Spoiler alert! This article contains spoilers for the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie.
Summary
- The Banana Splits Movie showcases murderous animatronics that go on a violent rampage in a television studio, similar to the possessed mascots in Five Nights at Freddy’s.
- Puppet Master, like Five Nights at Freddy’s, features a cult following and follows the exploits of killer puppets brought to life by an Egyptian curse.
- Willy’s Wonderland, with Nicolas Cage, offers a more extreme and gory rendition of Five Nights at Freddy’s, depicting waves of possessed animatronic mascots in an abandoned restaurant.
There are a slew of great horror movies that those who enjoyed Five Nights at Freddy’s should consider watching next. Five Nights at Freddy’s adapts the eponymous game franchise, depicting a security guard attacked by possessed animatronic mascots in an abandoned restaurant. Despite the singular tone of the game and its movie adaptation, some great horror movies explore similar themes or plots, making them the perfect choice to watch after Five Nights at Freddy’s.
Five Nights at Freddy’s has divided critics and audiences, but it will not be surprising if Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 happens. Indeed, Five Nights at Freddy’s set up several possible sequels for viewers keen to see more murderous animatronics and rich lore. While Five Nights at Freddy’s story is unique to that particular franchise, some films can offer somewhat similar experiences, from horror comedies to slashers.
Five Nights at Freddy’s is available to stream on Peacock.
10 The Banana Splits Movie (2019)
The Banana Splits Animatronics Go Haywire And Turn Deadly
The Banana Splits Movie
- Release Date
- August 13, 2019
- Director
- Danishka Esterhazy
- Cast
- Steve Lund, Finlay Wojtak-Hissong, Dani Kind, Romeo Carere, Naledi Majola
- Rating
- R
- Runtime
- 89 minutes
- Genres
- Horror, Sci-Fi, Comedy, Thriller
The Banana Splits Movie also features an ensemble of murderous animatronics. It follows a family attending a live taping of The Banana Splits television series. However, in this rendition, the eponymous characters are played by animatronics that go haywire and enact a violent rampage in the television studio. The Banana Splits Movie proves how retro kids’ shows can actually be terrifying, and it plays with this capability to create several unsettling and hilarious scenes. The Banana Splits Movie is a lot more graphic than Five Fights at Freddy’s but proffers a similar narrative to those interested in killer but cuddly animatronics.
9 Puppet Master (1989)
A Group Of Killer Puppets Are Unleashed
Puppet Master
- Release Date
- October 12, 1989
- Director
- David Schmoeller
- Cast
- Paul Le Mat, William Hickey, Robin Frates, Jimmie F. Skaggs, Irene Miracle
- Rating
- R
- Runtime
- 90 minutes
- Genres
- Horror, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Similarly to Five Nights at Freddy’s, Puppet Master features deadly sentient creatures who have become iconic antiheroes. There have been 10 Puppet Master movies in total, each following the murderous exploits of sadistic killer puppets that are brought to life by an Egyptian curse. The puppet antagonists cultivated a cult following similar to the Five Nights at Freddy’s game franchise, which also cherishes its killer antagonists. There are many grisly death scenes throughout Puppet Master, offering a more violent interpretation of the killer doll subgenre.
8 Killer Klowns From Outer Space (1988)
Absurd Aliens Attack In This PG-13 Horror Movie
Killer Klowns from Outer Space
- Release Date
- May 27, 1988
- Director
- Stephen Chiodo
- Cast
- Suzanne Snyder, Michael S. Siegel, Grant Cramer, John Vernon, John Allen Nelson, Peter Licassi
- Rating
- PG-13
- Runtime
- 88 minutes
- Genres
- Horror, Sci-Fi, Comedy
Much like Five Nights at Freddy’s, Killer Klowns From Outer Space is sort of an ideal family-friendly horror movie. It features gentle frights, with humor weaved throughout its whimsical narrative. Killer Klowns from Outer Space also includes a series of zany villains creatively terrorizing townsfolk. The eponymous alien invaders have also become icons of the genre, boasting a fervent cult following. Tonally, Killer Klowns From Outer Space is the perfect movie to watch after Five Nights at Freddy’s – particularly recommended for viewers interested in a lighthearted horror film with absurd antagonists.
7 Willy’s Wonderland (2021)
Nicolas Cage Works In A Disused Restaurant Overrun With Killer Mechanical Mascots
Willy’s Wonderland
- Release Date
- February 12, 2021
- Director
- Kevin Lewis
- Cast
- Nicolas Cage
- Rating
- r
- Runtime
- 97minutes
- Genres
- Horror, Thriller
Willy’s Wonderland depicted killer animatronics two years before Five Nights at Freddy’s. Willy’s Wonderland is strikingly similar to Five Nights at Freddy’s, following a largely identical premise. Nicolas Cage plays an unnamed custodian working overnight in an abandoned restaurant, where he is attacked by waves of possessed animatronic mascots. Willy’s Wonderland offers a slightly more extreme rendition of this narrative, with more violence and more intense encounters with killer robots. Willy’s Wonderland uses red oil to suggest the mascots are bleeding, making Cage’s brutal battle against them appear a lot more gory and violent.
