Ranking: Most iconic horror movie characters of all time

In the vast universe of cinema, horror films have gifted us with unforgettable characters that have become great references and also excellent Halloween costumes. In this article, we delve into the terrifying legacy of these creations and rank them in descending order. most iconic characters from horror movies That have ever existed. From supernatural creatures to masked killers, check out the complete list!

Read also black and white movies, iconic horror characters e movies about space.

Annie Graham (Hereditary)

One of the best horror characters on the list, Annie Graham (Toni Collette), She reveals herself to be a person with high emotional instability and a dark influence inherited from her family. Struggling with trauma and dark secrets, she becomes an increasingly disturbed and dangerous figure for her own family, resulting in shocking acts of violence under a supernatural influence.

After their grandmother's death, the Graham family begins to unravel some secrets. Even after the matriarch's departure, she remains a shadow over the family, especially her lonely teenage granddaughter. Charlie (Milly Shapiro), for whom she has always maintained an unusual fascination. With a growing terror gripping the house, the family explores the darkest places to escape the unfortunate fate they have inherited. The cast also includes Toni Collette, Gabriel byrne e Alex Wolff.

Where to watch: Prime Video e Youtube

Reverend Kane (Poltergeist trilogy)

O Reverend Kane (Julian Beck) It is the evil spirit of a 19th-century cult leader who buried himself and his followers beneath what would become the Freeling neighborhood. He seeks the child Carol Anne to reach the light and terrorizes her with his cadaverous appearance and macabre voice, being introduced in Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986) in physical shape.

The Freeling family experiences strange and frightening phenomena in their home, communicated by spirits through the TV. When the youngest daughter, Carol Anne (Heather O'Rourke)When the child disappears, the parents seek help from a team of parapsychologists, which includes the eccentric medium. Tangina Barrons (Zelda Rubinstein), to rescue her from the growing threat of the poltergeist.

Where to watch: Prime Video

Kevin Wendell Crumb (Split and Glass)

One of the best horror characters on the list, Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy), He is a complex villain with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), introduced in Fragmentado e GlassIt houses 23 personalities, who McAvoy She interprets it masterfully. The most terrifying is "The Beast," a cannibalistic and superhuman identity born from childhood trauma. Kevin.

In the film where we meet the character, Kevin (McAvoy) He is a man with 23 distinct personalities that he can mentally switch between, each with unique physical attributes. He kidnaps three teenage girls, including... Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy), and keeps them captive. As the girls get to know the different “facets” of KevinThe emergence of a 24th and menacing personality forces the girls to fight for survival.

Where to watch: Netflix e Disney +

The Kidnapper/The Grabber (Ethan Hawke)

O Kidnapper (Ethan Hawke) He is a child serial killer in the black phone, who drives a black van and wears a mask with changing expressions. Hawke He interprets him with a sadistic and restrained wickedness, making him a figure of pure terror without a detailed past. 

in the plot of The Black Phone, Finney (Mason Thames) A 13-year-old boy is kidnapped by a sadistic masked killer and held in a soundproof basement. Then, a disconnected phone on the wall starts ringing, and he soon discovers he can hear the voices of the maniac's previous victims.

Where to watch: Prime Video e Youtube

Damien Thorn (The Omen)

The little Damien Thorn (Harvey Stephens) In fact, he is the Antichrist himself, the son of the Devil destined to initiate Armageddon. He uses the innocence of children to be the catalyst for a series of brutal deaths and accidents that eliminate anyone who discovers his true identity.

The ambitious ambassador Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck) and your wife Katherine (Lee Remick) long more than anything for a child. After a tragedy, a priest's suggestion leads to the adoption of the little one Damien (Stephens). But what they didn't imagine is that they would have to deal with the antichrist himself. 

Where to watch: Prime Video

The Thing (The Enigma of Another World)

"The thing" (The Thing) It is an alien parasite discovered by a team of researchers in Antarctica, in the classic film by... John CarpenterIts main threat lies in its ability to perfectly mimic any life form it assimilates, generating extreme paranoia within the group.

