The Most Frightening Movie Character, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the movie character you think is the most frightening!

Updated on Apr 15, 2024 06:43

Imagine settling in for a movie night, the lights dimmed, and a chilling character appears on screen, setting the tone for a night full of jumps and shivers. Some of these characters linger in our minds long after the credits roll, haunting our dreams and even shaping our pop culture discussions. It's these memorable encounters that make ranking the most frightening movie characters not only thrilling but practically essential for any horror fan. By voting for the characters that send the most shivers down your spine, you contribute to a dynamic tally that helps other viewers know who tops the list as the most terrifying. This process also sparks lively debates and discussions around why certain characters resonate more in terms of fear factor. So, cast your vote and see how your scariest picks compare to those of others!

What Is the Most Frightening Movie Character?

1

74
votes
Hannibal Lecter (The Silence of the Lambs)

Thomas Harris

A brilliant psychiatrist and serial killer who preys on his victims' fears and weaknesses. He is intelligent, charming, and utterly ruthless.
Hannibal Lecter is a highly terrifying movie character known for his intelligence, cannibalistic tendencies, and manipulative nature. He is a fictional character from the 1988 novel 'The Silence of the Lambs' written by Thomas Harris. Lecter also appears in various film adaptations, with the most iconic portrayal by Sir Anthony Hopkins in the 1991 film adaptation of the same name.

Intelligence: Genius-level intellect

Cannibalism: Known for consuming human flesh

Manipulation: Master manipulator and skilled psychologist

Psychopathy: Diagnosed as a psychopath

Escape Artist: Escaped from custody multiple times
2

28
votes
Yike665 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Freddy Krueger (A Nightmare on Elm Street)

Wes Craven

A supernatural killer who can enter his victims' dreams and kill them in their sleep. He is sadistic, relentless, and has a twisted sense of humor.
Freddy Krueger is a fictional character and the main antagonist in the horror movie franchise 'A Nightmare on Elm Street'. He is a severely burned and disfigured serial killer who haunts the dreams of teenagers and kills them in their sleep.

First Appearance: A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Physical Appearance: Burnt, scarred face with a glove of razors on his right hand

Backstory: Freddy was a child murderer who was burned alive by angry parents

Dream Manipulation: Can enter and control the dreams of his victims

Invulnerability: Can only be defeated in the dream world
3

10
votes
Stanley Polkinghorne Andrew (1878 or 1879 - 1964) · Public domain

Michael Myers (Halloween)

A man who has been institutionalized since childhood for murdering his sister. He escapes and returns to his hometown to continue his killing spree. He is silent, emotionless, and seemingly unstoppable.
Michael Myers is a fictional character and the main antagonist in the Halloween film series. He is a silent and relentless serial killer who escapes from a mental institution on Halloween night to stalk and murder his victims. Michael wears a white mask and a dark jumpsuit, creating an eerie and chilling appearance. He is known for his superhuman strength, endurance, and resilience, making him difficult to stop or kill. Despite being shot, stabbed, and burned, he continually returns to wreak havoc. Michael is driven by an insatiable urge to kill and exhibits no remorse or emotion. His character instills fear in the audience through his unyielding pursuit and cold, emotionless demeanor.

First Appearance: Halloween (1978)

Height: 6'5" (196 cm)

Weapon of Choice: Kitchen Knife

Kills: Estimated over 70 victims

Mask: White William Shatner mask painted over
4

15
votes
Pennywise the Dancing Clown (IT)

A shapeshifting entity that preys on children's fears and can take on many forms, including a clown. He is sadistic, manipulative, and feeds on children's fears.
Pennywise the Dancing Clown, also known as IT, is a terrifying character featured in the movie adaptation of the Stephen King novel of the same name. Pennywise is a shape-shifting entity that primarily appears as a clown to prey upon the fears of its victims. The character is known for its iconic red hair, eerie smile, and colorful clown attire.

Origin: IT novel by Stephen King

First Appearance: IT (1990 TV miniseries)

Portrayed By: Tim Curry (1990), Bill Skarsgård (2017, 2019)

Occupation: Fear-inducing entity

Form: Shape-shifting clown
5

17
votes
Leatherface (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre)

A chainsaw-wielding maniac who wears a mask made of human skin. He is brutal, unpredictable, and has a disturbing obsession with his family's meat business.
Leatherface is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the horror film 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'. He is a disturbed and deranged individual who wears a mask made of human skin and wields a chainsaw as his weapon of choice. Leatherface is known for his terrifying physical appearance and gruesome acts of violence. He is often depicted as mentally unstable and driven by a twisted sense of family loyalty.

Name: Leatherface

First Appearance: 'The Texas Chain Saw Massacre' (1974)

Physical Appearance: Large and imposing figure, wears a mask made of human skin

Weapon: Chainsaw

Motivation: Driven by a twisted sense of family loyalty
6

9
votes
Paramount Pictures · Public domain

Norman Bates (Psycho)

A young man who runs a motel and has a complicated relationship with his mother. He is charming, polite, and seemingly harmless, but has a dark and twisted side.
Norman Bates is a terrifying movie character that appears in the film 'Psycho'. He is a deeply disturbed individual who manages a motel and exhibits a split personality. Norman Bates is known for his unsettling mannerisms and his violent tendencies.

Film: 'Psycho'

First Appearance: In the novel 'Psycho', published in 1959

Gender: Male

Occupation: Motel Manager

Personality: Split personality, disturbed
7

11
votes
Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain

Jack Torrance (The Shining)

A writer who takes a job as a caretaker at a remote hotel with his family. He becomes increasingly unstable and violent, ultimately trying to kill his wife and son.
Jack Torrance is a character from the horror film 'The Shining' released in 1980, based on the novel by Stephen King. He is portrayed as an aspiring writer and recovering alcoholic who becomes the winter caretaker of the haunted Overlook Hotel in Colorado. As the story progresses, Jack descends into madness and becomes a terrifying threat to his wife and son.

