If you’re a fan of the hit video game and movie Five Nights at Freddy’s, you know there’s something uniquely terrifying about animatronics gone wrong. The idea of cute, friendly robots turning into murderous monsters is the stuff of nightmares. And Five Nights at Freddy’s captures that fear perfectly with its tale of a security guard battling possessed animatronic mascots in a creepy abandoned pizza restaurant.
After watching Five Nights at Freddy’s, you may be craving more horror movies featuring scary animatronics, dolls, or puppets. Well, you’re in luck! There are plenty of other films out there that will satisfy your appetite for automatonophobia. Here are 18 of the best movies like Five Nights at Freddy’s to keep you up at night:
1. Willy’s Wonderland (2021)
First up is the instant cult classic Willy’s Wonderland, starring the one and only Nicolas Cage. This wild ride follows a quiet drifter who takes a job as a janitor at Willy’s Wonderland, an abandoned family entertainment center, in exchange for repairs on his broken-down car. Little does he know, the animatronic characters are possessed by the souls of a cannibalistic serial killer and his psychotic accomplices.
Cage’s character must fight off waves of these murderous mascots in a gore-filled, action-packed romp that’s equal parts hilarious and horrifying. If you loved the killer animatronics of FNAF, Willy’s Wonderland offers a delightfully twisted take on the concept.
2. The Banana Splits Movie (2019)
Remember the beloved children’s TV show The Banana Splits? Well, this 2019 horror comedy imagines a much darker fate for the colorful characters. In the movie, a young boy attends a taping of The Banana Splits TV show for his birthday. But when the animatronic characters go haywire and start brutally killing the cast and crew, it’s up to the boy and his family to survive the night.
With plenty of gory deaths and a tongue-in-cheek tone, The Banana Splits Movie is a fun, nostalgic nightmare that will make you think twice about your favorite childhood shows. It’s like Five Nights at Freddy’s meets Saturday morning cartoons.
3. Chopping Mall (1986)
Step back in time to the 1980s with the cult classic Chopping Mall. In this campy horror flick, a group of teenagers decides to party overnight in a high-tech shopping mall. Unbeknownst to them, the mall’s new state-of-the-art security system includes robotic guards programmed to kill anyone who stays past closing time.
As the teens fight for survival against the relentless robot killers, Chopping Mall delivers plenty of cheesy one-liners, gratuitous nudity, and gory kills. It’s a perfect blend of 80s slasher tropes and killer robot action that fans of Five Nights at Freddy’s will appreciate.
4. Child’s Play (1988)
No list of movies like Five Nights at Freddy’s would be complete without mentioning the granddaddy of killer doll films, Child’s Play. When serial killer Charles Lee Ray is fatally shot by police, he uses voodoo to transfer his soul into a “Good Guy” doll named Chucky. The doll is then gifted to young Andy Barclay, who quickly realizes his new toy is alive and out for blood.
With Brad Dourif’s iconic voice performance as Chucky and some truly terrifying practical effects, Child’s Play kickstarted a massive horror franchise that’s still going strong today. If you liked the idea of a children’s toy coming to life and wreaking havoc in FNAF, then Chucky is the OG you need to meet.
5. Puppet Master (1989)
Another cult classic franchise that shares some DNA with Five Nights at Freddy’s is the Puppet Master series. The first film follows a group of psychics who discover their hotel is home to a sinister collection of living puppets created by an Egyptian sorcerer.
Each puppet has its own unique look and deadly abilities, from the knife-wielding Blade to the fire-spitting Torch. As the tiny terrors pick off the psychics one by one, Puppet Master delivers plenty of campy humor and creative kills. With 14 films and counting, this franchise is perfect for a marathon of murderous marionettes.
6. Demonic Toys (1992)
If you’re sensing a pattern here, you’re not wrong. The “tiny terrors” subgenre was booming in the late 80s and early 90s, and Demonic Toys is another prime example. Produced by B-movie legend Charles Band, this low-budget flick follows a police officer and a pregnant woman who get trapped in a toy warehouse with a group of possessed playthings.
