There are 80s slasher movies, and then there are 80s slasher movies where a children’s doll becomes possessed by the soul of a serial killer. Over the decades, this horror icon has walked the fine line between horror and comedy, slicing his way through sequels, reboots, and even a hit TV series. Here are our picks for the best Chucky movies.
What are the best Child’s Play movies as of 2025?
Though there aren’t as many Chucky movies as some other long-running horror franchises, there are still plenty worth adding to your Halloween watchlist, not that you need to wait until October to watch these. It probably goes without saying, but these films can be pretty gruesome, so proceed with caution.
Child’s Play (1988)
There was a wave of horror movies featuring creepy dolls in the late ’80s and early ’90s — Dolly Dearest (1991), Dolls (1987), Puppet Master (1989), to name a few. And for anyone who remembers visiting a grandma with a room full of porcelain faces staring from every shelf — just me? — You’ll know there’s something inherently unsettling about them.
In Child’s Play, single mother Karen Barclay buys her son Andy a popular Good Guy doll, which was definitely modeled after the real-life “My Buddy” dolls that were all the rage in the ’80s. What she doesn’t know is that the toy has been possessed by the spirit of serial killer Charles Lee Ray, better known as “Chucky.” When a series of grisly murders follows, Andy insists the doll is alive. And of course, as the body count climbs, Karen and a detective finally figure things out and race to stop Chucky before he can transfer his soul into Andy’s body for good. That potential outcome is maybe the most disturbing part of the film.
Child’s Play 2 (1990)
This one picks up shortly after the events of the first film, with young Andy Barclay placed in foster care while his mother undergoes a psychiatric evaluation. After suffering some severe PR damage, the Play Pals toy company attempts to restore its image by reconstructing the infamous Good Guy doll, which unknowingly resurrects the killer, Chucky. Determined to finish what he started, Chucky hunts Andy down once again, intent on transferring his soul into the boy’s body.
Released in November 1990, Child’s Play 2 was directed by John Lafia, who co-wrote the original film alongside Don Mancini. Universal Pictures produced the sequel after the studio acquired the rights from MGM, kicking off the beginning of the franchise’s long partnership with Universal. Returning cast members include Alex Vincent as Andy and Brad Dourif as the voice of Chucky, with Christine Elise joining as Kyle. The film was shot mainly in Los Angeles and performed well in terms of box office returns.
Bride of Chucky (1998)
It’s hard to explain exactly what this movie is in terms of genre, but it’s a weird one and ends up at the top of a lot of fan lists for the best Chucky movies. After bribing a police officer to get Chucky’s remains, his former girlfriend Tiffany resurrects him. But it’s already off to a rocky start when Tiffany finds out her then-human boyfriend, Charles Lee, never wanted to marry her. She locks him up with a doll, and Chucky repays the favor by killing her — only for her soul to end up trapped in a doll, too. This ultra-twisted pair hit the road in search of new human bodies.
Somewhat in line with the Scream franchise, that is a hyper self-aware and satirical take on horror, Bride of Chucky was directed by Ronny Yu, best known for The Bride with White Hair and later Freddy vs. Jason. Jennifer Tilly joined the cast as Tiffany, and she instantly became a fan favorite. Brad Dourif returns as the voice of Chucky. Katherine Heigl and Nick Stabile co-star as the unsuspecting couple caught in the killer dolls’ crossfire.
Curse of Chucky (2013)
We’ve had a decade-long break following the absolutely diabolical Seed of Chucky (2004), but the red-haired doll is back and he’s ready for more. We had a few installments that were absolutely leaning more towards comedy than horror, but Curse of Chucky takes things back to horror. However, it’ll never not be slightly funny to see the serial killer doll as something other than ridiculous.
The story follows Nica Pierce, a young woman who lives with her mother in a secluded mansion. When a mysterious package arrives containing a familiar Good Guy doll, tragedy quickly follows. After receiving the package, her mother, Sarah, trashes it. Later, she’s found stabbed to death, and the tragedy is somehow ruled a suicide. But maybe they don’t buy that ruling either, and the family begins to suspect one another. But as more people are killed in mysterious circumstances, Nica discovers that Charles Lee Ray possesses the doll.
Cult of Chucky (2017)
This one sometimes gets mixed reviews on fan lists, but it hits the same sweet spot of horror and dark comedy that made Bride of Chucky so fun. Nica Pierce is confined to a mental institution after the events of Curse of Chucky, blaming herself for the violence that unfolded, convinced it was all a product of her own psychosis. And you can’t really blame her — believing that a doll could actually kill your family and acquaintances is a hard thing to accept. But things get worse when her psychiatrist — who might be even worse than Charles Lee Ray himself — gives her a Good Guy doll. Turns out, Chucky has a brand-new superpower: he can split his soul into multiple dolls. And now, they’re all coming for Nica.
The film received generally favorable reviews, holding an 81% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 69/100 score on Metacritic. Which actually isn’t too shabby. Critics praised the film’s inventive narrative and return to horror roots, with Forbes calling it “the ‘Fast Five’ of the Child’s Play films.
How we picked the best Chucky movies
A few of these are pure horror-nostalgia hits, but generally, we looked at fan and critic consensus. If you look up any rankings of the Chucky movies, you’ll see the rankings are all over the place. But in any order, the Chucky movies are sure to thrill and chill — or at least give you a good laugh this Halloween season.