Film Release Year: 1980

Based on Novel: The Shining by Stephen King

Character's Name: Jack Torrance

Occupation: Winter caretaker

Personality: Recovering alcoholic, mentally unstable
8

12
votes
Regan MacNeil (The Exorcist)

William Peter Blatty

A young girl who becomes possessed by a demon. She exhibits extreme behavior, including violent outbursts and speaking in tongues. The special effects used to create her possessed state are still terrifying today.
Regan MacNeil is the central character in the 1973 horror film 'The Exorcist'. She is a 12-year-old girl possessed by an evil entity, which turns her into a horrifying and terrifying figure.

Movie Title: The Exorcist

Year: 1973

Character Name: Regan MacNeil

Age: 12

Description: Possessed by an evil entity
9

13
votes
Sadako Yamamura (The Ring)

A vengeful spirit who kills anyone who watches a cursed videotape. She crawls out of televisions and has a creepy, unsettling appearance.
Sadako Yamamura, also known as Samara Morgan in the American adaptation 'The Ring', is a horrifying antagonist from the horror movie franchise. She is a vengeful ghost with long, dark hair covering her face, and she is known for crawling out of televisions to haunt and ultimately kill those who watch her cursed videotape. Sadako exudes an eerie presence and instills a deep sense of terror in the audience.

First Appearance: Sadako first appeared in the novel 'Ring' by Koji Suzuki, published in 1991.

Film Adaptations: Sadako has been featured in numerous film adaptations, including the Japanese 'Ring' films and the American 'The Ring' series.

Curse: Anyone who watches Sadako's cursed videotape receives a phone call, and within a week, they are doomed to die as Sadako emerges from their television.

Long Hair: Sadako's long, disheveled hair obscures her face,, adding to her unsettling appearance.

Psychic Abilities: Sadako possesses psychic powers, including telekinesis, telepathy, and the ability to control and manipulate objects.
10

5
votes
Damien Thorn (The Omen)

Richard Donner (Director)

A young boy who is revealed to be the Antichrist. He exhibits supernatural powers and has a chilling, malevolent presence.
Damien Thorn is a fictional character from the movie 'The Omen' released in 1976. He is portrayed as a young boy who is revealed to be the Antichrist. Damien is known for his sinister presence, manipulative behavior, and his ability to bring about destruction and death wherever he goes.

First Appearance: 'The Omen' (1976)

Portrayed By: Harvey Spencer Stephens

Age: 5 years old

Parentage: Adopted son of Robert and Katherine Thorn

Mark of the Beast: Birthmark on his scalp in the shape of the number '666'

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Ranking factors for frightening movie character

Appearance

The character's physical appearance, including makeup, costumes, and special effects, should be unsettling or disturbing. This creates an immediate visual impact on the viewer and sets the tone for the character's scariness.
Behavior

The actions and mannerisms of the character should be creepy, menacing, or unpredictable. This can involve their body language, the way they move, their facial expressions, and any quirks or unique traits they have that make them stand out.
Motivation and backstory

The reason why the character is frightening should be clear and compelling. This could involve a traumatic or disturbing backstory that explains their behavior, or a mysterious aura that leaves the viewer wondering what drives the character.
Relatability

A frightening character becomes even scarier when there are elements of their personality or backstory that the viewer can relate to or empathize with. This can create a sense of unease, as it suggests that "ordinary" people are also capable of becoming monsters.
Abilities and skills

A scary movie character may possess unique abilities or skills that make them more formidable and terrifying. This could include supernatural powers, inhuman strength or agility, or expertise in certain forms of combat or weaponry.
On-screen presence

The character should have a strong, captivating presence whenever they appear on screen, exuding an aura of menace and foreboding. Their scenes should be memorable and impactful, generating a sense of dread whenever they are on-screen.
Persistence and tenacity

A frightening character should feel relentless and unstoppable. This can involve their dedication to their cause, their ability to survive seemingly fatal encounters, or their constant pursuit of their victims.
Psychological impact

A truly frightening character can leave a lasting psychological impact on the viewer. This could involve playing on a person's deepest fears, instilling a sense of paranoia, or creating a haunting and unforgettable image that stays with the audience well after the movie is over.
Unpredictability

A scary character should keep the viewer on edge by behaving in unexpected ways and never revealing their true intentions. This uncertainty can create tension and make the character even more frightening, as the audience never knows their next move.
Influence on other characters

The frightening character's effect on other characters in the movie can help to reinforce their scariness. This could involve other characters being terrified of them, or the villain having a twisted and manipulative control over other characters in the story.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most frightening movie character. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or Character is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

2191 views
196 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each Character once every 24 hours. The rank of each Character is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most frightening movie character

Horror movies have been a staple of the film industry for decades, and one of the key elements that keeps audiences coming back for more is the terrifying characters that populate these stories. Whether it's a supernatural entity, a slasher killer, or a monstrous creature, the most frightening movie characters are the ones that get under our skin and keep us up at night. From classics like Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees to newer villains like Pennywise and Annabelle, the horror genre has no shortage of terrifying characters to choose from. But what makes a movie character truly frightening? Is it their appearance, their actions, or their backstory? At StrawPoll, we asked our community to weigh in on this question and help us determine the most frightening movie character of all time. Whether you're a horror fanatic or a casual movie-goer, we invite you to join the conversation and share your thoughts on what makes a movie character truly terrifying.