In remote Antarctica, a group of American scientists is disturbed at their base when someone shoots a dog from a helicopter. As they tend to the wounded dog, the creature begins attacking the scientists and the other dogs, and they soon discover that the animal can assume the form of its victims. This means that team members could be killed and the clone could take their place. A pilot and a doctor must capture the beast before it's too late. The cast includes... Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley e TK Carter.

Where to watch: Prime Video

Mama (Mama)

MamaThe Virgin Mary, one of the icons of horror, is the entity of a woman who committed suicide in the 19th century after having her baby stolen. She then haunts the forest, assuming the role of mother to two orphaned girls. Her appearance generates high expectations.umpscares and moments of tension. 

After the father killed his wife, the little girls Victoria (Megan Charpentier) e Lilly (Isabelle Nélisse) They flee and disappear for five years, until they are found under mysterious circumstances. The uncles Lucas (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) e Annabel (Jessica Chastain) They adopt the girls, but soon suspect something is wrong: the children constantly talk to an invisible entity they call... Mama (Javier Botet).

Where to watch: Youtube

Seth Brundle (The Fly)

Originally a brilliant and eccentric scientist, the journey of Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) turns into a tragedy of body horror after a failed teleportation experiment that fuses his DNA with that of a fly, resulting in the monstrous creature "Brundlefly".

In the story, the eccentric scientist Seth Brundle (Goldblum) He completes his teleportation device and decides to test the experiment's effectiveness on himself. Unbeknownst to him, a fly enters the device along with him during the process, causing him to fuse with the insect. However, he thinks the experiment was a success until he begins to notice that the fly's cells are taking over his body, and he gradually transforms into a monstrous creature.

Where to watch: Disney +

Pearl (X and Pearl)

Pearl is one of the central characters in the trilogy of IT West formed X: Mark of Death, Pearthe MaXXXineShe is a serial killer, played by Mia Goth in youth, which represents the darkest side of the frustrated American dream.

Trapped on an isolated farm, Pearl (Mia Goth) She must care for her ailing father under the watchful eye of her mother. Longing for the glamorous life she's seen in movies, she faces temptations and inhibitions. Pearl They collide.

Where to watch: Netflix e Prime Video

Valak (The Nun)

Valak He is one of the most iconic characters in horror films who, in addition to having his own film franchise, also plays an important role in... Evil Invocation, assuming the sinister form of a nun to mock faith and terrorize her victims.

Following the suicide of a nun in an isolated convent in Romania, the Vatican sends an investigator to look into the case. Burke (Demián Bichir), a priest haunted by the past, and the novice Irene (Taissa Farmiga), who has not yet taken his vows. Risking their lives and their faith, the two uncover an unholy secret. They confront the force of evil. Valak (Bonnie Aarons), which takes the form of a demonic nun.

Where to watch: HBO Max, Prime Video e Netflix

Longlegs (Longlegs – Mortal Bond)

The enigmatic and disturbing serial killer Longlegs (Nicolas Cage) He is a ritualistic villain who transcends the definition of a common serial killer, acting as an agent of the occult with an extremely bizarre appearance.

The FBI agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe) is called upon to reopen a cold case involving a serial killer. As she unravels clues, Harker finds herself confronted with an unexpected personal connection to the killer, launching her into a race against time.

Where to watch: Prime Video

Pale Man (Pan's Labyrinth)

O Pale Man It is one of the most memorable and terrifying creatures in the film written and directed by Guillermo del ToroHe is an allegorical monster representing the devouring nature of evil and tyranny, possessing a skeletal, flaccid, disfigured appearance, and distinguished by having eyes lodged in the palms of his hands. 

In 1944, in Spain, the young woman Ophelia (Ivana Baquero) arrives at the post of his mother's new husband, a sadistic army officer who is trying to suppress a guerrilla. While exploring an ancient labyrinth, ophelia meets a mythical faun (Doug Jones), which says that the girl is a legendary lost princess and that she must complete three dangerous tasks in order to become immortal.

Where to watch: currently unavailable

Pinhead (Hellraiser)

One of the best villains in horror movies is... pinhead, leader of the Cenobites, extradimensional beings summoned by the "Lament Configuration" puzzle box. His iconic figure is marked by his head covered in symmetrically inserted nails and his leather attire. 

