The Nightmare on Elm Street series is one of the best horror series ever made. That’s faint praise considering most horror franchises eventually turn to crap. Certainly the Nightmare series has a few duds, but even the bad ones have moments that are worth watching. If nothing else, the kills are usually interesting. The original is one of the best horror movies of the 1980s. Last year they released it with a wonderful 4K UHD transfer, and now the original seven films are getting the works. You can read my full review at Cinema Sentries.
themidnightcafe.org 
I think the original, and number 3 the dream warriors would be my favourites. I did go the cinema to see i think number 6 too.
I agree 100 % that Dream Warriors is one of the best. I’d put it right behind the original. The only one I ever watched in theater was Freddy vs Jason.
Yes i am with you on that, number two i read some awful reviews, so i never ended up watching it. I have never seen the Freddy Vs Jason either. I never have great expectations when they combine franchises.
Part 2 is not very good. Apparently they rushed the production and nobody really knew what they were doing. Freddy Vs Jason is pretty awful as well, but also kind of fun watching the new icons battle it out.
I think a lot of people at that time knew how successful the original was, like many films they must have had $ signs in their sights, rather than making something of substance.