With Halloween right around the corner, there’s no better time to pop some popcorn, grab your favorite person and watch all your favorite scary movies!
During October, my favorite horror films to watch are slashers. A slasher film is a subgenre of horror films involving a killer or a group of killers stalking and murdering a group of people. Some of the more popular slasher films are “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” “Friday the 13th” and “Scream.” In this article, I will rank the top five slasher icons I think made the most of their opportunity on the big screen.
#5 – Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Leatherface offers a grotesque take on horror, with his disturbing family dynamics and chainsaw antics, he secured his place on this list as a classic icon. His movie franchise had 10 movies that ranged from 1974 to 2022, and in total the series has grossed over $252 million at the Worldwide Box Office. Leatherface’s favorite weapon is his trusty chainsaw, which he likes to make do a little dance from time to time.
Let’s face it, Leatherface is loud and dumb, but watch out for his family members, or else you might end up as dinner for the Sawyer family.
#4 – Scream
Although clever and self-aware, Ghostface often feels less menacing than the others due to his reliance on pop culture tropes which dampen his terror. What makes Ghostface fun is that the audience doesn’t find out who the killer is until the end of the movie, adding a sense of mystery.
The “Scream” franchise has six films that span from 1996 to 2023, with a seventh film expected to be released in 2026. The franchise has grossed over $910 million at the Worldwide Box Office, making it the most profitable on the list. With a voice changer and a knife, Ghostface could be anyone at the party, just hope it’s not your party!
#3 – A Nightmare On Elm Street
Freddy Krueger stands out for his psychological manipulation and dream-based horror, making him a top contender for his blend of terror and dark humor. His finger knife gloves are iconic pieces of slasher horror couture and his biggest box office success pits him against Jason Voorhees in 2003’s “Freddy vs. Jason.”
There are nine films in the series that stretch from 1984 to 2010. The films have grossed over $472 million at the box office worldwide. His dream power is cool and all, but Freddy loses all his power when a measly teenager is no longer afraid of him.
#2 – Friday the 13th
Even though he wasn’t featured as part of the first movie– Jason Voorhees still ranks number two in this list. He is iconic for the hockey mask he wears while stalking the woods to torment the counselors of Camp Crystal Lake.
His franchise spans over 12 films across 29 years, including the aforementioned film with Freddy. Jason’s main weapon of choice is a machete, but he has used a spear, an ax and garden shears to name just a few. Overall, Jason has racked up over $468 million at the box office.
Jason is my personal favorite on this list but loses the top spot due to being a mama’s boy.
#1 – Halloween
Michael Myers is a silent-stalking relentless killer who terrorizes Haddonfield, Illinois, on, you guessed it, Halloween. His movie franchise has spawned over 12 sequels across 45 years. The series benefited greatly from the talented actress Jamie Lee Curtis who played the final girl Laurie Strode in several movies. The films collectively grossed over $884 million at the box office worldwide.
Myers’ main weapon of choice is a kitchen knife, but will use anything down to his bare hands to cause mayhem – this man is pure evil! We all should’ve listened to Dr. Loomis.
Anyways, did I get it right? What would your top five look like? Let us know!
