Top 10 Horror Movie Heroines

what’s a good horror movie without a

what’s a good horror movie without a heroine to root for welcome to

heroine to root for welcome to

heroine to root for welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting

watchmojo.com and today we’re counting

watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 horror

down our picks for the top 10 horror

down our picks for the top 10 horror movie heroines come on get up

movie heroines come on get up

movie heroines come on get up for this list we’ll be looking at the

for this list we’ll be looking at the

for this list we’ll be looking at the women in horror films that fight on the

women in horror films that fight on the

women in horror films that fight on the side of good

side of good

side of good how far is the old highway you want to

how far is the old highway you want to

how far is the old highway you want to go out there don’t you busted on

go out there don’t you busted on

go out there don’t you busted on Arbogast the old lady makes a crook yes

Arbogast the old lady makes a crook yes

Arbogast the old lady makes a crook yes they don’t need to survive the film in

they don’t need to survive the film in

they don’t need to survive the film in question though with that in mind a

question though with that in mind a

question though with that in mind a spoiler alert is probably called for

spoiler alert is probably called for

spoiler alert is probably called for body eternity they usually do

body eternity they usually do

body eternity they usually do number ten Sarah Carter the Descent this

number ten Sarah Carter the Descent this

number ten Sarah Carter the Descent this film unfortunately flew under the radar

film unfortunately flew under the radar

film unfortunately flew under the radar but should be necessary viewing for any

but should be necessary viewing for any

but should be necessary viewing for any true horror fan Sarah’s story first

true horror fan Sarah’s story first

true horror fan Sarah’s story first breaks your heart and then has it

breaks your heart and then has it

breaks your heart and then has it beating a mile a minute

recently suffering the tragic loss of

recently suffering the tragic loss of her daughter and husband in a horrible

her daughter and husband in a horrible

her daughter and husband in a horrible car accident she survived Sarah go

car accident she survived Sarah go

car accident she survived Sarah go spelunking to forget her troubles as you

spelunking to forget her troubles as you

spelunking to forget her troubles as you do I’m feeling about it it’s probably

do I’m feeling about it it’s probably

do I’m feeling about it it’s probably jet lag or something so I’m just gonna

jet lag or something so I’m just gonna

jet lag or something so I’m just gonna take a look around okay yeah okay sadly

take a look around okay yeah okay sadly

take a look around okay yeah okay sadly this woman just can’t catch a break

this woman just can’t catch a break

this woman just can’t catch a break dead animals hundreds of them met with

dead animals hundreds of them met with

dead animals hundreds of them met with horribly deadly life forms that eat the

horribly deadly life forms that eat the

horribly deadly life forms that eat the unlucky ones who come across them sarah

unlucky ones who come across them sarah

unlucky ones who come across them sarah scrambles to survive as well as save her

scrambles to survive as well as save her

scrambles to survive as well as save her compatriots number nine lila crane

compatriots number nine lila crane

compatriots number nine lila crane psycho i don’t like you going to that

psycho i don’t like you going to that

psycho i don’t like you going to that house alone I can handle a sick old

house alone I can handle a sick old

house alone I can handle a sick old woman when Marion crane steals forty

woman when Marion crane steals forty

woman when Marion crane steals forty thousand dollars from the bank she works

thousand dollars from the bank she works

thousand dollars from the bank she works at her attempt to get out of Dodge

at her attempt to get out of Dodge

