his victims, who returns from the grave to terrorize and kill the teenage residents of the fictional Springwood, Ohio in their dreams. Craven returned to the franchise to co-script the second sequel, ''[[A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors]]'' (1987), and to write and direct ''[[Wes Craven's New Nightmare]]'' (1994). The films collectively grossed $472 million at the box office worldwide.

The original film was released in 1984. A series of sequels produced by the independent film company [[New Line Cinema]] followed. New Line often attributes the growth of their company to the success of the ''Nightmare'' series.<ref name="DVD boxset">{{cite news|author=Guido Henkel |title=''A Nightmare on Elm Street'' DVD Box set |url=http://www.dvdreview.com/html/a_nightmare_on_elm_street_editor_s_day.html |publisher=DVD Review |date=August 11, 1999 |access-date=April 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511171737/http://www.dvdreview.com/html/a_nightmare_on_elm_street_editor_s_day.html |archive-date=May 11, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref> The film series as a whole has received mixed reviews by critics, but has been a financial success at the box office. When comparing the United States box office grosses of other American horror film series, ''A Nightmare on Elm Street'' is the third highest grossing series in adjusted US dollars.<ref name="Nightmareboxoffice">{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/franchises/chart/?id=nightmareonelmstreet.htm|title=A Nightmare on Elm Street box office rankings|work=Box Office Mojo|publisher=IMDb|access-date=January 17, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119005559/http://boxofficemojo.com/franchises/chart/?id=nightmareonelmstreet.htm|archive-date=January 19, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1988, [[Freddy's Nightmares|a television series]] was produced with Freddy as the host. The pilot episode focused on the night Freddy was burned alive by the angry parents of the children he had killed, though the rest of the series featured episodes with [[anthology series|independent plots]]. Twelve novels, separate from the adaptations of the films, and multiple [[comic book]] series were published featuring Freddy Krueger, as well as a [[Freddy vs. Jason|crossover film]] featuring fellow horror icon [[Jason Voorhees]] from the [[Friday the 13th (franchise)|''Friday the 13th'' franchise]]. A [[A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010 film)|remake]] of the 1984 film was released in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Roffman|first1=Michael|title=Yep, A Nightmare on Elm Street is getting remade again|url=https://consequence.net/2015/08/yep-a-nightmare-on-elm-street-is-getting-remade-again/|website=Consequence of Sound|date=August 6, 2015|access-date=September 20, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Orange|first1=B. Alan|title='Nightmare on Elm Street' Is Getting Remade Again|url=http://movieweb.com/nightmare-on-elm-street-remake-2/|website=Movieweb|date=August 6, 2015|access-date=September 20, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Allen|first1=Clark|title={TB EXCLUSIVE} New Line Cinema Plots New "Nightmare On Elm Street" Reboot|url=http://www.tracking-board.com/tb-exclusive-new-line-cinema-plots-new-nightmare-on-elm-street-reboot/|website=The Tracking Board|date=August 5, 2015|access-date=September 20, 2015}}</ref>

==Films==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Film
! U.S. release date
! Directed by
! Screenwriter(s)
! Story by
! Produced by
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[A Nightmare on Elm Street]]''
| style="text-align:left" | November 9, 1984
| colspan="3" | [[Wes Craven]]
| rowspan="3" | [[Robert Shaye]]
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge]]''
| style="text-align:left" | November 1, 1985
| [[Jack Sholder]]
| colspan="2" | David Chaskin
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors]]''
| style="text-align:left" | February 27, 1987
| [[Chuck Russell]]
| Wes Craven, [[Bruce Wagner]], Chuck Russell & [[Frank Darabont]]
| Wes Craven & Bruce Wagner
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master]]''
| style="text-align:left" | August 19, 1988
| [[Renny Harlin]]
| [[Ken and Jim Wheat|Jim Wheat, Ken Wheat]] & [[Brian Helgeland]]
| Brian Helgeland & [[William Kotzwinkle]]
| Robert Shaye & [[Rachel Talalay]]
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child]]''
| style="text-align:left" | August 11, 1989
| [[Stephen Hopkins (director)|Stephen Hopkins]]
| [[Leslie Bohem]]
| [[John Skipp]], Leslie Bohem & Craig Spector
| Robert Shaye & Rupert Harvey
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare]]''
| style="text-align:left" | September 13, 1991
| Rachel Talalay
| [[Michael De Luca]]
| Rachel Talalay
| [[Aron Warner]] & Robert Shaye
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Wes Craven's New Nightmare]]''
| style="text-align:left" | October 14, 1994
| colspan="3" | Wes Craven
| [[Marianne Maddalena]]
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[Freddy vs. Jason]]''
| style="text-align:left" | August 15, 2003
| [[Ronny Yu]]
| colspan="2" | [[Mark Swift and Damian Shannon|Mark Swift & Damian Shannon]]
| [[Sean S. Cunningham]]
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010 film)|A Nightmare on Elm Street]]''
| style="text-align:left" | April 30, 2010
| [[Samuel Bayer]]
| [[Wesley Strick]] & [[Eric Heisserer]]
| Wesley Strick
| [[Brad Fuller (producer)|Brad Fuller]], [[Andrew Form]] & [[Michael Bay]]
|}

===Overview===
The original film, written and directed by Wes Craven and titled ''[[A Nightmare on Elm Street]]'', was released in 1984. The story focuses on Freddy Krueger ([[Robert Englund]]) attacking [[Nancy Thompson (A Nightmare on Elm Street)|Nancy Thompson]] ([[Heather Langenkamp]]) and her friends in their dreams, successfully killing all but Nancy, in fictional Springwood, [[Ohio]]. Krueger's backstory is revealed by Nancy's mother, Marge, who explains that he was a child murderer. The parents of Springwood killed Krueger after he was acquitted on a technicality. Nancy defeats Freddy by pulling him from the dream world and stripping him of his powers when she stops being afraid of him.<ref name="N1 film">{{cite video|people=[[Wes Craven]] (Director)|title=[[A Nightmare on Elm Street]]|medium=DVD|location=United States|publisher=[[New Line Cinema]]|date=1984}}</ref>

Freddy returns to possess the body of Jesse Walsh ([[Mark Patton]]), the new teenager living in Nancy Thompson's house, in 1985's ''[[A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge]]''. Jesse is temporarily saved by his girlfriend Lisa ([[Kim Myers]]), who helps him exorcise Krueger's spirit.<ref name="N2 film">{{cite video|people=Jack Sholder (Director)|title=[[A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge]]|medium=DVD|location=United States|publisher=New Line Cinema|date=1985}}</ref>

