The 100 Hottest Horror Characters of All Time
Whether you’re looking for a monstrous mate or a fierce final girl, we’ve curated our ultimate list of the 100 horror hotties for you to fall in love (or lust) with this Valentine’s.
By Alex Secilmis & Lana Thorn 10 February 2026
From new flings (Michael B. Jordan’s doubly enchanting perfomance in ‘Sinners’) to old flames (Salma Hayek’s iconic dancer in ‘From Dusk till Dawn’), there’s a special, spooky someone for everyone.
Disclaimer: This is an unordered list, though we all know every horror fan has a freaky crush who tops their own ranking.
Smoke & Stack - Sinners
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© Warner Bros.
Honestly, Ryan Coogler’s record-breaking vampire epic leaves us spoilt for choice in this department. But if we have to pick one, we’re going with Michael B. Jordan’s dual performance that made host Nikki Glaser utter the phrase “Nikki B. Jerking” at the Golden Globes.
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Santanico Pandemonium - From Dusk till Dawn
© Miramax
Not even the horrific turn-off of Tarantino sucking on her foot can stop Salma Hayek’s python-wrangling stripper from making this list.
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Cameron Cade - Him
© Universal
While Him didn’t stick the landing despite its exciting premise, Tyriq Withers was endlessly watchable as a doomed football player. His performance was pretty great too.
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Jennifer Wooley - I Married a Witch
© United Artists
One can’t overlook old Hollywood’s horror hotties, and what better choice than Veronica Lake in this 1942 spooky screwball comedy.
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Dr. Seth Brundle - The Fly
© 20th Century Studios
Even when he starts to turn into, well, a fly, we can’t deny the power of a shirtless Jeff Goldblum.
Sue - The Substance
2
© FX
By featuring Margaret Qualley’s spandex-wearing tour-de-force, we’re also technically including Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore). Remember, they are one.
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Gomez & Morticia - The Addams Family
© Paramount Pictures
With a love like theirs, you can’t split up the equally alluring Gomez and Morticia Addams. They’ve been a dashing couple in many iterations, but for our money, Raul Julia and Angelica Huston take the cake.
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Jennifer & Needy - Jennifer’s Body
© 20th Century Studios
While Megan Fox’s titular mean-girl-turned-succubus has deservedly gotten her flowers in the hall of horror hottie fame, fans seem to forget that the same film also features Amanda Seyfried playing an adorkable nerd.
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Nina Sayers - Black Swan
© Searchlight Pictures
All bets are off when Natalie Portman switches from white to black swan in this Oscar-winning performance.
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Friedrich Harding - Nosferatu
© Universal
Justice for Friedrich Harding (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), an unreasonably handsome man with a shocking amount of patience.
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Lou & Jackie - Love Lies Bleeding
© A24
A butch and a muscle mommy do crimes together. We forgive them for everything.
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Lestat - Interview with the Vampire
© Warner Bros.
Anyone who picks Brad Pitt over Tom Cruise in this film, I bid you a speedy trip to the optician’s.
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Jackie Taylor - Yellowjackets
© Showtime
Forever haunting the narrative. And with a face card like that, how could she not?
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Hannibal Lecter - Hannibal
© NBC
Full credit to Anthony Hopkins (he got the Oscar after all), but we can’t deny the charm of everybody’s favourite Danish looker.
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Dexter Morgan - Dexter
© Showtime
Michael C. Hall isn’t America’s favourite serial killer for nothing.
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Eric Draven - The Crow
© Dimension Films
Let’s be real: Brandon Lee’s sensitive action hero is a goth’s dream man.
Angelique Bouchard - Dark Shadows
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© FX
Whilst she never stopped being thoroughly evil, Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp) couldn’t resist the wicked charm of Eva Green’s platinum blonde witch. We don’t blame him.
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Ellison Oswalt - Sinister
© Summit Entertainment
Ethan Hawke playing a reclusive, bearded author in a cardigan? Count us in.
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Dracula’s Bride - Bram Stoker’s Dracula
© Columbia
Monica Bellucci as a vampire. Need we say more?
