Back in 2020, I threw together one of my very first big lists when I set out to rank the greatest female horror characters. I was pretty green at list-making back then, but after stumbling across it again recently, I figured it was prime time for an update. A ton of killer new entries have come along since then, while I also updated my catalog with some previously unseen classics.
This time around, I approached it fresh, like the original list didn’t even exist. I brainstormed and ranked every character I felt deserved a spot, without peeking at the old version. I wanted to see what ranking would happen naturally: Which newer ones would force their way in? How would the old favorites reshuffle in the rankings? Would any get the axe entirely?
Once I had my new list locked in, I finally compared the two side by side… and there were some real shake-ups. I ended up adding 18 new entries, which meant cutting 18 to make room, and a few of those cuts hurt.
For each entry now, you’ll see a “Previously Ranked” note at the bottom showing exactly what happened. Did it climb, drop, stay put, or get dropped altogether? Tracking the biggest risers, fallers, and cuts was honestly a blast.
Hope y’all enjoy this refreshed take on the baddest, most iconic women in horror! Drop your own thoughts in the comments!
40. Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hedren) | The Birds (1963)
Hitchcock’s classic is a true pioneer of nature-gone-wrong horror, with it deciding to fight back. At the center of the chaos is Melanie Daniels, a stylish, quick-witted San Francisco socialite played with effortless charm by Tippi Hedren in her breakout role. Melanie starts as a playful, somewhat privileged prankster, but as the bird attacks begin, she transforms from a glamorous outsider into the film’s resilient heart. She is resourceful, brave, and deeply protective.
One of the film’s greatest strengths is Hedren’s performance. She blends likable warmth and dry humor as she endures this wild phenomenon. Tippi makes you root for Melanie every step of the way, as it’s hard not to be captivated by her as she navigates the film’s unexplained apocalypse.
Previous Ranking: #30
39. Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) | The Exorcist (1973)
Few things are more devastating than watching your child suffer while you’re powerless to stop it. It’s a living nightmare no parent should endure, and no movie captured that helpless feeling like William Friedkin’s classic. Chris MacNeil is a successful Hollywood actress and devoted single mother to her 12-year-old daughter, Regan. Once Regan begins showing odd behavior, Chris starts as a rational skeptic. She consults doctors, psychiatrists, even priests, refusing to accept the supernatural at first, but as every medical explanation fails and her daughter’s body becomes a battleground for pure evil, Chris’s desperation turns to unfiltered maternal fury.
Ellen Burstyn delivers one of the most iconic, heart-wrenching performances in horror history as she nails every layer of the loving parent. The frazzled exhaustion of sleepless nights, the terror in her eyes during the crucifix scene, the quiet sobs as she begs priests for help, and the resolve to do whatever it takes. As a good parent, she even invites the demon into herself in the film’s climax to save her child. Burstyn gives one of the most relatable performances during the most dire of circumstances.
Previous Ranking: #51
38. Santanico Pandemonium (Salma Hayek) | From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
In Robert Rodriguez’s wild genre-bending flick, the outlaw road-trip crime thriller grinds to a screeching halt the second Salma Hayek steps onto the stage as the vampire queen of the Titty Twister. Words barely do her justice: sexy, vicious, and hypnotic. Santanico Pandemonium owns every frame of her brief but legendary five-minute appearance.
Selma Hayek’s performance is electric and sultry, with confidence oozing as her eyes lock on the camera, like she owns your soul. Selma maximizes her short few minutes of screen time, making it completely unforgettable for every male viewer. “Lowly dog. Bow your head. Kneel and worship at the feet of Santanico! Pandemonium!”
Previous Ranking: #69
37. Mrs. Carmody (Marcia Gay Harden) | The Mist (2007)
It’s rare that a character is as universally hated as Mrs. Carmody. She struck a chord with everyone because we all know a person who would instantly become Mrs. Carmody the moment all hell breaks loose. Marcia Gay Harden did such a great job at being so detestable that her character became more of a threat than the Lovecraftian-type monsters that were wiping out humanity. She was so awful that it would make you want to cuddle up next to one of those flying death monsters rather than spend another moment locked up with her while she spewed her religious nonsense.
Previous Ranking: #44
36. Aunt Gladys (Amy Madigan) | Weapons (2025)
Weapons begins as a baffling small-town puzzle with seventeen kids from the same elementary class vanishing in the night at exactly 2:17 a.m. As the mystery swirls, it slowly begins to point at one deeply unsettling figure. The eccentric Aunt Gladys, who turns out to be a parasitic witch masquerading as a dutiful relative to the lone kid who didn’t disappear. She shows up unannounced with thick glasses, a bright red wig with baby bangs, heavy makeup, and that unnervingly cheerful demeanor.