A man seeking extreme pleasure acquires an enigmatic magic cube that opens a portal to a dimension of pain inhabited by the Cenobites, ultimately resulting in his being torn apart. However, he is accidentally resurrected in a monstrous form. Now trapped in his brother's and his wife's house, he attempts to persuade his former lover to provide victims to complete his regeneration. The cast includes... Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins e Ashley Laurence.

Where to watch: Prime Video

Norman Bates (Psycho)

Among the most iconic characters in horror films is... Norman Bates, Played by Anthony perkinsHe is the shy and tormented manager of the Bates Motel. His deep trauma, linked to his possessive relationship with his deceased mother, leads him to develop personality disorders and commit brutal murders while assuming his mother's persona.

In the film, after stealing $40 to marry her boyfriend, a woman flees during a storm and decides to spend the night in a hotel she finds along the way. She meets the polite and temperamental owner of the establishment, Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins), a young man with an interest in taxidermy and a troubled relationship with his mother. What seems like a simple stay at the place turns into a true night of terror.

Where to watch: Telecine

Candyman (The Mystery of Candyman)

Candyman It is the vengeful ghost of Daniel Robitaille, an African-American painter murdered in the 19th century due to racism. Invoked by saying his name five times in front of a mirror, he is recognizable by his fur coat, the hook that replaces his hand, and the swarm of bees that accompanies him. 

in the plot, Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen) She is a student whose research on modern folklore evokes the dead. She never believed in superstitions, but when she learns the story of Candyman (Tony Todd)A spirit enslaved by a hook-shaped hand who haunts a famous house inspires her to write her thesis. 

Where to watch: Prime Video

The Predator (Predator franchise)

O Predator It is an alien species that travels the galaxy following a code of honor to hunt dangerous opponents – including, in one of these, a crossover between titans called Alien vs. PredatorIts reptilian appearance, camouflage technology, and pincer-like jaws embody an unknown threat.

In the 2018 film, after an intergalactic chase, a new Predator arrives on Earth, but is quickly captured by a government agent. Traeger (Sterling K. Brown)However, the sniper Quinn McKenna (Boyd Holbrook) She manages to steal the creature's helmet and bracelet before its capture. When the biologist Casey Brackett (Olivia Munn) Called in to examine the alien, it escapes, unleashing chaos. McKenna, along with a group of ex-military personnel and her son, Rory (Jacob Tremblay), becomes the only hope against the evolved threat.

Where to watch: Disney +

Babadook (The Babadook)

The Babadook is a shadowy entity that emerges from a mysterious book in the house of Amelia (Essie Davis) and his son. Visually considered one of the greatest icons of horror with his black coat and top hat, he is a monster of psychological terror that feeds on fear and grief. 

In this story, Amelia (Davis)A single mother, tormented by the violent death of her husband, tries to cope with her son's irrational fear that there is a monster lurking in the house, but soon discovers a sinister presence around her.

Where to watch: MUBI

Red (We)

The doppelgänger character Red (Lupita Nyong'o) She plays her bizarre role as the leader of the "Shadow Ones," malevolent duplicates that emerge from underground seeking revenge against their surface counterparts. Their mysterious nature, the sinister coordination of their group, and the existential threat they pose to society make them deeply disturbing antagonists.

What begins as a drama about a failed family vacation Adelaide (Lupita Nyong'o) e Gabe Wilson (Winston Duke) quickly becomes a nightmare involving doppelgängers and parallel worlds beneath us. Are we really the people we think we are, or are we darker versions of ourselves living underground?

Where to watch: Paramount +

Kayako (The Scream)

Kayako (Takako Fuji) She is a vengeful spirit trapped in a cycle of rage and suffering after her brutal death. Her characteristic guttural sound and terrifying presence curse all who come into contact with her former home, making her stand out as one of the best horror characters.

In the story, an American nurse in Tokyo, Karen Davis (Sarah Michelle Gellar), is exposed to a mysterious curse after taking a new job. The vengeful spirit of Kayako (Takako Fuji) It takes hold of anyone who comes into contact with the cursed house, unleashing a violent outburst of hatred and claiming lives before moving on to the next victim.