The Countess - American Horror Story: Hotel
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© FX
Lady Gaga as a vampire. Again, need we say more?
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Eric Northman - True Blood
© HBO
Alexander Skarsgård as a vampire. Once again, need we say more?
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Billy & Stu - Scream
© Miramax
Billed as “the first husbands of horror”, there’s no denying the crackling chemistry between our favourite deranged delinquents played by Skeet Ulrich and Matthew Lillard.
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Patrick Bateman - American Psycho
© Lionsgate
Fashionable, well-groomed, and boasting an excellent taste in music, so what if Mr Bateman (Christian Bale) kills the odd person?
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Ellen Ripley - Alien
© 20th Century Studios
Serving butch realness since 1979, Sigourney Weaver has made Ellen Ripley a final girl for the ages.
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Laszlo Cravensworth - What We Do in the Shadows
© FX
While anyone from the Staten Island vampire commune could have made this list (including his own darling lady wife, Nadja), we’ve gone with Matt Berry’s ever-horny bloodsucker Laszlo. His only flaw? We hear he’s starred in some boring pornos.
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Grace Le Domas - Ready or Not
© Searchlight Pictures
A bride with a hell of a disappointing wedding night, we can’t wait to see Samara Weaving return as Grace in March’s long-anticipated sequel.
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Maxine Minx - X and MaXXXine
© A24
Whether playing the brazen Maxine Minx or the deranged Pearl, we have no doubt that Mia Goth is indeed a star.
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Hal and Bill - The Monkey
© NEON
Another pair of twins, we can’t deny the power of a double dose of Theo James.
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Angela Bassett - Vampire in Brooklyn
© Paramount
Later playing an equally sexy vampire in American Horror Story (watch her spicy scene with Lady Gaga), Angela Bassett stars as a detective-turned-monster in Wes Craven’s horror comedy.
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Elvira - Elvira: Mistress of the Dark
© New World Pictures
This list wouldn’t be complete with horror’s hostess with the mostest, Elvira—the enchanting alter-ego of Cassandra Peterson.
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Buffy Summers - Buffy: The Vampire Slayer
© 20th Century Studios
There may be plenty of sexy bloodsuckers on this list, but Sarah Michelle Gellar proves that vampire killers can be hot, too.
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Helen Shivers - I Know What You Did Last Summer
© Columbia
Has any sane person ever complained of too much Sarah Michelle Gellar? We thought not.
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Tiffany Valentine - Bride of Chucky
© Universal
A villainess equal parts evil and sexy, no one can forget Jennifer Tilly’s iconic turn as Chucky’s bride.
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Katrina - Vamp
© New World Pictures
Our second spooky stripper on this list, Grace Jones makes for an arresting vampire dancer in this 1986 horror comedy.
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Dean Winchester - Supernatural
© Warner Bros.
Sorry, Sammy (but don’t worry Jared Padalecki fans—scroll on and you’ll be pleased). Dean (Jensen Ackles) is our pick this time round for the hottest Winchester brother.
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Annie Wilkes - Misery
© Columbia
In our book, Paul Sheldon (James Caan) was a touch ungrateful. Who wouldn’t want to be cared for by Kathy Bates?
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Melissa Barrera - Scream & Scream VI
© Paramount
A final girl of the highest order, Melissa Barrera will be sorely missed as the sweet but slightly psycho Sam Carpenter.
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Clay Miller - Friday the 13th (2009)
© Paramount
The Friday the 13th remake didn’t hit all the marks (“stupendous tits”, anyone?), it did feature Jared Padalecki fighting for his life in a tight t-shirt.
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Akasha - Queen of the Damned
© Warner Bros.
Aaliyah makes for an unforgettable vampiress in this 2002 Anne Rice adaptation.
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Nancy Downs - The Craft
© Sony Pictures
The goth girl, Fairuza Balk’s teenage witch more than makes up for her demented demeanour. We could fix her.
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Beetlejuice - Beetlejuice
© Warner Bros.
We’ve said his name twice already in the subheading, so we’ll treat carefully. Or maybe we wouldn’t want to when it comes to this ultimate hear-me-out horror hottie.
