The Best Horror Movies Featuring Clowns
Clowns. They often have a place at kids' birthday parties, but some people hate them. Many people have coulrophobia: a phobia of clowns. Yet, clowns routinely make some of the best horror movie villains we could ask for. Here are the best horror movies where creepy clowns are the ultimate villain.
Poltergeist
Although Poltergeist (1982) is one of the best horror films of all time—and admittedly, the clown in it isn't the central villain—the scene were a creepy clown comes to life and begins choking Robbie and dragging him under the bed, is routinely voted as one of the best scenes in horror movie history.
The House On Sorority Row
Another 1982 flick here, The House On Sorority Row tells the story of a prank gone wrong that results in the death of a sorority house mother. Little do the sorority girls know that house mother is about to become their worst nightmare when she returns as a green and red clad clown.
VAE Productions, The House on Sorority Row (1982)
Killer Klowns From Outer Space
If Killer Klowns From Outer Space sounds like just the sort of weird clown movie you'd have on as background noise, then that's probably the only way to enjoy this ridiculous movie from the late 1980s. A group of (wait for it) killer clowns from outer space descend to earth and begin killing people with cotton candy guns and all manner of maniacal weapons.
Chiodo Bros., Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)
It
Adapted from the Stephen King novel, It is considered one of the greatest clown movies of all time. It stars Tim Curry as Pennywise the Clown, who spends her time terrorizing a group of youngsters in the town of Derry, Maine.
Pennywise returned for a second movie which was originally aired as a miniseries, but is today best viewed in a single sitting as a 187-minute movie.
Killjoy
Killjoy was first released in 2000 and has since spawned five sequels, despite the movies generally receiving negative reviews from critics. Filled with cheesy horror movie tropes and bad acting, the scariest part about Killjoy is definitely the creepy clown.
Full Moon Entertainment, Killjoy (2000)
Firefly
This one tells the story of an ever-so-creepy clown, Captain Spaulding, who lures unsuspecting victims to their deaths in his gas station/chicken joint/haunted house.
He's played by veteran actor Sig Haig, who's long beard, mustache, and bald head make for one of the creepiest clowns. Haig returned for two more Firefly (2003) films before his passing in 2019.
Lionsgate, House of 1000 Corpses (2003)
100 Tears
Despite only being made for $75,000 in 2007, 100 Tears is still renowned as one of the best horror movies where a clown is the main villain. Although, the director and producers must have spent all that money on special effects, as 100 Tears is not short on violent deaths. People lose limbs and heads and lives en-mass at the hands of an evil clown.
Starving Kappa Pictures, 100 Tears (2007)
Dead Silence
Although Dead Silence (2007) fell flat on its face with critics, it's most renowned for its use of ventriloquist dolls. In particular, one such doll is a creepy clown that tells our main character, Jamie, a secret—then proceeds to lick his face. Gross. Creepy and gross.
Universal, Dead Silence (2007)
Drive-Thru
While Drive-Thru (2007) might not fit the bill of 1980s slashers for which clowns are renowned, it's one of the best modern examples of a clown film that hit all the slasher tropes. Telling a (gruesome) story of a group of teens who are stalked by a fast-food mascot named Horny The Clown (yes, really), Horny's creepy clown makeup and the overall solid plot line make Drive-Thru a memorable clown-centric horror flick.
The Cabin In The Woods
The Cabin In The Woods features a number of villains that include clowns, and in a purging sequence (there are many), the movie depicts a slashing scene in which many facility employees are killed by a murderous clown.
Lionsgate, The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
Stitches
Released in 2012, Stitches is a tale of revenge. A boy that had his face sliced open on a kitchen knife as a youngster returns after many years to the town where the event happened, taking revenge on those who tied his shoelaces together, causing the accident.
If you've got coulrophobia, Stitches may not be the best watch—but those with a dark sense of humor will find it hilarious.
MPI Media Group, Stitches (2012)
Terrifier
For those who love the gory side of horror movies, you can't go wrong with Terrifier (2016), which has since spawned two sequels. Terrifier features Art of the Clown, a rather terrifying clown who mercilessly murders his victims with all manner of knife-induced homicides. Caked in the blood of his victims, Terrifier was so gory, that its sequel, Terrifier 2 (2022) was shown in theaters where vomit bags were offered.
