RateItAll.com - The Opinion Network
1) Find and share opinions on anything; 2) Publish your own ratings list and share it on any site; 3) Make a little money

Tags for Nightmare on Elm Street (Browse Tags)

Ratings Breakdown

  • 31
  • 24
  • 96
  • 162
  • 266

Hottest Topics

Hottest Weblists

Related Websites

Nightmare on Elm StreetGet Rating Widget!

Overall Rating: 4.05 based on 579 ratings
Click here to read all Read less
ItemImageWritten and directed by Wes Craven. Starring Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger, John Saxon as Lt. Thompson, Ronee Blakley as Mrs. Thompson, Heather Langenkamp as Nancy, and Johnny Depp as Glen. Freddy Krueger seeks revenge on the children of the mob that murdered him. Can Nancy defeat a demon who only lives in her dreams?

Your rating:     (Roll over your star rating, then click) (5=Great)
Notify me by email when someone comments on my review
Notify me by email when someone reviews this item
 

Reviews for Nightmare on Elm Street  1-70 OF 75  ( NEXT 70)

Browse next item:
Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge
Sort items by:
REVIEWERRATING & REVIEW
Armando667 (0)
10/03/2008
the best horror film ever!!!!!

  (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
♦Brittany♦ (0)
10/02/2008
1,2 freddy's comin for you; 3,4 better lock the door; 5,6 grab your crucifix; 7,8 better stay up late; 9,10 NEVER SLEEP AGAIN!

CLASSIC!

  (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
TrippyTease (0)
09/28/2008
LMAO... Oh, there's no one quite like Robert Englund.

  (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
McCHIDO (0)
09/20/2008
SHIT SEQUELS

  (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
Jamie & Finn (1)
09/10/2008
freddy's coming for you

  (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
Jennifer903 (0)
07/23/2008
crazy shit, scary as hell....

  (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
KRISTYN718 (0)
07/22/2008
more of a slasher than a horror movie..still I must confess that I enjoy them.

  (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
logfan0820 (0)
07/19/2008
awesome movie

  (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
monkey11611 (0)
07/11/2008
yeah freddy

  (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
Bri <3 (0)
07/03/2008
never seen it

  (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
Jahnnie (0)
06/29/2008
Again for its time- it was a decent enough horror film

  (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
Spike65 (13)
06/28/2008
Almost too scary. Anyone who has ever been sleep deprived can attest to the fear and hallucinations that can occur as a result. But knowing that everytime you doze off you have a good chance of being killed in a horrible manner...that is scary.

  (1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
Unknown62408497 (0)
06/27/2008
this scared me to death when I was a kid

  (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
[?]CASSIE[?] (0)
06/27/2008
thats the worst scene of all

  (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
*~Jennifer~* (1)
06/22/2008
Awesome...scary!

  (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
Binniethebloodybooh (16)
06/16/2008
Scary when it was first released and holds up pretty well. Tina's demise is a slasher classic.

  (2 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
Ayse (0)
05/29/2008
kinda corny tho

  (1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
tegan terror. ? (0)
04/17/2008
It has johnny depp in it, so it must be good

  (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
trebon1038 (65)
04/14/2008

Sorry, I was referring to Friday the 13th...

The concept was great...the first three films were pretty good. I prefer suspense to slice and dice...but this one was ok for a brief while. The #3 film in 3-D was kind of cool. The best part was a girl laying on the ground and her boyfriend playing with a yo yo over her head...


  (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 1 agree)
twansalem (41)
04/14/2008
Maybe if I'd have seen it when it came out, my opinion would be different, but I saw it for the first time just a few years ago, and I thought it was kind of cheesy.

  (1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
sne1231 (0)
12/31/2007
All time best!!!

  (0 voted this helpful, 1 funny and 0 agree)
fb503391795 (0)
11/07/2007
You really can't get much better than a Freddy movie. Terrible acting, silly plot, amazing stripey sweaters, and weird 80's style. this movie means fun for the 18+ family.

