It’s difficult to define what gives a horror movie scream queen her title, but many great modern stars fit the bill. They earn the name of scream queen easily with their remarkable performances. Slightly different from the final girl, an archetype within the horror genre, scream queens are actresses who become best-known for their contribution to thrilling and chilling flicks, often with surprising depth and nuance. While the name comes from the act of screaming, an action that horror movies are full of, contemporary scream queens are highlighted for their acting ability, not just for their shrieks.

It’s exciting to see more modern horror movies directed by women and incorporating the female perspective on and off camera. For many years, the roles women were cast in within the horror genre were exploitative and one-dimensional, but modern horror masterpieces challenge and grapple with this history by giving their heroines depth. Additionally, horror has been taken much more seriously as a genre in general in the last several decades. No longer is it considered low-brow or cheap, as some of the best modern horror movies tackle complex subjects that reflect the contemporary social and political issues of the everyday.

10

Mia Goth

Known for the X Trilogy (2022–2024)

From the beginning of her career, Mia Goth was singled out as an actor who could push herself to the limits of physical and emotional performance no matter what the role called for. This has never been more clear than in her starring roles in the X Trilogy from filmmaker Ti West, which recently concluded with the final installment, MaXXXine. However, part of the reason West cast her in the lead role for all three movies was because of her extensive work in chilling psychological dramas and horror films.

Goth has worked with some of the best contemporary film directors, such as Luca Guadagnino on his 2018 remake of Suspiria, Gore Verbinski on A Cure For Wellness, and, more recently, Brandon Cronenberg on Infinity Pool. It’s clear that Goth is drawn to stories that take on the ugly truths of human nature and twist them in grotesque ways while featuring gorgeous cinematography and storytelling that’s entrenched in the history of cinema. Now that the X Trilogy has wrapped up, it will be exciting to see who Goth decides to work with next.

9

Jenna Ortega

Known for Wednesday (2022–Present)

As a rising star in Hollywood who’s been making her name in the horror genre, it’s unsurprising that Jenna Ortega is starring in Beetlejuice 2, the long-awaited sequel to the cult-classic film. Ortega began acting at a young age and, in the past few years, has fully established herself as a scream queen and an actor to watch. Excelling in both film and television, Ortega stole the show as a secondary character in You season 2, going on to land the starring role in Wednesday, Netflix’s update of The Adam’s Family that centers on Wednesday’s life at boarding school.

In terms of movies, Ortega proved herself to be a worthy successor of the final girl role in the 2022 Scream and 2023 Scream VI, which rebooted the beloved horror franchise with a modern twist. Capable of searingly funny deadpan delivery and deeply emotional performances like that in The Fallout, Ortega has demonstrated a range that will likely transcend any typecasting throughout her career. Though it’s still early, few would be surprised to see Ortega go on to receive great acclaim for her work.

8

Anya Taylor-Joy

Known for The Menu (2022)

Like many of the women on this list, Anya Taylor-Joy has collaborated with many great filmmakers as well as other scream queens to exciting results. She and Goth both had a foray outside of horror when they costarred in the 2020 adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel, Emma. When looking back, it’s hardly a coincidence that two such prolific stars of the terrifying and unsettling were chosen to be in a lush romantic period piece. Their presence and performances in the charming love story were a refreshing departure for both actresses.

Taylor-Joy is most certainly a scream queen, as her early roles in movies like The Witch and Split are what catapulted her to fame. Additionally, The Menu is one of her biggest hits of the last few years and was critically acclaimed as a fun, tongue-in-cheek take on the influx of class-commentary scary movies currently in vogue. However, Taylor-Joy has counteracted this reputation by taking on projects across genres that highlight her many skills. Though Furiosa wasn’t the box office success Taylor-Joy might have hoped for, it opens the door for her to explore action stardom in the future.

7

Maika Monroe

Known for Longlegs (2024)

Ten years after her first career-defining role in It Follows, Maika Monroe is back and better than ever in the recent release, Longlegs, which has been taking the horror world by storm. Monroe shines throughout the movie, particularly in the Longlegs ending, when huge twists are revealed to the audience. It’s not surprising that Monroe has, yet again, been connected to one of the best-rated horror movies of the decade, as her role in It Follows was central to the 2014 film being hailed as one of the best scary movies of all time.

In the period between these two successes, Monroe has been busy cementing her position as a scream queen, though few projects have come close to her biggest hits. Despite this, watching her in The Guest or Watcher scratches the itch of a classic Monroe thriller, even if the quality isn’t quite up to the standards of It Follows or Longlegs. Additionally, she’s proven that a supernatural element is not required to make her filmography interesting, as she steals the show in more understated dramas like Honey Boy or the coming-of-age thriller Hot Summer Nights.

6

Samara Weaving

Known for Ready Or Not (2019)

Though Samara Weaving’s most famous movie from 2019 is inarguably Ready or Not, the lesser-known Guns Akimbo in which she costars with Daniel Radcliffe. Ready or Not was one of 2019’s best horrors and did an excellent job reinventing the final girl trope, which has been an important feature of modern cinema. Almost the entire story of Ready or Not relies on Weaving’s ability to embody the lightning-fast development of her character, Grace. Ready or Not is a fun addition to the horror genre because it capitalizes on Weaving’s talents as an action performer, letting her be her own savior.

