Fear Street: Everything we know about Netflix's new horror trilogy

Nostalgic millennials and horror-heads assemble! Streaming giant Netflix is launching a trilogy of feature-length films based on R.L. Stine’s celebrated young-adult book series Fear Street this summer.

Just thinking about Fear Street has me yearning for the simpler days of rushing into a Scholastic Book Fair, ready to spend what little cash my parents had deemed appropriate for the event.

So, what is the new Netflix Fear Street trilogy all about? Who’s involved? When and where can you watch it?

Whether you’re a hardcore fan or brand new to R.L. Stine’s twisted world of horrors, read on to learn everything we know about Netflix’s Fear Street trilogy.

What is Fear Street all about?

Netflix hasn’t released a whole lot of information on Fear Street yet. Set in the familiar, fictional town of Shadyside from the novels, the films tell stories across generations.

A brief logline from the streamer suggests that when the action starts in 1994 in the first film, a group of teens discovers that the scary events that have plagued their town throughout history may be connected.

The trailer adds a supernatural element to the mix, with the mention of witches who set a cycle of spooky events in motion 300 years ago.

The three films work their way back through time, as is made explicit by their titles — Fear Street Part 1: 1994, Fear Street Part 2: 1978, and Fear Street Part 3: 1666.

Fear Street: Take 2?

Fans may remember the first attempt at a Fear Street adaptation. Back in 1998, a pilot for Ghosts of Fear Street aired on ABC. Written by Eerie, Indiana co-creator Karl Schreader, the pilot bombed. ABC didn’t order it to series, and that was the end of any onscreen Fear Street title — until now.

(Ghosts of Fear Street remains something of a pop-cultural black hole, all but forgotten, and completely unavailable, except as a low-fi bootleg on YouTube.)

Also read: The best horror movies you can stream on Amazon Prime

R.L. Stine fans have had much better luck with adaptations of the author’s other hit book franchise: Goosebumps. The massive horror series for younger readers was first adapted as an anthology TV series in the 90s, and a new, upcoming Goosebumps series was announced just last year.

Since the original series, two Goosebumps films have also been produced: 2015’s Goosebumps and its sequel Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween, both starring funnyman Jack Black.

Where and when can I watch Fear Street?

While Netflix produced all three Fear Street films at once, they’re staggering their releases. The three films will roll out once a week throughout July, 2021.

Part 1: 1994 drops July 2. Part 2: 1978 is next up, July 9. And last is Part 3: 1666 July 16.

The Fear Street trilogy will be available exclusively on Netflix globally starting on those dates. So far, there are no plans for any theatrical releases.

“We filmed all three Fear Street movies over one crazy, bloody summer. It’s a dream that audiences now get to experience the story in the same way — back to back to back, with only a week of waiting in between. I can’t wait to welcome everyone into the world of Fear Street in 1994, 1978 and 1666!” said director Leigh Janiak when the first trailer dropped.

Who’s involved?

The three installments of Fear Street share quite a few actors. It’s not clear yet whether these films will work as an anthology series, like FX’s American Horror Story, where actors portray different roles, or if characters recur across generations for supernatural reasons.

Among the cast are a few big names. Most notably, Fear Street stars Maya Hawke, known for Netflix’s Stranger Things (and also known as Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke’s daughter), and Gillian Jacobs, of Community fame.

Check out the full cast list, by movie, below.

Fear Street Part 1: 1994

• Kiana Madeira
• Olivia Scott Welch
• Benjamin Flores Jr.
• Julia Rehwald
• Fred Hechinger
• Ashley Zukerman
• Maya Hawke
• Darrell Britt-Gibson
• Jordana Spiro
• Jordyn DiNatale
• Jeremy Ford

Fear Street Part 2: 1978

• Sadie Sink
• Emily Rudd
• Ryan Simpkins
• McCabe Slye
• Ted Sutherland
• Jordana Spiro
• Gillian Jacobs
• Kiana Madeira
• Benjamin Flores Jr.
• Ashley Zukerman
• Olivia Scott Welch
• Chiara Aurelia
• Jordyn DiNatale

Fear Street Part 3: 1666

• Kiana Madeira
• Ashley Zukerman
• Gillian Jacobs
• Olivia Scott Welch
• Benjamin Flores Jr.
• Darrell Britt-Gibson
• Sadie Sink
• Emily Rudd
• McCabe Slye
• Julia Rehwald
• Fred Hechinger
• Jordana Spiro
• Jordyn DiNatale

Behind the camera, Leigh Janiak directs and co-wrote all three screenplays. Her co-writers are Phil Graziadei (Part 1: 1994), Zak Olkewicz (Part 2: 1978), and Phil Graziadei and Kate Trefry (Part 3: 1666).

Wait, is this for kids?

Marking a departure from the early to mid-teen demographic of the Fear Street books, the Netflix movies are 100 percent grown-up fare. They’re all rated R. They also look like familiar slasher and other horror classics, if the trailer is any indication. You can spot nods to Friday the 13th, Scream, Sleepaway Camp, It, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The Wicker Man, and more.

“Fear Street fans are in for a treat — and some major surprises. Readers know that the book series is rated PG. But the movies are rated R. That means a lot more thrills — and a lot more terror!” said Fear Street author R.L. Stine himself.

While this may seem a little counterintuitive, the book series did launch in 1989, and it was at the height of its popularity in the 90s. It’s likely to appeal to old-school fans, first and foremost. And, well, not to put too fine a point on it, some of those fans probably have kids of their own who are old enough to be reading Fear Street now. They’re well over 17 and thus allowed to stay up late to watch spooky movies.

Also read: The best Netflix horror series for scary binge-watching

So, if Fear Street was your first introduction to the horror genre, Netflix is probably playing a smart game. With hordes of millennials who grew up and kept upping the ante with scarier movies, the new Fear Street trilogy may scratch a very particular generational itch. And if nothing else, it looks like a fun standalone series too.

Whether you’re a fan or new to Fear Street, Netflix likely has a hit on its hands. With a lot of folks still a little skittish about going to the movies, or living in cities where cinemas are still closed, Fear Street looks like it’ll be event viewing you can enjoy at home.

Will you tune in to Fear Street on Netflix this July?