Robert Englund’s Favorite Nightmare on Elm Street Film Is the Most Important Slasher Ever Made

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It’s no surprise that Robert Englund, famous for playing Freddy Krueger, is a big fan of the *Nightmare on Elm Street* films. The role is what made him a star and is how he’ll be remembered. However, many fans might be surprised to learn that his favorite movie in the series isn’t one where he’s the main focus – he actually prefers the one where Freddy shares the screen with another monster.

In an interview with Bloody Disgusting, Robert Englund shared that *Freddy vs. Jason* is his favorite *A Nightmare on Elm Street* movie. The film brought him back to his iconic role as Freddy Krueger, this time facing off against Jason Voorhees from the *Friday the 13th* series. This epic showdown is a major reason the movie is so well-remembered, and it’s become one of the most important and impactful slasher films of all time.

Robert Englund Is Freddy vs. Jason’s Biggest Fan

During a quick-fire question round with *Bloody Disgusting*, Robert Englund revealed his favorite *Nightmare on Elm Street* film to watch is *Freddy vs. Jason*. While choosing the crossover film might not be shocking, Englund mentioned *Freddy vs. Jason* repeatedly throughout the interview, which surprised many fans.

Robert Englund, when asked about his favorite Freddy Krueger look, said he liked both Freddy’s frightening design in *A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge* and his appearance in *Freddy vs. Jason*. He then shared his favorite line of dialogue from *Freddy vs. Jason*, spoken by Freddy to Lori Campbell, explaining that it was the perfect mix of menacing and acceptable for a wide audience.

It’s clear Robert Englund is a big fan of *Freddy vs. Jason*. He’s talked about his love for the movie many times, not just in his interview with *Bloody Disgusting*. Most recently, in a 2023 interview with *Entertainment Weekly*, he again shared how much he enjoyed watching and working on the film. He even praised director Ronny Yu as a “genius” for finally bringing *Freddy vs. Jason* to life after years of development challenges.

I absolutely love *Freddy vs. Jason*, and it really surprises me to hear how many people involved with the movie actually dislike it. Even the incredible Wes Craven, who created *A Nightmare on Elm Street*, and Kane Hodder, who was a fantastic Jason, were disappointed with how it turned out. Critics weren’t much kinder, and the movie’s scores reflect that. While I understand their points, it’s still a real shame they feel that way about what I consider one of the last great slasher films. It just holds a special place with me!

Freddy vs. Jason Is So Important Because It’s the Last Classic Slasher Film

Slasher movies were hugely popular in the 1980s, both with audiences and at the box office, but their popularity faded by the 1990s. Critics and those concerned with morality often unfairly criticized them as being silly, cheap, and exploitative. On top of that, there were simply too many slasher films, which ultimately led to the genre losing its appeal. The decline is clear when you look at franchises like *A Nightmare on Elm Street* and *Friday the 13th*, which were incredibly influential in the ’80s but ended with disappointing installments in the ’90s.

By the early 2000s, slasher movies had largely fallen out of favor with audiences who felt the genre had become stale. Without the film *Freddy vs. Jason*, both the *Freddy* and *Jason* franchises would have ended on a disappointing note, and the slasher film genre itself might have simply vanished. Instead, *Freddy vs. Jason* provided a satisfying conclusion for these iconic horror villains and allowed the classic slasher film to end strong before experiencing a later resurgence.

Notably, *Freddy vs. Jason* was Robert Englund’s last live-action performance as Freddy Krueger. The film’s success briefly revived interest in both *A Nightmare on Elm Street* and *Friday the 13th*, leading to attempts to reboot the franchises. However, both series largely faded after that, remaining popular mainly through nostalgia. There’s a noticeable shift in slasher films when comparing those made before *Freddy vs. Jason* to those that followed.

Following *Freddy vs. Jason*, slasher movies made a comeback, but they were generally darker remakes or self-aware commentaries on the genre. Now, the idea of a slasher film set in the 1980s feels overdone, and its original impact is lost on audiences unfamiliar with the classics. *Freddy vs. Jason* stands out as the last genuinely straightforward slasher film because of its unapologetic violence, simple approach, and clear homage to *A Nightmare on Elm Street* and *Friday the 13th*. Looking back, it marked the end of an era for the genre.

Freddy vs. Jason Arguably Kicked off Today’s Franchise Crossover Craze

While *Freddy vs. Jason* concluded both the *Nightmare on Elm Street* and *Friday the 13th* franchises, it also kicked off the current trend of combining different movie series. The film was a major event in 2003, largely because many people thought it would never happen. Both franchises were tangled in complicated legal battles over ownership and distribution rights, making a crossover seem impossible, despite strong fan demand.

For a long time, movies that combined different franchises weren’t considered important or high-quality. They were either dismissed as silly fun, like the old *Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein* films, or viewed as a sign that a franchise was failing and running out of ideas. It wasn’t until the 2000s that these crossover films started being seen as major events, and that shift is largely thanks to the success of *Freddy vs. Jason* over two decades ago.

While no one at a studio officially said it, *Freddy vs. Jason* definitely paved the way for other big crossover films. Just a year later, *Alien vs. Predator* was released. Now that Disney owns both of those franchises, a rematch between the Xenomorph and Predator is almost guaranteed. Crossover films then became incredibly popular with superhero movies, thanks to the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC Universe (formerly known as the DC Extended Universe).

Looking back, I think *Godzilla vs. Kong* really took the baton from *Freddy vs. Jason* as the ultimate monster mashup. Like that earlier film did over two decades ago, *Godzilla vs. Kong* brought two iconic creatures together for an all-out brawl. The key difference? We traded in the human monsters for the real deal: Godzilla and King Kong! The sheer success of *Godzilla vs. Kong* – it spawned an entire trilogy, honestly – feels directly linked to the groundwork laid by *Freddy vs. Jason*. That earlier film proved audiences were hungry for this kind of spectacle.

Freddy vs. Jason Is the Best A Nightmare on Elm Street & Friday the 13th Sequel

While *Freddy vs. Jason* isn’t a groundbreaking or deeply meaningful horror film like some modern ones, it does offer a critique of how adults often dismiss young people, who are haunted by the legacies of their parents’ generation. However, the movie’s appeal actually *increases* with time, becoming a fun reminder of the nostalgic horror trends and early 2000s culture it represents. Ultimately, it’s the best continuation either the *Freddy* or *Jason* series could have hoped for.

Arguments over whether *A Nightmare on Elm Street* or *Friday the 13th* is better will likely continue as long as fans love both series. However, fans of Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees generally agree that both characters were at their best in *Freddy vs. Jason*. This crossover film represents the high point of both franchises and is often seen as the last truly great slasher movie from the 1980s. While new slasher films will be made, it’s unlikely any will achieve the same level of success as *Freddy vs. Jason*.

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2025-10-15 16:12