These skills can be seen in Guns Akimbo and the horror-comedy The Babysitter. In The Babysitter, which came out a few years before Ready or Not, Weaving gets the fun job of playing the villain, which is one of the most rewarding parts of any scary movie. Additionally, Weaving is one of the many scream queens who earned a role in Scream VI, which endeavored to bring many of the most popular horror actresses of the time together into one project. Though it isn’t horror, Weaving’s most high-profile role was in Damien Chazelle’s Babylon, which was released to mixed reviews.

5

Sophie Wilde

Known for Talk to Me (2022)

As much as Talk to Me is a horror movie, it’s also a tale about overcoming grief and moving on after the death of a loved one. Produced by A24, one of the hottest modern production companies churning out experimental and groundbreaking horror, Talk to Me gives Sophie Wilde a lot to do as the protagonist, Mia, who is equally drawn to and terrified of the central antagonistic force of the story. The critical and audience reception for Talk to Me has been overwhelmingly positive since the film’s release, meaning Wilde could continue with horror if she wishes.

However, Wilde also has solid ties to television, as she was singled out for her early performance in the British series You Don’t Know Me and the recent dramedy Everything Now. Wilde is still at the point in her career when she can reasonably play a teenager, but after her compelling and dramatic role in Talk to Me, it seems like she’s ready to make the jump into purely adult roles. Whether or not these are in horror matters less than if Wilde is getting the complex and character-driven projects she deserves. ​​​​​​​

4

Jasmin Savoy Brown

Known for Scream (2022)

Though she doesn’t have the most prominent role in Scream and Scream VI, Jasmin Savoy Brown steals every scene she’s in and has successfully established herself as a movie actor. It’s important that she takes on these film roles, as her acclaimed performances in shows like Yellowjackets and The Leftovers could mean that she’s pigeonholed in television for the foreseeable future. However, there’s nothing wrong with this, and Brown’s shows are considered some of the best. Something that defines all of her work, no matter the format, is that the characters she takes on are rich and complex.

Luckily, she stands out in the new Scream movies, and being in Yellowjackets goes hand-in-hand with this, as the genres are similar. If anything, Yellowjackets can be even more terrifying than the Scream movies because of its supernatural twists and mysteries. Additionally, one of Brown’s lesser-known works, Sound of Violence, sees Brown embody the role of a killer, but her thirst for blood is more nuanced and intriguing than most horror movies allow their villains to be. Sound of Violence shows that Brown should have more opportunities to lead her own films.

3

Mckenna Grace

Known for Annabelle Comes Home (2019)

Mckenna Grace has been acting from a very young age, and many audiences know her best as the actress who plays the younger version of an adult character in shows or movies. Luckily, Grace has been aging out of this and is getting the opportunity to do what she wants with a role instead of molding herself after an older actor. Many of these opportunities have come in horror films, from Annabelle Comes Home to The Bad Seed. A huge turning point in Grace’s career was when she landed a role in the dystopian series The Handmaid’s Tale.

It was an emotionally grueling part, but Grace portrayed it beautifully, allowing audiences to see her skills as a performer in a new light. Additionally, Grace is practically unrecognizable in the latest Ghostbusters movies as Phoebe Spengler and even in Young Sheldon as Paige Swanson. Bouncing around from genre to genre with such ease makes it difficult to pin down what kind of actor Grace is and how to define her. However, it’s certain that her work in horror has never faltered and that the characters she takes on will continue to grow in depth and personality.

2

Melissa Barrera

Known for Abigail (2024)

Melissa Barrera’s newest horror movie, Abigail, is merely the latest in a long line of excellent revivals that she’s successfully brought to modern audiences. Barrera starred alongside Ortega in the most recent iterations of the Scream franchise, and she does well within the ensemble drama of the films. However, Barrera has the star power to lead her own project, and she got this chance with Abigail. Outside the horror world, audiences might recognize Barrera for her performance in In The Heights or the TV series Vida.

One of the reasons that producers of frightening films keep returning to Barrera as a contender is because of how well she toes the line between horror and humor in her work. It’s well-known that there needs to be moments of levity and humor within a scary movie because so much of the premise is outlandish. Barrera successfully balances the dramatic moments when her characters must drop into the story with self-awareness revolving around the less-believable plot points. This was especially important in the Scream movies, as those narratives made their name on subverting horror tropes.

1

Sophie Thatcher

Known for Yellowjackets (2021–Present)

Horror TV has soared in popularity in the last few years, and a large part of this is thanks to the mainstream success of series like American Horror Story. It’s inarguable that new series like Yellowjackets owes a lot to its predecessors that paved the way for experimental and chilling new works. In Yellowjackets, Sophie Thatcher’s character, Nat, is a skeptic when it comes to the supernatural elements that unfold in the show. However, this doesn’t stop her from being affected by them, as well as the naturalistic terror of living through a survival situation.

Thatcher’s upcoming movie, Heretic, will continue her trend of starring in horror projects, as, since her breakout role in Yellowjackets, audiences have grown accustomed to seeing her in this context. In the past, she was also featured in the 2023 film The Boogeyman, which didn’t receive overwhelming critical acclaim but was a fun adaptation of the Stephen King short story. When watching Thatcher’s acting style and disposition, it’s easy to see why she fits right into so many twisting psychological dramas.