Wes Craven returned to write ''[[A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors]]'', released in 1987. In the second sequel, Freddy is systematically killing the last of the Elm Street children. The few remaining children have been placed in the Westin Hills Mental Institution for allegedly attempting suicide. Nancy Thompson arrives at Westin Hills as a new intern, and realizes the children are being killed by Freddy. With the help of Dr. Neil Gordon ([[Craig Wasson]]), Nancy helps [[Kristen Parker]] ([[Patricia Arquette]]), Joey ([[Rodney Eastman]]), Taryn ([[Jennifer Rubin (actress)|Jennifer Rubin]]), Kincaid ([[Ken Sagoes]]), and Will ([[Ira Heiden]]) find their dream powers, so they can kill Freddy once and for all. Neil, unknowingly until the end, meets the spirit of Freddy's mother, [[List of characters in the Nightmare on Elm Street series#Amanda Krueger|Amanda Krueger]] ([[Nan Martin]]), who instructs him to bury Freddy's remains in hallowed ground in order to stop him for good. Neil completes his task, but not before Freddy kills Nancy.<ref name="N3 film">{{cite video|people=[[Chuck Russell]] (Director)|title=[[A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors]]|medium=DVD|location=United States|publisher=New Line Cinema|date=1987}}</ref>

The story of Kristen Parker would continue with 1988's ''[[A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master]]''. This time, Kristen ([[Tuesday Knight]]) unwittingly releases Freddy, who immediately kills Kincaid and Joey. Before Freddy can kill Kristen, she transfers her dream powers to [[Alice Johnson (A Nightmare on Elm Street)|Alice Johnson]] ([[Lisa Wilcox]]), a friend from school. Alice begins inadvertently providing victims for Freddy when she begins pulling people into her dreams while she sleeps. Alice, who begins taking on traits of the friends who were murdered, confronts Freddy. She uses the power of the Dream Master to release all the souls Freddy has taken; they subsequently rip themselves from Freddy's body, killing him in the process.<ref name="N4 film">{{cite video|people=[[Renny Harlin]] (Director)|title=[[A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master]]|medium=DVD|location=United States|publisher=New Line Cinema|date=1988}}</ref>

Picking up shortly after the events of ''The Dream Master'', ''[[A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child]]'' involves Freddy using Alice's unborn child, Jacob (Whitby Hertford), to resurrect himself and find new victims. The spirit of Amanda Krueger (Beatrice Boepple) returns, revealing that Freddy was conceived when she, a nun working in a mental asylum, was accidentally locked in a room with "100 maniacs" and raped "hundreds of times". Amanda Krueger convinces Jacob to use the powers he was given by Freddy against him, which gives her the chance to subdue Freddy long enough for Alice and Jacob to escape the dream world.<ref name="N5 film">{{cite video|people=[[Stephen Hopkins (director)|Stephen Hopkins]] (Director)|title=[[A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child]]|medium=DVD|location=United States|publisher=New Line Cinema|date=1989}}</ref>

Two years later, 1991's ''[[Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare]]'' followed the exploits of "[[John Doe]]" ([[Shon Greenblatt]]), an amnesiac teenager from Springwood, who was sent out to find Freddy's daughter Maggie ([[Lisa Zane]]), who he needs to leave Springwood. Freddy's goal is to create new "Elm Streets", and begin a new killing spree after having killed all of the children in Springwood. Maggie, utilizing new dream techniques, uncovers Krueger's past, which include: being taunted by schoolmates for being the "son of 100 maniacs", being cruel to animals, beaten by his stepfather, the murder of his own wife when she discovers he has been killing children, and the moment when the [[List of characters in the Nightmare on Elm Street series#Dream Demons|Dream Demons]] arrive in his boiler room to make him the offer of eternal life. Eventually, Maggie pulls Freddy out of the dream world, and uses a [[pipe bomb]] to blow him up.<ref name="N6 film">{{cite video|people=Rachel Talalay (Director)|title=[[Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare]]|medium=DVD|location=United States|publisher=New Line Cinema|date=1991}}</ref>

Wes Craven returned to the ''Nightmare'' series a third time with ''[[Wes Craven's New Nightmare|New Nightmare]]'' in 1994. This film focuses on a fictional "reality", where Craven, Langenkamp, and Englund all play themselves, and where the character of Freddy Krueger is really an evil entity that has been trapped in the realm of fiction by all the movies that have been made. Since the movies have stopped, the entity, which likes being Freddy Krueger, is trying to escape into the real world. The only person in its way is Heather Langenkamp, who the entity sees as "Nancy" – the first person who defeated him. Craven explains to Langenkamp the only way to keep the entity contained is for her to "play Nancy one last time". Langenkamp pursues "Krueger", who has kidnapped her son, into the dream world as "Nancy". There, she and her son trap Krueger in a furnace until he is finally destroyed.<ref name="N7 film">{{cite video |people=Wes Craven (Director) |title=[[Wes Craven's New Nightmare]] |medium=DVD |location=United States |publisher=New Line Cinema |date=1994}}</ref>

In 2003, New Line pitted ''[[Friday the 13th (franchise)|Friday the 13th's]]'' [[Jason Voorhees]] against Freddy Krueger. The film, ''[[Freddy vs. Jason]]'', explains that Freddy Krueger has grown weak as people in Springwood, his home, have suppressed their fear of him. Freddy, who is impersonating [[Pamela Voorhees]], the mother of Jason Voorhees, sends Jason ([[Ken Kirzinger]]) to Springwood to cause panic and fear. Jason accomplishes this, but refuses to stop killing. A battle ensues in both the dream world and Crystal Lake between the two villains. The winner is left ambiguous, as Jason surfaces from the lake holding Freddy's severed head, which winks and laughs.<ref name="FvJ film">{{cite video|people=Ronny Yu (Director)|title=[[Freddy vs. Jason]]|medium=DVD|location=United States|publisher=New Line Cinema|date=2003}}</ref>

In 2010, [[A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010 film)|a remake]] of the original ''Nightmare on Elm Street'' was released. Here, Freddy ([[Jackie Earle Haley]]) stalks the dreams of Nancy Holbrook ([[Rooney Mara]]) and her friends as they discover that they all share a common link from their childhood; they were all molested by Freddy before he was murdered by their vengeful parents. Now a supernatural force in their dreams, Freddy kills off the children that alerted the parents about his transgressions. Freddy slowly works his way to Nancy, his favorite of the children, and manipulates her into going without sleep long enough that her body falls into a coma, resulting in permanent sleep and life with Freddy forever. Nancy is awakened when her friend Quentin ([[Kyle Gallner]]) injects [[epinephrine|adrenaline]] into her and pulls Freddy out of the dreamworld, where she and Quentin kill him and burn the remains of his body.<ref>{{cite video|people=Samuel Bayer (Director)|title=[[A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010 film)]]|location=United States|publisher=New Line Cinema|date=2010}}</ref>