Dark Age Cinema, Terrifier 2 (2022)
Clown
Clown (2014) tells the story of a well-meaning father who puts on a clown suit for his son's birthday party, after the entertainer he booked cancels at the last minute. Unfortunately for Andy Powers' character, the clown suit begins to fuse with his body and mind, compelling him to commit horrendous acts of violence.
The Houses October Built
If haunted houses are your thing, you'll love The Houses October Built. A group of friends travel across the United States visiting various haunted houses, but they are followed from one attraction to another by a group of scary-lookin' actors, including a creepy clown.
There's even a mind-bending cliffhanger which spawned a 2017 sequel, The Houses October Built 2.
RLJE Films, The Houses October Built (2014)
The Funhouse Massacre
Delivering well on both horror and comedy, The Funhouse Massacre (2015) depicts six serial killers that escape from an asylum and take over a haunted maze. Featuring "Rocco The Clown" and "Dollface", who's also known as "The Stitch Face Killer"—because she sewed her victims' faces shut. While mostly comprised of a small-time cast, Robert Englund (of A Nightmare On Elm Street) stars.
Petri Entertainment, Funhouse Massacre (2015)
Hell House
Hell House (2015) bills itself as a real documentary about a mysterious accident at an upstate New York haunted house that claimed the lives of dozens. It's actually a found-footage horror movie that involves a trio of clowns in its scariest scenes, including one where the trio is seen at the bottom of the stairs where the protagonists sleep.
Cognetti Films, Hell House LLC (2015)
Krampus
Named after the famed European mythological figure, Krampus (2015) tells the story of a man's attempts to maintain the Christmas spirit, which are complicated by the arrival of the mythical creature of Northern European folklore and his compatriot, the child-consuming Der Klown.
31
Directed by Rob Zombie, this 2016 flick features a murderous cadre of psychotic clowns, but mirrors the plot line of most other horror movies. What 31 lacks in originality, it more than makes up for as a slasher. The clowns are "Death-Head", "Psycho-Head", and "Doom-Head" respectively. Not big on originality, but plenty of fun.
Bow and Arrow Entertainment, 31 (2016)
Haunt
A group of teenagers are forced to sign a waiver before they can enter a haunted house. That can't be good, right? It's not. They're hunted by a clown wearing some of the best clown make-up since It. The film is filled with suspense, which it uses masterfully to keep audiences guessing right up to the final moments.
Broken Road Productions, Haunt (2019)
Clownhouse
Clownhouse (1989) was directed by Victor Salva and attempted to capitalize on the late 1980s craze around clowns. It features three antagonists who kill clowns, steal their costumes, and use them to terrorize the townspeople.
Commercial Pictures, Clownhouse (1989)
Saw
Even if you haven't seen the whole movie, you've probably seen Billy The Puppet, a clown-like character from Saw (2004). He's etched his place in cinema history.
Pitting captives against each other whilst delivering ominous messages from his master, Saw fans know that when Billy shows up, things just got real.
The Clown At Midnight
Have you ever hung out in an old, abandoned opera house at midnight? Of course not. That would be creepy and ill-advised. Well, seven teenagers do just that in The Clown At Midnight (1998) and I think you can guess what happens next—that's right, a clown shows up. Depicting the creepy stalking of these teens by an ominous clown, The Clown At Midnight stars Christopher Plummer.
Fries Film Group, The Clown At Midnight (1998)
Santa Sangre
Another slasher from the 1980s, Santa Sangre (1989) depicts an escaped asylum patient who becomes a circus clown. Running away from the circus, he joins his armless mother—the leader of a cult—and becomes her arms in this clown-centric chopper of a movie that was yet another in a long line of late-80s clown horrors.
Productora Fílmica Real, Santa Sangre (1989)
Are You Afraid Of The Dark: The Tale Of Laughing In The Dark
One of the most iconic children's TV anthologies, Are You Afraid Of The Dark? (1990) features Zeebo the Clown in its second episode. The creepy clown appears with a wide mouth grin, red nose, red hair, and an outrageous purple shirt.