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Lydia Deetz - Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
© Warner Bros.
If you think the ghost with the most is attractive, wait till you see the apple of his dead eye. Winona Ryder makes an enchanting goth mom in Tim Burton’s hit sequel.
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Kelly-Anne - Red Rooms
© Nemesis Films
Playing a true crime-obsessive uncomfortably invested in a murder case, Juliette Gariépy is a certified dark web diva.
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Steve - Fresh
© Searchlight Pictures
Sebastian Stan charms as a smooth-talking cannibal with even smoother dance moves. At least he’s a good cook.
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Candyman - Candyman
© TriStar Pictures
Like our Beetlejuice entry, we’re dangerously close to calling upon a malevolent ghost. Maybe let’s say that name another three times…
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Jim - 28 Days Later
© Searchlight Pictures
While arguably even hotter now as a dilf in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Cillian Murphy’s early-career turn in the post-apocalyptic flick is a more than deserving candidate.
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The Projectionist - Pearl
© A24
Before he was Superman, David Corenswet was busy showing Mia Goth old-timey pornos in Ti West’s early 1900s slasher.
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Rain - Alien: Romulus
© 20th Century Studios
Filling some big shoes in style, Cailee Spaeny proves herself a more than worthy successor to Sigourney Weaver.
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Victor - Fear the Walking Dead
© AMC
Regardless of the character, Colman Domingo’s very presence in a horror series earns him a place on this list. In fact, he’d have to go quite a bit out of his way to not be hot.
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Donnie Darko - Donnie Darko
© Newmarket Films
A premonition-plagued Jake Gyllenhaal is having a rough time of it, but he exudes plenty of boyish, brooding charm as our sleepwalking hero.
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Asami Yamazaki - Audition
© Omega Project
Eihi Shiina torturres men, and looks good doing it. Enough said.
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Frank-N-Furter - The Rocky Horror Picture Show
© 20th Century Studios
Tim Curry’s scene-stealing performance as a mad scientist oozes charisma and sex appeal. We’d like to touch-a, touch-a — well, you get the gist.
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Mac - The Thing
© Universal
Even when playing a particularly gory version of Among Us, Kurt Russell doesn’t forget to look utterly dashing in his winter gear.
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Skye Riley - Smile 2
© Paramount
Played with aplomb by Naomi Scott, this diva on the verge of a nervous breakdown is a horror lead for the ages.
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Father Paul - Midnight Mass
© Netflix
Devoted to his community and a romantic as well, we’re quite fond of Father Paul (Hamish Linklater)—even with the occasional vampiric shenanigans.
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Maren - Bones and All
© Warner Bros.
If our math’s right, Taylor Russell is our third cannibal on the list—and undoubtedly the sweetest.
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Dorothy Vallens - Blue Velvet
© De Laurentiis Entertainment Group
All-American college student Jeffrey Beaumont (Kyle MacLachlan) falls in love with the subject of his amateur detective investigation: lounge singer Dorothy (Isabella Rossellini). Who can blame him?
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The Bride - Bride of Frankenstein
© Universal
A zombie hottie with the chicest of hairdos, Elsa Lanchester left her mark on movie history as the titular character.
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Julia Cotton - Hellraiser & Hellbound: Hellraiser II
© Entertainment Film Distributors
Yes, Julia is an adulterous, murderous, heartless woman driven only be her selfish desires. But does she look good while committing those treacherous acts? Absolutely.
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Renee Madison / Alice Wakefield - Lost Highway
© October Films
In Lost Highway, Renee Madison is a woman so beautiful that she basically drives her husband Fred (Bill Pullman) insane. Patricia Arquette is well-cast, to say the least.
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Lorraine Warren - The Conjuring
© Warner Bros.
Her movie husband (Patrick Wilson) deserves to be here too, but this time we’re going with the mother of all demonologists, Vera Farmiga.
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Kit Walker - American Horror Story: Asylum
© FX
Evan Peters could be on this list for about 50 roles dare we say, but we’re celebrating his gold-hearted asylum inmate from Season 2.
