Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation

film by Henkel [1994]

Also known as: “The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre”

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 21, 2026

Quick Summary

Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation is a 1994 American slasher film directed by Kim Henkel. It is the fourth installment in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise. The film follows a group of friends who become stranded in a rural area and are terrorized by the cannibalistic Sawyer family, including Leatherface.

The film received negative reviews and was a commercial failure, unlike the original 1974 film directed by Tobe Hooper, which was a critical and commercial success and is considered a foundational film in the horror genre. Despite its poor reception, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation has gained a cult following over the years.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Renée Zellweger
Dazed and Confused and Jerry Maguire
…Chainsaw Massacre (1994; rereleased as Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation). Zellweger’s surprise casting as the love interest of Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire catapulted her to stardom.
Read More
…Chainsaw Massacre (1994; rereleased as Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation). Zellweger’s surprise casting as the love interest of Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire catapulted her to stardom.
Read More