Horror is special in the fact that it’s way more female-centric than most other genres. Whether it’s hardcore slashers like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) or psychological terrors like The Babadook (2014), or It Follows (2015), there are an endless number of woman-led stories that have stood the test of time. In the same breath, one of horror fans’ favorite phrases of the last half century has been “Final Girl”. This is usually the lead character of a scary story, oftentimes female, who everyone roots for. Despite all the odds against her, she ends up surviving to tell her story.
It doesn’t matter if they’re one-off films like Hush (2013) or franchises like Scream, this term isn’t exclusive to the slasher sub-genre. However, that’s where the phrase has become the most popular. There have been so many amazing Final Girls, like Ellen Ripley (Alien) and Sam Carpenter (Scream 5 & 6). That made this a frightening list to tackle, but these are the best horror Final Girls of all time.
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10
Tree Gelbman (Happy Death Day Franchise)
Played by: Jessica Rothe
The horror comedy had a second coming in the mid-2010s. The franchise that was leading the way was Happy Death Day (2017) from director Christopher Landon. The reason this time loop slasher was so successful was because of its Final Girl Tree Gelbman. More specifically, what actress Jessica Rothe brought to this lively character. Tree starts off as this very unlikable “Mean Girl”-like sorority sister, but somehow Rothe found this quirky, almost Looney Tunes-like tick that makes this unlikely hero so killer.
How both Landon and Rothe balance the wacky humor of Tree’s unhinged humor and her heartfelt tragic backstory that makes us relate to her giggle-filled armor is unique. In a sub-genre filled with so many larger-than-life Final Girls, Tree always rebelled in the absurd situation she found herself in without ever losing her humanity. That fun and tear-jerking mix is why she deserves a spot on this hotly-contested list. Also, luckily, this isn’t the last time we’ll be seeing her as Happy Death Day 3 is finally back in development.
9
Laurie Strode (Halloween Franchise)
Played By: Jamie Lee Curtis
Laurie Strode is most slasher fans’ favorite Final Girl. Even though she’s not as high on this list compared to most, Laurie’s all-American every-girl charm became the template that most Final Girls would follow for decades to come. Halloween (1978), John Carpenter and Jamie Lee Curtis brought the slasher genre into the mainstream. Over the course of seven film appearances in the span of 45-plus years, Laurie’s battle with Michael Myers remains iconic.
Whether it was the reserved nature of the original version or the Laurie who was obsessed with Michael returning in the 2018 reboot trilogy, Curtis always knew how to play this beloved hero. She also has the benefit of playing the character in multiple sequels and her evolution in the recent continuity was interesting to say the least. Especially where the slasher sub-genre is concerned. Laurie’s simply a babysitter who rose to the occasion and became a genre icon.
8
Sally Hardesty (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, 1974)
Played: Marilyn Burns
When it comes to all-time Final Girls, the one that’s often not talked about is Sally from the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre. She spends a lot of the movie complaining, running and screaming. However, her character goes through the absolute ringer. The dinner scene alone with Leatherface’s family is enough to give her a rightful spot here, with her acrobatics jumping out windows being very impressive as well.
That said, the true reason she’s one of the best Final Girls is the way Marilyn Burns played Sally. The actress gave the character this unique charm and warmth that few of her future contemporaries had. She survived the Texas heat, Leatherface’s deadly chainsaw and had a clear love for her ill-fated brother Frankenlin. Because of that, Sally’s strength needs to be recognized more.
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7
Mia Allan (Evil Dead, 2013)
Played By: Jane Levy
The Evil Dead franchise has a ton of memorable characters in its 40-plus-year history. Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) may be the main star of the franchise, but the series’ first Final Girl didn’t come until much later in Evil Dead (2013). This darker reboot focused on extremely thick themes of addition, with the film’s lead, Mia Allan, going on a journey that few Final Girls would survive.
This blood-soaked tragic character was brought to life by Jane Levy with such a painstaking attention to detail. The level of somberness provided by the actress is one of the single greatest performances in the genre’s big screen lifespan. From beginning to end, Mia puts horror fans through an emotional circus act of torture that’s both deeply satisfying and psychologically scarring. Evil Dead (2013) remains the best film in this incredible franchise. Leavy’s relentless dedication to Evil Dead’s creative insanity is the main reason why.
6
Sidney Prescott (Scream Franchise)
Played By: Neve Campbell
There’s probably not a Final Girl as beloved in the modern era as Sidney Prescott. Scream (1996) and its main lead revitalized the slasher sub-genre in deadly fashion. Sidney, especially in the first film, was a breath of fresh air for the genre. She was a sensible character who was very aware of her surroundings and knew her role in the world she inhabited. Or, at least she thought she did. Neve Campbell’s infectious screen presence and sophistication is why Sidney’s often seen as the definitive Final Girl.
