Top 10 Horror Scream Queens of the Century So Far

We all scream for these ladies. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Modern Horror Scream Queens.

For this list, we’ll be looking at actresses who have defined horror movies and shows from the 2000s onward.

In “Let Me In,” Moretz played a vampire who appears youthful on the surface, but actually has years of worldly experience under her belt. Likewise, Moretz took on a wide variety of sophisticated roles before even turning twenty, but her career is deep-seated in horror. After making her film debut in the 2005 remake of “The Amityville Horror,” Mortez remained close to her roots in “Wicked Little Things,” “The Eye,” and “Dark Shadows,” amongst others. She was the natural choice to play the titular teenager in the remake of “Carrie” and while the film itself was flawed, Mortez was a worthy successor to Sissy Spacek. Mortez has branched out since then, but still continues to shine in thrillers like “Suspiria” and “Greta.”

Speaking of “Greta,” Maika Monroe has also come into her own as a scream queen. She made her foray into the thriller genre with 2014’s “The Guest” as headstrong protagonist Anna. Monroe more than held her own against Dan Stevens’ David, a houseguest who’s not as charming as he seems. Monroe went up against a completely different kind of enemy in “It Follows,” playing a young woman who’s haunted by a mysterious entity after sleeping with her boyfriend. She’s kept her filmography fresh with sci-fi thrillers like “Tau” and horror comedies like “Villains.” Monroe goes beyond playing the usual final girl archetype, bringing an endearing confidence to each role that makes us want to see her come out on top.

Be it comedy, drama, or musical, Jane Levy can do it all and her acting range has extended to the horror genre. She made a strong claim to her scream queen crown in 2013’s “Evil Dead.” Getting covered in blood is one thing, but not every performer can fill Bruce Campbell’s chainsaw. Rather than try to replicate Ash Williams’ groovy persona, Levy turned in a more grounded portrayal as an addict who must confront her inner demons, as well as literal demons. Levy reteamed with director Fede Álvarez for “Don’t Breathe,” playing a sympathetic thief who gravely underestimates the man she tries to rob blind. She even joined the Stephen King universe as Diane “Jackie” Torrance in “Castle Rock.”

Her scene in “Vampire Academy” might’ve been left on the cutting room floor, but Anya Taylor-Joy would soon sink her teeth into even juicier roles. Upon making her official film debut in “The Witch,” Taylor-Joy immediately emerged as a scream queen to watch. She further demonstrated how haunting she can be as the titular experiment in “Morgan.” She ascended to another level of mainstream popularity as Casey Cooke in “Split” and “Glass.” Given her track record with horror and superheroes, casting Taylor-Joy as Illyana Rasputin in “New Mutants” was a given. When it comes to horror, Taylor-Joy often plays silent types, letting her wide, expressive eyes do the talking. Behind those eyes, there’s always a complex character for Taylor-Joy to bring out of her shell.

Sarah Paulson landed her first series regular role in the Sam Raimi-produced horror series “American Gothic.” While that show failed to make it past one season, Paulson’s status as a scream queen would be solidified by another horror series with a similar title. “American Horror Story” has provided Paulson with a platform to play an assortment of fascinating characters, from a journalist trapped in a madhouse, to the headmistress of a coven, to an unstable woman unprepared for Trump’s America. It never feels like Paulson is playing the same character on “AMH.” Even when she’s starring as conjoined twins, you can always tell them apart. Paulson’s scream queen credits aren’t limited to television, leaving her mark in features like “Glass,” “Bird Box,” and “Run.”

From one “American Horror Story” alum to another, Emma Roberts has proven that she can play mean girls like Madison Montgomery and final girls like Brooke Thompson. Roberts had her scream queen coronation in “Scream 4,” which put an unexpected twist on passing the torch from one generation to another. Roberts’ most recognizable role, however, would have to be Chanel Oberlin from the horror-comedy series appropriately titled “Scream Queens.” Chanel is so cartoonishly bratty, vain, and downright sociopathic that she feels like every horror movie mean girl rolled into one. Roberts brings such great comedic timing and style to the character, however, that we oddly root for Chanel, even if she’s only slightly less twisted than the villainous Red Devil.

This veteran actress’ horror movie roots can be traced back to the 80s, playing a teacher in “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” a receptionist in “Alone in the Dark,” and Sally in “Critters.” It was during the new century that Lin Shaye peaked as a scream queen, landing some of her most prominent parts. Shaye has gone through a late-career renaissance with major roles in the “Ouija” movies and “The Grudge” reboot. “Insidious” most notably marked a turning point for Shaye. As the franchise continued, the focus would shift from the Lambert family to Shaye’s Elise Rainier, one of the most memorable demonologists in cinema. After working as a character actress for years, it’s nice to see that so many people are screaming Shaye’s praises.

Vera Farmiga is far from a one-trick pony, but she’s become especially prominent in the horror genre as of late. Farmiga regularly finds herself playing maternal figures. Between Joshua, Esther, and Norman Bates, though, the hellspawn she takes care of all make the Bad Seed look like Shirley Temple. Farmiga scored a Primetime Emmy nomination for her performance as Norma Bates, adding new dimensions to a mother who loves her son to a fault. Most famously, Farmiga and Patrick Wilson have become the faces of “The Conjuring” franchise as real-life paranormal investigators Lorraine and Ed Warren. The scream queen gene seemingly runs in the family, as Farmiga’s young sister Taissa is also part of “The Conjuring” universe, as well as the “American Horror Story” lore.

Toni Collette kicked off the 21st century on a high note, receiving an Oscar nomination for her performance in “The Sixth Sense.” In the decades that followed, Collette appeared in “Fright Night,” “Krampus,” and a biopic about the Master of Suspense, “Hitchcock.” Yet, it’s one role in particular that earned Collette such a high spot on this list: Annie Graham in “Hereditary.” Collette gave the performance of a lifetime as a grieving mother who can’t tell if she’s becoming possessed or if her mind is unraveling. Annie manages to garner our sympathy while also scaring the daylights out of us. Collette’s performance may’ve gone overlooked at the Oscars, but she’s earned a place in history alongside Janet Leigh, Mia Farrow, and other all-time greats.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Mckenna Grace

Katharine Isabelle

Sharni Vinson

Sheri Moon Zombie

Jessica Rothe

“Final Destination 3,” the “Black Christmas” remake, and “The Thing” prequel aren’t exactly great horror flicks. One thing they all have in common, however, is a great performance from Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Even when she’s playing Mary Todd Lincoln in a vampire movie, Winstead rises to the occasion in ways that few actresses can. While her performance in Quentin Tarantino’s “Death Proof” remains a career highlight, “10 Cloverfield Lane” cemented her place as horror royalty. Winstead shines as Michelle, a woman who finds herself trapped in a bunker of insanity. We can always see the gears turning in Michelle’s head, plotting her next move. As crazy as matters get, Winstead keeps the film grounded with her wits, humor, and guts.