Five Nights at Freddy’s, for many, is a series that needs no introduction. It’s a horror giant, garnering a huge reputation on the internet through youtube, and it completely redefined what “internet horror” can be. The story is long, fragmented, and convoluted, but still loved by millions. In 2015, the first mentions of a movie were floating around, which finally saw the light of day eight years later, in 2023. 

Being someone who grew up with this franchise, I was excited, not because I thought it would be a great film, (Quite the opposite, actually.) but because I knew it would provide long standing fans of the series with an experience they would love. So, I talked to my friends, and we made plans to watch it together. However, when interacting with some other friends of mine, I realized that many of them were somewhat unfamiliar with the series as a whole. 

Fast forward to today, two movies have been released, and I’ve been asked one question by people unacquainted with the series more than any other– “Are the movies worth watching?” So, being accustomed with both the video games and movies, I’m answering this question, not just for my friends, but hopefully many others who are wondering the same. 

Before answering this question, I have to establish that the movies and the games/books do not tell the same story. The game series has a different set of lore than the movies do, with a shared premise and some shared characters/character names. The movies are, of course, adapted for film, so many of the details are altered to make this more palatable, or even more dramatic on the big screen.

The films themselves utilize a mixture of previously-well established actors, and new actors starring in their breakout role. The protagonist of both movies is played by Josh Hutcherson, and is found among co-stars such as Matthew Lillard and Elizabeth Lail. The sequel features an even more star studded cast, containing all previous names mentioned, as well as Wayne Knight and McKenna Grace. Both films are directed by Emma Tammi, and are co-written by series creator Scott Cawthon. As of now, the 2nd film’s theatrical run has ended. However, you can find and stream both movies on Amazon Prime. 

The movies are a fun time, don’t get me wrong, but they’re not cinematic masterpieces. If you watch them, don’t go into them expecting this beautifully crafted adventure built exclusively for the big screen. They’re meant for pre-existing members of the franchise, as the movies feature many, many references to different parts of the game, overarching story, and books. There are factors in the existing story and the community that might get lost among viewers of the film who haven’t familiarized themselves with the series. For example, they feature YouTube personalities as minor roles, those of which helped bolster the game series’ popularity. There are many unanswered questions that are answered in the lore which, if only having watched the movie, come off as plot holes. That being said, I still believe the films are possible to enjoy while not knowing the existing story. They’re somewhat campy, but they don’t take themselves too seriously, making them a fun watch with friends. 

I know I’ve been going on and on about this “lore” and “existing story” without really talking about what it is or how to get into it. For those unaware, there are five original/mainline video games, (FNaF 1-4, FNaF Sister Location) which provide a baseline understanding of the story, and are tightly interconnected with one another. After this point, the story begins to disconnect, branching to five more games in the timeline. There are, additionally, three loosely related spin-off games, as well as several sets of books, ranging from official novels, to novellas, to graphic novels. This is, frankly, an overwhelming amount of information. The series is over a decade old now, after all. Because of this, If you’re looking to get into the lore and get caught up on the story, YouTube is a fantastic way to do this. People have played and recorded all of the games, posted videos analyzing the presented story, and have constantly theorized what’s going to happen next in the timeline. 

To conclude, if you are already experienced with the franchise, the movies are definitely worth watching. If you aren’t, you can still enjoy the movies, but there will be some details and references that go over your head. That being said, the movies are a fun time, and I do recommend them.