Wes Craven's New Nightmare

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2:30

Wes Craven's New Nightmare

R

Released Oct 14, 1994

1h 52m

Horror

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Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

45 Reviews

67%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Reality and fantasy meet in unsettling ways in this installment of the long-running horror series, which finds director Wes Craven and actors Heather Langenkamp and Robert Englund all portraying themselves. As Heather (Heather Langenkamp) considers making another film with Craven, her son, Dylan (Miko Hughes), falls under the spell of the iconic disfigured villain Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund). Eventually, Langenkamp must confront Freddy's demonic spirit to save the soul of Dylan.

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Critics Consensus

Wes Craven's New Nightmare adds an unexpectedly satisfying - not to mention intelligent - meta layer to a horror franchise that had long since lost its way.

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

This one's defeated by the rigid formula.

Apr 5, 2010

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Joe Leydon

Variety

Englund once again is in bravura form as Freddy, playing as much for nasty laughs as unnerving shocks.

Mar 26, 2009

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Time Out

The climactic punch-up fails to match the power of the first film's true ending, but in deconstructing his own bastardised creation, Craven redeems both the series and his own tarnished reputation.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Sharai Bohannon

A Nightmare On Fierce Street Podcast

'New Nightmare' is the best sequel of the Elm Street franchise and the reason my generation knows what a meta moment should look like. One of Wes Craven's best.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 15, 2025

Full Review

Justin Kim

Loud and Clear Reviews

Wes Craven’s New Nightmare provides compelling commentary about franchises and good psychological horror, but stumbles on the finish line with its campier finale.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 16, 2025

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

It’s a cool idea as far as it goes, which is to say, it doesn’t go far at all.

Rated: 1.5/4

Oct 20, 2024

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Rick W

Grew up watching this movie and I always wanted to see it on a big screen and am eternally grateful to the Alamo Drafthouse for screening it this October. Quality was outstanding and the quality served to immerse me so sufficiently that it took me back to being a kid.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/30/24

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Diane

Loved every moment of it!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/17/24

Full Review

Khaliel P

This non-canonical entry exists outside the franchise timeline, using a meta concept where Freddy targets the film’s actors. Wes Craven returned for the 10th anniversary, crafting a “film within a film” and incorporating Heather Langenkamp’s real-life harassment, with actors playing as if all were potential threats. Freddy is darker and more cruel, with shorter yet intense killings, while Craven introduces an ancient entity using Freddy to enter our world, centered on Heather/Nancy. Langenkamp excels playing herself, Englund alternates between Freddy and his actor persona, and Freddy’s new, more realistic design is terrifying. Though the meta approach may disorient, the film concludes the saga while remaining above average, with Freddy more menacing than ever.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/23/25

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Murat can A

Very creative and fresh for the franchise. Wes Craven returned to the story with a great approach

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/22/25

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Jason H

Brilliant movie that goes off the rails during its not-too-good effects-laden finale.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/21/25

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Korra N

Arguably the best Elm Street sequel, NEW NIGHTMARE is genuinely creepy, unsettling & a lot of fun.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/27/25

Full Review

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Wes Craven

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Robert Englund

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Heather Langenkamp

Herself

Miko Hughes

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Synopsis

Reality and fantasy meet in unsettling ways in this installment of the long-running horror series, which finds director Wes Craven and actors Heather Langenkamp and Robert Englund all portraying themselves. As Heather (Heather Langenkamp) considers making another film with Craven, her son, Dylan (Miko Hughes), falls under the spell of the iconic disfigured villain Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund). Eventually, Langenkamp must confront Freddy's demonic spirit to save the soul of Dylan.

Director: Wes Craven
Producer: Marianne Maddalena
Screenwriter: Wes Craven
Distributor: New Line Cinema, Roadshow Home Video [au]
Production Co: New Line Cinema
Rating: R
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 14, 1994, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $18.1M
Runtime: 1h 52m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo, DTS

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