===Development===
The basis for the original ''Nightmare on Elm Street'' has been said to have been inspired by several newspaper articles printed in the ''[[Los Angeles Times|LA Times]]'' in the 1970s on a group of [[Khmer people|Khmer]] refugees, who, after fleeing to America from the [[Khmer Rouge|Khmer Rouge Genocide]] in Cambodia, were suffering disturbing nightmares after which they refused to sleep. Some of the men died in their sleep soon after. Medical authorities called the phenomenon "Asian Death Syndrome". The condition itself afflicted only men between the ages of 19-57 and is believed to be [[Sudden unexpected death syndrome|sudden unexplained death syndrome]] and/or [[Brugada syndrome]].<ref>CDCR Alert at [https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00001278.htm Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]; accessed September 13, 2009.</ref> The 1970s [[Pop music|pop]] song "[[Dream Weaver]]" by [[Gary Wright]] sealed the story for Craven, giving him not only an artistic setting to "jump off" from, but a [[synthesizer]] riff from the ''Elm Street'' soundtrack as well.<ref>[[Wes Craven]]. ''A Nightmare on Elm Street'' DVD audio commentary.</ref> It has also been stated that he drew some inspiration after studying [[Eastern religions]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Wes Craven interview |url=http://twitchfilm.net/archives/003197.html |website=Twitch |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051113051255/http://www.twitchfilm.net/archives/003197.html |archive-date=November 13, 2005 |access-date=November 23, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Initially, Fred Krueger was intended to be a [[child molester]], but Craven eventually decided to characterize him as a child ''murderer'' to avoid being accused of exploiting a spate of highly publicized child molestation cases that occurred in California around the time of production of the film.<ref name="goingtopieces">Rockoff, Adam, ''Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film, 1978-1986'' (McFarland & Company, 2002), p. 151, {{ISBN|0-7864-1227-5}}.</ref> By Craven's account, his own adolescent experiences led to the naming of Fred Krueger. He had been bullied at school by a child named Fred Krueger, and named his villain accordingly.<ref name="goingtopieces" /> The colored sweater he chose for his villain was based on the [[DC Comics]] character [[Plastic Man]], and Craven chose to make Krueger's sweater colors that of red and green, after reading an article in ''[[Scientific American]]'' in 1982 that said the two most clashing colors to the human [[retina]] were this particular combination.<ref name="cinefantastique">{{cite news|url=http://cinefantastiqueonline.com/2008/10/15/wes-craven-on-dreaming-up-nightmares/|title=Wes Craven on Dreaming Up Nightmares|last=Biodrowski|first=Steve|date=October 15, 2008 |publisher=[[Cinefantastique]]|access-date=November 22, 2007}}</ref>

Robert Englund has revealed that at a time, there was a serious development toward a [[prequel]] for Freddy's story called ''The First Kills'', which would have been centered around two policemen chasing for the Springwood Slasher and two lawyers during the legal proceedings. Englund claims that [[John McNaughton]] was considered for directing the prequel, but these plans were forgotten after New Line Cinema was merged with [[Turner Broadcasting System]] in 1994.<ref>{{cite web | title=Robert Englund's Never Made Freddy Krueger Prequel Movie Is His "Only Regret" | url=https://comicbook.com/horror/2019/09/07/robert-englund-freddy-krueger-prequel-movie-never-made-only-regret-nightmare-elm-street/ | date=September 7, 2019 | author=Cameron Bonomolo | website=Comicbook.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Robert Englund Still Wants to See a Prequel to 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' | url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3526890/robert-englund-still-wants-see-prequel-nightmare-elm-street/ | date=October 12, 2018 | author=John Squires | website=[[Bloody Disgusting]]}}</ref> McNaughton came back later around the millennium shift and hoped to produce an alternative prequel story, alongside scriptwriter R.J. Tsarov, which would have been set in [[Hell]], where McNaughton imagined Freddy to have been stuck in between his lynching and the events of the 1984 film. New Line Cinema rejected this idea due to the film ''[[Little Nicky]]'' (2000) having been partially set in Hell while also being a [[box-office bomb]], deterring the company from producing another film set in Hell at that time.<ref>{{cite interview | title=John McNaughton Talks The Harvest and Nightmare on Elm Street Prequel | url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/96681/john-mcnaughton-talks-the-harvest-and-nightmare-on-elm-street-prequel/ | interviewer=Steve Barton | website=[[Dread Central]] | date=April 10, 2005 | access-date=October 16, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=How Adam Sandler Ruined John McNaughton's 'Elm Street' Prequel! (Exclusive) | url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/interviews/3339424/adam-sandler-ruined-john-mcnaughtons-shot-elm-street-prequel/ | website=[[Bloody Disgusting]] | author=Patrick Cooper | date=April 9, 2015 | access-date=October 1, 2019}}</ref>

On January 29, 2008, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' reported that [[Michael Bay]] and his [[Platinum Dunes]] production company would be [[Reboot (fiction)|rebooting]] the ''Nightmare on Elm Street'' franchise with a [[remake]] of [[A Nightmare on Elm Street|the original 1984 film]].<ref name="NightAnno">{{cite news |last=Fleming|first=Michael |url=https://variety.com/2008/film/features/new-line-sets-up-new-nightmare-1117979807/ |title=New Line sets up new 'Nightmare'|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|publisher=[[Reed Business Information]]|date=January 29, 2008|access-date=January 29, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080130133117/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117979807.html?categoryid=13&cs=1|url-status=live|archive-date=January 30, 2008}}</ref> To provide a freshness to the character, producer Brad Fuller explained that they were abandoning the things that made the character less scary—Freddy would not be "cracking jokes" as had become a staple of his character in later sequels—and focus more on trying to craft a "horrifying movie".<ref>{{cite news |last=Rotten|first=Ryan|url=http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news/topnews.php?id=8835 |title=Nightmare on Elm Street is Go, Shooting in Spring|work=Shock Till You Drop|publisher=[[CraveOnline]]|date=December 11, 2008|access-date=June 20, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212163646/http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news/topnews.php?id=8835 |archive-date=December 12, 2008|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> There was not agreement among the original crew as to whether it would be a good idea to remake the film. Craven expressed his displeasure, primarily because the filmmakers chose not to have him as a consultant to the film, unlike with the 2009 remake ''[[The Last House on the Left (2009 film)|The Last House on the Left]]'' where he "shepherd[ed] it towards production".<ref name="Cravenint">{{cite news |last=Parfitt|first=Orlando|url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/992/992845p1.html|title=Craven's Elm Street Nightmare Exclusive: Original director angry over remake|work=[[IGN Entertainment]]|publisher=[[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]]|date=June 9, 2009|access-date=June 19, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612044359/http://movies.ign.com/articles/992/992845p1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 12, 2009}}</ref> In contrast, [[Robert Englund]] felt it was time for ''A Nightmare on Elm Street'' to be remade. Englund liked the idea of being able to "exploit the dreamscape" with CGI and other technologies that did not exist when Craven was making the original ''Nightmare on Elm Street'' in 1984.<ref name="Englundint">{{cite news|last=McCabe|first=Joseph|url=http://www.fearnet.com/news/b15904_exclusive_robert_englund_on_jackie.html|title=Robert Englund on Jackie Earle Haley and the 'Nightmare' Remake!|work=[[FEARnet]]|publisher=Horror Entertainment|date=June 27, 2009|access-date=June 29, 2009<!--archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5pUS5KfH1|archive-date=May 4, 2010-->}}</ref>