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Agent Cooper - Twin Peaks
© ABC
Agent Cooper famously calls a cup of coffee at the Great Northern hotel “damn fine”. We’d use those same words to describe Kyle MacLachlan.
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Mary Mason - American Mary
© IndustryWorks Pictures
She may be in the business of brutal body modification, but when Mary is played by scream queen Katharine Isabelle, how can you not swoon?
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Dracula (Christopher Lee)
© Hammer
Tall and handsome with a bit of blood dripping from his mouth, Christopher Lee gives us one of the great, seductive iterations of the count.
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Gretchen - Cuckoo
© NEON
Hunter Schafer uncovers a sinister plot in the German alps in this criminally under-seen horror film. Bonus points for the lesbian romance.
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Dana Scully - The X-Files
© 20th Television
Gillian Anderson. That’s the caption.
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Kim Novak - Bell, Book and Candle
© Columbia
Opposite Jimmy Stewart, Kim Novak is bewitching in this supernatural rom-com. We wouldn’t need a love spell to fall for her.
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Ephraim Winslow and Thomas Wake - The Lighthouse
© A24
When looking at Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe in Robert Eggers’ spellbinding horror film, you can’t choose just one of these eccentric lighthouse keepers. We’d be fond of yer lobster, Thomas.
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Danny - The Serpent’s Skin
© Dark Side Pictures
The world doesn’t know him yet, but Alice Maio Mackay’s witchy 2025 festival hit features an irresistible alt-boy antagonist in Jordan Dulieu’s Danny.
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Wendy Torrance - The Shining
© Warner Bros.
Ok we know he was getting possessed and whatnot, but Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) should have appreciated his delightful wife a little more, especially when she was played by Shelley Duvall.
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Lucille and Thomas Sharpe - Crimson Peak
© Universal
A family with truly impeccable genes, how could Mia Wasikowska have been so distressed when she had the brother-sister duo of Tom Hiddleston and Jessica Chastain to look at?
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Dev Patel - The Green Knight
© A24
You can’t go wrong with Dev Patel as a literal knight in shining armour.
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Captain Miller - Event Horizon
© Paramount
If you’re gonna get stuck on a cursed spaceship, you better do it with someone like Laurence Fishburne on board.
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The Phantom - The Phantom of the Opera
© Warner Bros.
The first crush of many a musical theatre kid, who can deny the allure of Gerard Butler’s 2004 take on the title role?
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Camille L'Espanaye - The Fall of the House of Usher
© Netflix
In a rare instance of incomprehensible, inauthentic writing from Mike Flanagan, there is a plot in The Fall of the House of Usher in which two characters don’t want to sleep with Kate Siegel with platinum blonde hair.
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Cordelia Goode - American Horror Story: Coven
© FX
As with Evan Peters, there are many roles which AHS alum Sarah Paulson could be on this list for. We’ve gone with her supremely beautiful witch in Coven.
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Lisa Swallows - Lisa Frankenstein
© Focus Features
Sure, Lisa (Kathryn Newton) is a serial killer. But from the previous entries on our list, do you think that will stop us from falling for her?
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Clarice - The Silence of the Lambs
© Orion Pictures
We’d love a dinner of liver, fava beans, and a nice chianti with beguiling FBI agent Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster). On second thought, hold the liver.
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The Demon - Strange Darling
© Miramax
Oh to be hunted by Kyle Gallner in a flannel jacket.
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Vincent Price - House on Haunted Hill
© Allied Artists
Vincent Price. Enough said.
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Sandie - Last Night in Soho
© Focus Features
Killing it in the genre since The Witch, Last Night in Soho treats us to Anya Taylor-Joy in the Swinging Sixties.
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Dracula - Blood for Dracula
© Euro International Films
A queer horror icon, Udo Kier may have the face card when it comes to the Count on screen.
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Iris - Companion
© Warner Bros.
Scream queen Sophie Thatcher does it again.
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Nathan Bateman - Ex Machina
© A24
If only all the insufferable AI tech bros could look like a bald, bearded, jacked Oscar Isaac.