The only reason Sidney’s never-ending fight against Ghost Face isn’t higher here is because the later sequels really didn’t know what to do with the character. Scream 7, the latest film in the series, tried to do something new by giving her a daughter. However, that only ever retreaded plot points from the original trilogy. Regardless, Sidney has transcended pop culture and things like her dark backstory make her a one-of-one hero in the slasher world.
5
Sienna Shaw (Terrifier Franchise)
Played By: Lauren LaVera
One of the newest Final Girls of the genre, Sienna Shaw is the complete package. She’s a sensitive soul who’ll make you cry and feel deeply for the trauma she’s going through. However, she’s also this fierce warrior who shouldn’t be messed with. This made her continued battle with Art the Clown become so iconic in such a short amount of time.
That has everything to do with Lauren LaVera, who’s a star in the making. Her screen presence is ungodly and the physicality she brings to Sienna can’t be matched. The character’s mysterious backstory as well as her deep reflection of survivors guilt also makes Sienna a fascinating construct. Terrifier 4 is coming soon. It’ll be the concluding chapter to both Art and Sienna’s stories. Depending on how Sienna’s battle ends, this vengeful Final Girl’s spot can only travel higher on this list.
4
Grace MacCaullay (Ready or Not Franchise)
Played By: Samara Weaving
Samara Weaving has become modern horror’s most reliable “Scream Queen”. She’s starred in so many fan-favorite genre films in the last decade. However, the one that definitively put her on the map was Ready or Not. The 2019 horror comedy slasher introduced Grace MacCaullay to the world. Grace had a memorable debut, being hunted on her wedding night by her new devil-worshiping family. Even with that bonkers set up, that never got in the way of the character’s light, carefree attitude and ability to snort laugh in the face of literal death.
Weaving’s insane vocal range is on full display here with one of the best gut-wrenching screams around. Her blend of ingenious comedic timing and force of nature determination makes Grace such a likable Final Girl. It’s never been easier to root for this type of heroic character. The recent Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, has only cemented Samara and Grace’s cut-throat legend even further.
3
Maxine Minx (X, MaXXXine)
Played By: Mia Goth
X (2022), like Texas Chain Saw and Scream before it, brought such a new energy to the slasher genre. Nowhere is there a better example of that than in its Final Girl Maxine Minx. This adult film star turned famous actress, became a genre icon overnight thanks to director Ti West and star Mia Goth. What that latter brought to Maxine was such a creative fearlessness and an energy that could only be compared to a Smiling Friends character.
Like the villain of X, Pearl, Maxine was determined to do anything to become a star. That slightly crazed drive over the course of two films gave this actress-to-be a unique journey with each of her stories being a different reflection of her complex psyche. Maxine belongs in the same breath as Sidney Prescott and Laurie Strode. The character and her villainous counterpart have transcended pop culture in not even half a decade. Goth’s once-in-a-generation talent is the reason why.
2
Nancy Thompson (A Nightmare on Elm Street Franchise)
Played By: Heather Langenkamp
When it comes to classic Final Girls, there’s no one who deserves the spotlight more than Nancy Thompson from A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). Her fun hot-headed attitude and slightly unhinged actions as the story progresses made for some all-time slasher moments. Heather Langenkamp played Nancy with all the nativity a teen requires as well as an unexpected grave level of maturity. The latter’s subtle nature can be hard to spot on the first couple watches because Langenkamp is so natural in the role. That said, despite Freddy Krueger and Robert Englund being the face of the franchise, Langenkamp’s Nancy is a major part of why “Freddy-Mania” took over in the 80s.
This isn’t even taking into account Nancy’s second appearance in A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, where the Final Girl was one of the first to take on a monitor status. Something that would become very popular for legacy slasher sequels starting in the late 2010s. Even though Sidney Prescott and Laurie Strode are more popular, Nancy deserves to be right up there with them as she’s just as influential, with franchises like Terrifier taking a lot from Elm Street.
1
Jess Bradford (Black Christmas, 1974)
Played By: Olivia Hussey
Jess Bradford from the original Black Christmas (1974) is the best final girl. Not only does actress Olivia Hussey do a sensational job conveying the terror of the situation, her subplot featuring the real-world horror of abortion in the latter half of the 20th century is still something to scream at over 50 years later. In this otherwise festive nightmare, Hussey brought such kindness and weighty warmth to Jess. Her immense care and subtle fight behind her eyes hasn’t been replicated.
Jess has the added benefit of being in one of the scariest films of all-time and a slasher masterpiece. However, your endless concern and love for Jess is why Black Christmas keeps horror fans up at night. Hussey’s timeless performance is still why we talk about this creepy and creative Christmas slasher to this day. Jess is also just a fashion icon, but this sorority sister is one you would lay down your life for. Hussey had so many iconic performances in her long career, but she’ll forever be remembered as horror royalty. That’s all because of this ill-fated holiday break.
- Release Date
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December 20, 1974
- Runtime
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98 Minutes
- Director
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Bob Clark
