(Photo by United Artists/courtesy Everett Collection)
All Child’s Play and Chucky Movies, Ranked By Tomatometer
“Hi, I’m Chucky! Wanna play?” Audiences were game to tango with the possessed, murder-bent action doll in 1988’s Child’s Play, and so the slasher golden age got in one last big stab before the decade closed. Even critics, who had largely turned their nose up at the genre, were relatively on board, praising Child’s Play’s novel villain, creepy puppetry work, and the compact, efficient plotting and kills.
Brad Dourif returned as Chucky for two direct sequels (and all subsequent films until the 2019 reboot) to menace Andy, kid hero of the original, into his teenage years, as writer/creator Don Mancini deepened the Chucky mythos in unexpected, bizzare fashion. This allowed the franchise to pivot into meta black comedy territory with Bride of Chucky and Seed of Chucky, whose highlights include Jennifer Tilly (as herself) giving birth to the Chuckster’s twins.
Mancini, who was also occupying the director’s seat by this point, revived the series nine years later with 2013’s Curse of Chucky, reverting back to straight slasher horror. Critics approved of the new earnest approach, compelling characters, and its narrative ties back to the original film. 2017’s Cult of Chucky continued to defy the laws of diminishing horror sequel returns with its most outsized story yet, generating the best reviews of the 20-year-old franchise.
Meanwhile, Mark Hamill was tapped to voice the doll-face killer in 2019’s Child’s Play, which dug up a new chilling storyline attuned to today’s technological world. Whichever timeline you’re here for (and who says Chucky and Buddi can’t meet up at one point?), we’re ranking all Child’s Play and Chucky movies by Tomatometer!
#8
Adjusted Score: 23339%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Chucky the killer doll wreaks havoc when he is mailed to his young foe's (Justin Whalin) coed military school....
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#7
Adjusted Score: 34823%
Critics Consensus: Give Seed of Chucky credit for embracing the increasing absurdity of the franchise -- even if the end results really aren't all that funny or entertaining.
Synopsis: Resurrected by their offspring (Billy Boyd), the murderous doll (Brad Dourif) and his twisted bride (Jennifer Tilly) learn about a...
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#6
Adjusted Score: 40484%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Possessed by a killer's spirit, Chucky the knee-high doll returns to get the boy (Alex Vincent) who destroyed him....
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#5
Adjusted Score: 51833%
Critics Consensus: Bride of Chucky is devoid of any fright and the franchise has become tiresomely self-parodic, although horror fans may find some pleasure in this fourth entry's camp factor.
Synopsis: Animated by a vicious killer's spirit, a battered doll and its mate seek help from neighbors (Katherine Heigl, Nick Stabile)...
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#4
Adjusted Score: 73972%
Critics Consensus: Child's Play updates an '80s horror icon for the Internet of Things era, with predictably gruesome -- and generally entertaining -- results.
Synopsis: Young Andy receives a special present from his mom -- a seemingly innocent Buddi doll that becomes his best friend....
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#3
Adjusted Score: 74044%
Critics Consensus: Child's Play occasionally stumbles across its tonal tightrope of comedy and horror, but its genuinely creepy monster and some deft direction by Tom Holland makes this chiller stand out on the shelf.
Synopsis: A killer sought by a Chicago detective (Chris Sarandon) becomes a doll called Chucky, bought by a woman (Catherine Hicks)...
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#2
Adjusted Score: 76083%
Critics Consensus: The franchise hex of disappointing sequels is broken by going back to basics in this chilling entry, restoring a sense of playfulness to the Chucky saga.
Synopsis: Out for revenge, Chucky (Brad Dourif) the killer doll infiltrates the family of a woman, her sister and her young...
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#1
Adjusted Score: 79262%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Chucky returns to terrorize his human victim, Nica, who is confined to an asylum for the criminally insane. Meanwhile, the...
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