===Box office===
The ''Nightmare on Elm Street'' series, when compared to the other top-grossing American horror series—''[[Halloween (franchise)|Halloween]]'', ''[[Child's Play (franchise)|Child's Play]]'', ''[[Friday the 13th (franchise)|Friday the 13th]]'', ''[[Saw (franchise)|Saw]]'', ''[[Scream (franchise)|Scream]]'', and ''[[The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (franchise)|The Texas Chainsaw Massacre]]''—and adjusting for 2023 inflation, is ranked third with $793.5 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/franchises/chart/?id=nightmareonelmstreet.htm|title=A Nightmare on Elm Street box office rankings|publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=2008-05-22}}</ref> ''Halloween'' is the highest-grossing horror series in the United States at approximately $1.09 billion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.halfhill.com/inflation_js.html|title=Tom's Inflation Calculator|publisher=Halfhill.com|access-date=September 21, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/franchises/chart/?id=halloween.htm|title=Halloween box office rankings|publisher=Box Office Mojo|access-date=2008-05-22}}</ref> Next in line is ''Friday the 13th'' at $908.4 million,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/franchises/chart/?id=fridaythe13th.htm|title=Friday the 13th box office ranking|publisher=Box Office Mojo|access-date=2008-05-22}}</ref> The ''Scream'' film series is in fourth place with $779.5 million,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/franchises/chart/?id=scream.htm|title=Scream box office rankings|publisher=Box Office Mojo|access-date=2008-01-17}}</ref> followed by the ''Saw'' series with $688.3 million,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/franchises/chart/?id=saw.htm|title=Saw box office rankings|publisher=Box Office Mojo|access-date=2008-09-05}}</ref> ''The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'' with $459.7 million,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/franchises/chart/?id=texaschainsawmassacre.htm|title=The Texas Chainsaw Massacre box office rankings|publisher=Box Office Mojo|access-date=2008-01-17}}</ref> and the ''Child's Play'' film series rounding out the list with $305.2 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/franchises/chart/?id=childsplay.htm|title=Child's Play box office rankings|publisher=Box Office Mojo|access-date=2008-01-17}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2" | Film
! rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Budget
! colspan="3" | Box office revenue
! rowspan="2" | Reference
|-
! align="center" | United States
! align="center" | Other territories
! align="center" | Worldwide
|-
! scope="row" | ''A Nightmare on Elm Street'' (1984)
| 1984
| $1,800,000<ref>{{cite book|author=John Kenneth Muir|title=Wes Craven: The Art of Horror|publisher=McFarland|date=February 24, 2004|page=18|isbn=0-7864-1923-7}}</ref>
| $25,624,448
| $31,560,686
| $57,185,134
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=elmst.htm|title=A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)|work=Box Office Mojo|publisher=[[Internet Movie Database|IMDb]]|access-date=December 10, 2007}}</ref><ref name=ww>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=August 10, 1992|page=36|first=Chris|last=Mitchell|title=Shrewd marketing fuels Freddy promotion}}</ref><ref name=AFI>{{AFI film|57157|A Nightmare on Elm Street}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | ''A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge''
| 1985
| $3,000,000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1985/0NOE2.php|title=A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 budget|work=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]]|publisher=Nash Information Services|access-date=January 24, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071222193313/http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1985/0NOE2.php| archive-date= December 22, 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref>
| $29,999,213
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
| $29,999,213
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=elmst2.htm|title=A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Dead (1985)|work=Box Office Mojo|publisher=IMDb|access-date=December 10, 2007}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | ''A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors''
| 1987
| $4,300,000–4,600,000<ref name=ww/><ref>{{AFI film|57762|title=A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors}}</ref>
| $44,793,222
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
| $44,793,222
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=elmst3.htm|title=A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)|work=Box Office Mojo|publisher=IMDb|access-date=December 10, 2007}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | ''A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master''
| 1988
| $6,500,000<ref name=ww/><ref>{{AFI film|58990|title=A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master}}</ref>
| $49,369,899
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
| $49,369,899
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=elmst4.htm|title=A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)|work=Box Office Mojo|publisher=IMDb|access-date=December 10, 2007}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | ''A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child''
| 1989
| $8,000,000<ref>{{AFI film|58210|title=A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child}}</ref>
| $22,168,359
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
| $22,168,359
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=elmst5.htm|title=A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989)|work=Box Office Mojo|publisher=IMDb|access-date=December 10, 2007}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | ''Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare''
| 1991
| $9,000,000<ref name=ww/>
| $34,872,033
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
| $34,872,033
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=freddysdeadfinalnightmare.htm|title=Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991)|work=Box Office Mojo|publisher=IMDb|access-date=December 10, 2007}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | ''Wes Craven's New Nightmare''
| 1994
| $8,000,000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1994/0NOE7.php|title=New Nightmare budget|work=The-Numbers|publisher=Nash Information Services|access-date=June 9, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090526010213/http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1994/0NOE7.php| archive-date= May 26, 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref>
| $18,090,181
| $1,631,560
| $19,721,741
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=newnightmare.htm|title=Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994)|work=Box Office Mojo|publisher=IMDb|access-date=December 10, 2007}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | ''Freddy vs. Jason''
| 2003
| $30,000,000<ref name="boxofficemojo">[http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=freddyvsjason.htm "Freddy Vs. Jason"]</ref>
| $82,633,448
| $34,009,973
| $116,643,421
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=freddyvsjason.htm|title=Freddy vs. Jason (2003)|work=Box Office Mojo|publisher=IMDb|access-date=June 12, 2007}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | ''A Nightmare on Elm Street'' (2010)
| 2010
| $35,000,000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/04/nightmare-to-rule-at-home-while-iron-man-explodes-overseas.html|title=Movie projector: 'Nightmare' to rule at home with $30&nbsp;million while 'Iron Man 2' explodes to $100&nbsp;million-plus overseas|last= Fritz|first=Ben|date=April 29, 2010|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=April 30, 2010|quote=The new "Nightmare" isn't expected to do quite that well but should still be a solid performer for the studio given its production budget of about $35&nbsp;million.| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100502014635/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/04/nightmare-to-rule-at-home-while-iron-man-explodes-overseas.html| archive-date= May 2, 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>
| $63,075,011
| $52,620,171
| $115,695,182     
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=nightmareonelmstreet10.htm|title=A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) main page|work=Box Office Mojo|publisher=Internet Movie Database|access-date=May 12, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100512095033/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=nightmareonelmstreet10.htm| archive-date= May 12, 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="the-numbers">{{cite web |title=The Numbers |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Nightmare-on-Elm-Street-A-(2010)#tab=summary}}</ref>
|-
! colspan=2 align="center"| Total
! $105,600,000–$105,900,000
! $370,625,814
! $119,822,390
! $490,448,204
!
|}

