Top 10 Most Iconic Final Girls in Horror History
#10: Sally Hardesty
“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” (1974)
After crossing paths with Leatherface and his cannibalistic family of creatures, Sally is a total wreck. She witnesses the murder of her brother, and finds the corpses of all of her friends. Sally’s then subjected to one of the most unnerving sequences of torture in film history, but manages to free herself. She ultimately escapes with one of the most triumphant grins, forever changed by the terrible events she experienced. Though Sally, and the film itself, are undoubtedly iconic additions to the world of horror, this final girl ranks low because she doesn’t get to do much outside of scream and run.
#9: Maxine Minx
“X” (2022)
Most final girls of the ‘70s and ‘80s abided by a specific set of rules: they were ingenues with bookish natures, they abstained from sex, and they didn’t experiment with drugs or alcohol. Maxine follows… none of those. In fact, we meet her as she’s en route to star in a barnyard themed adult film. This raunchy final girl, played by up-and-coming scream queen Mia Goth, does fall into the trappings of screaming… a lot. But she survives the night! Maxine is often depicted as morally ambiguous, even becoming something of a villain by the third film. This complexity sets her apart from the earnest but dated final girl mold.
#8: Kirsty Cotton
“Hellraiser” (1987)
She survived a murderous mother and creepy, resurrected uncle. She contended with a gang of impish cenobites from another realm. And she actually outsmarted the final boss, Pinhead. Kirsty truly went through hell and back! It takes a truly special final girl to come out on top in a nightmarish world like “Hellraiser.” Unlike some others on the list, she doesn’t rely on brute force to make it out alive. Instead, she leans on her smarts and bartering skills to reverse the curse. While the classic horror film is most known for its iconic villain designs, Kirsty reappears in a number of sequels to reassert her legacy.
#7: Dani Ardor
“Midsommar” (2019)
What makes Dani a fascinating final girl is that she doesn’t ultimately defeat the evil, she embraces it. And we’re actually proud of her for it! Dani’s inattentive boyfriend repeatedly ignores her warnings, even after witnessing a particularly gruesome ceremony. By the time enough of his buddies have disappeared, Dani has already conceded, beaten down by relentless psychological manipulation (and, well, some psychedelic drugs). Once she’s crowned the May Queen though, she realizes the Harga community can offer her more than the world she’d left behind, and certainly more than her hapless man who she’s delighted to see paralyzed and lit on fire. To finally be heard and felt triumphs over the chore of supporting a stupid group of comrades. So with no family left, she finds a new one: the Harga cult!
#6: Grace Le Domas
“Ready or Not” (2019)
Grace starts the film in a white wedding dress, symbolizing final girl purity. Her groom, Alex, comes from a wealthy lineage that harbors a dark secret. Throughout the night, his family attempts to murder her as part of an old ritual. But despite having no true preparation or training she proves to be resourceful, even weaponizing her now blood soaked gown to take down the assailants. Rather than contending with one lumbering boogeyman, Grace has to fend off the entire Le Domas family before morning. What makes her a memorable final girl is how hard she fights to win the cat-and-mouse game. Plus, that final shot of her lighting a cigarette as the estate burns is pure camp. In fact, fellow final girl Margot sort of pays homage to it when she bites into that cheeseburger at the end of “The Menu.”
#5: Erin Harson
“You’re Next” (2011)
You’re at a lovely dinner gathering, and a group of masked murderers has just laid siege to your family’s vacation home. You might imagine you’d find yourself sliced up like the poultry on the table. And many of the characters in “You’re Next” do! But not Erin. This former survivalist is more than equipped to handle these assassins, proving herself to be a formidable final girl. In fact, the killers soon regret running into her! Think “The Strangers” meets “Home Alone.” She avoids the clichés of a typical home invasion victim, proving to be even more cunning and savage than “Ready or Not’s” Grace. By tapping into her training, she completely outfoxes the evil posse. Think of Erin like a sort of wish fulfillment exercise after watching decades of weak final girls stagger to the finish line.
#4: Nancy Thompson
“A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984)
Nancy is a staple final girl because of how closely she conforms to what early slasher directors wanted the type to stand for. She’s been dealt a bad hand with absent parents, but grows throughout the film as she’s forced to face off with a monster that stalks her nightmares. She’s determined to retain her “good girl” personality, even while battling Kruger. And through pure courage and will, she seemingly vanquishes him from her mind. Nancy personifies both the tenets of her trope and the struggles of her generation. Even if she’s designed to communicate to audiences how a proper young lady should conduct herself, her proactive grit makes her one to remember.
#3: Sidney Prescott
“Scream” (1996)
Most viewers return to horror franchises to see the killer repeatedly rise from the dead and slay a new group of young game. But “Scream” does the opposite. The killer is different every time, and it’s final girl Sidney who steals the show. A meta horror-comedy, the series pokes fun at the filmmaking conventions that had long been established in the genre. Despite this, Sidney still manages to be selfless, realistic, and clever—trademarks of a good final girl. She appears in almost every sequel, squashing a number of ghost faces. And the series interrogates the PTSD that comes with so many near brushes with death. There simply is no “Scream” without Sidney Prescott, and for that she will always be an icon.
#2: Ellen Ripley
“Alien” (1979)
Okay, Ripley has a leg up on a lot of other other final girls. She’s a flight officer aboard an intergalactic spacecraft, placing her in another league. Though she's not a soldier, she proves to be combat ready, evolving into one of the most badass horror heroines of all time. Even with xenomorphs breathing hot, slimy breath in her face, Ripley proves she has what it takes to survive. By responding to situations logically, and taking control even when she’s undermined, Ripley clears the rest of the crew when it comes to aptitude. Her strong sense of humanity carries her through the sequels, making her both believable and easy to root for.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Evil Dead Rise’s” Beth, for surviving a terrifying amalgam of deadites.
“Prey’s” Naru, for doing the unthinkable to earn the title of War Chief.
“I Know What You Did Last Summer’s” Julie James, for piecing together the supernatural puzzle.
#1: Laurie Strode
“Halloween” (1978)
The definitive prototype! The ultimate final girl! Not only is “Halloween” the most instantly recognizable horror franchise in history, but Laurie perfects the classic final girl formula. She’s straight-laced, studious, and takes on a leadership role when required. Unlike her aloof friends, she takes her responsibilities seriously—including defending the children she’s babysitting from a serial killer on the loose. Even after stabbing him with a knitting needle, Michael Meyers rises like the Undertaker. But Lori remains determined, using the entire town to create distance and buy time. In the reboot, she’s a hardened survivalist, locked down in her compound until he comes for her again. Laurie’s resilience and fortitude get her through each film, leading to an ultimate showdown that cements her legacy.
Which final girl is your favorite? Comment who you’d most like to team up with below.