A supernatural horror movie inspired by the popular video game series, Five Nights at Freddy’s is easily one of the biggest horror hits of recent years. Directed by Emma Tammi and starring Josh Hutcherson, the movie follows the story of a troubled security guard at an abandoned pizzeria who encounters haunted animatronics with murderous tendencies. Despite a decidedly negative critical reception, the movie grossed over $291 million, leading to the development of a sequel, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2.
Of course, Five Nights at Freddy’s isn’t the first horror film to use evil robots and animatronics to scare the living daylights out of audiences. This particular subgenre includes several interesting movies, any of which would be a great watch for fans after watching the sequel. So, without further ado, here’s a look at eight movies like Five Nights at Freddy’s we think you should check out.
8
‘M3GAN’ (2022)
A sci-fi horror film directed by Gerard Johnstone and co-written by Akela Cooper and James Wan, M3GAN revolves around the titular doll developed by Gemma (Allison Williams), a robotics engineer who designed it as a companion for her recently orphaned niece, Cady (Violet McGraw). But when Megan, stylized as M3GAN (Model 3 Generative Android), develops self-awareness, she goes out of control and becomes dangerously possessive about Cady, eliminating everyone who comes between her and her human companion. Amie Donald physically portrays M3GAN, with Jenna Davis as the voice, and the film also features Ronny Chieng and Brian Jordan Alvarez in supporting roles.
Like Five Nights at Freddy’s, M3GAN also explores the terror of inanimate objects coming to life, but it stands out from the rest with its timely presentation and themes. A state-of-the-art sci-fi horror, blending dark comedy and campy horror motifs, M3GAN is unapologetically ridiculous, thriving on its absurdity and challenging the legacy of creepy dolls in cinema. Since its release, M3GAN has become the most-talked-about modern horror villain and a major horror hit of the decade, earning widespread praise for its unique style and spawning a sequel, M3GAN 2.0, released in 2025.
7
‘Child’s Play’ (2019)
Directed by Lars Klevberg, Child’s Play is a remake of the eponymous 1988 film that puts a contemporary sci-fi spin on the killer doll premise. The film follows Andy Barclay (Gabriel Bateman), a 12-year-old boy whose mother gifts him an AI-programmed Buddi Doll, which calls itself Chucky and becomes his best friend. But when the doll’s program begins to malfunction, Chucky shows his true self and becomes violent, terrorizing Andy’s family and friends. The movie stars Aubrey Plaza, Bryan Tyree Henry, Tim Matheson, and more, with Mark Hamill as the voice of Chucky.
The eighth installment in the Child’s Play franchise, the 2019 movie reimagines the infamous ’80s horror icon in the Internet of Things era and succeeds in delivering the same level of horror, if not more. The remake is as entertaining as it is gruesome, and further raises the bar by offering a timely commentary on technology and capitalism. Although the film initially had mixed reviews, Klevberg’s Child’s Play has been subsequently acclaimed for its fun and innovative take on the franchise.
6
‘Willy’s Wonderland’ (2021)
An action-comedy horror film directed by Kevin Lewis, starring and produced by Nicolas Cage, Willy’s Wonderland follows an unnamed drifter (Cage) who finds a job as a night-shift janitor at the titular abandoned family entertainment center. Solely inhabited by eight withered animatronic mascots, the “Wonderland” becomes a living nightmare when the mascots come to life as homicidal maniacs, attacking the janitor. Emily Tosta, Ric Reitz, David Sheftell, and Beth Grant play various supporting roles.
Willy’s Wonderland shares the same premise as Five Nights at Freddy’s, where the protagonist works overnight in an abandoned restaurant overrun with killer mascots. However, the 2021 comedy horror movie can be called a more hardcore horror version of the same story, where the animatronics are depicted as even more violent and evil. The film’s narrative is also quite extreme by comparison, making the janitor’s fight for survival gorier and more brutal than in Five Nights at Freddy’s. While that certainly makes it a great watch for hardcore horror fans, Willy’s Wonderland had pretty mixed reviews on its release, and though it was praised for Cage’s performance, it is definitely not one of the actor’s best films.
5
‘Killer Klowns from Outer Space’ (1988)
An ’80s cult classic produced by the Chiodo Brothers and directed by Stephen Chiodo, Killer Klowns from Outer Space is a sci-fi horror comedy that follows a group of extraterrestrial beings resembling clowns. After they arrive on Earth and invade a small town, they go on a bloodthirsty rampage, capturing, killing, and harvesting humans for their sustenance. The movie boasts an ensemble cast featuring Grant Cramer, Suzanne Snyder, John Allen Nelson, and John Vernon.
