In 1981, Wes Craven began writing the script for one of the most well known horror movies ever released: A Nightmare on Elm Street. It was a movie that Craven had great difficulty making as nearly every single studio he brought the script to turned it down for one reason or another. Hell, apparently Walt Disney Pictures was interested but only if Craven toned it down so they could show it to children and pre-teens. Craven thankfully declined.
Eventually, it was New Line Cinema that took a chance on the film, producing it with a budget of $1.8 million, a number that it made back in the first week of the film’s release. The first film went on to gross nearly $26 million in the US box office, saving the struggling studio. The series has since grossed over $450 million in worldwide box office and is one of the most iconic horror franchises to ever be released, earning New Line Cinema the nickname “The House That Freddy Built”.
The passing of Wes Craven was obviously a very large blow for the horror community and New Line is feeling that pain as strongly as any of us.
In an official statement sent to Bloody-Disgusting, the studio writes:
In 1984, Wes Craven brought “A Nightmare on Elm Street” to New Line, and in so doing, altered the course of the studio’s history. We are eternally grateful to our friend and partner, and are proud to be “The House That Freddy Built”.