Amy Madigan absolutely sinks her teeth into the role with a performance that’s equal parts eccentric grandmotherly warmth and creeping menace. She shifts from syrupy concern to cold threats in a heartbeat, whispering promises of harm. She’s a subtle, everyday terror whose witchcraft feels personal and deeply insidious with metaphors of addiction, control, and generational rot (Cregger has called her autobiographical in part, rooted in childhood experiences with alcoholism). By the end, Aunt Gladys has become an instant horror icon, infiltrating pop culture unlike a horror character has in a while.
Previous Ranking: New Entry
35. Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox) | Scream (Franchise)
Gale Weathers is one of my personal favorites in the Scream franchise because of her strong, ambitious personality and significant character development. In Scream, Gale is introduced as a ruthless, career-driven journalist willing to exploit the horror around her for personal gain, but she gradually evolves into a more empathetic and courageous figure. This evolution makes her more complex and relatable, showing her growth as she faces life-threatening situations. Her sharp wit, biting sarcasm, and ability to deliver humor while in the middle of terror add to her appeal, making her stand out from typical horror characters. Gale is also incredibly resourceful, often using her investigative instincts, intelligence, and courage to survive multiple encounters with Ghostface and contribute to solving the mystery. Side note, although she’s great at helping catch the killer, this woman should never give hair advice. Scream 3, anyone??
-Ricky Ratt
Previous Ranking: New Entry
34. Suzy (Jessica Harper) | Suspiria (1977)
Suspiria is the most recognizable Italian horror film for several reasons: Argento, the colors, the kills, and Jessica Harper as Suzy Bannion. Harper’s doe-eyed and frightened ballet dancer, Suzy, is instantly recognizable to any horror fan, and even most non-horror fans have seen her petrified mug a time or two. The great thing about Suzy is that she is a “final girl” who could save herself but wasn’t some badass. She is often fragile but never gives up and keeps fighting to unravel a dangerous mystery.
Previous Ranking: #43
33. Kayako Saeki (Takako Fuji) | Ju-on/The Grudge (Franchise)
Kayako is one of the most well-known onryō in horror history. The vengeful spirit was born from a brutal murder-suicide that traps anyone who enters their house in an unstoppable cycle of rage and death. Takako Fuji plays Kayako to eerie perfection across the original Ju-On films and the first two Grudge entries, crawling down stairs with that signature death-rattle croak, stringy black hair obscuring her pale face. Turning a once-quiet housewife into one of horror’s most iconic ghosts.
Fans adore Kayako because she embodies something deeply emotional and culturally distinct: her curse isn’t random or demonic in the Western zombie/demon sense; it’s rooted in raw human feelings that fester into an infectious grudge anyone can catch just by stepping into the wrong place. As Takako Fuji herself said in interviews, “People’s feelings are into it. I think that’s something new to America. I think that’s maybe what makes it scary.” The horror feels personal. Fuji’s physical performance makes Kayako feel both tragic and terrifying.
Previous Ranking: #33
32. The Coven (Fairuza Balk, Robin Tunney, Neve Campbell, Rachel True) | The Craft (1996)
Four outcast teenage girls at a Los Angeles Catholic high school come together to form a powerful coven of witches, channeling the spirit of Manon to cast spells, seek revenge, and reshape their painful lives. However, their unity proves as destructive as it is beautiful when power corrupts. When they unite in ritual, calling the corners, invoking Manon, and completing their circle, their combined power feels intoxicating and liberating, allowing them to overcome death’s shadow, their low self-worth, and the everyday high-school horrors that ’90s girls connected with deeply. Fairuza Balk’s intense, unhinged Nancy often steals the show, but the ensemble shines when their sisterhood is in full force. It’s magical when they support each other and terrifying when jealousy and insecurity fracture their bond.
Previous Ranking: #34
31. Margaret White (Piper Laurie) | Carrie (1976)
The true monster of Carrie isn’t the telekinetic teen unleashing hell at the prom. It’s her mother. Margaret White, the fanatically religious widow whose grip on reality has always been razor-thin and whose lifelong abuse has turned their home into a prison of shame and scripture. Piper Laurie’s unhinged intensity earned her one of the rare horror Oscar nominations for her performance. Margaret starts as a seemingly devout, overprotective single mom, but her control quickly reveals itself as pure psychological torture. She would lock Carrie in the infamous “prayer closet” as punishment for any perceived transgression, beating her with a Bible, screaming about the devil, and forcing her to recite endless prayers while denying her a normal teenage life.
