Top 20 Deadliest Horror Monsters
#20: Jaws [aka “Bruce”]
“Jaws” franchise (1975-87) The generally accepted confirmed kill count of the first “Jaws” film is 8 - with 6 of those committed by the shark itself. That doesn’t seem like much, and the overall total for the franchise is only around 37 or so. However, let’s look at the potential for death, which we mentioned in our criteria. If a great white shark decides to attack a crowded beach, not only will a few be eaten or injured by the shark itself, but the collateral damage will be extensive as well. This is all thanks to the likelihood that beachgoers would all simultaneously panic, and go into “every man for himself” mode, trampling each other ruthlessly. You could blame this on the innate inability of humans to remain calm, but ultimately it would be the shark’s fault.
#19: Chucky
Chucky VS Annabelle: The Ultimate Horror Movie Doll
“Child’s Play” franchise (1988-) Charles Ray is a heinous serial killer who attempts to save his own life by passing on his consciousness into a “Good Guy” doll after he is shot. Also known as Chucky, his motivation as the psychotic knife-wielding doll is to once again find himself in a human body. Since no one suspects the “Good Guy”, it opened the door for a number of murders, with Chucky’s cumulative kill count landing somewhere in the 70s. Unsurprisingly, there’s a lot of gore, and endless blood in the “Child’s Play” series, and that possessed dolly definitely had a few kids suspiciously eyeing their own dolls starting in the late 1980s. Imagine if Chucky somehow found a way to inhabit a number of dolls at once? The deadly possibilities would be endless!
#18: The Wolf Man
Top 20 Powerful Horror Movie Monsters
“The Wolf Man” (1941) & “The Wolfman” (2010) While the kill count in the 1941 classic“The Wolf Man” can be counted on one hand, the fact that the film influenced so many subsequent werewolf stories makes it worthy of mention. Meanwhile, though the 2010 remake wasn’t very well-received, the body count increased significantly with the titular monster being responsible for about 5 times as many deaths. In both movies, the protagonists, both of whom share the surname Talbot, are bitten by a werewolf and so become one themselves. They then, as werewolves do, go on a murderous, uncontrollable rampage. Werewolves have it rough, though. It’s basically a fugue state, during which one becomes a brutal killer, only to come out of it and deal with the inevitable guilt. And knowing there are a ton of werewolf incarnations in the horror world, the potential for death is immense.
#17: Mutated Fish Creature
“The Host” (2006) Sea creatures have a heck of a destructive track record in the movies, and the giant mutated one from the South Korean flick “The Host” is no exception. The sci-fi horror movie follows the aftermath of 200 bottles of formaldehyde being poured into the Han River. This results in the creation of an amphibious monster. Called “Gwoemul,” the chemically affected creature ends up having a penchant for eating people and does so with gusto. Its on-screen kill count is only about 16, but imagine the potential for serious damage should a creature like this be free for a long period of time. Snacks are a-plenty on the surface as they are in the river, and the creature is both water and land-roaming.
#16: The Creeper
Top 10 Powerful Horror Movie Monsters
“Jeepers Creepers” franchise (2001-) The Creeper from the “Jeepers Creepers” franchise only has an on-screen kill count of about 28 unfortunate victims. However, his historical body count is many times that, likely in the thousands. Every 23 years, the Creeper is said to come out of hiding to hunt for 23 days. It is basically said to hunt down humans in order to obtain their healthy organs to replace its own withered ones. The demonic creature is said to be thousands of years old, or perhaps even as old as the upright human race. It’s a skilled hunter, with centuries of experience, and countless potential deaths in its untold stories. Also, it drives, which is an odd thing, to be honest. Who taught it?
#15: Candyman
Horror Villain Origins: The Candyman
“Candyman” franchise (1992-) The Candyman was formerly a Black artist by the name of Daniel Robitaille, whose only crime was loving a white woman in the late 19th century. He was killed in a particularly brutal fashion for his so-called transgressions as part of an interracial relationship - after being chased and physically assaulted by human beings, bees finished the job. Thus, Candyman was created as a vengeful spirit who has a taste for murdering anyone who’s in denial about him. The “Candyman” urban legend is reminiscent of the “Bloody Mary” one: say his name five times in the mirror and he will be summoned - and then he’ll kill the summoner and anyone else around for the show. He is almost invincible as a ghost, and has a number of superhuman abilities, namely the control of bees, super strength, etc. His film kill count ranges between the 30s-40s but that doesn’t account for any of the lives he has certainly taken prior to and off-screen.
#14: Graboids
“Tremors” franchise (1990-) Remember that movie with Kevin Bacon being hunted down by giant desert worms? Well, they made seven of those films and a TV series. These gigantic worm-like monstrosities, known as Graboids, have a cumulative kill count of over 700 poor souls. The creatures also evolve over time, from Graboids to Shriekers and… let’s just call them “butt blasters” to stay in the PG realm. All three are deadly in their own ways, and have contributed to this massive death count. A fully grown graboid can measure up to 30 feet in length, and 6 feet in girth, and they are strong, highly sensitive to vibrations, and harbor a deadly parasite, among other things. Now if only we could get a “Tremors” and “Footloose” crossover…
#13: The Entity
Horror History: Monsters!
