As the first installment of the Netflix trilogy adaptation from well-known horror novelist R.L. Stine's terrifying book series, Fear Street Part One: 1994 stands out as one of the better modern-day slasher films from recent years. Of course, the teenage horror film was clearly inspired by many movies of its kind that came before.
The film draws from some of the greatest movies that involve youthful protagonists, supernatural entities, occasional comedic elements, and gruesome on-screen gore. Besides the obvious sequels in the Fear Street series, viewers who loved Part 1 are sure to love other films with elements that closely resemble the intense 2021 slasher.
10 Heathers (1989) - Available On Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, & More
The late 80's cult classic Heathers majorly takes place both within and surrounding a suburban American high school, similar to the setting of Fear Street Part One: 1994. While Heathers is not explicitly a horror film, there are certainly very dark moments that revolve around pressing teenage issues that are still relevant today in many ways.
Perfectly balanced with the dark elements of the film is a combination of dry and quick-witted comedy that fans of Fear Street will likely appreciate. And just like that film's entertaining ensemble, Heathers is also well-known for its highly memorable characters who trade witty insults with each other.
9 It Follows (2014) - For Rent On Amazon Prime Video Or YouTube
Though bleaker and muted than the colorful and lively Fear Street Part One: 1994, the 2014 horror film It Follows has a similar premise about fulfilling a supernatural prophecy. The story focuses on a group of young friends after one girl unintentionally becomes attached to a spirit-like entity, just like Sam does in Fear Street.
It Follows is incredibly suspenseful and has some unforgettable visuals, both beautiful and graphic. The film will likely leave audiences with questions about the paranormal happenings, and although there are no sequels with answers like Fear Street, horror movie fans will definitely find themselves engaged regardless.
8 Happy Death Day (2017) - Available On Hulu
Ever since the iconic 1993 film Groundhog Day, there have been plenty of movies with a similar time-loop concept, but Happy Death Day merges the idea with the horror genre and gives it an updated comedic edge. The story follows a college student who is brutally murdered on her birthday, only to have to relive the day over and over again.
Just like Fear Street Part One: 1994, Happy Death Day is an entertaining genre-mixing slasher that follows lively, young characters. And though not as abundant as in Fear Street, Happy Death Day does provide some minor LGBTQ+ representation in one of its sub-plots.
7 The Cabin In The Woods (2011) - Available On Peacock
Fear Street Part One: 1994 draws heavily from stereotypical horror elements, but gives them depth and purpose within the story. Similarly, the 2011 hit The Cabin in the Woods is all about leaning into horror film stereotypes in effectively entertaining ways.
The Cabin in the Woods is a great combination of comedy and horror. Half of the film feels like a serious scary movie, and the other half is a hilarious parody of the genre. Like Fear Street, this film features many different kinds of slasher villains as well as a dynamic group of teenaged friends.
6 It (2017) - Available On Hulu & HBO Max
The recent adaptation of Stephen King's novel It is quite similar to Fear Street Part One: 1994. Although It was originally adapted for the small screen in 1990, the 2017 film's tone, story, and visuals more closely mirror that of Fear Street.
The main characters in It are a bit younger than in Fear Street, but the story still follows a memorable group of small-town friends who find themselves involved with a terrifying legend with years of history to unravel. In addition, with It taking place in 1989, some aesthetics of the time period are evident in both films as well. Most importantly, fans of Fear Street's supernatural elements will love It's main villain Pennywise, who similarly terrorizes the young cast with mind games and sudden bursts of gory violence.
5 Assassination Nation (2018) - Available On Hulu
Written and directed by Euphoria's Sam Levinson, Assassination Nation is a slasher thriller with great LGBTQ+ representation, just like Fear Street Part One: 1994. Its main genres being action and crime, Assassination Nation is a high-stakes, engaging story about a group of young girls who must fight for their lives while a hacker perpetuates a Purge-like massacre in their town.
Not only does Assassination Nation also follow a group of high schoolers, but the film also has some incredible visuals as well. In many ways, both films have similar lighting and color schemes that work beautifully with the thriller motifs at play.
4 Carrie (1976) - Available On Amazon Prime Video
When it comes to supernatural thrillers about high school teens, it's impossible to exclude horror classic Carrie from the conversation. Yet another Stephen King adaptation, Carrie is widely regarded as one of the best horror films in film history.
Fear Street Part One: 1994 and Carrie do have starkly different stories, but their overall essence is quite similar. Both films reflect on important aspects of being a teenager, and they're equally full of gory, supernatural elements paired with striking visuals. In addition, both films possess compelling female lead protagonists who defy easy categorization.
3 Halloween (1978) - Available On Amazon Prime Video
The original Halloween is by far one of the greatest slasher films of all time. Similar to Fear Street, it has a slew of other installments (the most recent of which is titled Halloween Kills, set to come out in October), but the most iconic of them all is the 1978 debut.
Fear Street Part One: 1994 simply would not be what it is without Halloween as a predecessor. It is the origin of the highly recognizable masked assailant Michael Myers, the slasher villain who terrorizes his small American town. The film is full of incredible, unforgettable scenes like the climactic confrontation between Michael and Laurie in the closet that clearly inspired all other slashers that came after it.
2 Scream (1996) - Available on HBO Max
Of all the slashers in film history, Scream is by far one of the most well-known. From the time period to the horrifying masked villains, it's hard to not see the similarities between Fear Street and Scream. It too leans into the youthfulness of its characters and is full of both stimulating scares and murderous mystery.
Wes Craven's 1996 slasher is another first installment film with a plethora of sequels, series, and spin-offs, giving horror fans plenty to watch within the franchise. What's more, Scream is set to get yet another sequel to be released in 2022 with most of the original main cast reprising their roles. The first one is, unsurprisingly, the best in the franchise as the characters are relatable and the suspense is organic. After a quarter of a century, it's still shocking to see Tatum's death or the reveal of the killers at the end of the film.
1 I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) - Available on Amazon Prime Video
One of the most iconic slasher horror films from the '90s, I Know What You Did Last Summer has plenty of overlap with Fear Street Part One: 1994. In addition to a similar time period, both films follow a group of small-town friends who involve themselves in crimes that result in terrifying consequences.
Just like Fear Street, I Know What You Did Last Summer is full of mystery that will keep audiences engaged throughout. The film is the source of many unforgettable scenes such as Helen's death at the small-town parade that fans of slashers will surely have to check out.
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