===Critical response===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
!Film
![[Rotten Tomatoes]]
![[Metacritic]]
![[CinemaScore]]<ref name="CinemaScore">{{Cite web |title=CinemaScore |url=https://www.cinemascore.com/ |website=[[CinemaScore]] }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | ''A Nightmare on Elm Street'' (1984)
|94% (66 reviews)<ref>{{cite web |title=A Nightmare on Elm Street |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/nightmare_on_elm_street |publisher=[[Fandango Media]] |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref>
|76 (12 reviews)<ref>{{cite web |title=A Nightmare on Elm Street |website=[[Metacritic]] |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/a-nightmare-on-elm-street-1984/ |publisher=[[Fandom, Inc.]] |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref>
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! scope="row" | ''A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge''
|44% (34 reviews)<ref>{{cite web |title=A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge |website=Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_nightmare_on_elm_street_2_freddys_revenge |publisher=Fandango Media |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref>
|43 (6 reviews)<ref>{{cite web |title=A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge |website=Metacritic |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/a-nightmare-on-elm-street-2-freddys-revenge/ |publisher=Fandom, Inc. |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref>
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! scope="row" | ''A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors''
|68% (61 reviews)<ref>{{cite web |title=A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors |website=Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_nightmare_on_elm_street_3_dream_warriors |publisher=Fandango Media |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref>
|49 (11 reviews)<ref>{{cite web |title=A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors |website=Metacritic |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/a-nightmare-on-elm-street-3-dream-warriors/ |publisher=Fandom, Inc. |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref>
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! scope="row" | ''A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master''
|56% (34 reviews)<ref>{{cite web |title=A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master |website=Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_nightmare_on_elm_street_4_the_dream_master |publisher=Fandango Media |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref>
|56 (10 reviews)<ref>{{cite web |title=A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master |website=Metacritic |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/a-nightmare-on-elm-street-4-the-dream-master/ |publisher=Fandom, Inc. |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref>
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! scope="row" | ''A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child''
|31% (36 reviews)<ref>{{cite web |title=A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child |website=Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_nightmare_on_elm_street_5_the_dream_child |publisher=Fandango Media |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref>
|54 (11 reviews)<ref>{{cite web |title=A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child |website=Metacritic |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/a-nightmare-on-elm-street-5-the-dream-child/ |publisher=Fandom, Inc. |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref>
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare''
|23% (39 reviews)<ref>{{cite web |title=Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare |website=Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/freddys_dead_the_final_nightmare |publisher=Fandango Media |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref>
|39 (14 reviews)<ref>{{cite web |title=Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare |website=Metacritic |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/freddys-dead-the-final-nightmare/ |publisher=Fandom, Inc. |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref>
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Wes Craven's New Nightmare''
|77% (47 reviews)<ref>{{cite web |title=Wes Craven's New Nightmare |website=Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wes_cravens_new_nightmare |publisher=Fandango Media |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref>
|64 (21 reviews)<ref>{{cite web |title=Wes Craven's New Nightmare |website=Metacritic |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/wes-cravens-new-nightmare/ |publisher=Fandom, Inc. |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref>
| style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! scope="row" | ''Freddy vs. Jason''
|41% (165 reviews)<ref>{{cite web |title=Freddy vs. Jason |website=Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/freddy_vs_jason |publisher=Fandango Media |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref>
|37 (29 reviews)<ref>{{cite web |title=Freddy vs. Jason |website=Metacritic |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/freddy-vs-jason/ |publisher=Fandom, Inc. |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref>
|B+
|-
! scope="row" | ''A Nightmare on Elm Street'' (2010)
|14% (185 reviews)<ref>{{cite web |title=A Nightmare on Elm Street |website=Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/nightmare_on_elm_street_2010 |publisher=Fandango Media |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref>
|35 (25 reviews)<ref>{{cite web |title=A Nightmare on Elm Street |website=Metacritic |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/a-nightmare-on-elm-street/ |publisher=Fandom, Inc. |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref>
|C+
|}

===Future===
In August 2015, it was reported that [[Warner Bros. Pictures]] and [[New Line Cinema]] were developing a second remake with ''[[Orphan (2009 film)|Orphan]]'' writer [[David Leslie Johnson]], with [[Toby Emmerich]], [[Walter Hamada]] and Dave Neustadter producing it.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/nightmare-on-elm-street-gets-remake-with-writer-of-horror-flick-orphan-201578 |title=Nightmare on Elm Street Gets Remake With Writer of Horror Flick Orphan |publisher=usmagazine.com |date=2015-08-07 |access-date=2015-08-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810214101/http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/nightmare-on-elm-street-gets-remake-with-writer-of-horror-flick-orphan-201578 |archive-date=August 10, 2015 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In June 2016, [[Bradley Fuller|Brad Fuller]] said the remake was in [[development hell]]. Englund expressed interest in returning to the series in a cameo role.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.inquisitr.com/3165885/robert-englund-wants-to-come-back-for-a-nightmare-on-elm-street-remake/ |title=Robert Englund Wants To Come Back For 'A Nightmare On Elm Street' Remake |author=Danny Cox |website=Inquisitr |date=June 3, 2016 |access-date=December 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203060938/http://www.inquisitr.com/3165885/robert-englund-wants-to-come-back-for-a-nightmare-on-elm-street-remake/ |archive-date=December 3, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> He later expressed interest in having [[Kevin Bacon]] to portray Freddy.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3461701/robert-englund-wants-kevin-bacon-play-freddy-krueger/ |title=Robert Englund Wants Kevin Bacon to Play Freddy Krueger! |website=Bloody Disgusting |last=Squires |first=John |date=September 28, 2017 |access-date=February 16, 2019}}</ref>

In October 2018, Robert Englund reprised his role as Freddy Krueger on a Halloween-themed episode of ''[[The Goldbergs (2013 TV series)|The Goldbergs]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=October 24 |first=Gerrad Hall |last2=EDT |first2=2018 at 05:02 PM |title=How 'The Goldbergs' got Robert Englund to reprise Freddy Krueger for its Halloween episode |url=https://ew.com/tv/goldbergs-robert-englund-freddy-krueger-halloween-episode/ |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=EW.com |language=en}}</ref>

In December 2018, Johnson said the remake of ''A Nightmare on Elm Street'' was still in development, but New Line Cinema was more focused on ''[[The Conjuring Universe]]'':
{{Quote|"It's still happening. Nothing is percolating just yet. The Conjuring universe is sort of first and foremost on [New Line Cinema's] horror burner. Everybody wants to see Freddy again I think, so I think it's inevitable at some point".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3539459/new-line-will-eventually-get-around-remaking-nightmare-elm-street/ |title=New Line Will Eventually Get Around to Remaking 'A Nightmare on Elm Street'|website=Bloody Disgusting |last=Miska |first=Brad |date=December 26, 2018 |access-date=May 16, 2019}}</ref>}}