“It Follows” (2014) The entity in “It Follows” is a mysterious one, and what it is exactly isn’t quite identified. Basically, this supernatural monster attaches to its host through physical intimacy, and will follow said host until it can kill them, then fall back to trying to kill its previous host. The only way for the host to be rid of the thing is to sleep with someone, and transmit it to them like a virus. It’s basically an STI, but in the form of a murderous haunting. The on-screen kill count for this monster is only 2, but contemplating how little we know about its origins and age hints at a long history of possible mayhem; plus entities of this nature are often ancient and quite deadly when it comes to horror lore. Practice safe sex, viewers!
#12: It [aka Pennywise the Dancing Clown]
Top 10 Deadliest Horror Monsters
“It” (1990), “It” (2017) & “It Chapter Two” (2019) You didn’t think we’d leave out our old buddy Pennywise, did you? Speaking of ancient entities, Pennywise has been around for millions, possibly billions, of years. He’s essentially a “glamor”, an old Gaelic term for a shapeshifting creature. The trans-dimensional feareater crashed into North America ages ago in some sort of asteroid-like event, and cyclically hibernates for 27 years, only to reemerge to “feed,” then return to hiding. It basically hunts for sustenance, or food, for about a year, then goes back to bed. However, it can only feed if fear is instilled in its prey, hence the commonly taken scary clown form. So, considering its age and hunting cycle, we can assume that IT’s death toll is much, much higher than what we see on-screen.
#11: Pinhead
Interview with Doug Bradley a.k.a Hellraiser's Pinhead
“Hellraiser” franchise (1987-2018) As one of the Leaders of the Cenobites, he and his fellow extra-dimensional ex-humans have an on-screen death tally in the hundreds - and counting. Pinhead himself has been estimated to be the cause of death of over 240 people at the nightclub in the franchise’s third installment. With 10 films between 1987 and 2018 and a reboot due in 2022, this possibly demon-like being has had a lot of time to murder. Affectionately known as Pinhead, his backstory is actually a little sad: he was a WW1 soldier who lost faith in humanity and religion upon seeing the horrors of war. He then lived a life of hedonistic recklessness until he found the Lament Configuration (some sort of hellish puzzle box) and became a Hell Priest. The thing is… he doesn’t only kill. He also likes to draw things out and cause as much torture as possible.
#10: Clover
“Cloverfield” (2008) In coming up with the design for “Cloverfield”’s monster, producer J.J. Abrams was inspired by Godzilla, and wished to create an American version of the creature. The name “Clover” is really more of a production nickname as it is nameless in the movie itself. In the found footage flic, the creature’s origins are kept somewhat mysterious, as Abrams wished to maintain a realistic feel since in real life, we also wouldn’t know from where/how a monster like this could have emerged. We do know it’s a deep-sea creature that surfaces, wreaks havoc and is covered in parasites. The on-screen death count for Mr. Clover is almost 30 if you also count those of its parasites, but obviously its overall count would likely be in the thousands. Not only can the creature eat people like handfuls of popcorn, it can also stomp on them and cause massive collateral damage.
#9: The Blob
Top 10 Movie Monsters With The Highest Kill Counts
“The Blob” (1958) We really have no clue what extraterrestrial beings may look like, but this opens up a number of imaginative opportunities. In 1958’s “The Blob”', the antagonist is a large mass of gloopy mess that grows, envelopes and eats its surroundings. The amoeboidal alien eventually grows to the size of a building, and is able to swallow anything in its path. It is carnivorous and can easily ooze into small spaces, making it particularly difficult to evade. Its onscreen kill count is 13, but much like other the entries in this list, the actual damage it has done has to be much higher. The blob brings to mind the Boston Molasses Flood in 1919, in which a wave of rogue molasses from a storage tank resulted in over 20 fatalities and 150 injuries. True story. The molasses, not the Blob.
#8: Jason Voorhees
Top 20 Jason Voorhees Kills
“Friday the 13th” franchise (1980-) Jason Voorhees has had decades to build up a credible murder resumé, and he hasn’t wasted any time. As one of the most popular and well-known horror characters in recent history, Jason’s murderous ways are infamous. His kill count over 12 films is 157, which is a lot when you realize he’s a lone offender. Jason initially begins stalking campers at Camp Crystal Lake in the 2nd installment, so there are plenty of isolated victims available to him. Later on as an undead, he’s an immortal, entirely silent hulk of a man. Known for wielding a machete for people-chopping, Jason Voorhees’s motive is revenge, initially for his accidental death, then for the death of his mother, the first film’s antagonist.
