Best Chucky Movies

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Some 80s slasher films are scary, but a special few feature a possessed children’s doll haunted by a serial killer. This doll has become a horror icon, balancing scares with humor across numerous sequels, remakes, and a popular TV show. Here’s our list of the best movies featuring this iconic killer doll.

What are the best Child’s Play movies as of 2025?

There aren’t a ton of Chucky movies compared to some other horror series, but there are still enough to make a great watchlist – and you don’t need to save them just for Halloween! Just be warned: these films can be quite violent, so watch with caution.

Child’s Play (1988)

The late 80s and early 90s saw a surge in horror movies about scary dolls, like ‘Dolly Dearest,’ ‘Dolls,’ and ‘Puppet Master.’ And if you, like me, ever felt creeped out by a room full of porcelain dolls at a grandparent’s house, you understand why these dolls are naturally unsettling.

The movie Child’s Play starts with a single mom, Karen Barclay, buying her son Andy a trendy Good Guy doll – a toy inspired by the popular “My Buddy” dolls of the 1980s. Unbeknownst to her, the doll is inhabited by the soul of Charles Lee Ray, a notorious serial killer who goes by the name “Chucky.” When a string of violent murders begins, Andy claims the doll is responsible. As the killings escalate, Karen and a detective eventually realize the truth and desperately try to stop Chucky from permanently transferring his soul into Andy’s body – a particularly frightening possibility.

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Child’s Play 2 (1990)

The story continues right after the first movie, with young Andy Barclay placed in foster care because his mother is getting a psychological evaluation. The Play Pals toy company, trying to repair its reputation after a scandal, decides to remake the Good Guy doll – unknowingly bringing the murderous Chucky back to life. Now, Chucky is determined to finish the job he started and hunts down Andy, hoping to transfer his soul into the boy’s body.

Released in November 1990, Child’s Play 2 was directed by John Lafia, who also helped write the first movie. After Universal Pictures obtained the rights from MGM, this sequel marked the start of a long and successful relationship between the studio and the Child’s Play series. Alex Vincent and Brad Dourif reprised their roles as Andy and the voice of Chucky, respectively, and Christine Elise joined the cast as Kyle. Filmed primarily in Los Angeles, the movie proved to be a box office success.

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Bride of Chucky (1998)

This movie is hard to categorize, but it’s definitely strange and has become a favorite among Chucky fans. The story begins with Chucky’s ex-girlfriend, Tiffany, bringing him back to life after getting his remains. Things quickly go wrong when she discovers her boyfriend, Charles Lee, never wanted to marry her. She imprisons him with a doll, and Chucky retaliates by killing her – resulting in her soul being trapped inside a doll as well. This incredibly twisted duo then sets off on a road trip to find new bodies to inhabit.

Similar to the self-aware and satirical horror of the Scream movies, Bride of Chucky was directed by Ronny Yu, who also directed The Bride with White Hair and Freddy vs. Jason. Jennifer Tilly joined the cast as Tiffany and quickly became popular with fans. Brad Dourif once again provided the voice for Chucky. Katherine Heigl and Nick Stabile play the couple who find themselves in danger because of the killer dolls.

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Curse of Chucky (2013)

After a long hiatus of over ten years following the poorly received Seed of Chucky (2004), the Chucky doll returns. While some previous films focused more on humor, Curse of Chucky brings the series back to its horror roots. Even with the scares, it’s still amusing to see a killer doll, and the film doesn’t entirely shy away from that.

The story centers around Nica Pierce, a young woman living with her mother in an isolated mansion. Their peaceful life is shattered when a strange package arrives containing a Good Guy doll that seems unsettlingly familiar. Soon after, Nica’s mother is found stabbed to death, and the death is strangely ruled a suicide. The family is suspicious, and begins to turn on each other. As the body count rises with each mysterious death, Nica realizes the doll is possessed by Charles Lee Ray.

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Cult of Chucky (2017)

Okay, so this movie is a bit divisive among Chucky fans, but for me, it really recaptures that perfect blend of scares and dark humor that made Bride of Chucky so great. The story picks up with Nica Pierce locked away in a mental institution after everything that happened in Curse of Chucky. She genuinely believes she’s responsible for all the bloodshed, thinking it was all in her head – and honestly, who wouldn’t struggle to accept that a doll was the real killer? But things take a seriously creepy turn when her psychiatrist – who honestly might be even more twisted than Chucky himself – gives her a Good Guy doll. Turns out, Chucky’s found a way to multiply – he can split his soul into multiple dolls! And now, Nica’s facing a whole army of killer Chucky dolls. It’s wild!

The movie was generally well-received by critics. It has an 81% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 69 out of 100 on Metacritic, which is quite good. Many reviewers highlighted the film’s creative story and its focus on classic horror elements, with Forbes comparing it favorably to ‘Fast Five’ in the ‘Child’s Play’ series.

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How we picked the best Chucky movies

Some of these films are popular simply because they remind people of classic horror, but overall, we considered what fans and critics generally agree on. Rankings for the Chucky movies vary quite a bit depending on where you look. However, no matter how you order them, the Chucky films are guaranteed to be exciting, spooky, or at least provide some fun entertainment this Halloween.

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2025-10-20 23:59