From the foul-mouthed Baby Oopsie Daisy to the diabolical Jack Attack, these demonic toys are more than ready to play… for keeps. While it may not be as polished as some of the other entries on this list, Demonic Toys delivers plenty of schlocky fun for fans of killer toy movies.
7. Dolls (1987)
Continuing our tour of tiny terrors, we have the 1987 horror film Dolls. When a group of travelers seeks shelter from a storm in an old mansion, they soon discover that the house is filled with eerie, life-like dolls. As the night progresses, the dolls come to life and start picking off the guests one by one.
Directed by Stuart Gordon of Re-Animator fame, Dolls is a creepy, atmospheric film that plays on our primal fear of inanimate objects coming to life. With some impressive practical effects and a twisted sense of humor, it’s a must-see for fans of killer doll movies.
8. Annabelle (2014)
If you prefer your haunted dolls with a side of supernatural horror, then look no further than Annabelle. This spin-off of The Conjuring follows the origin story of the infamous Annabelle doll, which is based on a real-life case investigated by paranormal researchers Ed and Lorraine Warren.
When a young couple brings the vintage doll into their home, they unleash a terrifying demonic presence that will stop at nothing to claim their souls. With plenty of jump scares and a creepy atmosphere, Annabelle is a modern take on the killer doll genre that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
9. Dead Silence (2007)
From the minds behind Saw and Insidious comes Dead Silence, a chilling tale of vengeful ventriloquist dummies. When Jamie Ashen receives a mysterious puppet in the mail, he returns to his hometown to investigate the legend of Mary Shaw, a ventriloquist who was murdered by an angry mob.
As Jamie digs deeper into the town’s dark past, he discovers that Mary Shaw’s spirit lives on through her army of dummies, and she won’t rest until she gets her revenge. With a creepy atmosphere and some truly unsettling puppet designs, Dead Silence is a modern classic of the killer doll genre.
10. Goosebumps (2015)
For a more family-friendly take on the “tiny terrors” concept, check out the 2015 film adaptation of R.L. Stine’s beloved Goosebumps book series. When teenage Zach moves to a new town, he befriends his neighbor Hannah and her mysterious father, who turns out to be none other than R.L. Stine himself.
Zach accidentally unleashes all of Stine’s creations from their manuscript prisons, including the evil ventriloquist dummy Slappy. Now, Zach, Hannah, and Stine must work together to trap the monsters back in their books before they destroy the town. With a mix of humor, adventure, and light scares, Goosebumps is perfect for younger fans of Five Nights at Freddy’s.
11. Krampus (2015)
If you like your holiday horror with a side of killer toys, then Krampus is the movie for you. When a dysfunctional family’s Christmas celebration turns sour, they unwittingly summon the ancient demonic entity known as Krampus. As punishment for their lack of holiday spirit, Krampus unleashes his army of twisted toys and minions upon the family.
From killer gingerbread men to murderous teddy bears, Krampus delivers plenty of creative and creepy creatures that would feel right at home in a Five Nights at Freddy’s game. With a darkly comedic tone and some impressive creature effects, Krampus is a fun and festive horror flick.
12. Poltergeist (1982)
One of the most iconic haunted house movies of all time, Poltergeist also features a memorable scene with a killer clown doll. When the Freeling family moves into a new suburban home, they soon discover that it was built on an ancient burial ground. As a result, their house becomes a hotbed of paranormal activity, including a creepy clown doll that comes to life and attacks their son.
While the clown scene is just one small part of Poltergeist‘s many horrors, it’s become a classic moment in horror movie history. If you’re a fan of Five Nights at Freddy’s and you haven’t seen Poltergeist yet, you owe it to yourself to check out this genre-defining classic.
13. Saw (2004)
At first glance, the Saw franchise might not seem to have much in common with Five Nights at Freddy’s. But hear me out – both series feature deadly games, elaborate traps, and a mysterious mastermind pulling the strings behind the scenes.