  (1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
edt4 (109)
09/06/2007
The 80's were not a good time for horror movies. Film-makers determined that a faceless maniac chopping up copulating teenagers in a nauseating variety of ways was a sure-fire (not to mention cheap and relatively effortless) way to make lots and lots of money. Imagination, creativity, and often decency, went out the window. So the films that were creative and inspired tend to stand out, like "Nightmare on Elm Street". Wes Craven is an uneven director. Some of his films have moments of real power ("Last House on the Left" remains a very disturbing film over 30 years after its release); others are meandering, boring, pointless. The premise of "Nightmare" was inspired; a malevolent entity that can only hurt you in your dreams. As a confirmed insomniac, this was a theme that I could readily relate to. The character of Freddy Krueger was original, grimly humorous, relentlessly sadistic and homicidal. Robert Englund is very good in the role of Freddy; the others actors are less effective but acceptable in their parts (Johnny Depp would go on to become a very good actor, but his role here could have been played by anyone). The story holds you, though, and there's a genuine sense of gripping suspense that builds up throughout the film and doesn't let up until the very last moments. Unfortunately, the film was successful enough to generate a slew of sequels, none of which matched the quality of the first film.

  (4 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
Jeremy00081 (5)
09/13/2006
This is almost a perfect horror film, but it NEEDED MORE GORE to get a perfect 5 from me. I realize it was made in a time when gore wasn't the big thing. But I think movies like this should always be gory. Gore adds to the shock effect, and it just makes horror films better. Still, this is a scary, wildly imaginative movie. One of Wes Craven's best.

  (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
mrs_mysterio619 (0)
04/14/2006
i love freddy krueger soo much hes so awesome and the movies are so good there not that scary but they are so creative and original..i love number one but number 3 would have to be my favourite.

  (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
Cosmo Renfro (2)
01/05/2006
The only reason that this movie gets two stars is because of the laughter that I get out of it. This should be under comedy, it's hardly scary.

  (2 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
GenghisTheHun (177)
09/21/2005
I rate it tops for originality and for starting a genre; although as usual, you can run a good thing into the ground!

  (4 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
kkii (0)
09/05/2005
An absolute classic at the time slasher movies where not that popular friday the 13th just had there final chapter there seemed not to be any more halloween movies but when A nightmare on elm street came out it saved slashers bringing supernatrual with slasher the film became on of the best horror films giving us freddy kruger alot of sequels a classic

  (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
Djahuti (57)
08/26/2005
This one spawned a whole lot of imitations. Freddy Kreuger was the ultimate villain as he could enter his victims nightmares with deadly consequences.At the time-this film was boldly original and quite well acted,with what were then state of the art special effects,to boot.

  (2 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
dragonx187 (0)
08/08/2005
The first Nightmare will always be the best. The story behind the story (told later in New Nightmare) holds true to this day. If you don't keep the monster alive by telling and retelling his story, true monsters will be found among us. This is something believed by many. I can personally say that Freddy scared the bejesus out of me the first time I saw it. Now, it's more like comedy to me, but the original had some serious horror to it. Freddy's one liners became a joke after this movie, but truly, I hid my eyes alot during this first one and not just because I was only 16 years old at the time.

  (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
kattwoman (25)
06/17/2005
freddie kruegar made people afraid to go to sleep at night in fear that he may be in their dreams. it was scary at first but a good thing over done with all the sequels made him commercialized and less scary

  (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
Nickonelmstreet (0)
04/29/2005
THIS IS THE BEST HORROR FLICK OF ALL TIMES.THE CONCECPT THE MUSIC THE CHILLS AND THRILLS.-THEY ROCK UR SOUL AND STIRR UR MIND.KUDOS.

  (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
RainbowBrite72315 (2)
02/18/2005
Great movie.

  (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
TheNutMan (0)
12/31/2004
I own the boxset, the definitive one with 8 disks. I have loved the films as a child, and I do to this day, the original is the stand-out, but three and New Nightmare come in close second, and the rest have a place in my heart as well. I also LOVE Robert Englund (Freddy).

  (1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
ShyNamaste (0)
12/31/2004
Wonderful, who says villains can't have a scense of humor. He is evil and funny at the same time. If I was going to be killed I would want Freddy to do it.

  (1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
Cartman117 (0)
12/13/2004
Didnt understand this much i liked all the other movies though

  (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
jmoney52 (0)
09/24/2004
changed the entire slasher genre, making the villain have more character. this is the one that made wes craven a household name. required watching.

  (1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
Jack Janet Chrissy (0)
08/27/2004
If you want to get scared watch Halloween not this garbage.

  (1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
Jamie McBain (50)
06/19/2004
My favorite film in the series, it went abit downhill afterwards.