#7: Death Angels [aka The Creatures]
Top 10 Terrifying Death Games in TV & Film
“A Quiet Place” franchise (2018-) If there’s one thing people do well, it’s make noise. So the creatures in “A Quiet Place” that stalk their prey based on sound can easily turn the world into a desolate landscape. The kill count of these extraterrestrial creatures is basically impossible to know, as they wiped out most of humanity in a simple few months. The remaining humans must walk with great caution, and can’t make any sound, which proves incredibly difficult, as we are inherently a loud species. The Death Angels also happen to be large, toothy monsters that can kill in one clawed swipe. What’s possibly worse is that they appear to kill only to eradicate, as they don’t eat their human victims. Ruthless.
#6: Freddy Krueger
Freddy Krueger vs Pennywise
“A Nightmare on Elm Street” franchise (1984-) Much like Jason Voorhees, Freddy Krueger is an iconic horror character. Freddy’s kill count is lower than Jason’s, but still quite significant, with 40+ victims. However, his potential for damage is a lot higher. Freddy attacks through dreams, meaning he’s entering his victim’s mind and placing his prey in the most vulnerable position. Whatever damage he does in the dream world occurs in reality, hence he can easily find endless victims to psychologically torture and kill. Freddy was actually a murderer before he became an undead spirit working with dream demons, having taken the lives of 20 local children prior to getting caught and burned alive by the townspeople. If you factor in these 20, Freddy’s kill count climbs up to the 60s.
#5: The Thing
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“The Thing” (1982) Possibly the worst thing to run into while researching in Antarctica is a parasitic alien lifeform that can take over and mimic other living beings, killing the others in its path. That’s exactly what happens in John Carpenter’s 1982 film “The Thing.” One of the main issues with The Thing is that because it assimilates and replicates its victim, it spreads itself throughout the populace. This could likely go unnoticed if it occurred in a heavily populated area, but comes quickly to the attention of the researchers due to their small numbers. The exact number of victims taken by the parasite on-screen is hard to pinpoint, but imagine the absolute carnage if this Thing got out into, say, Coachella? Mind you, that probably won’t happen - it’s impossible to get tickets.
#4: Predator
Top 10 Brutal Predator Kills
“Predator” franchise (1987-) Don’t let their dreadlock-like appendages fool you: these Hunters are anything but human. The overall motive of these extraterrestrial beings seems to be global domination, and they clearly have a penchant for hunting, hence the names. They hail from an alien world that is far more technologically and physically advanced than Earth. Huge, unattractive, and seemingly built solely for wreaking havoc, the Yautja may be humanoid, but they’re far from earthly. Their on-screen kill count, if you factor in the “Alien vs. Predator” films, is somewhere around 305, which shouldn’t really surprise anyone. Don’t worry, you’ll be fine if you can just get to the choppa!
#3: Sadako Yamamura
”The Ring” franchise (1995-) Sadako Yamamura is the main antagonist in the Japanese “Ring” series, and she has a massive death track record. There are a number of backstories for the character, and they tend to change from one film to another. However, one thing remains the same: as a ghost, Sadako kills with views. Essentially, she creates cursed video tapes that kill those who watch them. The nature of the murder isn’t really clear, but it appears the victims have been scared to death. In “Sadako vs. Kayako”, her tape is uploaded onto the internet, and is immediately viewed by 6000 unfortunate souls. Therefore, Sadako’s kill count exceeds 6000, easily placing her here. And we didn’t even factor in Samara Morgan, who is the American version of Sadako in “The Ring” films.
#2: Xenomorphs
“Alien” franchise (1979-) Because they can’t reproduce without taking over other organisms, the Xenomorphs can be very deadly. Implied to operate under a sort of “hive mind”, these aliens have all the killing instinct of an aggressive hunter without any pesky conscience getting in the way. Since they prey on pretty much any other forms of life, they can be quite terrifying. They’re also terrifying-looking, with their oblong heads, sharp slimy teeth and inner jaws or attack tongues inside their mouths. If you include the “Alien Vs. Predator” films, the Xenomorphs have a kill count of around 265. Their potential for damage would place that number a lot higher, especially given their ruthless ability for thoughtless carnage.
#1: Godzilla
GODZILLA: King of the Monsters EXPLICADA
“Godzilla” franchise (1954-) Some may categorize Godzilla to be more of a science fiction monster than horror, but really, it could go both ways. Godzilla, or Gojira, has been the main attraction of at least 36 films thus far, with the first being the 1954 Japanese kaiju flick. The prehistoric sea monster has gone through a lot of different adversaries, demonstrated multiple abilities and a few awful film reviews, and yet is still going strong. Godzilla finds himself in our top spot for the simple reason that his kill count is, well, uncountable. He may not necessarily be solely fighting humans, but the sheer amount of collateral damage caused by a Godzilla battle is inarguably enormous. Many humans could be stomped, crushed by debris, get radiation poisoning, etc., and likely very many have, all things considered.