In the first Saw movie, two men wake up trapped in a dilapidated bathroom, with one chained to a pipe and the other locked in a cage. They soon discover that they are pawns in a twisted game orchestrated by the Jigsaw Killer, who forces his victims to make brutal choices in order to survive.
While Saw is much more graphic and violent than Five Nights at Freddy’s, it shares a similar sense of claustrophobia and impending doom. If you’re a fan of horror movies that keep you guessing until the very end, then the Saw franchise is definitely worth checking out.
14. The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
Another movie that might not seem like an obvious choice for this list, The Cabin in the Woods is a meta-horror comedy that plays with genre tropes in clever and unexpected ways. When a group of college students visits a remote cabin for a weekend getaway, they find themselves trapped in a nightmarish scenario straight out of a horror movie.
But as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that there’s more to this cabin than meets the eye. Without spoiling too much, let’s just say that The Cabin in the Woods features some creepy animatronic creatures that would feel right at home in a Five Nights at Freddy’s game.
With a sharp script by Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard, The Cabin in the Woods is a smart and subversive take on the horror genre that will keep you guessing until the very end.
15. House of Wax (2005)
A remake of the 1953 Vincent Price classic, House of Wax follows a group of friends who stumble upon a creepy wax museum in the middle of nowhere. As they explore the museum, they discover that the wax figures are actually the corpses of real people, and the museum’s owner is a deranged serial killer.
While the wax figures in House of Wax aren’t exactly animatronics, they do have a creepy, uncanny valley quality that will remind Five Nights at Freddy’s fans of the game’s unsettling character designs. Plus, the movie features plenty of jump scares and gory kills that will keep horror fans on the edge of their seats.
16. The Funhouse (1981)
Directed by Tobe Hooper of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre fame, The Funhouse follows a group of teenagers who decide to spend the night in a carnival funhouse. But as the night wears on, they discover that the funhouse is home to a deformed killer who starts picking them off one by one.
With its creepy carnival setting and memorable villain, The Funhouse is a classic slasher movie that shares some DNA with Five Nights at Freddy’s. The animatronic figures in the funhouse are particularly unsettling, and the movie’s climax features a tense showdown between the final girl and the killer in the bowels of the funhouse.
17. Tourist Trap (1979)
Another horror movie set in a creepy roadside attraction, Tourist Trap follows a group of friends who stumble upon a museum filled with eerie mannequins. As they explore the museum, they discover that the mannequins are actually the victims of a deranged serial killer who has the power to control them.
With its unsettling atmosphere and creepy mannequin effects, Tourist Trap is a overlooked gem of the slasher genre that Five Nights at Freddy’s fans will definitely appreciate. The movie’s villain, Mr. Slausen, is a memorable and menacing presence, and the final act features some truly nightmarish sequences that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
18. A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)
A Quiet Place: Day One is a thrilling movie that takes place in New York City when scary aliens first arrive on Earth. The main character is a woman named Sam who is very sick. She goes on a trip to the city with her cat, Frodo, and her nurse, Reuben. While in the city, the aliens start attacking people. These aliens can’t see, but they have really good hearing. Sam tries to stay quiet and hide from them. She meets a man named Eric who helps her.
Together, Sam and Eric try to escape the city while avoiding the aliens. They have some close calls but manage to survive. In the end, Sam sacrifices herself to save Eric and Frodo. She faces the aliens with a smile, knowing she has finally learned to live life to the fullest. A Quiet Place: Day One is a scary but heartwarming movie about finding hope in a dangerous world. It has great acting and will keep you on the edge of your seat.
And there you have it – 18 movies that are sure to satisfy any fan of Five Nights at Freddy’s. From killer dolls to creepy carnivals to alien invasions, these movies offer a wide range of scares and thrills that will keep you up at night.
So what are you waiting for? Grab some friends, pop some popcorn, and get ready for a marathon of terror. Just don’t blame us if you start seeing animatronics in the shadows.
Happy watching, horror fans! And remember – don’t fall asleep.