Piper Laurie is phenomenal with her wide eyes, trembling voice, and sudden switches from soft maternal whispers to shrieking fanaticism. The scariest part is that this seems all too human as she’s the real curse in Carrie’s life, the one who plants the seeds of destruction long before the prom night bloodbath.
Previous Ranking: #14
30. Stevie Wayne (Adrienne Barbeau) | The Fog (1980)
Did Adrienne Barbeau start the sexy, sultry DJ thing, or was that around before 1980? Even if she didn’t, she sure perfected it for horror, turning a small-town lighthouse radio host into one of the genre’s most memorable and capable heroines. Stevie operates KAB from her isolated lighthouse perch, her raspy, seductive voice drifting over the airwaves with calm authority as she spins records, keeping watch over the foggy coastal town. When the vengeful ghosts begin to plunder her peaceful city, Stevie becomes the town’s early-warning system and emotional anchor. As the spectral fog rolls in and bodies start dropping, she pieces together the mystery through old logs and survivor accounts while she stays cool under pressure.
Barbeau brings Stevie layers of sultry confidence and unflinching resolve. Her voice never cracks, even as the fog smothers the town and the ghosts claw at her door. She’s the beacon of salvation, the one who sees the truth when others panic. It’s tough not to fall head over heels for this sexy DJ.
Previous Ranking: #22
29. Carol Anne (Heather O’Rourke) | Poltergeist (Franchise)
“They’re hereeee.” We have all said that great line in some form or fashion. The line was delivered by the adorable and gone too soon Heather O’Rourke. Poltergeist is considered one of the best horror movies of all time, with several unforgettable shots, but none as memorable as the little blonde-headed girl sitting in front of a static screen letting everyone know that the evil had arrived. Carol Anne and that quote are two of the most iconic things in horror history.
Previous Ranking: #16
28. Juno (Natalie Mendoza) | The Descent (2005)
Juno Kaplan may not be the central survivor like Sarah, but she’s easily the most memorable and polarizing forces even among the vicious creatures lurking in the cave. Physically, she’s a total badass, snapping crawler necks with her bare hands, leading charges through tight squeezes, and refusing to abandon anyone in the initial chaos. Emotionally, though, she is deeply flawed. She has a troubling secret sure to tear the group of friends apart and mislead the entire group by taking them to an unmapped cave that has doomed them all when the entrance collapses.
Natalie Mendoza nails the complexity of this character. Juno is brash and full of confidence, but Mendoza shows the cracks as her desperation for survival begins to creep out. You despise her deceit and choices, but damn if you can’t admire her sheer grit and refusal to break, making her one of the most compelling, divisive anti-heroines in horror.
Previous Ranking: #40
27. Wendy Torrance (Shelley Duvall) | The Shining (1980)
If there was ever a visual representation of trauma on screen, it would be Wendy Torrance in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. Shelley Duvall plays the dutiful wife to an abusive husband who stands by her man as long as she can when he begins to descend into utter madness. Her wide-eyed looks of horror throughout The Shining showcased Duvall’s amazing talent. Jack Nicholson’s performance usually gets most of the spotlight, but Duvall was the perfect opposite to help make The Shining one of the greatest horror movies of all time.
Previous Ranking: #36
26. Angela Baker (Felissa Rose) | Sleepaway Camp (1983)
This ’80s film isn’t as famous as other slashers of that time, but it does have one of the most famous plot twists in horror history. Felissa Rose’s awkward and androgynous portrayal of young summer camper Angela Baker is about as perfect as it gets. Trauma and upbringing have done a horrible number on Angela as we experience one of the most complex characters in horror history. For those who haven’t seen the film, I can not express enough to go in as blind as possible. And for those who have seen it, you know exactly what I am talking about with one of the greatest “wtf?” moments in movie history.
Previous Ranking: #24
25. Trash (Linnea Quigley) | The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
If you were a young horror fiend in the 80s, then Trash made an impression on you for, ahem, multiple reasons. One, your eyes instantly gravitate toward her the moment she is on screen because of her red-haired punk rock look that was so 1980s. Next, she is just a unique character in the greatest zombie movie ever made (yeah, I said it), who just so happens to be a twisted exhibitionist that dreams of meeting her fate by being ripped apart by dirty old men. Trash is fascinated by death and the afterlife. That fascination gets her hot. So hot, she needs to rip off her clothes and dance naked through a cemetery like there’s no tomorrow. No matter how many times I watch this movie, the line “Trash is taking off her clothes again!” still makes me chuckle.