If you weren't afraid of the dark in the early 90s, you would be after watching Zeebo the Clown.
CINAR, Are You Afraid Of The Dark? (1990)
It: Chapter One
It was remade in 2017 as It: Chapter One, featuring Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise the Clown. Demonic make-up, grimy clothes, and feral-looking hair sees Pennywise take on a more terrifying appearance than that of the original It, swapping the humor of the original for the horror of the remake.
All Hallows' Eve
While we mentioned Terrifier earlier in our list, Art The Clown (the main character) was originally featured in All Hallows' Eve (2013), which is Damien Leone's directorial debut and the character debut of Art. The movie was centered on the depictions of Art and his murderous mayhem, watched through the TV screen of two kids and their babysitter.
Ruthless Pictures, All Hallows' Eve (2013)
Fear Of Clowns
Coulrophobia takes center-stage in Fear Of Clowns (2004) as a struggling artist who likes to paint clowns becomes possessed by the very thing she's afraid of. Of course, the usual murderous mayhem ensues as the artist tries to break her curse.
Lionsgate, Fear of Clowns (2004)
Gingerclown
Tim Curry's good at this clown malarkey, isn't he?
The Hungarian horror, Gingerclown (2013) sees Tim Curry return as a clown after starring in the OG It (1990), although this time preying on a group of teenagers that have broken into an abandoned amusement park.
Spawn
Spawn (1997) sees John Leguizamo play an overweight clown character in this comic book action movie that's rated R for a reason. The creepiness of Leguizamo's clown character bumps it up a notch or two in the ratings.
American Horror Story: Freak Show
American Horror Story: Freak Show (2014) depicts John Carroll Lynch as the twisted "Twisty The Clown", a serial killer hunting for his next victim while wearing a grotesque clown suit and clown-based face mask. Freak Show was the fourth season of American Horror Story.
FX Network, American Horror Story: Freak Show (2014)
The Last Circus
What happens when two clowns compete for savagery?
The Last Circus (2010) is what you get. Depicting a lovesick Sad Clown with an ultra-violent Happy Clown competing for the love of a trapeze artist, The Last Circus takes their murderous efforts to garner her affections to the next level.
Tornasol Films, The Last Circus (2010)
Gacy
While not technically a horror movie, Gacy (2003) was still terrifying enough to be one. It's a true crime dramatization that depicts the life and murders of John Wayne Gacy, including a terrifying time when he was Pogo The Clown, performing at children's birthday parties and community events. If only they knew.
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Zombieland
Jesse Eisenberg's stint in Zombieland (2009), along with Woody Harrelson, Bill Murray, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin sees Eisenberg put the boots to a flesh-eating clown after he and the aforementioned cast must band together to survive a zombie apocalypse. It spawned a sequel in 2019, with the possibility of a third film in the future.
Amusement
This 2008 clown horror movie sees teenagers battling with their inner demons and coulrophobia as someone they tormented is out for revenge, dressed as a scary clown.
New Line Cinema, Amusement (2008)
Wrinkles The Clown
While technically a documentary, Wrinkles The Clown (2019) is so terrifying that it could double as a horror movie. Exploring the real-life story of Wrinkles The Clown, the movie dives deep into the fears and fascinations surrounding clowns.
Magnolia Pictures, Wrinkles the Clown (2019)
Fraternity Massacre At Hell Island
Fraternity Massacre At Hell Island (2007) is one of those slasher movies that hits every single trope of a slasher movie: humor, gore, and suspense aplenty at Hell Island. A group of college students find themselves hunted by a mysterious clown.
Ariztical Entertainment, Fraternity Massacre At Hell Island (2007)
France Bans Terrifier 3
Damien Leone's Terrifier 3 (2024) was recently released worldwide and generally enjoyed by those who saw the film in theaters. However, the French Government took an extraordinary step and banned those under 18 from seeing the movie in theaters. Reports also indicated that those who did see Terrifier 3 were prone to throwing up and passing out mid-show.
How many of these clown movies have you seen?
Which was your favorite clown-centric thriller? Let us know in the comments below.
Bloody Disgusting, Terrifier 3 (2024)
