History Franchise / ChildsPlay

* '''''Film/ChildsPlay''''' (1988) -- Single mother Karen Barclay (Catherine Hicks) manages to procure a "Good Guy" doll (named Chucky) for her young son Andy (Alex Vincent) from a sketchy peddler, but she doesn't realize there's something ''very'' wrong with him. Turns out the doll is possessed by a supposedly dead serial killer named Charles Lee Ray, and he's looking to transfer into Andy's body.

''Child's Play'' (also known as ''Chucky'') is a series of [[VillainBasedFranchise villain-based]] {{slasher film}}s that consistently feature Chucky (Creator/BradDourif), a CreepyDoll who actually [[SoulJar contains the soul]] of a notorious serial killer SerialKiller named Charles Lee Ray. The films follow Chucky's bloody exploits as he searches for a new human host, in addition to a rotating set of protagonists (who are also the only ones who know of Chucky's true nature) and their efforts to stop him.

''Child's Play'' (also known as ''Chucky'') is a series of [[VillainBasedFranchise villain-based]] {{slasher film}}s that consistently feature Chucky (Creator/BradDourif), a CreepyDoll who actually [[SoulJar contains the soul]] of a notorious serial killer SerialKiller named Charles Lee Ray. The films follow Chucky's exploits as he searches for a new human host and the bloody trail of destruction he leaves in his wake, in addition to a rotating set of protagonists (who are also the only ones who know of Chucky's true nature) and their efforts to stop him.

''Child's Play'' is a series of [[VillainBasedFranchise villain-based]] {{slasher film}}s that consistently feature Chucky (Creator/BradDourif), a CreepyDoll who actually [[SoulJar contains the soul]] of a notorious serial killer SerialKiller named Charles Lee Ray. The films follow Chucky's exploits as he searches for a new human host and the bloody trail of destruction he leaves in his wake, in addition to a rotating set of protagonists (who are also the only ones who know of Chucky's true nature) and their efforts to stop him.

''Child's Play'' is a series of [[VillainBasedFranchise villain-based]] {{slasher film}}s that consistently feature Chucky (Creator/BradDourif), a CreepyDoll who actually [[SoulJar contains the soul]] of a notorious serial killer SerialKiller named Charles Lee Ray. The films follow Chucky's exploits as he searches for a new human host, leaving a bloody trail of destruction in the process.

''Child's Play'' is a series of [[VillainBasedFranchise villain-based]] {{slasher film}}s that consistently feature Chucky (Creator/BradDourif), a CreepyDoll who actually [[SoulJar contains the soul]] of a notorious serial killer SerialKiller named Charles Lee Ray. The films follow Chucky's exploits as he attempts to gain a new human host, leaving a bloody trail of destruction along the way.

''Child's Play'' is a series of [[VillainBasedFranchise villain-based]] {{slasher film}}s that consistently feature Chucky (Creator/BradDourif), a CreepyDoll who actually [[SoulJar contains the soul]] of a SerialKiller.

* '''''Film/SeedOfChucky''''' (2004) -- Chucky and Tiffany (who were [[DeathIsCheap both destroyed in the previous film]]) meet their biological child Glen (Billy Boyd), who struggles to share the bloodthirsty ways of his parents. Jennifer Tilly also appears AsHerself ([[AdamWesting an exaggerated version, anyway]]), and is explained to have portrayed Tiffany in [[ShowWithinAShow the films based on Chucky's exploits]] in this universe.

* '''''Film/CultOfChucky''''' (2017) -- Institutionalized after the events of the previous film, Nica thinks she's free of Chucky's terror... until he sneaks into the facility to resume his bloody business.

* AbortedArc: Glen/Glenda from ''Seed'' never returned for any sequels, even though Tiffany did.[[note]]Don Mancini said he ''would'' like to resolve this issue, but hasn't thought of any ideas on how to bring them back.[[/note]]

Also in 2018, an eight-episode TV series was announced as being in development with franchise creator Don Mancini and producer David Kirschner, following the continuity of the original films and with Dourif reprising his role as Chucky. It will be aired on USA/Syfy in 2021.

* AshFace: When Chucky gets burnt.

