The television series based on A Nightmare on Elm Street will soon become more accessible than ever. Originally airing in syndication for two seasons in the late 1980s, Freddy's Nightmares was a horror anthology series that told a different story with every episode. Tying them all together was franchise star Robert Englund, serving as the host of the program with Freddy Krueger introducing the show's horror stories.
Copies of Freddy's Nightmares have been floating around on home video for years, but it hasn't always been easy for fans to find, at least not inexpensively. That changes on Feb. 15 when Freddy's Nightmares finally starts streaming, giving fans the opportunity to binge-watch all 44 episodes more easily than ever. Per Collider, the streaming service Screambox has announced their acquisition of the series with plans to put both seasons in their entirety on the service this week. George A. Romero's Knightriders, featuring Ed Harris and Tom Savini, also joins the series.
There's a lot to appreciate about Freddy's Nightmares beyond Englund's involvement and the references to Elm Street. One the most interesting episodes, the Tobe Hooper-directed pilot, delves into Krueger's prosecution, providing a new look at the Springwood slasher's backstory never seen in the films. Many actors who went on to become much bigger names appeared in Freddy's Nightmares as well, including Brad Pitt, Mariska Hargitay, Lori Petty, Tim Russ, and John Cameron Mitchell, among others.
A Nightmare on Elm Street's Franchise Is Currently Stalled
More content from the Freddy Krueger library to watch might be a welcome thing for fans with no new movies on the horizon. As fans will know, Robert Englund played Freddy in a series of six movies, starting with 1984's A Nightmare on Elm Street. This was followed by the meta-horror flick Wes Craven's New Nightmare and the crossover movie Freddy vs. Jason, which marked the end of Englund's run in the role.
A Nightmare on Elm Street was rebooted in 2010, but the results weren't good. The film did well enough at the box office, but tentative plans to make a sequel were shelved due to the incredibly negative reaction the film had drawn from fans and critics alike. In part due to the majority's unwillingness to accept another actor in the role of Freddy, the film is seen as a dud with fans, and it's not looked at fondly by most fans of the genre.
Where does the franchise go from here? Halloween, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Scream are getting some more time in the sun with all-new legacy sequels continuing their classic stories. Is it time for Englund to come back for one last movie as Freddy Krueger? Or does New Line roll the dice again with another reimagining, this time trying a different approach compared to the 2010 film? Either is possible, but as Englund isn't getting any younger, the clock is ticking on the former.
Freddy's Nightmares will start streaming on Screambox on Feb. 15, 2022. Screambox is available to stream on iOS, Android, Prime Video, YouTube TV, Comcast, and Screambox.com.