When elements of horror seep into waking life through the avenues of dreams and nightmares, incredible storytelling can happen. Throughout the lifespan of the horror genre, this has been a common theme found in many films, intensifying the truth of the situation across landscapes of REM sleep. Dreams may appear to be hopeful stretches of the imagination in any case, but they can quickly turn the tables when bad guys come knocking on bedroom doors.
Widening the scope of each unique story's potential, the more intricate inner workings of one's mind show out in full force when positioned just outside the realm of the impossible. Sleep may seem like a welcome escape to the terrors of everyday life, whether you're a character in a horror film or not – but in the case of these movies, you'd be dead wrong. Let's count down the best horror movies about nightmares, ranked.
6 Before I Wake (2016)
One of Mike Flanagan's more underappreciated projects, Before I Wake is an exploration of the deepest depths of a child's wild imagination. Young foster child Cody is taken under the wing of a couple who notice how afraid he is of going to sleep. When his increasingly terrifying dreams start leaking into everyday life, things start to make more sense. Everyone is forced to reckon with the terrors of his past and the lasting legacy of trauma and grief as the skeletal Canker Man, a sunken-faced villain with a sour attitude to match, makes his appearance.
5 Mulholland Drive (2001)
While Mulholland Drive isn't widely regarded to be a typical horror film, many viewers and critics have reached a consensus about its true nightmarish nature. One of David Lynch's many love letters to surrealism, the film follows two women brought together by the mystery surrounding a car accident on that recognizable Los Angeles road. An article from Vulture says that it "actually upends some of the more common elements of modern horror," citing its divergence from standard tropes and the unique fever dream feel created through its overall atmosphere. This is especially true of the infamous diner scene, depicting a haunting interaction between a man and a mysterious being looming behind Winkie's.
4 Insidious (2010)
Insidious is an excellent example of the horror renaissance of the 2000s, filled with iconic, standard-setting scenes and the unforgettable red demon creeping over Patrick Wilson's shoulder. Dalton's family is thrust into a supernatural world of hurt when he falls into a coma, invoking the wrath of otherworldly happenings as the lines between fantasy and reality blur. Making dark dreams into realities that haunt the Lamberts with increasingly unsettling occurrences, the first film in the franchise introduces audiences to the realm of the Further.
3 Last Night in Soho (2021)
A time capsule capturing the creative and cool feel of the decade, Last Night in Soho transported audiences into the shimmering '60s within an increasingly horrific atmosphere. As the curtains parted, viewers were introduced to Ellie, a promising fashion design student whose dream life becomes more than she bargained for. Stepping into the shoes of alter ego Sandie when she falls asleep at night, Ellie begins to unravel mysteries of the troubled singer's past that soon bleed into her own modern life. With more twists than that of the throwback dance numbers and surprising reveals around every corner, Last Night in Soho stands as an excellent example of feminism in horror, hinging on the story's dreamlike inner world.
2 Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994)
Following on the tails of A Nightmare on Elm Street's success, Wes Craven's New Nightmare is a meta masterpiece. Bringing back a cast of original actors, who play themselves as they're thrown back into the fray again, this film positions the events of Nightmare within the real world as Freddy's evil spirit comes back through the portal of bad dreams for more murder. Coming into contact with Wes Craven himself kicks things up a notch as Heather Langenkamp realizes that she must take up the helm of Nancy Thompson once more to finally put a stop to things. A Roger Ebert review said that New Nightmare "seems to have been made not only for but by Fangoria fans."
1 A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Of course, the most recognizable horror film centering around nightmares is none other than A Nightmare on Elm Street. As a well-known example of the height of '80s horror, the movie that started it all makes heavy use of a fresh-faced cast, a synthy soundtrack, and a unique antagonistic icon to accomplish its scare factor and longevity as a horror landmark. The original entry into the celebrated franchise inspired a generation of '80s kids to keep their bedroom lights on a little longer at night, as viewers learned that even their own imaginations can't always be trusted to keep them safe. The terrifying atmosphere created by this film even crept into the dreams of Freddy Kruger himself, Robert Englund.