What is the Old Horror Movie About Toys Coming to Life?

The most iconic and widely recognized old horror movie about a toy coming to life is Child's Play, released in 1988. This film introduced the notorious killer doll, Chucky, who quickly became a pop culture phenomenon. Another significant film from a similar era that features animated, malevolent toys is Puppet Master, which premiered in 1989.

Child's Play: The Iconic Killer Doll

Released in 1988, Child's Play revolutionized the horror genre by presenting a seemingly innocent toy as a conduit for pure evil. The movie centers around a Good Guy doll named Chucky, possessed by the soul of a serial killer. This film effectively taps into the unsettling fear of inanimate objects becoming sentient and murderous, particularly those associated with childhood innocence. Child's Play garnered a 71% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 48 reviews, solidifying its place as a well-received horror classic. Its success led to numerous sequels, including Child's Play 2 in 1990.

Puppet Master: A Cult Classic with Animated Puppets

Also emerging from the late 1980s, Puppet Master (1989) is another notable horror film where inanimate objects, specifically puppets, come to life with sinister intentions. The film follows a group of psychics targeted by a collection of murderous puppets brought to life by an ancient Egyptian spell. While often considered a cult classic, Puppet Master showcases a unique take on the "killer toy" subgenre by focusing on a diverse ensemble of marionettes, each with their own distinct abilities and gruesome methods. This film received a 43% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 7 reviews.

Other Notable Films from the Era

While Child's Play and Puppet Master are prominent examples, the late 1980s also saw other films dabbling in the concept of malevolent objects. For instance, Pin (1988) is a lesser-known psychological horror film about a disturbing medical dummy that a troubled young man believes is alive and speaking to him.

Overview of Old Horror Movies Featuring Killer Toys

Here's a look at some of the films from this period that fit the "killer toy" theme:

These films tapped into a primal fear of childhood innocence being corrupted and inanimate objects turning against their owners, cementing their place in horror history.