In September 2019, it was announced that film rights had reverted to Wes Craven's estate. By November, the estate had begun work on future project pitches for new ''A Nightmare on Elm Street'' projects; with pitches received for both feature film and a potential [[HBO Max]] series, with the intent to have Robert Englund reprise his role as Freddy Krueger.<ref>{{cite web|last=Miska|first=Brad|title=[Exclusive] U.S. Rights to 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' Have Reverted Back to Wes Craven's Estate|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3584709/the-u-s-rights-to-a-nightmare-on-elm-street-and-freddy-krueger-have-reverted-back-to-wes-cravens-estate/|publisher=Bloody Disgusting|access-date=November 22, 2019|date=September 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Miska|first=Brad|title=Wes Craven's Estate Begins Taking 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' Pitches [Exclusive]|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/exclusives/3594940/wes-cravens-estate-begins-taking-nightmare-elm-street-pitches-exclusive/|publisher=Bloody Disgusting|access-date=November 22, 2019|date=November 21, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Hermanns|first=Grant|title=Doctor Sleep's Mike Flanagan Has a Nightmare on Elm Street Pitch|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/1111677-doctor-sleeps-mike-flanagan-has-a-pitch-for-new-nightmare-on-elm-street|publisher=Coming Soon|access-date=November 22, 2019|date=November 21, 2019}}</ref>

In 2022 and 2024 [[Heather Langenkamp]] expressed interest in reprising the role of Nancy Thompson in a potential legacy sequel directly following ''A Nightmare on Elm Street''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Exclusive: Heather Langenkamp Would Be Eager to Return as Nancy in Potential A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET Legacy Sequel! |website=Nightmare on Film Street |date=7 November 2025 |url=https://nofspodcast.com/exclusive-heather-langenkamp-would-be-eager-to-return-as-nancy-in-potential-a-nightmare-on-elm-street-legacy-sequel |accessdate=11 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=A NEW Nightmare On Elm Street Movie Incoming?! |url=https://www.youtube.com/shorts/X03DchQ4_2M |website=YouTube |date=2024 |accessdate=11 November 2025}}</ref>

In 2025, Robert Englund expressed interest in reprising the role of Freddy Krueger in animated frorm.<ref>{{cite web |last=Scott |first=Ryan |title=Exclusive: Robert Englund Would Return As Freddy For An Animated Elm Street |website=Fangoria |date=1 October 2025 |url=https://www.fangoria.com/robert-englund-animated-freddy-krueger-return/ |access-date=14 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Entertainment Tonight |first= |title=Robert Englund, Original Freddy Krueger, Reacts to Star on Walk of Fame Honor (Exclusive) |website=ETonline |date=3 November 2025 |url=https://www.etonline.com/media/videos/robert-englund-original-freddy-krueger-reacts-to-star-on-walk-of-fame-honor-exclusive |access-date=14 November 2025}}</ref>

==Television==
{{Main|Freddy's Nightmares}}
Beginning on October 9, 1988, ''Freddy's Nightmares'' was an anthology series, in the vein of ''[[The Twilight Zone]]'', which featured different horror stories each week. The show was hosted by Freddy Krueger, with Robert Englund reprising his role from the films. Freddy played more of a background character, but occasionally showed up to influence the plot of particular episodes. The series ran for two seasons and a total of [[List of Freddy's Nightmares episodes|44 episodes]], ending March 10, 1990.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvaddicts.tv/movie/drama/Freddys_Nightmares.html |title=Freddy's Nightmares DVD |publisher=TV Addicts |access-date=February 3, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020043453/http://www.tvaddicts.tv/movie/drama/Freddys_Nightmares.html |archive-date=October 20, 2007 }}</ref> Although most of the episodes did not feature Freddy taking a major role in the plot, the pilot episode "No More Mr. Nice Guy" depicts the events of Krueger's trial, and his subsequent death at the hands of the parents of Elm Street after his [[acquittal]]. Directed by [[Tobe Hooper]], creator of [[The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (franchise)|''The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'' franchise]], Freddy's acquittal is based on the arresting officer, Lt. Tim Blocker, not reading him his [[Miranda warning|Miranda rights]], which is different from the original ''Nightmare'' that stated he was acquitted because someone forgot to sign a [[search warrant]]. After the town's parents burn Freddy to death he returns to haunt Blocker in his dreams. Freddy gets his revenge when Blocker is put to sleep at the dentist's office, and Freddy shows up and kills him.<ref name="Pilot">{{cite web|url=http://www.i-mockery.com/minimocks/freddy-pilot/|title="No More Mr. Nice Guy" summary|publisher=I-Mockery.com|access-date=February 3, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080213084430/http://www.i-mockery.com/minimocks/freddy-pilot/| archive-date= February 13, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>

== In other media ==
===Literature===
====Novels====
Between 1987 and 2003, [[Freddy Krueger]] appeared in the novelization of each of the films. The first five films were adapted by [[St. Martin's Press]]. Those adaptations follow the films closely, with minor changes to specific details that occurred in the film. ''A Nightmare on Elm Street 3'' does not follow the respective film, instead utilizing the same plot elements to tell a different story altogether. This novel also provides a different backstory for Freddy.<ref>{{cite book|author=Jeffrey Cooper|title=The Nightmares on Elm Street Parts 1, 2, 3: The Continuing Story|publisher=St. Martins Mass Market Paper|date=February 1987|pages=216|isbn=0-312-90517-3}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Joseph Locke|title=The Nightmares on Elm Street Parts 4 & 5|publisher=[[St. Martin's Press]]|date=July 1989|pages=188|isbn=0-312-91764-3|author-link=Ray Garton}}</ref> In 1992, Abdo & Daughters Publishing Company released adaptations of their own for the first six films. Written by Bob Italia, each was under one hundred pages and followed the films' plot.<ref>{{cite book|author=Bob Italia|title=The Nightmares on Elm Street|url=http://www.alibris.co.uk/booksearch?qwork=4686594&matches=2&author=Italia%2C+Bob&browse=1&cm_sp=works*listing*title|publisher=Abdo & Daughters Publishing|year=1992|pages=64|isbn=1-56239-156-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Bob Italia|title=The Nightmares on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenger|url=http://www.alibris.co.uk/Freddys-Revenge-Bob-Italia/book/2447679|publisher=Abdo & Daughters Publishing|year=1992|pages=64|isbn=1-56239-157-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Bob Italia|title=The Nightmares on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors|url=http://www.alibris.co.uk/booksearch?qwork=1816623&matches=3&author=Italia%2C+Bob&browse=1&cm_sp=works*listing*title|publisher=Abdo & Daughters Publishing|year=1992|pages=64|isbn=1-56239-158-5 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Bob Italia|title=The Nightmares on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master|url=http://www.alibris.co.uk/booksearch?qwork=8686322&matches=9&author=Italia%2C+Bob&browse=1&cm_sp=works*listing*title|publisher=Abdo & Daughters Publishing|year=1992|pages=64|isbn=1-56239-159-3}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Bob Italia|title=The Nightmares on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child|url=http://www.alibris.co.uk/A-Nightmare-on-Elm-Street-5-the-Dream-Child/book/-78063088?matches=5|publisher=Abdo & Daughters Publishing|date=July 1992|pages=64|isbn=1-56239-160-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Bob Italia|title=Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare|publisher=Abdo & Daughters Publishing|date=September 1992|pages=64|isbn=1-56239-161-5}}</ref> The final two books, ''Wes Craven's New Nightmare'' and ''Freddy vs. Jason'', were published by [[Tor Books]] and [[Black Flame (publisher)|Black Flame]]. These novels also followed the films closely, with the adaptation of ''Freddy vs. Jason'' containing a different ending than the movie.<ref>{{cite book|author=David Bergantino|title=Wes Craven's New Nightmare|publisher=[[Tor Books]]|date=November 15, 1994|pages=216|isbn=0-8125-5166-4}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Stephen Hand|title=Freddy vs. Jason|publisher=[[Black Flame (publisher)|Black Flame]]|date=July 29, 2003|isbn=1-84416-059-9}}</ref>

