''The Fear Street Trilogy'' is an American
horror film series, with varying subgenres of horror, particularly the
slasher and
supernatural subgenres. Directed by
Leigh Janiak from scripts and stories she co-wrote with other contributors, the films are based on
R. L. Stine
Robert Lawrence Stine (; born October 8, 1943), sometimes known as Jovial Bob Stine and Eric Affabee, is an American novelist, short story writer, television producer, screenwriter, and executive editor.
Stine has been referred to as the "St ...
's
book series of the same name. The overall story revolves around teenagers who work to break the curse that has been over their town for hundreds of years. Produced and developed by
20th Century Studios and
Chernin Entertainment
Chernin Entertainment is an American film and television production company founded and owned by former News Corporation president and chief operating officer Peter Chernin, also CEO and chairman of the company. Jenno Topping is the current Head ...
, the film's distribution rights were eventually acquired by
Netflix
Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fi ...
following
The Walt Disney Company's purchase of 21st Century Fox.
The three films were shot back-to-back, and were released on a weekly basis as
Netflix Original Films
__NOTOC__
The following are lists of Netflix original films by year:
Lists
*List of Netflix original films (2015–2017)
*List of Netflix original films (2018)
*List of Netflix original films (2019)
*List of Netflix original films (2020)
*Lis ...
in July 2021 to positive reviews. More films from the trilogy are planned.
Development
In October 1997,
Hollywood Pictures
Hollywood Pictures was an American film production label of Walt Disney Studios, founded and owned by The Walt Disney Company. Established on February 1, 1989, by then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner and then-studio chief Jeffrey Katzenberg, Hollywood ...
struck a deal to acquire the ''Fear Street'' series of books, which were set to be developed with Parachute Entertainment as a
''Scream''-like feature franchise. Developments never materialized.
In October 2015, a film based on Stine's ''Fear Street'' seriess was being developed by
20th Century Fox
20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...
and
Chernin Entertainment
Chernin Entertainment is an American film and television production company founded and owned by former News Corporation president and chief operating officer Peter Chernin, also CEO and chairman of the company. Jenno Topping is the current Head ...
.
On February 13, 2017, The Tracking Board reported that
Kyle Killen would write the script for the film.
In July, the adaptation was announced as a trilogy, with Leigh Janiak directing, and rewriting the script with her partner Phil Graziadei. Zak Olkewicz was also drafting a script.
The films were to be shot back to back, with the intention of releasing them to theaters one month apart.
Janiak describes the format as a "hybrid of traditional television content and movies," with each installment intended to both have a satisfying ending and connecting to the larger story.
The series was reported to be centered around a young
lesbian couple, navigating their rocky relationship when they are targeted by crazy horrors in their small town.
In March 2019, filming began in
Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
and
East Point, Georgia
East Point is a suburban city located southwest of Atlanta in Fulton County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 38,358. The city name is derived from being at the opposite end of the former Atlanta & Wes ...
,
with some parts filmed at
Hard Labor Creek State Park in
Rutledge in August 2019. The shoot lasted for 106 days, wrapping in September 2019.
In April 2020, Chernin Entertainment ended their distribution deal with 20th Century Studios and made a multi-year first-look deal with
Netflix
Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fi ...
, resulting in the latter distributing the trilogy.
Films
''Fear Street Part One: 1994''
After a series of brutal slayings, a group of teenagers take on an evil force that's plagued their notorious town for centuries.
The film was released on July 2, 2021.
Janiak describes it as influenced by 1990s slasher films, especially ''
Scream
Scream may refer to:
*Screaming, a loud vocalization
Amusement rides
* Scream (Heide Park), a gyro drop tower in Soltau, Germany
* Scream! (ride), a tower ride at Six Flags Fiesta Texas and Six Flags New England
* Scream! (roller coaster), at ...
''.
''Fear Street Part Two: 1978''
In the cursed town of Shadyside, a killer's murder spree terrorizes Camp Nightwing and turns a summer of fun into a gruesome fight for survival.
The film was released on July 9, 2021.
Janiak states that she was influenced by ''
Friday the 13th''.
''Fear Street Part Three: 1666''
Thrust back to 1666, Deena learns the truth about Sarah Fier. Back in 1994, the friends fight for their lives — and Shadyside’s future.
The film was released on July 16, 2021.
Janiak compares it to ''
The New World''.
Future
In July 2021, director Leigh Janiak expressed interest in expanding the film series beyond the trilogy of movies. She had stated to be interested in adapting a slasher film that takes place during the
1950s
The 1950s (pronounced nineteen-fifties; commonly abbreviated as the "Fifties" or the " '50s") (among other variants) was a decade that began on January 1, 1950, and ended on December 31, 1959.
Throughout the decade, the world continued its re ...
and centers on Harry Rooker / The Milkman. Cast members similarly expressed interest in returning.
In July 2022, Stine stated that there are discussions ongoing for additional films being developed in the series.
Later that month, ''Bloody Disgusting'' confirmed this statement with Netflix, stating that official plans would be announced in the future.
Characters
Release
The first film was scheduled to be released theatrically in June 2020, but was pulled from the schedule because of the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
. In April 2020, Chernin Entertainment ended their distribution deal with 20th Century Studios and made a multi-year first-look deal with
Netflix
Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fi ...
.
By August 2020, Netflix had acquired the distribution rights to the ''Fear Street'' trilogy. The films were released exclusively as
Netflix Original Films
__NOTOC__
The following are lists of Netflix original films by year:
Lists
*List of Netflix original films (2015–2017)
*List of Netflix original films (2018)
*List of Netflix original films (2019)
*List of Netflix original films (2020)
*Lis ...
.
In May 2021, the official trailer released by Netflix announced the respective films' credits, release dates, and official titles, as: ''Fear Street: Part One - 1994'', ''Fear Street: Part Two - 1978'', and ''Fear Street: Part Three - 1666''. The trilogy of films is
R-rated, with original
novel series
A book series is a sequence of books having certain characteristics in common that are formally identified together as a group. Book series can be organized in different ways, such as written by the same author, or marketed as a group by their pub ...
writer
R.L. Stine praising the direction and adaptations of his books.
The films were released over a three week span: July 2, July 9, and July 16.
Additional crew and production details
Reception
Critical and public response
Accolades
See also
*
Fear Street (book series) by
R.L. Stine
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fear Street Trilogy, The
Film series introduced in 2021
Fear Street
Horror film series