Finding a horror movie franchise that doesn’t fall to complete crap is hard. Most franchises succumb to the desire to make a quick buck, rather than invest proper time and energy into making quality films. The Friday the 13th franchise is the prime example of this unfortunate phenomenon. Some entries are worse than others (believe me).
The Chucky franchise, however, doesn’t fall prey to that, and there’s no horrendous movie in the bunch! Even if certain entries aren’t your favorite, it doesn’t make them inherently bad films. And has there ever been another horror villain like Chucky? What I mean is how many of those copycats have actually been good?
Each entry into the Chucky franchise is more (the good kind of) bonkers than the next. While the tones of the films can vary, there’s something for everyone to be uncovered. What order do the films come in, though? Find out (or be reminded) and see if this franchise is your friend till the end.
Child’s Play (1988)
Explaining the plot of this movie almost sounds too bonkers, doesn’t it? Child’s Play (1988) follows Andy Barclay (Alex Vincent) and his single mom, Karen Barclay (Catherine Hicks) and the terror they experience by way of a doll possessed by serial killer Charles “Chucky” Lee Ray (Brad Dourif). Don Mancini (writer and creator), who is gay, infused his own experiences into the film—which makes it feel a lot deeper than it just being about a killer doll. In the wrong hands, this movie wouldn’t have gained a cult following that’s still going strong all these years later. It’s one of those iconic horror movies that you can’t help but love.
Child’s Play 2 (1990)
Two years after Chucky (Brad Dourif) transferred his soul into the doll, he’s brought back by the company trying to recreate the Good Guy doll. Andy (Alex Vincent), now separated from his mother, is forced into foster care, and Chucky’s reign of terror begins again. And the only person who doesn’t think Andy is out of his gourd is his foster sister, Kyle (Christine Elise). Child’s Play 2 is a sequel worthy of being watched, and Christine Elise is such a memorable final girl. Not to mention the death scenes in this are bonkers!
Child’s Play 3 (1991)
Child’s Play 3 is definitely the least liked among fans, but folks still watch it! Personally I’m not a fan of this entry and find it’s one I’m less likely to visit. In this movie, Andy (Justin Whalin) is older and is attending military school when Chucky (Brad Dourif) comes back (again) to go on a murder spree. This leads Andy to put a stop to him like usual. This is the weakest film in the franchise, partially due to the absence of Alex Vincent. Even Don Mancini himself considers this his least favorite in the franchise.
Bride of Chucky (1998)
After a long hiatus the franchise returned with this horror comedy that’s got a grunge touch to it. The introduction of Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly) in Bride of Chucky was the perfect move. Tiffany is the hot badass woman with deep insecurities because of a dysfunctional man. (Who didn’t treat her well when he was a person and sure doesn’t while she’s inside a doll.) The plot isn’t the strongest for this film, as it focuses partially on a straight teen relationship (which is so bland that it makes white wallpaper seem exciting). And there’s literal doll sex (which results in a baby) in this film, which either is or isn’t your cup of tea. But having Tiffany be forced into a doll because of Chucky (Brad Dourif, now legendary), the campiness, how Tiffany is a queer icon, and all the little details help make it so entertaining.
Seed of Chucky (2004)
The offspring of Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly) and Chucky (Brad Dourif) must be evil, right? Wrong. Surprisingly enough their child Glen (Billy Boyd) is gentle and quite kind. And also is later revealed to be genderfluid! The plot follows Glen and his desire to get to know his parents. After resurrecting them, all hell breaks loose. Not literally, but still. Neither Chucky nor Tiffany know exactly how to parent their kid. But one thing’s for sure, Glen gets to decide in the end. This entry leans very far into the camp and doesn’t take itself too seriously. Which can either make for a fun time or a bummer, depending on the viewer.
Curse of Chucky (2013)
Curse of Chucky is for sure one of the best in the franchise—returning to being a straightforward slasher was wise. Even though the previous two entries are fun, the comedy doesn’t always fly with fans. The plot follows Nica Pierce (Fiona Dourif) and her family, who are terrorized by Chucky due to him wanting revenge. His desire for revenge is very much the act of blaming women for your problems. But Chucky (Brad Dourif)’s an asshole. What makes this is one of the best Chucky movies is because it’s so queer (there’s a sapphic romance), Nica is a disabled character that isn’t the victim of ableist writing, and the horror is top-notch.
Cult of Chucky (2017)
After the events of the previous film, Nica (Fiona Dourif) is confined to a mental hospital due to being framed for the murders of her family. Her suffering doesn’t end either, she’s sexually abused/manipulated by her doctor and finds out her niece is dead. And Chucky comes back (with help from Tiffany, who is inhabiting Jennifer Tilly’s body), leading to a reveal that Chucky was able to split his soul into multiple dolls. Creating a cult of Chucky (ha, see what they did there). Eventually Chucky’s soul enters Nica and body is able to walk again as a result. Nica! Chucky manages to escape the hospital with Tiffany. It’s yet another great entry in the franchise and the events are important to the TV series. By the end of the film, Andy and his former foster sister Kyle (Christine Elise) are left dealing with a lot of mess. It’s a stellar return to the franchise, just like the previous film.
Child’s Play (2019)
This is one of those remakes that doesn’t remotely live up to the original. The deviation from the lore of Chucky is part of why this remake fails. In this film, an overworked factory worker is to blame for Chucky’s murder streak. Since Chucky is a high-tech doll in this, it gives the movie a different feel. There’s no actual human consciousness driving Chucky. He still ends up terrorizing and killing people, though. The performances aren’t bad and the horror is satisfying enough. But all the queerness from the original series is essentially gone. Should you check it out anyways? Sure, but go in without expectations. Otherwise you’ll be really disappointed.
Which Chucky movie is your favorite? Tell us in the comments.
(featured image: Universal Studios Home Entertainment)