Where to watch: Prime Video

The Entity (Evil Current)

The entity It is a supernatural and relentless curse transmitted through sexual contact, which relentlessly pursues the victim. Its terror lies in its ability to assume the form of any person, making it impossible to know who the demon will possess next.

Upon losing one's virginity, Jay (Maika Monroe) She becomes the target of an evil force transmitted through sex. Now, she must pass it on or live constantly running from possessed and murderous figures. The cast also includes... Bailey Spry, Carollette Phillips e Loren Bass.

Where to watch: Telecine

Jennifer (Jennifer's Body)

The seductive beauty of Jennifer Check (Megan Fox) Used to lure and devour boys, combined with her supernatural and violent nature, this makes her a lethal teenage predator to all boys who cross her path, and also one of the most iconic characters in horror films.

When the beautiful and popular Jennifer Check (Fox) is possessed by a demon, her fury turns against the boys at school, who end up becoming victims of the creature thirsty for human flesh. Her childhood friend, the nerd Needy Lesnick (Amanda Seyfried), discovers the terrible truth behind the murders and decides to put an end to the carnage, in the midst of a troubled relationship that oscillates between friendship, passion and rivalry.

Where to watch: Disney +

Bughuul (The Entity)

Bughuul, Soul Eater, is the central demonic entity that appears in a black suit with a distorted face. He corrupts children into brutally murdering their families and filming the act on old media. 

In the plot, the crime novelist Ellison Oswalt (Ethan Hawke) He moves in with his wife. Tracy (Juliet Rylance) He and his children move into a house where a gruesome murder has occurred, hoping to write a bestseller. Upon finding a box of old home movies, he discovers that the crimes are linked to a mysterious evil entity known as... Bughuul (Nicholas King). While Ellison As he investigates the terrible truth, he and his family become the next targets of the horror.

Where to watch: Prime Video

Esther (The Orphan)

The childlike and angelic appearance of Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman) It hides an adult psychopath with a dark past and violent tendencies. Her ability to manipulate and deceive her adoptive parents leads to acts of brutality against them and the couple's children, a fact that makes her one of the icons of current horror.

After adopting the lovely Esther, nine years old, Kate (Vera Farmiga) e John Coleman (Peter Sarsgaard) begin to witness disturbing events in their home. Little by little, Kate develops a growing and bizarre conviction that the girl's angelic appearance hides a sinister and evil nature. 

Where to watch: HBO Max

Adrian Griffin (The Invisible Man)

Adrian (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) He's a tech genius who uses his invention, an invisibility suit, to get revenge on and control his ex-girlfriend. Cecilia (Elizabeth Moss)This technology allows him to continue the attacks and carry out his plan to destroy her life. Because he is invisible, the film reinforces the tension throughout.

After faking his own suicide, the scientist Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) A deranged and obsessive man uses his power to become invisible and terrorize his ex-girlfriend. Cecilia (Elisabeth Moss)When the police refuse to believe her story, she decides to take matters into her own hands.

Where to watch: Prime Video

Art the Clown (Terrifier franchise)

Art the Clown, is the sadistic and supernatural killer of the franchise TerrifyHe stands out for his monochromatic makeup and diabolical expression. Furthermore, he differs from traditional villains and horror films by being a silent mime who uses slapstick comedy to mock his victims before subjecting them to acts of extreme graphic violence. 

On Halloween night, the babysitter Tara (Jenna Kanell) and her friend Dawn (Catherine Corcoran) They find an old VHS tape in a candy bag, containing three horror stories linked by the figure of a maniacal, mute clown: Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton)As the night progresses, strange things begin to happen, and his presence becomes increasingly real.

Where to watch: Prime Video

Death (Final Destination franchise)

The death She acts as an omnipresent villain in the Final Destination franchise, operating intelligently and sadistically. Her method is to reverse the "cheating" committed by those who escaped a predestined disaster, using the environment to execute her victims through a domino effect of everyday accidents.