Made with practical effects and traditional props, including creature suits, Killer Klowns from Outer Space is cheesy and campy in its style and tone, and one of the most definitive horror films of the ’80s. Despite its silly-looking production, the film has been praised for its absurd concept blending sci-fi, horror, and comedy, and became a well-known example of a horror film with clowns. With low-key scares and a whimsical narrative, the film is more of a family horror film than Five Nights at Freddy’s and is perfect for fans of lighthearted horror movies.
4
‘Gremlins’ (1984)
Directed by Joe Dante and written by Chris Columbus, Gremlins is a black comedy horror film that reimagines the 20th-century folklore about the titular mischievous creatures. Set on Christmas Eve, the film follows Billy Peltzer (Zach Gilligan), who receives a small and furry imp-like creature called a mogwai, and names it Gizmo, which spawns more of its kind, wreaking havoc in Billy’s life and terrorizing the town. The supporting cast includes Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton, Polly Holliday, and Frances Lee McCain, with Howie Mandel providing the voice of Gizmo the Mogwai.
A holiday-themed horror film, Gremlins was considered too violent for children at the time and is one of the films that gave rise to the PG-13 rating in Hollywood. Like Five Nights at Freddy’s, Gremlins also explores the horror of creepy, mischievous, and deadly creatures that terrorize people. On its release, Gremlins was a commercial and critical success and received a generally positive reception, earning nine Saturn Awards nominations and winning five. Despite its initial criticisms, Gremlins has been praised over the years for its quirky blend of horror, comedy, and fantasy, as well as its unique practical effects, and is now regarded as a 1980s classic.
3
‘The Banana Splits Movie’ (2019)
A comedy horror film directed by Danishka Esterhazy, The Banana Splits Movie is a horror reimagining of Hanna-Barbera’s 1968 children’s variety television show, The Banana Splits. The film follows the characters from the show as they go on a violent spree after learning about their cancellation, focusing on one family fighting to save themselves as the costumed characters start attacking and killing people during a live taping of the children’s show. The film stars Dani Kind, Steve Lund, Celina Martin, Finlay Wotjak-Hissong, Sara Canning, Romeo Carere, and Maria Nash, with Eric Bauza as the voice of the Banana Splits.
The Banana Splits Movies presents a daring take on a beloved television classic, transforming the family-friendly show into a satisfying, fun-filled slasher propped by its strong cast, good script, and great effects. Sharing the same essential concept as Five Nights at Freddy’s, The Banana Splits Movie also features an ensemble of murderous animatronics that go on a killing spree. However, the horror comedy is much more vivid in its violence and gore, juxtaposed against comical scenarios, a combination that makes it one of the best R-rated horror films of the 2010s.
2
‘Puppet Master’ (1989)
Directed by David Schmoeller and written by Charles Band and Kenneth J. Hall, Puppet Master follows the horrifying experiences of four psychics who are terrorized by puppets animated by a disgruntled former colleague using an ancient Egyptian spell. The 1989 film is the first entry in the titular franchise, which includes 15 films. The movie stars Paul Le Mat, Irene Miracle, Matt Roe, and Kathryn O’Reilly as the four psychics, with William Hickey, Jimmie F. Skaggs, Mews Small, and Barbara Crampton in supporting roles.
Puppet Master bears certain similarities to Five Nights at Freddy’s, with inanimate dolls/models coming to life and becoming murderous sentient beings. But unlike the 2021 horror flick, Puppet Master’s killer doll story is a lot fiercer and boasts more gruesome deaths. On its release, the 1989 film was praised for its set designs, sound effects, and overall atmosphere, but it was criticized for its story and acting. Despite those flaws, the film still spawned a long-running horror franchise and is now regarded as a formative influence on the ever-expanding subgenre of homicidal toy movies.
1
‘Annabelle’ (2014)
Directed by John R. Leonetti, written by Gary Dauberman, and produced by Peter Safran and James Wan, Annabelle is a spin-off and prequel to The Conjuring that serves as the second installment in The Conjuring franchise. Inspired by the doll popularized by paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, the film follows a couple whose home is invaded by a satanic cult, who use the titular doll as a medium to unleash evil upon their home. The film stars Annabelle Wallis, Ward Horton, Alfre Woodard, and Tony Amendola in various roles.
With a female killer doll at the heart of the story, Annabelle resonates more with M3GAN than Five Nights at Freddy’s. However, Annabelle’s paranormal angle and the demonic haunting by the titular porcelain figure put the film right up the alley for fans of killer doll slashers. Ominous and sinister, the supernatural horror aligns with the overall vibe of The Conjuring universe, with several nail-biting moments. On its release, Annabelle was heavily critiqued for its unimpressive production values, but it still became a major box office success, spawning a follow-up prequel, Annabelle: Creation.
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