Top 20 Greatest Horror Movie Characters of All Time

“It” franchise (1990, 2017-)

Every generation, it seems, has an “It.” For older horror fans, it’s Tim Curry’s portrayal of Pennywise in the 1990 adaptation of Stephen King’s novel. Modern audiences, meanwhile, have been thrilled by Bill Skarsgård’s embodiment of this evil entity that takes the shape of a creepy, malevolent clown. They’re both great, with CGI and practical make-up effects utilized to induce the proper atmosphere behind the performances. Pennywise seems to be eternal, an interdimensional force of evil that preys on fear, and stops at nothing to ensure total nightmare fuel for anybody that gazes upon that scary face.

“Scream” franchise (1996-)

The slasher movie genre possesses a long history of memorable “final girls,” smart and capable female protagonists that make it to the end, and defeat the killer. Sidney Prescott from the “Scream” films embodied that archetype for the modern era, and was also able to buck the puritanical shackles that formerly held down many “final girls.” Prescott is in charge of her sexuality, and the “final girl” status bestowed upon her isn’t dependent upon any “virginal” status. Instead, it’s Prescott’s resourcefulness, strength and determination that makes her the bane of just about anyone who dares to take on the mantle of Ghostface.

“The Thing” (1982)

John Carpenter’s reimagining of 1951’s “The Thing from Another World” and its 1938 source novel “Who Goes There?” possessed a very memorable ensemble cast, including Wilford Brimley and Keith David. It’s Kurt Russell’s performance as R.J. MacReady that anchors the whole film together, however. He’s a de facto leader who takes it upon himself to uncover what The Thing is, and who’s next upon its assimilation checklist. Russell’s gruff demeanor and steadiness under pressure is a rock for the audience as things gradually become more dangerous and chaotic. Meanwhile, the film’s final shot is a beautifully ambiguous coda to all of the drippy mayhem that we’ve experienced up until that point.

“Get Out” (2017)

Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” may not have reinvented the wheel when it was released back in 2017, but it certainly slapped a fresh coat of paint upon horror cinema’s established “body snatcher” tropes. The film also possessed a likable protagonist in the form of Daniel Kaluuya’s “Chris Washington,” an everyman sort of character that’s about to enter the fight of his life. Washington remains optimistic in the face of some very awkward and strange situations, and he’s also resourceful enough to emerge out the other side, after being betrayed by his girlfriend, Rose Armitage. Kaluuya’s facial expressions in particular sell his character’s desperation at points, underling the emotional resonance behind “Get Out” and its narrative.

“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” franchise (1974-)

There are few fictional horror tales as scary as reality, and it was the story of a real-life killer, Ed Gein, that inspired the creation of Leatherface from “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” franchise. The character has progressed a bit throughout the series’ lengthy run, with his iconic debut in Tobe Hooper’s 1974 masterpiece setting the stage for the Sawyer family and their bloody legacy. Future installments saw Leatherface adopt tones that could vary from sympathetic to the comedic, although this hulking meat-cutter was usually established as a victim of abuse from his overbearing family. Leatherface’s status as a horror icon remains assured through it all, a harrowing character whose dedication to the blade underlines one enduring sentiment: The Saw Is Family.

“Hereditary” (2018)

The cultural landscape of horror has shifted over the last decade or so, with more and more prestige actors dipping their toes into the medium. This has given the genre an air of respectability heretofore unseen during its lifetime. An existence that’s primarily been defined by lucrative slasher sleaze, grindhouse exploitation, and cult cinema fandom. Toni Collette’s portrayal of Annie Graham in “Hereditary” was a great example of this coming-of-age, an actor that lent her enviable talents to Ari Aster’s update of well-worn possession tropes. Collette sells the feelings of grief and trauma that threaten to break through the surface of Graham’s composed veneer. Meanwhile, the climax of “Hereditary” goes for broke as Graham’s possession is complete, and total chaos erupts.

“The Exorcist” franchise (1973-)

It speaks volumes to the enduring spirit (pun intended) of “The Exorcist” that this horror classic remains so scary, despite its thematic elements being endlessly parodied over the years. We’ve all seen other demonic possession movies that adapt the movements and cadence of Jason Miller’s performance as Father Damien Karras. Yet, the original “Exorcist” remains so mesmerizing and compelling, thanks to the humanity Miller brings to this performance. Karras is a man with a crisis of faith, as well as overarching stressors and anxieties over the death of his mother. The demon Pazuzu seeks to exploit this at every turn, yet we the audience marvel as Karras retains control, and even sacrifices himself, so that young Regan MacNeil may escape from the demon’s clutches.

