4. A Nightmare On Elm Street
The overall premise of A Nightmare on Elm Street is one of the most imaginative and horrifying in the genre. It follows an accused child-killer named Freddy Krueger as he stalks and murders his victims through their dreams. Shockingly, it’s one of those horror movies with real-life inspiration, and it also happens to be one of the most iconic horror franchises of all time.
Over the years, its entries have seen varying levels of critical reception, but the scares (and the kills) have remained consistent. Krueger’s sarcastic quips and pun-heavy one-liners are truly unforgettable, and combined with his horrifying design have made him one of the most frightening figures in horror. There are few franchises as synonymous with the genre as Nightmare on Elm Street, thoroughly earning it a spot on this list.
Between Freddy’s bladed glove, scarred visage, and terrible fashion sense, he’s one of the best villains ever created. His exuberant personality and blatant love of creatively murdering people through their dreams has kept the franchise popular throughout the years. There’s no doubt that he heads one of the best horror movie franchises of all time, because he’s an instantly recognizable (and nightmare-inducing) character.