It's not exactly scary but at night you get a little scared because its about this guy going into your dreams and chasing you and trying to kill you. Language was only in certain areas. The blood was too fake to be real. My friend wasn't scared either. Parents: this film may give your children nightmares so don't let them see it if you don't want them going into your room and saying I'm scared Freddy is gonna kill me. Overall a great horror classic the movie that started it all. A Must see for horror fans
A Nightmare on Elm Street
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
First feature for knife-handed horror idol Freddy.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 16–18
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of A Nightmare on Elm Street was written by Charles Cassady Jr.
Parents need to know that this slasher flick has a lot of over-the-top gore and violence, with the qualifier that it's often "nightmare," surreal violence. Nightmare visions include a face being torn off to reveal a staring skull, a geyser of blood pouring out of a victim's bed and pooling in defiance of gravity on the ceiling, and so forth. It's dream-like, but fatalities still result. The young people at the center of the film, though very highly evolved for horror-movie teens circa 1984, are still sexually active and at odds with their parents.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the secret guilt that the parents share: that they killed Krueger and covered it up, and now the evil child-murderer is attacking their children rather than them. Considering the old sins-of-the-fathers biblical warning (in slasher-movie clothing), does that change what you think of Freddy and what punishment he deserves? Parents may also be able to make English class seem more interesting to horror-minded kids by mentioning that writer-director Wes Craven was once an English teacher.
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More on A Nightmare on Elm Street
What’s the Story?
High school football player Glen (Johnny Depp, in his movie debut), his girlfriend Nancy (Heather Langenkamp) and two schoolmates have been having disturbing dreams about a badly scarred man in a hat and garish striped sweater who's stalking, taunting, and trying to kill them with a custom-made glove that has knives in the fingers. After a ghastly murder, Nancy manages to pry the truth from her mother (Ronee Blakely). Years ago a child-killer named Freddy Krueger prowled their neighborhood and was released from jail on a legal technicality. The grown ups set his dwelling on fire, burning Krueger alive, and concealed their act of vigilantism. Of course, those same grown ups now have no clue that the renewed "nightmare" on Elm Street is the vengeful ghost of Freddy (Robert Englund) hunting and tormenting their sleeping offspring.
Is It Any Good?
Part of the success of A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET was that writer-director Wes Craven made it at a time when banal, bloody copies of Friday the 13th (starring hockey-masked Jason) commonly filled theaters. Any teen-themed horror film that was even halfway original and imaginative would have stood out refreshingly, and this one did. Elm Street's cast of teenage characters was a shade more sympathetic and well-drawn than Jason's victims.
The dream-attack gimmick (which is never really explained as clearly as it should be) makes for lots of shock scenes and visual surprises, teasing viewers about what is or isn't really happening, and filmmaker Craven also plants more sophisticated seeds of unease. Parenting and family life -- touchstones of reassurance and protection in horror movies like Poltergeist -- aren't sources of comfort here. Mothers and fathers killed Krueger and covered it up, and now the villain is punishing their children for it rather than them -- the old sins-of-the-fathers biblical warning (in slasher-movie clothing).
Movie Details
Studio: New Line Home Entertainment, Director: Wes Craven
Run time: 91 minutes
Theatrical release: 11/09/1984, DVD release: 08/11/2001
MPAA Rating: R for gore, profanity, sexual innuendo, alcohol use
Run time: 91 minutes
Theatrical release: 11/09/1984, DVD release: 08/11/2001
MPAA Rating: R for gore, profanity, sexual innuendo, alcohol use
Our Members Say
See all 24 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Not Exactly Scary But Makes You Jump At Parts
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Not Exactly Scary But Makes You Jump At Parts
It's not exactly scary but at night you get a little scared because its about this guy going into your dreams and chasing you and trying to kill you. Language was only in certain areas. The blood was too fake to be real. My friend wasn't scared either. Parents: this film may give your children nightmares so don't let them see it if you don't want them going into your room and saying I'm scared Freddy is gonna kill me. Overall a great horror classic the movie that started it all. A Must see for horror fans
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I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
Exellent, but scary.
one of the best horror films of all time. Freddy is an amazing killer, and very scary looking. It doesn't really scare, but makes you think, " what if".
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
cheesey freddy
this movie is really cheesey my freinds saw it when they were two but it really good
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Excessive consumerism
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
Excellent! A great Horror film for young teens!
I loved it, an absolutely WONDERFUL horror film but because of some violence, a scene of sexuality, Swearing, and alcohol use I would say at least 13+. The Mother is an alcoholic who drinks heavily and there is frequent use of the F-word and some use of words such as Sh**, in one scene blood pours out of a bed so then again I say this title is for young teens ages 13+
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I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
Amazing. Great for halloween.
This is a classic horror movie that I recomend seeing. But parents:IF YOU EVER WANT YOUR YOUNGER KIDS TO SLEEP PEACFULLY YOU WILL KEEP THEM AS FAR AWAY FROM THIS MOVIE AS POSSIBLE!FREEDY WILL TERRIFY THEM!I AM DEAD SERIOUS!
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I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
A little too violent but its a classic horror movie i suggest not showing this to 10 or younger
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I rate this title on for age 15 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
Perfect Horror Movie for Mature Teens and Adults
Classic horror movie which I really enjoyed. Violence is throughout so is moderate language. And a brief sex scene but with no nudity.
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
8 and up
i hated this movie not because it had gore and swearing and sex but because of the story.
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I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Maybe bad for 1984 but pretty tame for today's standards in terms of violence. It's not even that scary. There's some blood and also some swearing.
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I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
Good but chezzy
This is a old 1984 Horror movie scary for its time but is just as bad as scream now { not scary}.
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
Are you ready for Freddy?
This movie is so awesome! The kills are bloody and actually a little creepy. You'd have to be out of your mind not to like this slasher classic!
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I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
great movie in horror movie history. Hope the remake is a good or better of im not watching it
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Lives in FloridaI rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
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I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
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I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Funny?
I think this movie is hilarious,I mean, Its fun for me how freddy moves,talks... I didnt get scared at all with this movie,but its a masterpiece ;) but dont expect to get scared with freddy... probably you'll laugh at him! x)
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I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
Good
Kids will enjoy the slapstick humor. I could see this when i was 5
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
It's OK if you're ready.
Parents, this is for you. These nighmares are bad if you're not ready. Parents, if your kids are mature and have been exposed to a lot of blood, let your kid watch this.
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I rate this title off for age 0 and give it
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Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
| 100% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
| 100% | of parents say it's too violent |
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