====Comic books====
{{main|A Nightmare on Elm Street (comics)}}
The popularity of the film series also led to the creation of several comic book series published by companies such as [[Marvel Comics]], [[Innovation Publishing|Innovation Comics]], [[Trident Comics]], [[Avatar Press]] and, most recently, [[WildStorm|WildStorm Comics]]. Writers such as [[Steve Gerber]], Andy Mangels, [[Chuck Dixon]] and [[Brian Pulido]] have all contributed stories to the various series. There have been crossovers with other franchises, such as ''[[Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash: The Nightmare Warriors]]''.

===Documentary===
{{Main|Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy}}
On May 4, 2010, a 4-hour documentary chronicling the ''Nightmare on Elm Street'' series was released. The documentary includes interviews with the cast and crew for all of the ''Nightmare'' films.<ref>{{cite web|author=Michael Gingold |url=http://www.fangoria.com/home/news/9-film-news/3977-exclusive-promo-art-comments-on-nightmare-docu-never-sleep-again.html |title=Exclusive promo art, comments on Nightmare docu Never Sleep Again |publisher=[[Fangoria]] |date=September 21, 2009 |access-date=September 22, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923154915/http://www.fangoria.com/home/news/9-film-news/3977-exclusive-promo-art-comments-on-nightmare-docu-never-sleep-again.html |archive-date=September 23, 2009 }}</ref> In a wish to utilize individuals who contributed to the series, the makers of the documentary procured [[poster art]]ist Matthew Joseph Peak to create the artwork for the release poster and DVD cover, and composer [[Charles Bernstein (composer)|Charles Bernstein]] for the film's main title music.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fangoria.com/index.php?id=574:up-all-night-with-never-sleep-again&option=com_content&catid=36:demo-articles&Itemid=56|title=Interview: Up All Night With "Never Sleep Again"|publisher=[[Fangoria]]|access-date=May 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521190346/http://www.fangoria.com/index.php?id=574:up-all-night-with-never-sleep-again&option=com_content&catid=36:demo-articles&Itemid=56|archive-date=May 21, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/37303/never-sleep-again-dan-farrands-andrew-kasch-and-thommy-hutson-speak|title=Interview: Never Sleep Again: Dan Farrands, Andrew Kasch and Thommy Hutson Speak!|publisher=[[Dread Central]]|access-date=May 16, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100509004849/http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/37303/never-sleep-again-dan-farrands-andrew-kasch-and-thommy-hutson-speak| archive-date= May 9, 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> As part of a special offering, the filmmakers gave away a limited edition poster to anyone that ordered the documentary from the official website. Those same individuals would also be entered into a drawing to win one of three 27" × 40" teaser posters signed by dozens of people who worked on the films and were interviewed in the documentary.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fearnet.com/news/b18866_get_free_elm_street_poster_signed_by.html|title=Get a Free 'Elm Street' Poster Signed by Nancy|access-date=May 16, 2010|author=Joseph McCabe|date=April 20, 2010|work=FearNet| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100424172026/http://www.fearnet.com/news/b18866_get_free_elm_street_poster_signed_by.html| archive-date= April 24, 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> [[Michael Gingold]] of ''[[Fangoria]]'' felt the filmmakers did an amazing job bringing together all of the behind-the-scenes footage, picture, never-before-seen deleted scenes, FX scenes, and other "treasures". Gingold noted that even die-hard fans would find something new.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fangoria.com/index.php?id=783:never-sleep-again-the-elm-street-legacy-dvd-review&option=com_content&catid=58:dvd-blu-ray-reviews&Itemid=182|title=DVD review: ''Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy''|last=Gingold|first=Michael|publisher=[[Fangoria]]|access-date=May 16, 2010|archive-date=May 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521190132/http://www.fangoria.com/index.php?id=783:never-sleep-again-the-elm-street-legacy-dvd-review&option=com_content&catid=58:dvd-blu-ray-reviews&Itemid=182|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Bloody Disgusting]]'s Ryan Daley praised the film for being educational, and looking at the legacy of both ''A Nightmare on Elm Street'' and New Line Cinema. Daley believed that there was no better horror documentary.<ref name="bloodydisgusting">{{cite web|url=https://www.bloody-disgusting.com/film/4841/review|title=review: Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy|last=Daley|first=Ryan |publisher=[[Bloody Disgusting]]|access-date=May 16, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100504135930/http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/film/4841/review| archive-date= May 4, 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> Nick Hyman of ''Under the Radar'' noted that ''Never Sleep Again'', unlike the earlier ''His Name Was Jason'' documentary, provided a more candid interview process with the people involved. Hyman pointed out that the best part of the documentary is the look at New Line's success through the ''Elm Street'' films, and the financial struggles and deadlines that plagued the film series.<ref name="undertheradar">{{cite web|url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/never_sleep_again_the_elm_street_legacy|title=review: ''Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy''|last=Hyman|first=Nick |publisher=Under The Radar|access-date=May 16, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100511204404/http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/never_sleep_again_the_elm_street_legacy| archive-date= May 11, 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>

Aside from the ''Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy'' documentary, some smaller documentaries have been made; ''The Making of 'Nightmare on Elm Street IV''' (1989) and ''The Making of Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare'' (1991) covered the making of part 4 and 6 respectively.<ref>{{cite AV media | title=The Making of 'Nightmare on Elm Street IV' | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0399319 | date=October 31, 1989 | people=Drew Cummings (director)|type=documentary}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=The Making of Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare | url=https://archive.org/details/FreddysDeadTheMakingOfTheFinalNightmare | date=October 19, 1991 | publisher=[[Sonar Entertainment|RHI Entertainment]] | via=[[Internet Archive]] | type=documentary}}</ref> [[MTV]] released another short promotional special ''Slash & Burn: The Freddy Krueger Story'' in 1991.<ref>{{cite web | title=Slash & Burn: The Freddy Krueger Story | date=October 25, 1991 | url=https://archive.org/details/SlashBurnTheFreddyKruegerStory | publisher=[[MTV]] | type=promotional special | via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> Robert Englund also narrated the documentary ''Freddy Speaks'' in 1992, both as himself and as Freddy Krueger.<ref>{{cite web | title=Freddy Speaks | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1746567/ | date=September 19, 1992 | website=[[IMDb]] | author=Dan Greenberger | publisher=[[Showtime Networks]]}}</ref> [[Heather Langenkamp]] released her own documentary called ''[[I Am Nancy]]'' in 2011, while [[Mark Patton]] also released a personal documentary, ''[[Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street]]'' in 2019.<ref>{{cite AV media | title='Scream, Queen! My Nightmare On Elm Street' | url=https://www.screamqueendocumentary.com/ | people=Roman Chimienti & Tyler Jensen (director), [[Mark Patton]] (himself) | publisher=The End Productions | date=April 5, 2019}}</ref>

