HorroRated
HomeMoviesA Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Poster artwork for A Nightmare on Elm StreetPoster source: The Movie Database (TMDB)
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HorroRated archive entry

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

19841 hour 31 minsREnglish

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HorroRated verdict
Legendary

Added Updated How We Rate

1980sSlasherSupernaturalDream HorrorSchool Horror
Directed by
Wes Craven
Written by
Wes Craven
Produced by
Robert Shaye, John Burrows, Stanley Dudelson, Joseph Wolf, Sara Risher
Collections
Franchise

Why it’s HorroRated

A Nightmare on Elm Street gave the genre a villain with an actual mythology and a final girl with an actual plan, and both of those things separated it from almost everything else playing at the time. Freddy is frightening in this one. The dream logic hits different when you don't know the rules yet.

Synopsis

The kids on Elm Street are being hunted in their sleep by something connected to their parents' past. Nancy figures out that what's killing them is real and reachable, but convincing anyone else is the problem. Craven built a villain with actual mythology and a final girl with an actual plan, which separated this from almost everything playing next to it at the time.

Filed under

PsychologicalSlashersPractical FXCult ClassicsSupernatural

Where to watch A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

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AMC
Free
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Streaming in the US changes often. Listings from JustWatch via TMDB, checked November 10, 2026.See every option

Quick facts

Release date
November 9, 1984
Runtime
1 hour 31 mins
Country
United States of America, United Kingdom
Language
English
Content rating
R
Entry type
Movie

Content notes

  • Violence and peril

Tags

1980sSlasherSupernaturalDream HorrorSchool HorrorPractical FXCult Classic

If you liked this…

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) trailer