Once upon a time in the world of horror, the term scream queen meant one thing: a beautiful woman running for her life, tripping at the worst possible moment, and unleashing a bloodcurdling scream before meeting her inevitable doom. She was the victim, the eye candy, the one who made us yell at the screen, “Why are you going into the basement?!”

But horror isn’t what it used to be. Gone are the days when scream queens just ran, sobbed, and became human piñatas for masked killers. The new generation is smarter, tougher, and sometimes, scarier than the monsters themselves. So, let’s count down the top 10 scream queens from modern times, women who didn’t just survive horror but completely flipped the genre on its head.

Keep in mind, this is my personal ranking, based on who I feel has had the most influence on the genre and my own preferences.

10

Sosie Bacon

Smile (2022) – Dr. Rose Cotter

Most horror movies feature a final girl running from the terror. In Smile, Dr. Rose Cotter runs toward it—because, well, she has no choice. Sosie Bacon’s performance turns psychological horror into something deeply personal, making paranoia feel more terrifying than any masked killer ever could.

9

Lupita Nyong’o

Us (2019) – Adelaide Wilson/Red

Lupita Nyong’o delivers not one but two unforgettable performances in Us. As Adelaide, she’s a mother battling to protect her family, while as Red, she’s the eerie, soft-spoken figure leading a nightmarish reckoning. She balances terror and heartbreak so flawlessly that it’s impossible to look away.

8

Florence Pugh

Midsommar (2019) – Dani Ardor

Dani begins Midsommar in the midst of unimaginable grief, yet Florence Pugh’s performance transforms her from a broken woman into a chilling force. As the film progresses, Dani’s emotional unraveling becomes more unsettling, culminating in a hauntingly powerful moment where she embraces the horror around her—not as a victim, but as someone who has found a dark, unsettling kind of strength.

7

Anya Taylor-Joy

The Witch (2015) – Thomasin
Last Night in Soho (2021) – Sandie

In The Witch, Thomasin transforms from a victim of religious oppression into someone who fully embraces the darkness. Meanwhile, in Last Night in Soho, Sandie shifts from being a victim to a haunting force, showing that horror isn’t merely about survival—it’s about evolving and confronting the darkness within.

6

Elisabeth Moss

The Invisible Man (2020) – Cecilia Kass

Cecilia Kass isn’t running from a man with a knife—she’s running from a man no one believes exists. The Invisible Man makes horror out of gaslighting, and Moss delivers a performance so raw and desperate that she redefines what a horror heroine can be.

5

Toni Collette

Hereditary (2018) – Annie Graham

Toni Collette’s performance in Hereditary goes beyond acting; she completely dominates the film. As Annie, her portrayal of grief and terror is so raw and intense, it leaves you captivated and horrified in equal measure.

4

Jenna Ortega

Scream (2022), Scream VI (2023) – Tara Carpenter
X (2022) – Lorraine Day
The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020) – Phoebe Atwell

Tara Carpenter doesn’t just survive Ghostface—she makes it personal. In Scream, she reinvents the “first attack” girl trope by refusing to go down easy. Meanwhile, in X, Lorraine starts as a reserved, judgmental character but ends up proving that horror doesn’t care about good-girl stereotypes. As Phoebe in The Babysitter: Killer Queen, she ditches the “weird new girl” stereotype and proves that being an outcast might just be the best survival skill in a bloodbath.

3

Mia Goth

X (2022). Pearl (2022), maXXXine (2024) – Maxine Minx / Pearl Douglas
Infinity Pool (2023) – Gabi Bauer

Playing both the hopeful survivor (Maxine in X) and the unhinged villain (Pearl in Pearl), Mia Goth isn’t just in horror movies—she is horror. Her performance as Pearl is one of the most unsettling transformations in recent years, proving that horror queens don’t just scream; they terrify. Mia Goth will play Elizabeth Lavenza, Victor Frankenstein’s fiancée, in the upcoming 2025 movie Frankenstein, based on the legendary 1818 novel by Mary Shelley.

2

Samara Weaving

Ready or Not (2019) – Grace
The Babysitter (2017), The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020) – Bee

When her in-laws came after her with axes, crossbows, spearguns, and other weapons, Samara Weaving as Grace proved that sarcasm is a far stronger weapon. She didn’t just survive the night—she completely turned the tables on her attackers, and trust me, it was bloody. Meanwhile, in The Babysitter, she flips the typical babysitter trope on its head, making her both terrifying and oddly charming. Samara Weaving is one of my favorite scream queens for her ability to blend horror with dark comedy, all while escaping the most terrifying situations with a smile on her face.

1

Neve Campbell

Scream (1996–present) – Sidney Prescott

Even though she’s the veteran on this list, Neve Campbell’s influence on horror remains undeniable. She made Sidney Prescott the blueprint for the modern scream queen. Rather than cowering from Ghostface, she outsmarts him at every turn. Neve redefined the horror heroine, transforming Sidney into a powerful, enduring symbol of resilience and strength in the genre.

And there you have it! These scream queens have totally redefined what it means to survive horror, proving that strength, smarts, and a little bit of sass go a long way. Now it’s your turn: who’s your favorite scream queen, whether from the classics or modern day? Let me know who you think deserves to reign supreme in the world of horror!