2) Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994)
Few horror films have the legacy and influence as Wes Craven’s 1984 film A Nightmare on Elm Street. While that film’s darkness and imagination largely dwindled in the sequels (1987 release A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors being a notable exception), the horror master returned to his signature franchise a decade later to restore its greatness.
Heather Langenkamp – who played heroine Nancy in the first film – stars as herself in this entry, which sees Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) begin to emerge from the films into real life, just as the development of a new Nightmare film begins to ramp up.
Taking a very different approach than the preceding six films, the story incorporates self-referential elements that both celebrate the beloved original and propel the franchise into unexplored territory. Despite its novel storytelling conceit and strong critical notices, New Nightmare proved to be too far ahead of its time, earning less than $20 million at the worldwide box office.
Still, the film – which ultimately ends up being a kind of dark fairy tale akin to the classic Grimm stories – has gained popularity since its release and set the stage for Craven’s similarly satirical Scream just two years later.