A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984): cast, story & where to watch
1984 · Film · ★ 7.3
Released in 1984, A Nightmare on Elm Street is a horror film directed by Wes Craven, running about 91 minutes. “If Nancy doesn't wake up screaming, she won't wake up at all!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. 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...
Who’s in it. A Nightmare on Elm Street stars John Saxon as Lieutenant Donald Thompson, Ronee Blakley as Marge Thompson, Heather Langenkamp as Nancy Thompson and Amanda Wyss as Tina Gray, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.3/10, A Nightmare on Elm Street has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $57M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch A Nightmare on Elm Street page.
If you liked it. Fans of A Nightmare on Elm Street tend to enjoy Psycho, The Silence of the Lambs, The Shining and Alien.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)?
- In US, A Nightmare on Elm Street is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is A Nightmare on Elm Street worth watching?
- A Nightmare on Elm Street holds an audience score of 7.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy horror. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in A Nightmare on Elm Street?
- A Nightmare on Elm Street stars John Saxon, Ronee Blakley, Heather Langenkamp, Amanda Wyss and Jsu Garcia.
- When was A Nightmare on Elm Street released?
- A Nightmare on Elm Street was released in 1984, with a runtime of about 91 minutes.