at her attempt to get out of Dodge amounts to her untimely demise she stole

amounts to her untimely demise she stole

amounts to her untimely demise she stole some money a lot forty thousand dollars

some money a lot forty thousand dollars

some money a lot forty thousand dollars determined to find out what happened to

determined to find out what happened to

determined to find out what happened to her sister Lyla is led to the Bates

her sister Lyla is led to the Bates

her sister Lyla is led to the Bates Motel let’s find him one of us can keep

Motel let’s find him one of us can keep

Motel let’s find him one of us can keep him occupied while the other gets to the

him occupied while the other gets to the

him occupied while the other gets to the old woman she not only manages to

old woman she not only manages to

old woman she not only manages to discover Marion’s fate and have her

discover Marion’s fate and have her

discover Marion’s fate and have her sister’s killer arrested she also keeps

sister’s killer arrested she also keeps

sister’s killer arrested she also keeps us invested when the film’s supposed

us invested when the film’s supposed

us invested when the film’s supposed star dies early on a shocking is that

star dies early on a shocking is that

star dies early on a shocking is that shower scene was Lila’s discovery of

shower scene was Lila’s discovery of

shower scene was Lila’s discovery of mrs. Bates body chills us to the core

mrs. Bates body chills us to the core

mrs. Bates body chills us to the core just as much

number eight Julie James the I know what

number eight Julie James the I know what you did last summer franchise yeah I’m

you did last summer franchise yeah I’m

you did last summer franchise yeah I’m in a lot of trouble during the late 90s

in a lot of trouble during the late 90s

in a lot of trouble during the late 90s horror resurgence there were a lot of

horror resurgence there were a lot of

horror resurgence there were a lot of films that lack the kind of detailed

films that lack the kind of detailed

films that lack the kind of detailed storytelling that makes the Jean great

storytelling that makes the Jean great

storytelling that makes the Jean great however the I know what you did last

however the I know what you did last

however the I know what you did last summer films were no pretenders as they

summer films were no pretenders as they

summer films were no pretenders as they crafted a killer with an imposing look

crafted a killer with an imposing look

crafted a killer with an imposing look and at least one character whose

and at least one character whose

and at least one character whose survival fans actually cared about you

survival fans actually cared about you

survival fans actually cared about you did a lot of things last summer

did a lot of things last summer

did a lot of things last summer yeah well only one murder comes to mind

yeah well only one murder comes to mind

yeah well only one murder comes to mind part of a group of teens that runs over

part of a group of teens that runs over

part of a group of teens that runs over a man and dumps his body to avoid

a man and dumps his body to avoid

a man and dumps his body to avoid criminal charges oh my god this isn’t

criminal charges oh my god this isn’t

criminal charges oh my god this isn’t happening

happening

happening Julie is scared by the note the movie is

Julie is scared by the note the movie is

Julie is scared by the note the movie is named for as well as the demise of her

named for as well as the demise of her

named for as well as the demise of her friends I killed a man

but it was an accident a terrible

but it was an accident a terrible accident and I tried to past it okay

accident and I tried to past it okay

accident and I tried to past it okay even in the face of death however she

even in the face of death however she

even in the face of death however she stays strong and resilient just

number seven Rachel Keller the ring

number seven Rachel Keller the ring franchisee a horror film the scary needs

franchisee a horror film the scary needs

franchisee a horror film the scary needs a hero you can empathize with and Rachel

