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Trailer

A Nightmare on Elm Street

1984Movie1 h 31 minR

Horror
81
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.4Metacritic768.2Rotten Tomatoes93%84%

A terrifying, nerve-racking horror movie about the mind and pop culture, with standout score and sound design.

Good for friends night · party vibe · teens

Skip it if graphic violence bothers you · you scare easily

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Not for warmth, laughs or comfort.

Movies with

Story

If Nancy doesn't wake up screaming, she won't wake up at all.

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...

Feels like

  • Slasher Horror Icon
  • Dream Logic Nightmare
  • Visceral Practical Effects
  • Anxiety-Inducing Atmosphere
  • Cultural Touchstone
  • Psychological Terror
  • Unrelenting Tension
  • Gothic Suburban Setting
  • Iconic Villain
  • Survival Horror

Cast

19 of 19

Crew

Directed by
Wes Craven
Written by
Wes Craven
Produced by
Robert Shaye, Sara Risher, John Burrows
Music by
Charles Bernstein

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

November 9, 1984 · 1 h 31 min · R

Released
November 9, 1984
Runtime
1 h 31 min
Age rating
R
Content
Violence, Disturbing Imagery, Strong Language
Genres
Horror
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$2 million
Box office
$57 million
Available in
91 countries

Tropes

Iconic Sequel Character, Dead by Daylight, Make Them Rot +9

  • Iconic Sequel Character
  • Dead by Daylight
  • Make Them Rot
  • Happy Ending Override
  • Clap Your Hands If You Believe
  • Would Hurt a Child
  • Weaker in the Real World
  • Take That!
  • Wolverine Claws
  • Crusty Caretaker
  • Nightmares on Elm Street
  • Nightmare Dreams

12 of 135 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream A Nightmare on Elm Street?"

Questions about A Nightmare on Elm Street

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream A Nightmare on Elm Street?

HBO MaxAMC+AMC

In the United States, A Nightmare on Elm Street streams on HBO Max, AMC+, and AMC. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, and Spectrum On Demand. It also streams in 38 other countries.

Is A Nightmare on Elm Street worth watching?

81
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 81 (IMDb 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes 93%, and Metacritic 76).

Will A Nightmare on Elm Street scare me?

Not scaryTerrifying

Yes, it's frightening: scares are rated 10 of 10, and some images are gruesome (grotesque 8 of 10).

Was A Nightmare on Elm Street a box office hit?

Budget$2 million
Box office$57 million

Yes, a big one: it cost about $2 million to make and earned $57 million worldwide, 31.7 times its budget.

What tropes does A Nightmare on Elm Street use?

Iconic Sequel CharacterDead by DaylightMake Them RotHappy Ending OverrideClap Your Hands If You BelieveWould Hurt a ChildWeaker in the Real WorldTake That!Wolverine ClawsCrusty CaretakerNightmares on Elm StreetNightmare Dreamsand 123 more

TV Tropes lists 135 tropes for it, including Iconic Sequel Character, Dead by Daylight, and Make Them Rot.