===Merchandise===
In February 2010, Funko released a Freddy [[Bobblehead]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/35847/freddy-is-ready-bobble-your-dreams|title=Freddy Is Ready to Bobble in Your Dreams|date=July 27, 2012|publisher=DreadCentral}}</ref> Also in 2010, [[National Entertainment Collectibles Association|NECA]] released a 10" puppet of Freddy Krueger from Phillip's death scene in ''A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/19093|title=Toy Fair '10: NECA's Incredibly Creepy Freddy Krueger Puppet|date=February 14, 2010|publisher=[[Bloody Disgusting]]|access-date=March 26, 2010}}</ref> a metal [[replica]] of his glove, and two [[action figure]]s: Freddy before he was burned, and the other being him after the burning, including two interchangeable heads.<ref name="NECA-Toys">{{cite web|url=https://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/19101|title=Toy Fair '10: New Freddy Krueger Figures Reveal New Glove?!?!|date=February 14, 2010|publisher=[[Bloody Disgusting]]|access-date=March 26, 2010}}</ref>

===Video games===
''A Nightmare on Elm Street'' is the shared name of two unrelated video games released in 1989, both loosely based on the series. From among those films, ''[[A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors|Dream Warriors]]'' and ''[[A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master|The Dream Master]]'' were particular influences on the gameplay of each. [[LJN]] (programmed by [[Rare (company)|Rare]]) released one title for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]], and Monarch Software the other for the [[Commodore 64]] and [[IBM PC compatible]]s.{{cn|date=March 2020}}
* '''''[[A Nightmare on Elm Street (video game)|A Nightmare on Elm Street]]''''': A [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] videogame released in 1989. Up to four players control characters who jump and punch their way through Elm Street locations as they collect the bones of [[Freddy Krueger]] to place them in a furnace and end his reign of terror. Each character can withstand only four hits from opponents before losing a life. An on-screen meter slowly diminishes (more quickly when sustaining damage), representing how close a particular character is to falling asleep. Obtaining cups of coffee within the game restores characters' sleep bar. When any character's sleep bar empties, all the players are transported to the dream world, where enemies take on new appearances and are more difficult to defeat. In the dream world, coffee cups are replaced with radios, which return the characters to the normal world and difficulty. Dream Warrior icons appear that once collected by any player, permit transformation into one of three "Dream Warriors". Each warrior has a projectile attack and improved movement: ninja ([[Shuriken|throwing stars]], [[Flying kick|jump kick]]), acrobat (javelins, somersault), and magician (fireballs, hovering). These icons appear only in the normal world, and can be used only in the dream. If a character remains asleep too long, the film's theme song plays and a combative encounter with Freddy ensues. Upon collecting all the bones in a level, the player is automatically put in the dream world and battles Freddy, who takes on a special form similar to those presented in the films. The final level is set at Elm Street High School as players navigate to the boiler room to burn Freddy's bones. Here one final battle with Freddy Krueger occurs. The game can utilize the [[NES Four Score]] or [[NES Satellite]] accessories to enable four-player gameplay.{{cn|date=March 2020}}
* '''''A Nightmare on Elm Street''''': A game produced by Monarch Software for C64/IBM-PC gaming. Developed by [[Westwood Studios|Westwood Associates]], its role-playing elements and overhead viewpoint bear some similarity to ''[[Gauntlet (1985 video game)|Gauntlet]]''. The player chooses to play as either [[List of A Nightmare on Elm Street characters#Roland Kincaid|Kincaid]], [[Kristen Parker]], Will, [[Nancy Thompson (A Nightmare on Elm Street)|Nancy]], or Taryn on a quest to save [[List of A Nightmare on Elm Street characters#Joey Crusel|Joey]] and defeat Freddy. The player must locate keys to open doors. Weapons and items are scattered about the levels or can be purchased from vending machines. Enemies are varied, from skeletons to wheelchairs. Freddy assumes the role of "[[Boss (video games)|boss monster]]" and transforms into a snake, much like his appearance in ''A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors''.{{cn|date=March 2020}}

David Bergantino, video game developer, wanted to produce a ''Freddy vs. Jason'' game called ''Freddy vs. Jason: Hell Unbound'', but the film being stuck in [[development hell]] constantly delayed any release of a video game, and once a release date had been set for the film, there would have been insufficient time to develop the game to correspond with the film's release date. The game would have continued on from ''[[Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday]]'' (1993) and have been its own storyline instead of being based on any screenplay. Bergantino considered [[Dreamcast]], [[PlayStation 2]] and later [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] as possible platforms for the video game. The game would have allowed up to four players with Freddy or Jason as [[player character]]s, in various forms such as "Hooded Jason" or "Snake-Freddy". The premise would have been that Freddy and Jason are permanently stuck in Hell due to their countless unforgivable sins; [[Personifications of death|Death]] makes the offer that whoever of the two can fight their way out of Hell, against demons and others of its denizens, gaining the highest body-count, would have been allowed to leave Hell, while the loser will remain stuck there forever. As each of the slashers are stuck in their personal hells, versions of Elm Street and Camp Crystal Lake would have existed there in some form. Freddy-based levels would have been more surreal, while Freddy could have toyed with Jason's perceptions.<ref name="slashofthetitans">{{cite book | title=Slash of the Titans: The Road to Freddy vs Jason | author=Dustin McNeill | date=March 25, 2017 | publisher=Harker Press | isbn=978-0692033494 | chapter=Ch. 10 - The Bergantino Treatments | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=omSNAQAACAAJ}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
;Films
* {{IMDb title|qid=Q329434|title=A Nightmare on Elm Street}}
* {{IMDb title|qid=Q1145824|title=A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge}}
* {{IMDb title|qid=Q373362|title=A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors}}
* {{IMDb title|qid=Q1364051|title=A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master}}
* {{IMDb title|qid=Q1410735|title=A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child}}
* {{IMDb title|qid=Q748614|title=Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare}}
* {{IMDb title|qid=Q636166|title=Wes Craven's New Nightmare}}
* {{IMDb title|qid=Q965859|title=Freddy vs. Jason}}
* {{IMDb title|qid=Q300508|title=A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)}}

;Video games
* {{moby game|id=/a-nightmare-on-elm-street|name=''A Nightmare on Elm Street''}}
* [http://www.i-mockery.com/minimocks/freddy-pcgame/default.php PC Game Review] at I-Mockery

;Miscellaneous
* [http://nightmareonelmstreetfilms.com Nightmare on Elm Street Companion]

{{A Nightmare on Elm Street}}
{{Warner Bros. franchises}}
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[[Category:Film franchises introduced in 1984]]
[[Category:Fiction about nightmares]]
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