Shortly before boarding a flight to Paris, Alex (Devon Sawa) He has a vivid premonition that the plane will explode. His panic causes seven passengers to disembark. Having briefly cheated Death, the group soon discovers that it cannot be cheated for long.

Where to watch: HBO Max

Sylvia Ganush (Drag Me to Hell)

The actress Lorna Raver It's absolutely terrifying how Sylvia Ganush And he certainly has a place on the list of best horror movie villains. With excellent scenes of jump scare, his bizarre appearance as he pursues the protagonist, creates a growing sense of terror and despair.

In history, Alison Lohman (Christine Brown) She is a bank employee who had the unfortunate task of evicting a woman who, surprisingly, carried a supernatural curse. Since then, her life has been turned upside down, forcing the young woman to fight for her life.

Where to watch: currently unavailable

The Hand (Talk to Me)

The Hand is an iconic supernatural artifact, embalmed and covered in inscriptions, that serves as a direct portal to the spirit world.

A group of friends discovers an embalmed hand that allows them to conjure spirits. Addicted to the thrill and adrenaline, they have fun filming their interactions with the spirit world. Until... Mia (Sophie Wilde)A young woman who lost her mother goes too far and opens a permanent door to the world of the dead. From then on, she begins to be haunted by evil apparitions.

Where to watch: HBO Max

Ellie (Evil Slayer: The Ascension)

With a terrifying demonic transformation, honoring the legacy of the Evil Dead franchise,  Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland) She easily became one of the most iconic characters in horror films. The possession turned her into a grotesque creature, transforming everything into a nightmare full of blood and horror for the family.

In the fifth film of the horror franchise Evil Dead, the young woman Beth (Lily Sullivan), tired from the road, pays a visit to her older sister, Ellie, who is raising three children alone in a cramped Los Angeles apartment. The sisters' reunion is interrupted by the discovery of a mysterious book in the bowels of their apartment building. Ellie, which gives rise to flesh-possessing demons and pushes Beth for a primordial battle for survival.

Where to watch: HBO Max

Oliver (Make Her Come Back)

Em Make Her Come Back, Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips) stole the show and became one of the most iconic characters in horror films, not because of villainy, but because he was the central piece of a physical and psychological horror stemming from a ritual. He is introduced into the plot as a boy who appears to be under the care of his new adoptive mother. Laura (Sally Hawkins)But its presence quickly becomes unsettling due to a series of shocking behaviors and transformations. 

Young people Andy (Billy Barratt) e Piper (Sora Wong) are half-brothers who end up losing their father. Because they are still minors, they are both taken in by Laura (Sally Hawkins), the new adoptive mother, who already had a child in the house, Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips). Little by little, they realize something is wrong and witness a terrifying ritual.

Where to watch: Prime Video

Count Orlok (Nosferatu)

O Count Orlok (Max Schreck) de Nosferatu (1922) He is undeniably one of the most important icons of horror cinema, being the first and most visceral representation of a vampire on the big screen. His grotesque and cadaverous appearance differentiates him from the seductive and aristocratic vampire popularized in later adaptations of... Dracula.

The first version of Nosferatu It's a classic that has inspired other works. In the story, the real estate agent... Hutter (Gustav von Wangenheim) is sent to sell an isolated castle, owned by the eccentric Count Orlock (Max Schreck). However, Hutter soon discovers that the Count is actually an ancient vampire who spreads terror in the Bremen region of Germany. Fascinated by Ellen (Greta Schröder), Hutter's wife, Orlock takes a dangerous interest in her, putting the couple's life and everyone around them at risk.

Where to watch: Telecine

Monster of Frankenstein

Frankenstein's monster is a tragic character in horror and science fiction. Its emblematic status stems from the immediate rejection of... Dr Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac) and of society, turning him into a victim driven by profound loneliness and a desire for revenge.

Obsessed with defying death, Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac) He conducts an eccentric experiment, giving life to a monstrous creature, portrayed by Jacob Elordi In this version, however, the monster is rejected by its creator and the world, a fact that drives it to seek revenge. 

Where to watch: Guillermo del Toro's version is currently showing in theaters.

