Few horror franchises have cut as deep a cultural footprint as A Nightmare on Elm Street . With its iconic villain Freddy Krueger—burned face, razor-glove, and sinister wit—the series blurred the line between dreams and reality, terrifying audiences for decades. But if you’ve ever asked, “How many Nightmare on Elm Street movies are there?” the answer depends on whether you count only the original theatrical releases or include crossover films, remakes, and documentary-style entries.

The Nightmare on Elm Street franchise has become a cultural phenomenon, with Freddy Krueger becoming an iconic horror villain. The series has influenced numerous other horror films and TV shows, and continues to be celebrated by horror fans around the world.

Here’s the definitive count.

When someone asks, “How many Nightmare on Elm Street movies are there?” the cleanest, most accurate answer is nine . Just be ready to defend whether Freddy vs. Jason counts (it does).