* CrapsackWorld: The apparent setting of the films, as it's a WretchedHive of a universe filled with multiple kinds of deplorable and despicable characters such as [[{{Jerkass}} jerks]] (who [[AssholeVictim most deserved]] Chucky's wrath) and supporting characters who are mostly either TooDumbToLive, NotSoAboveItAll, {{Hate Sink}}s, or have [[TookALevelInJerkass taken a level in jerkass]], while protagonists who are [[HeroWithBadPublicity Heroes With Bad Publicity]] who all happen to the [[OnlySaneMan Only Sane People]] in comparison to the supporting cast. The world these films depicts — almost every character except TheHero of each installment [[WorldOfJerkass unilaterally selfish and motivated by their worst impulses — is definitely this]]. It also has a bleak depiction of Chicago, Illinois or at least mid-America, ranging from Chicago being littered with vagrants who are rapists at night and has a rundown mental hospital for criminally insane children run by a BitchInSheepsClothing DrJerk in the first film to a toy company run by a heartless CorruptCorporateExecutive in the second and third films to a military school run by {{The Neidermeyer}}s in the third film to the life on the road filled with thieving couples and {{Dirty Cop}}s in the fourth film as well as a DysfunctionalFamily filled with a married couple who are {{Jerkass}}es in [[YourCheatingHeart different]] [[TookALevelInJerkass degrees]] and a TooDumbToLive lesbian babysitter with the paraplegic woman to be the OnlySaneWoman in the family and more {{Dirty Cop}}s in the sixth film and a mental hospital filled with TooDumbToLive patients and orderlies run by another BitchInSheepsClothing DrJerk (who is also really a perverted SmugSnake PsychoPsychologist who rapes a female paraplegic patient during their sessions) in the seventh film. However, it's PlayedForLaughs in the fifth film when depicting the glamorous HorribleHollywood filled with LargeHam [[NewMediaAreEvil paparazzi]] (or as [[EvenEvilHasStandards Chucky points it out, "Paparazzi scumbag!"]]).
** The second film depicts Chicago to be a CrapsaccharineWorld, that despite the bright (if somewhat eerie) look of the film, it's actually still an unkind city that not even Andy is safe from other than Chucky (the aforementioned toy company run by cold-hearted {{corrupt corporate executive}}s including one SmugSnake [[YourCheatingHeart cheating on his wife]], an elementary school where it's implied {{sadist teacher}}s are authorized to inflict [[WouldHurtAChild physical and emotional child abuse]] on their students, and foster parents who, [[NotSoAboveItAll despite their appearances to be seemingly ideal-looking and what model families should look like]], [[SupernaturalProofFather naturally disbelieve that a killer doll is on the loose out to get a child]] and can be vindictively judgmental if a child is a HeroWithBadPublicity and can easily deduce kids can be murderers ranging from an ObstructiveBureaucrat {{Jerkass}} foster father to a mother who starts out as caring and kind towards the child, [[BewareOfTheNiceOnes but]] [[NotSoAboveItAll th]][[BitchInSheepsClothing en]] TookALevelInJerkass towards the kid [[spoiler: after seeing her husband dead and irrationally jumped to a conclusion that the child killed him somehow]] just because of his [[HeroWithBadPublicity prior reputation]]). Not to mentioned TooDumbToLive social workers and factory employees and a minor newspaper truck driver who [[JerkassHasAPoint understandably]] from an impartial viewpoint can be [[BerserkButton irked]] if getting run off the road for seemingly no reason (except to prevent a killer doll to transfer his soul to a child). Plus, in contrast to the [[DissonantSerenity seemingly and visually family-friendly]] [[NotSoAboveItAll environment]], anyone besides Chucky can be [[SirSwearsALot Sir Swears-a-Lots]] (or go into a ClusterFBomb or inflict a PrecisionFStrike towards somebody, like Kyle or the AngryBlackMan truck driver when confronting Kyle), though not as much as Chucky, who swears the most.

Not to be confused with [[UsefulNotes/ChildsPlay the charity]] or [[Series/ChildsPlay the Bill Cullen game show]].

!! The ''Child's Play'' franchise contains examples of the following tropes:

* VillainDecay: Chucky. More and more after each film. He was pretty scary and played seriously when he first appeared. Then, he became more PlayedForLaughs and less scary as the series went on. ''Curse'' is largely successful in reversing this trend.

* WorldOfJerkass: With TheHero as an exception and besides Chucky, the entire universe is apparently inhabited with all kinds of unpleasant folk on different degrees, making Chucky's body count being filled with almost nothing, but {{Asshole Victim}}s.

* BloodierAndGorier: Each successive installment just gets messier.

* '''''[[Film/ChildsPlay2019 Child's Play]]''''' (2019) -- Starring Creator/AubreyPlaza as Karen Barclay, Gabriel Bateman as Andy, and Brian Tyree Henry as the detective investigating their case. In this iteration, Chucky has {{AI}} elements and has no connection to Charles Lee Ray, with this aspect itself being written out entirely.

In 2018, it was announced that Creator/{{MGM}} was producing a ContinuityReboot of the original film —without Don Mancini or Brad Dourif's involvement— as the studio still owns the original ''Child's Play'' title and concept.

* '''''[[Film/ChildsPlay2019 Child's Play]]''''' (2019) -- Starring Creator/AubreyPlaza as Karen Barclay, Gabriel Bateman as Andy, and Brian Tyree Henry as the detective investigating their case. In this iteration, the evil Good Guy Doll (who may or may not be called Chucky) will have {{AI}} elements.

[[quoteright:278:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/childs_play_1.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:278:"You know what they say; you just can't keep a good guy down!"]]

[[caption-width-right:278:The one doll to be friends to the end with.]]

* ParentalAbandonment: Post-''Child's Play'', Andy's mother is absent from his life due to being taken in for "psychological evaluation."

Also in 2018, an eight-episode TV series was announced as being in development with franchise creator Don Mancini and producer David Kirschner, following the continuity of the films and with Dourif reprising his role as Chucky. It will be aired on USA/Syfy in 2021.

Also in 2018, an eight-episode TV series was announced as being in development with franchise creator Don Mancini and producer David Kirschner, following the continuity of the films and with Dourif reprising his role as Chucky.

* '''''Film/ChildsPlay''''' (1988) -- Single mother Karen Barclay (Catherine Hicks) manages to procure a "Good Guy" doll (named Chucky) for her young son Andy (Alex Vincent) from a sketchy peddler, but she doesn't realize there's something ''very'' wrong him. Turns out the doll is possessed by a supposedly dead serial killer named Charles Lee Ray, and he's looking to transfer into Andy's body.

In 2018, it was announced that Creator/{{MGM}} was producing a {{reboot}} of the original film —without Don Mancini or Brad Dourif's involvement— as the studio still owns the original ''Child's Play'' title and concept.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/childs_play_1.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:The one doll to be friends to the end with.]]

The ''Child's Play'' franchise is a series of [[VillainBasedFranchise villain-based]] {{slasher film}}s that consistently feature Chucky (Creator/BradDourif), a CreepyDoll who actually [[SoulJar contains the soul]] of a SerialKiller.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/childs_play.jpg]]