Annabelle (from The Conjuring universe)

Annabelle It is one of the icons of horror, famous for being a doll possessed by a demonic entity in the universe of Evil InvocationIts legend is based on the original doll, investigated by demonologists. Ed e Lorraine Warren after causing supernatural phenomena.

In the first film of Annabelle, John (Ward Horton) A man gives his pregnant wife a rare antique doll as a gift. But the couple's joy is interrupted by a violent attack from members of a satanic cult, who invade their home. In the process of trying to summon a demon, they stain the doll with blood, transforming it into a conduit for an evil entity. 

Where to watch: HBO Max

The Shark (Jaws)

The Shark It redefined the concept of blockbuster by having an iconography built less on physical appearances and more on the suggestion of imminent danger. This invisible and omnipresent threat is amplified by the iconic two-note soundtrack of John Williams.

A horrific attack on beachgoers is a sign that the beach in the small New England town of Amity has become a feeding ground for a gigantic great white shark. The police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) wants to close the beaches, but the mayor Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) does not allow it, for fear that revenue from tourists will leave the city without resources. The scientist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and the fisherman Quint (Robert Shaw) offer to help Brody to capture and kill the beast, but the mission will be more complicated than they imagined.

Where to watch: Telecine e Netflix

Chucky (Child's Play franchise)

Chucky is the iconic "Good Guy" doll possessed by the soul of the serial killer. Charles Lee Ray (Brad Dourif), transferred through a voodoo ritual. He stands out in the slasher genre for his unique blend of horror and dark humor through the violent personality trapped in a toy.

A serial killer uses a voodoo ritual to transfer his soul into a doll before he dies. The single mother Karen Barclay (Catherine Hicks) buy the cursed doll, which calls itself Chucky, for your son, Andy Barclay (Alex Vincent)When a series of unexplained murders begin, Andy Le Sauce desperately tries to convince the mother and the detective Mike Norris (Chris Sarandon) that his new "best friend" is alive and is a psychopath.

Where to watch: PrTime Video

Dracula

Dracula, as Nosferatu and the monster of FrankensteinThe vampire has already been reinterpreted and adapted several times through films and series. One of the most notable is Francis Ford Coppola's version, in which the vampire is played by... Gary Oldman It offers its most terrifying version when weak and, at the same time, its most enchanting version when strengthened, thus reinforcing the essence of this creature.

The young English lawyer Jonathan Harker (Keanu Reeves) is sent to an isolated village in Transylvania, where he takes a job for the mysterious Count Dracula (Gary Oldman). Captured and imprisoned in the vampire's castle, Harker soon discovers that he is obsessed with his bride, Mina Murray (Winona Ryder), and intends to travel to meet her. Meanwhile, Dracula begins a reign of seduction and terror, draining the life from Lucy Westenra (Sadie Frost), Mina's close friend. Desperate to stop him, Lucy's friends team up with the professor Van Helsing (Anthony Hopkins) in a fight against evil once and for all.

Where to watch: HBO Max

Hannibal Lecter

Hannibal LecterRobert Downey Jr., one of the most iconic characters in horror films, is one of the most famous serial killers on screen, known for being a brilliant psychiatrist and ruthless cannibal. The character has had several variations and interpretations by different actors, but it was the performance of [actor's name] that truly stood out. Anthony Hopkins em O Silêncio dos Inocentes which solidified his image.

Em O Silêncio dos Inocentes, the young and talented FBI agent Clarice Starling receives help from the inmate Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant psychiatrist who is also a violent and cannibalistic psychopath, to try and find a serial killer known as Buffalo bill (Ted Levine).

Where to watch: Prime Video 

Jack Torrance (The Shining)

Interpreted by Jack Nicholson, Jack Torrance He is the iconic aspiring writer whose sanity is eroded by isolation and the malevolent forces of the Overlook Hotel. His spiral of madness and mental breakdown, which leads him to hunt down his own family, is a thrilling psychological thriller.

During the winter, Jack Torrance (Nicholson) accepts a job as caretaker of a secluded mountain hotel to write his book. He moves with his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and the son Danny (Danny Lloyd), who possesses psychic abilities. As loneliness and supernatural forces intensify, Jacks begins to go crazy. The child perceives evil presences in the hotel, including disturbing visions of the past. Then, the terror grows when Jacks becomes a deadly threat to one's own family.