6 Satan’s Little Helper (2004)
A Boy Assists A Serial Killer Dressed As Satan
Satan’s Little Helper is a lot more graphic than Five Nights at Freddy’s, but its dark humor and lumbering villain are notably similar. It follows a young boy who mistakes a violent serial killer for Satan – the protagonist of his favorite video game. Consequently, the child joins Satan on his Halloween killing spree. The rictus grin on Satan’s face is similar to the sinister animatronics in Five Nights at Freddy’s, which also boasts incredibly intricate and impressive character designs. Satan’s Little Helper is markedly more gory than Five Nights at Freddy’s but worth considering for those looking for something similar.
5 Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark (2019)
A Fun Horror Movie That’s Perfect For Younger Audiences
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
- Release Date
- August 9, 2019
- Director
- André Øvredal
- Cast
- Austin Zajur, Gil Bellows, Michael Garza, Kathleen Pollard, Zoe Margaret Colletti, Dean Norris, Gabriel Rush
- Rating
- PG-13
- Runtime
- 108minutes
- Genres
- Horror
Five Nights At Freddy’s is an ideal horror movie for younger viewers, bearing a PG-13 rating. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is also rated PG-13 and features a slew of equally ghoulish monsters. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is based on the beloved children’s book of the same name and adapts several tales from the anthology. It depicts two young friends uncovering a sinister notebook filled with terrifying stories, who subsequently encounter a series of horrifying monsters. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark proffers several delightful frights comparable to the degree of horror presented in Five Nights at Freddy’s.
4 Christmas Bloody Christmas (2022)
An Animatronic Santa Claus Goes On A Violent Rampage
Christmas Bloody Christmas takes the murderous animatronic premise to its most gruesome extremes. It features a toy shop’s robotic Santa Claus going haywire and attacking nearby residents. Christmas Bloody Christmas relishes its brutality, featuring many creative and gruesome death sequences enacted by the robotic Santa Claus. It is substantially more grisly than Five Nights at Freddy’s and is intended for a decidedly more mature audience. Nevertheless, audiences looking for another movie depicting a rampaging animatronic will likely enjoy Christmas Bloody Christmas.
3 Benny Loves You (2019)
A Comedy Horror About A Toy Is Brought To Life And Starts A Killing Spree
Benny Loves You is a comedy horror movie that depicts a child’s plush toy coming to life after its owner throws it away. The titular Benny returns for violent vengeance, dispatching swathes of hapless humans. While more graphic than Five Nights At Freddy’s, much of the violence in Benny Loves You is presented humorously. As a result, it features a comparable level of terror also delivered by a friendly, cuddly villain. Benny Loves You gleefully explores the sentient killer toy subgenre, including a similar tone and themes as Five Nights at Freddy’s, and is also suitable for teenage viewers.
2 Child’s Play (1988)
A Doll Possessed By A Serial Killer’s Subconscious Attacks Its Owners
Child’s Play
- Release Date
- November 9, 1988
- Director
- Tom Holland
- Cast
- Catherine Hicks, Chris Sarandon, Brad Dourif, Alex Vincent, Dinah Manoff, Tommy Swerdlow, Jack Colvin, Raymond Oliver
- Rating
- R
- Runtime
- 87 Minutes
- Genres
- Horror, Thriller
Child’s Play is one of the most successful horror franchises of all time and covers a similar thematic premise as Five Nights at Freddy’s. It follows a young boy who is gifted a doll possessed by the subconscious of a serial killer – much like the Five Nights at Freddy’s animatronics, which are possessed by the ghosts of murdered children. Exceedingly violent and incredibly entertaining, Child’s Play offers the prototype of killer doll movies and establishes many tropes and themes. Child’s Play is essential viewing for audiences who enjoyed Five Nights at Freddy’s and want to explore the subgenre further.
1 Winnie The Pooh: Blood And Honey (2023)
A Horrifying Version Of The Children’s Characters On A Deadly Spree
Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey is a wildly violent adaptation of the beloved children’s story. The plot concerns monstrous versions of Winnie-the-Pooh and Piglet embarking on a bloodthirsty frenzy after Christopher Robin abandons them when he goes to college. The enormous, terrifying animals are comparable to the anthropomorphic mascots depicted in Five Nights at Freddy’s but display far greater cruelty. Relatively self-aware of its bizarre premise, Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey is a solid pick for a movie to watch after Five Nights at Freddy’s.