  (2 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
LadyShark4534 (12)
06/05/2004
You have to admit this is one of the scariest films of all time. Robert Englund did a great job as Freddy Krueger. And I was glad to see Johnny Depp in this movie too. Heather Lagenkamp is a good actress and I'm sad she's not in film business anymore.

  (1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
Fredzz (0)
04/26/2004
all of you listen: A nightmare on elm street is the best horror movie in history. I never saw an horror movie like that.Not even now with all the tech things that producers have.. A nightmare on elm street was made first in 87..then got along the 90s. i remember watching the movies,was i a kid.. i had about 8,9years when i watched movies from him..with my older brother and parents.. i dreamed about it.. every time when i was sick,with fever..everynight..i dreamed the same dream..i was in the hospital..and freddy would come for me..grabbing me in a leg..and takin me away..everynight..i think ive a trauma with that.. so dont say Freddy Krueger is s*** cuz it aint. i Just registered to write that.

  (1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
Badunsgirl (0)
03/31/2004
Freddy Kruger rocks!! and this movie rocks!! it's very intresting!! it's scary too! all the perfect ingredients to make a horror movie!!

  (7 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
Redoedo (41)
03/28/2004
A unique premise and scary aura is what puts A Nightmare on Elm Street over the top as a horror film. The senseless number of sequels has unfortunately tarnished the reputation of the original film. Nevertheless, this film is a solid horror flick. Perhaps the most compelling thing about the film is its darkness. The dark aura of the film is its greatest asset, along with a solid performance by Englund, whose dark performance exemplifies the overall darkness of the film itself. Although I found Langenkamp's performance to be terribly contrived, that's certainly nothing new in horror films. Overall A Nightmare on Elm Street is a solid horror flick that is rightfully considered a classic.

  (6 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
evileye (0)
03/25/2004
THE SCARRIEST MOVIE THAT I'VE EVER SEEN!! I HAD NIGHTMARES FOR DAYS THE FIRST TIME I SAW THE FIRST MOVIE!!! I STILL CAN'T REALLY WATCH THE WHOLE MOVIE IN ONE SITTING!!

  (1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
Rainbow Rod (0)
02/20/2004
The first nightmare takes the cake! The kid being drug across the ceiling was fabuloso! Also the girl in the body bag being drug through the hall of the School during the day! This still scares the living [email protected]#t out of me , and I have seen a ton of horror films in my 38 yr.s this is the best to date...Just don't go to sleep!

  (2 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
kolby1973 (33)
02/10/2004
Definately a classic horror movie ! I remember falling totally in love with Johnny Depp after seeing him in this flick. 1,2, Freddy's coming for you.....3,4 better lock the door......5,6 get a crucifix....7,8 better stay up late.....9,10...never sleep AGAIN !

  (3 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
SalliesMan15 (0)
01/14/2004
WOW this sucked. Horrible acting by no name actors and Wes Craven must have been asleep behind the camera to create such a stupid movie. Ready here is an easy formula for anyone interesed in making horror films- GORE DOES NOT EQUAL SCARY!!! Go out and watch the Shining instead

  (2 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
Rainbow72315 (0)
10/07/2003
Not as great as Micheal or Jason...

  (1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
Heaven Leigh 23 (0)
09/21/2003
Truly innovative for 1984. I am a Freddy freak!I collect all kinds of horro movie stuff and Freddy is my fav. The movie still sends a bit of a scare into me on nights when I am by myself.I recently saw Freddy vs. Jason and loved it! My hubby is a Jason fan and I am hard-core for Freddy. Made things interesting at home!

  (1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
jbiscuit1 (0)
08/02/2003
One word, BAD. BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD. It may scare kids, but it's just bad. The film quality is horrible. The characters are shallow, and the story is thin. The only redeeming factor is Rober Englund, who can somehow turn any character into something interesting.

  (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
Mema (0)
05/17/2003
I saw it when I was 12 and couldn't sleep for a week. Good movie.

  (1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
norman bates (0)
03/27/2003
i love this movie very very scary freddie gives the creeps but he also makes me laugh ive seen this lts of times

  (1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
oreo-man (0)
01/22/2003
Very good. Very scary. A very original Idea.

