(Photo by United Artists/courtesy Everett Collection)
All Child’s Play and Chucky Movies and Series, 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, bizarre 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. The saga continued on television with 2021’s Chucky.
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. Now, we’re ranking all Child’s Play and Chucky movies and series by Tomatometer! —Alex Vo
#9
Adjusted Score: 21074%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: It's been years since Chucky, the doll with the soul and the voice (Brad Dourif) of a psychopathic killer, was...
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#8
Adjusted Score: 36042%
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: Gentle Glen (Billy Boyd) is a ventriloquist's dummy, the offspring of evil doll Chucky (Brad Dourif) and his doll bride...
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#7
Adjusted Score: 40160%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Two years after serial killer Charles Lee Ray (Brad Dourif) inserted his soul into a Chucky doll, a toy company...
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#6
Adjusted Score: 48138%
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: After being cut apart by the police, killer doll Chucky (Brad Dourif) is resurrected by Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly), an ex-girlfriend...
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#5
Adjusted Score: 74369%
Critics Consensus: Child's Play updates an '80s horror icon for the Internet of Things era, with predictably gruesome -- and generally entertaining -- results.
Synopsis: After moving to a new city, young Andy Barclay receives a special present from his mother -- a seemingly innocent...
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#4
Adjusted Score: 74935%
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: Gunned down by Detective Mike Norris (Chris Sarandon), dying murderer Charles Lee Ray (Brad Dourif) uses black magic to put...
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#3
Adjusted Score: 64219%
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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#2
Adjusted Score: 78958%
Critics Consensus: Old Dolls can learn new tricks: This little murderer with a facelift is sillier and better than ever thanks to Don Mancini's Cult of Chucky.
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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Adjusted Score: 94580%
Critics Consensus: A bloody good time that benefits greatly from Brad Dourif's return, Chucky may not play well for non-fans, but franchise devotees will find its absurd humor and creative horror very much intact on the small screen.