“Child’s Play” franchise (1988-)

We may not actually see much of Brad Dourif’s performance as occult-obsessed serial killer Charles Lee Ray in “Child’s Play.” This antagonist, after all, is shot by Chicago detective Mike Norris and perishes shortly after transferring his spirit into a children’s doll. That said, Chucky the Killer Doll probably wouldn’t be the horror icon he is today without Dourif’s inimitable talent as a character actor. His vocal mannerisms, profanity and affinity for longform ranting/raving is perfect for Chucky’s unconquerable anger and evil. Elsewhere, the first film in particular actually does a great job in leaving room for doubt as to whether or not Ray’s voodoo spell was successful in the first place. It’s classic stuff.

“Jaws” (1975)

There are few genre fans out there that would argue against Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” as being the perfect summer movie. The film’s legacy isn’t just that of a blockbuster, however, since this adaptation of Peter Benchley’s novel also possesses so many likable and interesting characters. Roy Scheider brought warmth and pathos to his portrayal of Amity Island’s Police Chief Martin Brody. Meanwhile, Robert Shaw’s Sam Quint is a grizzled and irascible man who takes to task the capture of a giant, killer shark. Shaw’s speech about the USS Indianapolis is one of those movie monologues that grabs you by the throat and never lets go. It’s this emotional connection that makes his death at the movie’s climax all the more difficult to watch.

“Saw” franchise (2004-)

The early millennium wasn’t exactly fertile ground for a new horror franchise icon to emerge. This makes the rise of John Kramer, a.k.a. Jigsaw, all the more impressive. It was the first “Saw” film from 2004 that signified the rise of a new horror subgenre. Yet, Tobin Bell’s performance as a cancer-riddled serial killer provided a face to the carnage, as well as a perverse sense of morality. His Jigsaw inserts methods for his victims to potentially escape their deadly predicaments. This is providing, of course, that they retain what Jigsaw refers to as “the survival instinct.”

“Evil Dead” franchise (1981-)

It’s a question that’s commonly asked about well-known, established movie heroes. “Do you think Character X could’ve been played by anyone other than Actor A?” And sometimes, the answer is “yes,” but that’s definitely NOT the case when it comes to Ashley “Ash” Williams of the “Evil Dead” franchise. That’s because Bruce Campbell has embodied the role since 1981, reinventing a one-time horror protagonist into an ass-kicking, quip-spewing slayer of the deadites. Campbell’s done great work in other films, as well as on T.V., usually in a supporting capacity. However, the humor and charm he brings to Ash is something that we’ll probably never see again in our lifetimes.

“Carrie” (1976)

The character of Carrie White has been portrayed by a number of actors after Sissy Spacek put her stamp on the role. Brian De Palma’s 1976 adaptation of Stephen King’s novel cast a wide shadow, however. It’s Spacek who’s primarily attached to the role today. And with good reason, thanks to the performance’s doe-eyed innocence; an innate likability that makes what happens to Carrie all the more tragic. It speaks volumes as to the quality of “Carrie” that we routinely hope things are going to turn out differently for its lead, even though we know full well the horrors that are about to unfold. Carrie White may burn in hell, but her cinematic legacy will live on forever.

“Halloween” franchise (1978-)

This all-time slasher classic possesses a wonderful push and pull between its protagonist and antagonist. We have, on one hand, perhaps the greatest final girl of the entire horror medium, Laurie Strode. Then, in the other corner, we have The Boogeyman, Michael Myers himself, a towering icon. We admit that it does hurt the character slightly that there’s no one actor in particular that’s known for portraying Myers. This comes down to the many people that have either donned the mask or held the knife over the years. That said, Myers’ relentless methodology and apparent immortality make him tons of fun to watch, while the mystery of his youth is something that’s been explored in sequels, re-quels and reboots. And it never gets old!