a hero you can empathize with and Rachel

a hero you can empathize with and Rachel is just that that’s it a mother who

is just that that’s it a mother who

is just that that’s it a mother who already dotes on her son this single

already dotes on her son this single

already dotes on her son this single parent encounters troubles in the form

parent encounters troubles in the form

parent encounters troubles in the form of death psychosis and a VHS tape she

of death psychosis and a VHS tape she

of death psychosis and a VHS tape she told you about a videotape didn’t she

told you about a videotape didn’t she

told you about a videotape didn’t she having unwittingly watched the cursed

having unwittingly watched the cursed

having unwittingly watched the cursed MacGuffin Rachel must work to solve the

MacGuffin Rachel must work to solve the

MacGuffin Rachel must work to solve the mystery of the Haunted tape before her

mystery of the Haunted tape before her

mystery of the Haunted tape before her seven days are up as the day’s tick by

seven days are up as the day’s tick by

seven days are up as the day’s tick by not only must Rachel work fast to save

not only must Rachel work fast to save

not only must Rachel work fast to save her own life but soon that of her son as

her own life but soon that of her son as

her own life but soon that of her son as well pushing her to the limits of her

well pushing her to the limits of her

well pushing her to the limits of her resourcefulness and sanity thankfully

resourcefulness and sanity thankfully

resourcefulness and sanity thankfully now me watts plays this multifaceted and

now me watts plays this multifaceted and

now me watts plays this multifaceted and increasingly desperate character with

increasingly desperate character with

increasingly desperate character with the complexity required to pull it off

the complexity required to pull it off

the complexity required to pull it off and that was just the first time around

and that was just the first time around

and that was just the first time around don’t worry sweetie you’re gonna be okay

don’t worry sweetie you’re gonna be okay

don’t worry sweetie you’re gonna be okay number six Mia

number six Mia

number six Mia Allen Evil Dead they stopped your song

this mother earth when Evil Dead was

this mother earth when Evil Dead was remade / rebooted for a new generation

remade / rebooted for a new generation

remade / rebooted for a new generation it was very clear that recasting ash was

it was very clear that recasting ash was

it was very clear that recasting ash was a thankless job hail to the king baby

a thankless job hail to the king baby

a thankless job hail to the king baby so the filmmakers crafted Mia a new

so the filmmakers crafted Mia a new

so the filmmakers crafted Mia a new character to serve as the protagonist an

character to serve as the protagonist an

character to serve as the protagonist an addict who chooses what should be a

addict who chooses what should be a

addict who chooses what should be a peaceful cabin retreat to go cold turkey

peaceful cabin retreat to go cold turkey

peaceful cabin retreat to go cold turkey mom would have hated seeing the cabin

mom would have hated seeing the cabin

mom would have hated seeing the cabin like this mia has much worse things to

like this mia has much worse things to

like this mia has much worse things to contend with than mere withdrawal baby

contend with than mere withdrawal baby

contend with than mere withdrawal baby little baby it’s time to say goodbye

baby little Mia please I don’t thing you

baby little Mia please I don’t thing you need to sad memories in your head right

need to sad memories in your head right

need to sad memories in your head right now when a demon begins possessing her

now when a demon begins possessing her

now when a demon begins possessing her and her friends with tongue splitting

and her friends with tongue splitting

and her friends with tongue splitting blood-curdling results she summons her

blood-curdling results she summons her

blood-curdling results she summons her inner strength and becomes the only

inner strength and becomes the only

inner strength and becomes the only character to survive the film

thus she confronts her inner demons and

thus she confronts her inner demons and actual demons all at once you shouldn’t

actual demons all at once you shouldn’t

actual demons all at once you shouldn’t have touched anything from that basement

have touched anything from that basement

have touched anything from that basement number five

number five

number five Dana pulk the cabin in the woods let’s

Dana pulk the cabin in the woods let’s

Dana pulk the cabin in the woods let’s get this party started

get this party started

get this party started what is it with horror movies and

what is it with horror movies and

what is it with horror movies and virginity the virgin me virgin we work

virginity the virgin me virgin we work

virginity the virgin me virgin we work with what we have the cabin in the woods

with what we have the cabin in the woods

with what we have the cabin in the woods may not be the only horror film to poke

may not be the only horror film to poke

may not be the only horror film to poke fun at the genres tropes but it does it

fun at the genres tropes but it does it

fun at the genres tropes but it does it with style as our designated virgin

with style as our designated virgin

with style as our designated virgin serves as the principal heroine as one

serves as the principal heroine as one

serves as the principal heroine as one member of a group of college students

member of a group of college students

member of a group of college students who are tapped to die to ensure the

who are tapped to die to ensure the

