Every horror movie has its staple villain, from angsty teens to crazy cannibals. We spend the whole movie waiting for the final girl to live to tell the tale. Here are the 10 best killers of horror movies.

Ghostface, Scream (1996) 

“What’s your favorite scary movie?” was the start of this 4-movie series. Ghost Face made Scream a statement in pop culture. This satirical but terrifying killer put the teen-slasher genre to the top of the charts. In 2015 the slasher TV series by the same name brought horror back to television, following the story of a teenager, Brandon James, that tormented his town for years until he finds a successor.  

Pennywise, IT (1990) 

“Want your boat, Georgie?” This all-encompassing evil being who takes the shape of your worst nightmare shows up every 27 years in Derry, Maine to torment children. Pennywise set the bar for scary clowns in pop culture, even including a remake in 2017. The clown sightings of 2016 further enforced America’s coulrophobia- the fear of clowns.  

Jigsaw, Saw (2004) 

One of the most creative killers in the horror/ slasher genre. This tricycle-riding puppet was the front for an old man who devised traps for those deserving to be tested. This is a totally different type of villain, no easy kills here. Everything he does has a purpose, making the series terrifyingly entertaining.  

Leatherface, Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) 

This 7-movie franchise has grossed over $250 million! Leatherface has no care who he kills, none of his victims really deserved it (we love an equal opportunity villain). Even his family is crazy, his grandma is basically a rotting corpse, but he didn’t let a little family dysfunction stop him!  

Jason Voorhees, Friday the 13th (1980) 

The Camp Crystal Lake killer has starred in 12 movies across 4 decades, with a body count of 158! A bunch of kids drowned him in the lake as a kid, and his rough childhood makes us sympathize with him. The simple but haunting “KI KI KI, MA MA MA” music lets you know Jason’s on the move. We can root all for Jason and his machete, most of his victims had it coming.

Freddy Krueger, Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Freddy’s one-liners and creative way of getting rid of teens made him one of the funniest and most likable villains. He was a child murderer and burned to death by the townsfolk on Springwood, Ohio, but he came back as a demonic spirit with the ability to enter kid’s dreams. When the kids died in their dreams, they died in real life, making this a real fear for many kids today!

Michael Myers Halloween (1978) 

a.k.a “the Shape”, basically created the slasher horror genre in the 1978 classic, “Halloween”. Michael killed his 17-year-old sister when he was just a kid! Then, he waited 15 years to stalk his other sister. Across his 10 films, he has killed approximately 94 people. A silent killer, Myers is truly terrifying because he sneaks around and no one has a clue. This guy has no personality and no gimmicks, just pure evilness!  

Hannibal Lecter, The Silence of the Lambs (1991) 

This serial killer cooked and ate his victims, his intelligence and charisma have captivated fans. No other mainstream villain does the things he does, what other cannibal villains do you know? He’s so oddly calm and collected, crazy smart, and no sense of empathy, so he’s able to manipulate everyone around him. What makes Hannibal so terrifying is that he’s so real, there really could be people like him out there (especially when you remember there is only one state, Idaho, that made cannibalism illegal).  

The Overlook Hotel, The Shining (1980)  

The Shining may not have the most obvious or maniacal villains, but they are based on real fears. “Cabin Fever” is a claustrophobic reaction that happens when people are isolated together for long periods of time. Jack, Wendy, and Danny are snowed into the hotel so Jack can focus on writing. However, when Jack turns sinister, his wife and son must figure out how to escape the sinister halls of the Overlook.   

Annabelle, The Conjuring Series (2013) 

Most people will argue that 21st-century horror is not nearly as good as old-school horror. The Conjuring series feeds on the fear of a lot of people, the unexplained supernatural. Annabelle, based on a REAL Raggedy Anne doll from 1970. The demon inside the doll can write and control physical objects, causing terror and harm to the people around it.