“The Shining” (1980)

Stephen King notoriously disliked director Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of his novel, “The Shining.” King’s frustration was so strong, in fact, that he helmed his own version for television back in 1997. It was actor Steven Weber that portrayed the doomed Jack Torrance in that film, with a script that made the character’s descent into madness and possession more doomed and tragic. Kubrick’s version, for its part, hung its hat upon a definitive performance from Jack Nicholson, one that eschews likability in favor of menace and a barely-there fuse for potential violence. Both performances are good, but it’s the atmosphere and impenetrable darkness of Kubrick’s vision that remains the “Shining” to which everyone turns when they want a good fright.

“A Nightmare on Elm Street” franchise (1984-)

It’s a classic schoolyard debate. A “who you got?” scenario with only one winner. Were you a Freddy kind of person? Or did your heart belong to Mrs. Voorhees’ baby boy? On one hand, it seems perverse for unrepentant slasher villains like Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees to retain such a prestigious place within the pop culture zeitgeist. Krueger in particular was a killer who escaped justice, only to be immolated by an angry local mob. Why, then, did his character host chat lines, release a record album and get to spout off one-liners quicker than you can say “nightmare?” “It was the eighties” doesn’t really cut it as an answer. Perhaps we must simply realize that they both morbidly captured our imaginations.

Various

The Universal Studios depiction of Frankenstein’s Monster may be the most iconic one today, but the first filmed version of Mary Shelley’s classic novel actually dated back to one produced by Thomas Edison back in 1910. The Monster has taken on many different cinematic looks since then, from Boris Karloff in the aforementioned Universal Picture, to Sir Christopher Lee for Hammer Films. We just love this character, and we also love to interpret the motivations for his creation, as well, with some critics claiming the Monster is a metaphor for everything from race to wealth disparagement. At its core, however, Frankenstein’s Monster is a tragic being that didn’t ask for life, is rejected by a Bride and, to paraphrase his own words: “belongs dead.”

“Alien” franchise (1979-)

She was a tough, female badass before that cinematic archetype was codified. A trailblazer for representation in horror and science fiction who only needs to be known by one name: Ripley. Sure, it’s Ellen Ripley, if we’re being formal, but this heroine of the “Alien” franchise is basically a household name at this point in horror history. It also speaks highly of Sigourney Weaver’s performance in the role that the character’s gender is never brought into question when it comes to capability. Ripley’s opinions and actions are respected by her peers, and her judgment is sound. The screenplay from Dan O’Bannon should be commended for writing Ripley so well that the character’s natural leadership qualities simply rise to the forefront, making her a true hero.

Various

The character creation from author Thomas Harris has perhaps had the best luck when it comes to on-screen performances. Hannibal Lecter basically has a perfect score of portrayals, from Brian Cox in 1986’s “Manhunter” to Sir Anthony Hopkins’ bravura performances in both “Red Dragon” and “The Silence of the Lambs.” Meanwhile, both Mads Mikkelsen and Gaspard Ulliel put more modern spins on Lecter’s character, further enriching him for fans of Harris’ source material. It all comes down to “The Silence of the Lambs” for many horror fans, however, thanks not only to Hopkins’ work, but also his chemistry with co-star Jodie Foster as FBI agent Clarice Starling.

“Psycho” franchise (1960-)

We’ve mentioned throughout this list the existence of certain, tragic backstories for some of our favorite horror villains. There is, however, perhaps no performance more palpably tragic than that of Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates. The actor legitimately sells the internal struggle and ultimate frustration of simply not being able to control his actions. This is showcased particularly well in the underrated “Psycho” sequels, where Perkins questions what is normal within himself, and if he can ever, truly change. Meanwhile, that performance in Alfred Hitchcock’s original “Psycho” is one for the ages, a chilling reminder from one of horror’s true, golden age classics.

Various

This Lord of the Vampires is another horror movie character with a rich history, one that dates all the way back to the silent era. Count Orlok from 1922’s “Nosferatu” serves as a captivating debut example of the character’s appearance on film, while Bela Lugosi codified Count Dracula’s black-and-white style for Universal Studios back in 1931. Meanwhile, Sir Christopher Lee served as perhaps the definitive version of the bloodsucker during his tenure at Hammer Films, delivering a stately-yet-menacing Dracula for the Technicolor generation. More actors stepped into the Count’s shoes to wondrous effect, from Jack Palance and Frank Langella to Gary Oldman in “Bram Stoker’s Dracula.” All of them remind us of one thing: how much we love this stuff.