Where to watch: HBO Max

Annie Wilkes (Misery)

The talented Kathy Bates, in the role of the obsessed stalker Annie Wilkes, has become one of the most terrifying and iconic figures among "real" characters in the world of horror. She is the... The personification of fanatical obsession that transforms into kidnapping and violence. Her unhealthy devotion to her favorite author leads her to unpredictable and dangerous behavior, making her a claustrophobic and threatening figure to her victim, who is held captive and subjected to unimaginable torture.

the movie of Rob reiner is another successful adaptation of one of the books by StephenKing. In it, the successful writer Paul Sheldon (James Caan) suffers a car accident and is rescued by the nurse Annie (Bates), who claims to be his number one fan. She takes him to her isolated home and takes care of his health, but one day she ends up having access to the originals of the writer's next book and discovers that her favorite character will be killed. This revelation causes her unhealthy personality to reveal itself.

Where to watch: MUBI e Prime Video

Carrie White (Carrie, The Strange One)

Although she is not a villain, Carrie White (Sissy Spacek) She became one of the most iconic characters in horror films for using her supernatural powers to avenge the bullying she suffered at home from her religiously fanatical mother and outside from people at school.

In the story, the quiet and sensitive teenager Carrie (Sissy Spacek) She faces insults from classmates at school and abuse at home from her mother, a religious fanatic. When strange events begin to happen around the young woman, she begins to suspect that she has supernatural powers. 

Where to watch: Telecine

Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th franchise)

With his iconic hockey mask and machete, Jason Voorhees He is one of the most recognized villains in slasher horror films. His legend begins after his tragic death by drowning, returning as a killing machine that spares no one in his path.

Despite past murders and warnings from superstitious residents, a group of young instructors reopens Camp Crystal Lake. The counselors Jack (Kevin Bacon), Alice (Adrienne King), Bill (Harry Crosby), Marcie (Jeannine Taylor) e Ned (Mark Nelson) They ignore the warnings, becoming targets of a brutal killer.

Where to watch: HBO Max

Leatherface (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre)

One of the greatest villains in horror movies is the terrifying cannibal who turned a chainsaw into a pop culture nightmare. Leatherface is a giant who uses masks of human skin to assume different "identities." 

A horror classic slasher. On their way to visit their grandfather's grave, five young people get lost and plunge into an endless nightmare when they meet a family of cannibals. The psychopaths attack the strangers using a variety of brutal and sadistic methods.

Where to watch: Play Market e MUBI

Billy/John Kramer (Saw franchise)

In the Saw franchise, John Kramer, o JigsawHe is an engineer with terminal cancer who sees himself as a moral reformer, not a murderer. He subjects his victims to deadly "games" of traps so that they value the "gift of life" through extreme sacrifices. His iconography is the doll. Billy, which became a symbol of success to represent the saga. 

The first film in the franchise begins with two men, the photographer Adam Faulkner-Stanheight (Leigh Whannell) and Dr. Lawrence Gordon (Cary Elwes), waking up chained in a filthy bathroom. They are prisoners of Jigsaw/John Kramer (Tobin Bell)A serial killer who calls himself a moral reformer. To survive, they must work together to unravel the twisted pieces of a macabre game within a short timeframe.

Where to watch: balloon play e Prime Video

Pennywise (It)

PennywiseThe Devil, one of the best villains in horror movies, is a cosmic, predatory entity that feeds on fear in Derry, awakening every 27 years. The classic version of Tim Curry He was a clown with a sinister sense of humor, using irony to lure victims. The version of... Bill Skarsgård It has a more terrifying look and an evil smile that explores the creature's visceral madness.

In this adaptation based on the work of Stephen King, a group of children come together to investigate the mysterious disappearance of several young people in their town. They discover that the culprit is Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård), a cruel clown who feeds on your fears and whose violence originated centuries ago.