Previous Ranking: #38
24. Sadako/Samara (various) | Ringu/The Ring (Franchise)
2000s horror was practically owned by pale little dead girls with long black hair draped over their faces, but none became more iconic, or endlessly parodied, than Sadako Yamamura from Hideo Nakata’s Ringu and its sequels. Born from a cursed videotape that kills anyone who watches it exactly seven days later, Sadako is the vengeful onryō spirit of a young girl brutally murdered by her own father after her psychic powers and tragic origins turned her into a walking curse. Rie Ino (and later Hinako Saeki in the sequels) embodies Sadako with chilling minimalism. No dialogue, no elaborate makeup, just that slow, deliberate crawl from the well, stringy wet hair obscuring her face, jerky, unnatural movements, and those wide, unblinking eyes that stare straight through you.
The single, unforgettable image of Sadako emerging from the TV screen in a burst of static, contorting her body impossibly as she steps into the real world, remains one of the most seared-in-your-brain moments in horror history. It spawned countless memes, parodies, and imitators. She’s the embodiment of viral dread, a ghost who doesn’t need to chase you because the curse does the work. She’s a sobering reminder of how technology and unresolved trauma can birth something that spreads like a virus.
Previous Ranking: #26
23. Ginny Field (Amy Steel) | Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)
She’s one of Friday the 13th’s most popular final girls in the franchise for a reason. Ginny Field proves that cool-headed intelligence and psychological savvy can triumph over brute force where brawn alone fails. An aspiring child psychologist working as a summer-camp counselor at the reopened Crystal Lake, Ginny exudes tough, no-nonsense moxie from the jump. As Jason Voorhees makes his first full-on iconic appearance, she survives longer than her fellow counselors by staying alert and using her surroundings instead of panicking. Her real genius comes in the finale when she is cornered in the old Voorhees house. Ginny pieces together Jason’s mommy issues from the shrine to Pamela and turns it against him
Amy Steel brings Ginny to life with sharp charisma and genuine warmth. She’s relatable, resourceful, and emotionally intelligent, making her the perfect counter to Jason’s raw rage. It’s impossible not to root for her as she becomes the first to weaponize his deepest trauma, cementing Ginny as one of the franchise’s sharpest, most enduring survivors as a standout in slasher history.
Previous Ranking: #21
22. Helen/Anna (Isabelle Adjani) | Possession (1981)
Adjani never had a chance at an Oscar nomination, but I don’t think there’s a more fearless performance captured on screen. What she puts herself through is nothing short of awe-inspiring. For years, I actually forgot this was a horror film. I completely forgot about the horror elements because all I could remember was Adjani’s performance. She made me forget about a tentacle monster. That’s how good she is in Possession. In this haunting and enigmatic film, Adjani delivers a mesmerizing portrayal of Anna, a woman caught in the grips of a descent into madness and obsession. What sets her performance apart is her fearless commitment to embodying the extremes of human emotion.
Whether she’s unleashing a primal scream of anguish, engaging in a frenzied dance of madness, or collapsing into a state of abject vulnerability, Adjani holds nothing back, delivering a performance that is as emotionally raw as it is artistically daring. Her portrayal of Anna is a masterclass in psychological horror, challenging audiences to confront the darkest recesses of the human psyche with unflinching honesty and undeniable craftsmanship. Her performance, especially the freakout scene in the subway, should be taught in film schools or played on a loop in an art museum.
-Sailor Monsoon
Previous Ranking: New Entry
21. Amelia (Essie Davis) | The Babadook (2014)
Amelia Vanek is a grieving widow and single mother barely holding her life together six years after her husband died in a car crash while on the way to deliver their son, Samuel. She’s exhausted, barely sleeping, snapping at everyone, and desperately trying to keep Samuel’s increasingly erratic, violent behavior from swallowing them both whole. The more Samuel spirals, the more Amelia isolates herself, her grief and resentment transforming into something monstrous. She screams and neglects her child while even contemplating the unthinkable.
Essie Davis delivers one of the all-time great horror performances as this deeply imperfect mother who starts brittle and frayed, descends into near-madness, yet refuses to surrender. The film’s genius is in making the Babadook not just a monster, but Amelia’s unprocessed trauma personified, forcing her to confront the darkness instead of burying it. Amelia isn’t some martyr or a final girl who slays evil. She’s a real, flawed woman who chooses to fight through depression, rage, and exhaustion to save her relationship with her son.
Previous Ranking: #29
60-41 | 20-1
What do you think of the selection so far? Who are some of your favorite female horror characters? Maybe they will show up further on the list!
