Alternate versions

The German television version is heavily cut, allowing for an earlier time slot. The cuts are:

• When Tina is sliced by Freddy Krueger, we don't see how he slices her chest and is pulled to the ceiling.
• In Tina's last dream we don't see when Freddy cuts his own fingers off his hand. Later, there is a scene where Freddy's face is pulled off by Tina. This scene is also missing.
• When Nancy meets Freddy for the first time, we can't see when he slices his abdomen and when Nancy puts her arm on the hot pipe.
• When Rod's neck is broken by Freddy Krueger, we only see Rod looking at the "snake", before it kills him.
• The scene where the dead Tina is talking to Nancy while snakes are coming out her dress is also cut.
• Glen's famous dead scene is also cut. We only see how he is sucked in his bed. The bloody, second half is cut.
• When Nancy is burning Freddy, we only see the fire reach his feet, then it cuts to Nancy calling her dad.
• The scene where Freddy is killing Nancy's mother by burning her is also cut.
• These changes were also made in the German video version, which has a "not under 16 years" rating. The uncut version is sometimes shown on Pay-Per-View and is rated "not under 18 years."

The US release trims the scene where Tina falls from her bedroom ceiling, missing out the subsequent splash of blood that flies up as she hits the bed, and a few other scenes as well (listed in FAQ). These scenes were included in the original UK cinema and pre-2001 video releases on the CBS/Fox and Entertainment In Video labels. However, the Widescreen version issued on DVD and video in 2001 on the Entertainment in Video label uses the cut US version. The 2006 Infinifilm edition in the US also uses the cut version of the film.

The US DVD re release has three alternate unused endings, A 'Freddy' ending, A happy ending and a 'Scary' ending.

The Australian theatrical release was edited for an M rating but the uncut version was later released on VHS home video with an R rating and can be identified by a yellow strip up in the top right corner of the front cover that says "Graphic Uncut Version".