who are tapped to die to ensure the worlds continued existence dana is

worlds continued existence dana is

worlds continued existence dana is unwilling to play along and all hell

unwilling to play along and all hell

unwilling to play along and all hell breaks loose I think I can get down get

breaks loose I think I can get down get

breaks loose I think I can get down get recorded go down though some may argue

recorded go down though some may argue

recorded go down though some may argue that sacrificing yourself is the heroic

that sacrificing yourself is the heroic

that sacrificing yourself is the heroic route we think that rebelling against

route we think that rebelling against

route we think that rebelling against the system of torture and death earned

the system of torture and death earned

the system of torture and death earned her place here I’m so sorry I’m less

her place here I’m so sorry I’m less

her place here I’m so sorry I’m less shot you I probably wouldn’t have number

shot you I probably wouldn’t have number

shot you I probably wouldn’t have number 4 Laurie Strode the Halloween franchise

4 Laurie Strode the Halloween franchise

4 Laurie Strode the Halloween franchise I’ll kill you if this is a joke in the

I’ll kill you if this is a joke in the

I’ll kill you if this is a joke in the history of cinema there have only been a

history of cinema there have only been a

history of cinema there have only been a handful of true scream queens Oh scare

handful of true scream queens Oh scare

handful of true scream queens Oh scare there’s nothing to be scared of

there’s nothing to be scared of

there’s nothing to be scared of I assure with her turn in this series of

I assure with her turn in this series of

I assure with her turn in this series of films Jamie Lee Curtis ensured her

films Jamie Lee Curtis ensured her

films Jamie Lee Curtis ensured her inclusion on that list

inclusion on that list

inclusion on that list in fact she’s practically a founding

in fact she’s practically a founding

in fact she’s practically a founding member when we do try to live the

member when we do try to live the

member when we do try to live the biological sister of the murderous

biological sister of the murderous

biological sister of the murderous madman Michael Myers Laurie Strode is a

madman Michael Myers Laurie Strode is a

madman Michael Myers Laurie Strode is a paragon of virtue standing in defiance

paragon of virtue standing in defiance

paragon of virtue standing in defiance of a force of death and destruction

we can only assume that a fragment of

we can only assume that a fragment of what makes her brother such a lethal

what makes her brother such a lethal

what makes her brother such a lethal adversary lives inside of her allowing

adversary lives inside of her allowing

adversary lives inside of her allowing Laurie to survive several run-ins with

Laurie to survive several run-ins with

Laurie to survive several run-ins with such a savage determination

because I’m not afraid of you

because I’m not afraid of you number three Nancy Thompson via

number three Nancy Thompson via

number three Nancy Thompson via Nightmare on Elm Street franchise

Nightmare on Elm Street franchise

Nightmare on Elm Street franchise whatever you do don’t fall asleep when

whatever you do don’t fall asleep when

whatever you do don’t fall asleep when Wes Craven created Freddy Krueger one of

Wes Craven created Freddy Krueger one of

Wes Craven created Freddy Krueger one of film’s scariest serial killers was born

and every scary serial killer needs a

and every scary serial killer needs a brave heroine to terrorize despite her

brave heroine to terrorize despite her

brave heroine to terrorize despite her young age

young age

young age Nancy uses her intelligence and bravery

Nancy uses her intelligence and bravery

Nancy uses her intelligence and bravery to seemingly defeat Freddy at his own

to seemingly defeat Freddy at his own

to seemingly defeat Freddy at his own game which unfortunately is not always

game which unfortunately is not always

game which unfortunately is not always standard for the genre I’m okay

you go downstairs an important enough

you go downstairs an important enough figure in the series lore that Heather

figure in the series lore that Heather

figure in the series lore that Heather Langenkamp was even tapped to play

Langenkamp was even tapped to play

Langenkamp was even tapped to play herself in a meta sequel of sorts Nancy

herself in a meta sequel of sorts Nancy

herself in a meta sequel of sorts Nancy set the standard for anyone hoping to

set the standard for anyone hoping to

set the standard for anyone hoping to defy Freddie’s will this is still a

defy Freddie’s will this is still a

defy Freddie’s will this is still a script we’re talking about right was

script we’re talking about right was

script we’re talking about right was she’s the horror heroine of our dreams

she’s the horror heroine of our dreams

she’s the horror heroine of our dreams man of my dreams

man of my dreams

man of my dreams he’s real isn’t he

he’s real number two Sidney Prescott the

he’s real number two Sidney Prescott the scream franchise he’s teaching 1/2

scream franchise he’s teaching 1/2

scream franchise he’s teaching 1/2 million nah said don’t you blame the

million nah said don’t you blame the

million nah said don’t you blame the movies another character created by Wes

movies another character created by Wes

movies another character created by Wes Craven Sidney again and again finds

Craven Sidney again and again finds

Craven Sidney again and again finds herself in the crosshairs of the Ghost

herself in the crosshairs of the Ghost

herself in the crosshairs of the Ghost Face killer but keeps her wits about her

Face killer but keeps her wits about her