Where to watch: HBO Max

Michael Myers (Halloween franchise)

Michael Myers, one of the icons of horror, is the personification of relentless evil and one of the most famous characters in terror. slasher, wearing a jumpsuit and the iconic expressionless white mask. Myers It is a being driven purely by murderous urges, who returns to Haddonfield every Halloween.

In 1963, during a Halloween night, the little boy Michael Myers brutally murders his teenage sister, Judith Myers (Sandy Johnson)Convicted, Michael spends 15 years detained in an institution under the constant supervision of a psychiatrist. Dr. Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasence)In 1978, on Halloween eve, Michael He escapes from the sanatorium and returns to the quiet town of Haddonfield, Illinois, to seek his next victims, including the young woman. Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis).

Where to watch: plex

Alien/Xenomorph (Alien franchise)

One of the most iconic characters in horror films is the terrifying Xenomorph (Alien), famous precisely for its bizarre form and acidic blood. It terrorizes everyone on board through its parasitic life cycle, transforming the human body into a breeding ground.

After receiving a distress signal from a desolate planet, the crew of the space tug ship Nostromo lands to investigate. There, the executive officer Kane (John Hurt) is attacked by a parasitic creature that attaches itself to his face. Once on board, the official survivor Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) and the rest of the crew fight to survive when a lethal and relentless alien organism bursts from the body of Kane, growing rapidly and hunting them one by one.

Where to watch: Disney +

Freddy Krueger (A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise)o)

Freddy Krueger, one of the best horror characters, is a vengeful spirit of a serial killer who only attacks within dreams. This makes him uniquely terrifying, as he dominates the subconscious, uses the victim's deepest fears against them, and the only way to stop him is to not sleep, transforming what was supposed to be rest into a deadly trap where the injuries from the dream manifest in reality.

A group of teenagers have horrific nightmares in which they are attacked by a deformed man with steel claws. He only appears during their sleep, and to escape, they must wake up. The crimes continue to occur until it is discovered that the mysterious being is actually... Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund), a man who molested children on Elm Street and was burned alive by the neighborhood. Now, Krueger may have returned to take revenge on those who killed him, through sleep.

Where to watch: HBO Max

Ghostface (Scream franchise)

The iconic ghostface The terror in the franchise is sustained by the fact that it's merely a disguise for someone who may be very close to the victims. Therefore, the appeal of the films in the saga lies precisely in guessing who the killer might be and uncovering why this person has taken on the legacy of the serial killer.

The first film in the franchise, set in the small town of Woodsboro, follows a group of high school students as they confront a masked killer who tests their knowledge of horror movies. In this context, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell)Traumatized after the brutal murder of her mother, she is the preferred target of the mysterious killer who terrorizes the once peaceful community.

Where to watch: Paramount + e Play Market

Samara (The Ring)

One of the best icons of horror is the ghost of a child with psychic powers who uses the technology of the time to their advantage. In a countdown, after watching the video, the victim dies in seven days, murdered by Samara who emerges from the screen in distorted and terrifying movements. 

In the story, the journalist Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts) She decides to investigate her niece's death and discovers that four teenagers mysteriously died seven days after watching a video with frightening images. Now she tries to solve the mystery and prevent the prophecy from coming true, since she and her son also watched the video.

Where to watch: Paramount + e Play Market

Regan (The Exorcist)

Regan is considered the best among the most iconic characters in horror films for embodying the destruction of childhood through demonic possession. The pre-teen, possessed by the demon Pazuzu, becomes an object of violence and physical degradation that challenges the faith of everyone around her, including that of the church itself.

Em The Exorcista, the actress Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) despairs at the increasingly strange behavior of his twelve-year-old daughter, Regan (Linda Blair). In trying to find answers, she seeks out the priest Karras (Jason Miller), a priest trained in psychiatry, who diagnoses a demonic possession. To save Regan, Karras asks the experienced exorcist for help. Merrin (Max von Sydow). 

Where to watch: HBO Max 

See also other features:

The 100 best horror movies of all time

RANKING: the 53 most terrifying villains in cinema and TV

Text revised by Alexandre Marques in 29 / 10 / 2025.

Sources: Empire, Entertainment Weekly e IndieWire.