Child's Play (1988)
You'll wish it was only make-believe.
After being shot in a toy store, a serial killer transfers his soul into a Good Guy doll. A mother then gifts it to her six-year-old son Andy, which unleashes terror upon the city.
Rent on Prime Video $3.99 (opens in a new tab) Buy on Apple TV $4.99 (opens in a new tab)
| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 9 November 1988 |
| Genre | Horror |
| Director | Tom Holland |
| Starring | Alex Vincent, Catherine Hicks and Brad Dourif |
| Runtime | 87 min |
| Rated | R |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 6.5/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 74% · Metacritic 58/100 · TMDB users 6.8/10 |
Where to watch Child's Play
Child's Play is streaming on Prime Video ($8.99 a month) in the US. If that is the only reason to subscribe, one month of Prime Video is $8.99 at list price.
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Rent or buy
You can rent Child's Play on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home and Plex. It is also for sale on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube and Fandango at Home.
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| Egypt | Prime Video E£29 |
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| Hong Kong | Prime Video HK$70 |
| Hungary | Prime Video 1900 Ft |
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| Ireland | Prime Video €6.99 |
| Italy | Prime Video €4.99 |
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| Japan | Prime Video ¥600 JPY, U-NEXT ¥2189 JPY |
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| Luxembourg | Prime Video €8.99 |
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| Malaysia | Prime Video RM25.00 |
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| Malta | Prime Video €5.99 |
| Mexico | Prime Video $99 MXN |
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| Netherlands | Prime Video €4.99 |
| New Zealand | Prime Video $8.99 NZD |
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| Nigeria | Prime Video ₦2300 |
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| Norway | Prime Video 79 kr NOK |
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| Panama | Prime Video $5.99 |
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| Peru | Prime Video S/25.90 |
| Philippines | Prime Video ₱149 |
| Poland | Prime Video 25.99 zł |
| Portugal | Prime Video €4.99 |
| Qatar | Prime Video QR16.00 |
| Romania | Prime Video 19.99 lei |
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| Seychelles | Prime Video |
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| South Africa | Prime Video R79 ZAR |
| Spain | Prime Video €4.99 |
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| Sweden | Prime Video 69 kr SEK |
| Switzerland | Prime Video CHF8.90 |
| Taiwan | Prime Video NT$290 |
| Tanzania | Prime Video |
| Thailand | Prime Video ฿149 |
| Trinidad & Tobago | Prime Video |
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| United Kingdom | Prime Video £8.99 GBP |
| Uruguay | Prime Video $U249 |
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| Zimbabwe | Prime Video |
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What kind of watch this is
Tom Holland’s 1988 horror film runs 87 minutes and centers on a serial killer named Charles Lee Ray, played by Brad Dourif, who transfers his soul into a Good Guy doll. The movie derives its tension from the sheer absurdity of the premise. A murderous spirit inhabiting a plush toy should feel like a joke. Instead, the film treats the doll with a seriousness that makes the threat feel uncomfortably real. The tagline, "You'll wish it was only make-believe," captures the film’s core irony. It is a story about innocence corrupted, told through a lens that refuses to look away from the horror of a child’s fear.
What the critics said
Critics, who had previously dismissed the slasher genre, warmed to the film’s distinctive villain and unsettling puppetry. Rotten Tomatoes reports a 64% approval rating from 95 surveyed critics, with an average score of 6.3/10. Metacritic assigns a weighted average of 58 out of 100, labeling the reception mixed or average. Roger Ebert called it a "cheerfully energetic horror film," while Caryn James of The New York Times praised its "deft wit." Not everyone agreed. Dave Kehr of the Chicago Tribune gave it 1 out of 4 stars, writing that it "would probably be sickening if it weren't so relentlessly stupid.
How it did with audiences
Child's Play took in $44 million at the box office. It is not a blockbuster, but it is a solid return for a horror film from that era. On TMDB, users rate it 6.8 out of 10. That number is a TMDB user score, not a critical consensus. The numbers suggest it found its niche without breaking any records.
What came next for the cast
Brad Dourif arrived with Blue Velvet in his back pocket and left with Alien Resurrection on the horizon. Chris Sarandon came in off The Princess Bride and wandered toward Fright Night. The credits list what they list. They do not explain how a horror villain becomes a fantasy lord, or how a swordsman trades his blade for a chainsaw.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched Child's Play.
Sources
- Child's Play on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q935945 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “Child's Play (1988 film)” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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