Face killer but keeps her wits about her discovers their identity and survives

discovers their identity and survives

discovers their identity and survives what do you want I want you and Showtime

what do you want I want you and Showtime

what do you want I want you and Showtime this has made all the more impressive

this has made all the more impressive

this has made all the more impressive given the Jarrah obsessed nature of her

given the Jarrah obsessed nature of her

given the Jarrah obsessed nature of her assailants who aren’t likely to fall for

assailants who aren’t likely to fall for

assailants who aren’t likely to fall for the typical scary movie traps that beat

the typical scary movie traps that beat

the typical scary movie traps that beat so many villains a killer called her

so many villains a killer called her

so many villains a killer called her what when what do you say oh you know

what when what do you say oh you know

what when what do you say oh you know usual small talk let’s know how you been

usual small talk let’s know how you been

usual small talk let’s know how you been had I consistently tormented by people

had I consistently tormented by people

had I consistently tormented by people she’s close to Sidney outmaneuvers them

she’s close to Sidney outmaneuvers them

she’s close to Sidney outmaneuvers them all while remaining a kind hearted

all while remaining a kind hearted

all while remaining a kind hearted person which may be her most courageous

person which may be her most courageous

person which may be her most courageous act all now I’m special you’ll slip they

act all now I’m special you’ll slip they

act all now I’m special you’ll slip they always do before we reveal our top pick

always do before we reveal our top pick

always do before we reveal our top pick here are some honorable mentions

here are some honorable mentions

here are some honorable mentions Chris was a tough guy no he’s no but

Chris was a tough guy no he’s no but

Chris was a tough guy no he’s no but thanks thanks for the help by the way in

thanks thanks for the help by the way in

thanks thanks for the help by the way in the lake though the one who attacked me

the lake though the one who attacked me

the lake though the one who attacked me the one who pulled me underneath the

the one who pulled me underneath the

the one who pulled me underneath the water ma’am we didn’t find any boy paint

water ma’am we didn’t find any boy paint

water ma’am we didn’t find any boy paint be gone I will have no more

be gone I will have no more

be gone I will have no more cherry cherry darling

sounds like a stripper no it sounds like

sounds like a stripper no it sounds like a go-go dancer there’s a difference

a go-go dancer there’s a difference

a go-go dancer there’s a difference number one Ellen Ripley the Alien

number one Ellen Ripley the Alien

number one Ellen Ripley the Alien franchise

for any of you that think the Alien

for any of you that think the Alien franchise doesn’t count as a horror

franchise doesn’t count as a horror

franchise doesn’t count as a horror series we defy you to watch these films

series we defy you to watch these films

series we defy you to watch these films and not be terrified beyond belief

beginning as a Warrant Officer Ellen

beginning as a Warrant Officer Ellen Ripley becomes a total badass in her own

Ripley becomes a total badass in her own

Ripley becomes a total badass in her own right through her encounters with the

right through her encounters with the

right through her encounters with the eponymous creature why should we put our

eponymous creature why should we put our

eponymous creature why should we put our ass on the line but you your ass is

ass on the line but you your ass is

ass on the line but you your ass is already on the line the only question is

already on the line the only question is

already on the line the only question is what are you gonna do about it whether

what are you gonna do about it whether

what are you gonna do about it whether it’s the heart-stopping tension of the

it’s the heart-stopping tension of the

it’s the heart-stopping tension of the first film the high-octane action of the

first film the high-octane action of the

first film the high-octane action of the second film or the insanity of the third

second film or the insanity of the third

second film or the insanity of the third and fourth Ripley is at the heart of it

and fourth Ripley is at the heart of it

and fourth Ripley is at the heart of it all what happens now

I don’t know

I don’t know I’m a stranger here myself dispatching

I’m a stranger here myself dispatching

I’m a stranger here myself dispatching xenomorphs left and right she stands

xenomorphs left and right she stands

xenomorphs left and right she stands toe-to-toe with an alien queen and comes

toe-to-toe with an alien queen and comes

toe-to-toe with an alien queen and comes out on top

if that doesn’t ensure her place atop

if that doesn’t ensure her place atop this list nothing will I thought you

this list nothing will I thought you

this list nothing will I thought you were dead

were dead

were dead yeah I get that a lot do you agree with

yeah I get that a lot do you agree with

yeah I get that a lot do you agree with our list who’s your favorite horror

our list who’s your favorite horror

our list who’s your favorite horror movie heroine something wrong with me

movie heroine something wrong with me

movie heroine something wrong with me look somebody broke the window that

look somebody broke the window that

look somebody broke the window that really happens girl in the ketchup for

really happens girl in the ketchup for

really happens girl in the ketchup for more heroic top 10s published every day

more heroic top 10s published every day

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