  (1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
hotforpointe (1)
01/08/2003
When I was little I thought it was scary, but this movie is old. Nighmares on elsm street and Friday the 13th...just don't do it for me anymore.

  (1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
kelly7655 (0)
12/01/2002
Nightmare on Elm Street was one of the first of horror films to add depth to the theme by adding a phycological factor. It wasn't just a face hidden behind a mask out to slaughter everyone....Freddy could only enter in your dreams, and only to those who were the children of Elm Street. It made us think more (and sleep less!). It also had the catchy tune (one, two Freddy's coming for you..) that other horror films don't have. My favorite of the Elm Street series are parts one and three. Part one because it's the original and part three because of the unique ways Freddy tortured his victims. Wes Craven is brilliant!

  (3 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
bagman689 (0)
03/20/2002
Freddy is the only Movie slasher whose wit is as sharp as his knife glove,ya gotta love it.

  (1 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
The Shape (0)
06/26/2001
First off let me say that of all the NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET movies this one is indeed head and shoulders above the rest.Unfortunately,that doesn't necessarily mean it in any way should be considered great.The concept of killing one in his/her dreams is a novel enough approach and the hideously burnt and scarred Freddy Kreuger is without doubt a creepy enough antagonist. For me though this movie just never hit home the way HALLOWEEN,FRIDAY THE 13TH and TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE have. I can't really put my finger on it,maybe it's Johnny Depp's fault, although seeing him die is indeed a highlight. Maybe it's just all of the sequels that turned Freddy into a a wisecracking buffoon and the deteriation of the story, or maybe just maybe it stems from a running argument I've had with a fellow genre buff who beleives that Freddy would hand Jason his arse if the two ever were to go mano a mano.This aforementioned buff always goes to the "He'd kill Jason in his dreams" card. Feel free to assume that this would not happen. Why? Well....oh I don't know....could it be that JASON IS A CORPSE resulting in the utter inability to DREAM!!!!! Agggggghhhh!!! Till next time...this has been the Shape

  (2 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
afterglow70 (1)
06/16/2001
I had nighmares for a year after this one!

  (2 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
Jimiseed (0)
04/27/2001
Certainly the best of them all, although i really liked a new nightmare. I have never forgot Freddy and I think he is one of the best horror heroes! No one parties like Freddy! I still remember the tv series they put out. Great film and I love the part where Nancy sees the dead girl in the body bag outside the class room door!

  (4 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
Arsonist (0)
04/17/2001
The first Nightmare on Elm St. is one of the scariest movies I've ever seen. Freddy is great because he scares the hell out of me and makes me laugh at the same time. All of the Nightmare movies have their scary moments. The one where Alison's brother got tore up by Freddy in the school restroom made me afraid to go in public restrooms for along time.

  (3 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
callmetootie (5)
04/13/2001
Even though it did start a whole new generation of horror films, Freddy Kruger doesn't really interest me. I mean, a film about a child molester?

  (0 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
CastleBee (85)
01/28/2001
Let's see, a bunch of people you are never given any reason to care about are knocked off one by one in a variety of grisley ways. Whoopee. Pretty much sums up the modern slasher film in general. If you're that into blood and gore, why not just sit on an overpass and pray for car wrecks.

  (8 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
Thorne (3)
12/31/2000
Good idea by Wes Craven, it just was not carried through with in the right way. I have to admit the idea of a psycho killer stalking me in my own dreams is a scary idea no matter how far fetched it is. Nightmare does have moments that induce jumps and screams out of some but over all it isn't that super scary. This is however the only film in the series where when Freddy kills people they actually die. In the rest of the movies they just get asthma attacks or go into comas. A for originality. C for precentation.

  (5 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
crazyderek (0)
11/21/2000
This was the best out of all the rest. This movie actually scared me. This movie was very good and even the plot was good. After I watched it, it gave me nightmares. This was the first and last movie to do that.

  (3 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
sexylexy (0)
11/16/2000
I give all of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies high ratings because these movies really scare me and they make me not want to sleep. They make you stay up because you think it's true even though you know it's not true. The director is really good.

  (3 voted this helpful, 0 funny and 0 agree)
dubc (0)
11/10/2000
This is one of the best horror movies ever made. This is one of the only movies that I still can't watch without keeping the lights on. This series of movies is the only series of movies that kept the scary sense throughout the whole movie.

<span style="padding-top: 5px;" cla