Child's Play | Rotten Tomatoes

Child's Play

R

Released Nov 9, 1988

1 hr. 27 min.

Horror

List

74%

54 Reviews

Tomatometer

65%

250,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Gunned down by Detective Mike Norris (Chris Sarandon), dying murderer Charles Lee Ray (Brad Dourif) uses black magic to put his soul inside a doll named Chucky -- which Karen Barclay (Catherine Hicks) then buys for her young son, Andy (Alex Vincent). When Chucky kills Andy's baby sitter, the boy realizes the doll is alive and tries to warn people, but he's institutionalized. Now Karen must convince the detective of the murderous doll's intentions, before Andy becomes Chucky's next victim.

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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.

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Jhonathan

Amazing movie highly recommend it

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/06/23

Full Review

Neil

Classic mix of funny and sinister

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/06/23

Full Review

Jacob W

A horror classic that goes too disturbingly dark with the spiritual at times, but delivers an original and entertaining film. Particularly enjoyable are the special effects, whether Chucky is played by a costumed actor or animated by impressive animatronics. The original in the famed killer doll series is still the best. Brad Dourif brings life to the character and becomes Chucky from the get go. This was the good old days when the character was supposed to be dark and scary instead of being half comedy, and when the good guys were pure and prevailed over the evil villain in the end.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/14/22

Full Review

Daniel Pimienta

Massive fan of Chucky. Was awesome watching the original in a packed theatre.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/12/22

Full Review

Estevan G

Classic horror film that I watched when I was younger, probably too young, but it became a favorite among my sisters and me. The killer doll possessed by a serial killer was both chilling and captivating. Despite its age, the film's practical effects and suspenseful storytelling still hold up today. The character of Chucky has become a horror / comedy icon, and his menacing presence in the film is unforgettable.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/22/24

Full Review

Adi 1

Child's play is a slasher which succeeds at telling a good slasher story by creating an aery atmosphere which is genuinely tensed. It doesn't have the best kills or jump scares but relishes its subtle nature.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/21/24

Full Review

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Tom Holland

Director

Catherine Hicks

Karen Barclay

Chris Sarandon

Mike Norris

Alex Vincent

Andy Barclay

Brad Dourif

Charles Lee Ray

Dinah Manoff

Maggie Peterson

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Child's Play: Official Clip - Charred Chucky

2:10

Child's Play: Official Clip - Batter Up!

1:09

Child's Play: Official Clip - Chucky Doesn't Need Batteries

2:05

Child's Play: Official Clip - This Is the End, Friend

2:13

Child's Play: Official Clip - Chucky Attacks Mike

1:48

Child's Play: Official Clip - Dr. Death's Voodoo

2:13

Child's Play: Official Clip - Frying the Doctor

2:06

Child's Play: Official Clip - Chucky Dies

1:42

Child's Play: Official Clip - You Can't Hurt Me

1:17

Child's Play: Official Clip - Chucky Escapes

2:01

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Anton Bitel

Little White Lies

a Hitchcockian blend of high tension and dark comedy, with a rich seam of psychological subtext, as little Andy must decide between maternal influence and peer pressure.

Dec 23, 2023

Full Review

Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

A rip-roaring low-budget screamer.

May 14, 2020

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Tribune

The filmmakers seem more than aware of the logical and dramatic deficiencies of their material, and so they flee to that last refuge of movie scoundrels: self-conscious campiness.

Rated: 1/4

May 14, 2020

Full Review

Elisa Guimarães

Collider

Holland’s 1988 classic remains an exciting, entertaining thriller that captivates audiences, dragging them slowly to the edge of their seats.

Jan 29, 2024

Full Review

Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

The original Chucky title features a variety of slasher set pieces, an iconic vocal performance by Brad Dourif, and surprisingly great character work by Catherine Hicks and Alex Vincent as mother and son. This film more than holds up.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 9, 2023

Full Review

Gayle Sequeira

BFI

There’s not much subtlety to a slasher film in which the opening stretch sees a dying serial killer transfer his spirit into a doll, but snuck into Child’s Play is an effective commentary on capitalism and consumer excess.

Jul 29, 2023

Full Review

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Synopsis

Gunned down by Detective Mike Norris (Chris Sarandon), dying murderer Charles Lee Ray (Brad Dourif) uses black magic to put his soul inside a doll named Chucky -- which Karen Barclay (Catherine Hicks) then buys for her young son, Andy (Alex Vincent). When Chucky kills Andy's baby sitter, the boy realizes the doll is alive and tries to warn people, but he's institutionalized. Now Karen must convince the detective of the murderous doll's intentions, before Andy becomes Chucky's next victim.

Director: Tom Holland
Executive Producer: Barrie M. Osborne
Screenwriter: Don Mancini, John Lafia, Tom Holland
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: United Artists
Rating: R
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 9, 1988, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $32.8M
Sound Mix: Surround

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