Clowns were created to make people laugh, but horror movies figured out a long time ago that they are super creepy. In fact, the fear of clowns is so widespread that there’s actually a name for it: coulrophobia. The frozen expression, exaggerated makeup, and colorful costumes can easily mask disturbing intentions. These clowns, whether supernatural monsters or ordinary killers, helped start an entire horror subgenre.
1. It (2017)
Pennywise is easily one of the most famous clowns in movie history. Based on Stephen King’s novel, It follows a group of children in Derry, Maine, who realize that something sinister is targeting the town’s kids. Though the evil creature can take many forms, its favorite is Pennywise the Dancing Clown. Bill Skarsgård does an excellent job of tapping into what makes the character deeply unsettling. The movie took a classic tale and gave Pennywise a modern spin. And probably created a few new clown phobias along the way.
2. Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)
Killer Klowns from Outer Space takes the evil-clown idea to its most ridiculous level. This time, the clowns are aliens and they look grotesque. Disguised as circus clowns, the creatures arrive on Earth to capture the residents of a small town. Their weapons are all kooky yet deadly versions of carnival fare. They employ cotton candy cocoons, evil shadow puppets, and guns made of popcorn. Even their spaceship looks like a giant circus tent, keeping the clown theme going in every possible direction. The movie is intentionally silly, colorful, clown-centric, and over-the-top. Its bizarre clown designs are extremely fun and helped make the B-movie a cult classic.
3. Clownhouse (1989)
Clownhouse follows three young brothers (one played by Sam Rockwell) who attend a traveling circus. The youngest child happens to have an intense fear of clowns. The situation is amplified when three escaped psychiatric patients murder circus clowns, steal their costumes, and follow the boys home. The movie uses the familiar clown appearance to induce fear. Unlike the other films, there is no supernatural element in this movie, just deranged men wearing clown costumes. This aspect makes the situation even more disturbing. Much of the horror comes from the boys being trapped inside their house alone while the crazy killers stalk them. Anyone with a fear of clowns that stems from childhood will struggle to watch this one.
4. Stitches (2012)
Stitches turns a children’s birthday entertainer into a supernatural villain. Richard “Stitches” Grindle is a miserable clown performer who accidentally dies at a child’s birthday party. Years later, he comes back from the dead to get revenge on the kids, now teenagers, who were responsible for his embarrassing death. For extra fun, his kills include clown props and jokes. The result is some extremely ridiculous gore. It’s a clown-themed version of a campy ’80s slasher.
5. Clown (2014)
The Eli Roth-produced Clown starts with a surprisingly simple problem: a father needs a clown for his son’s birthday party. He finds an old clown costume and puts it on to perform for his kid. But he later discovers that he cannot take it off. To his horror, the costume slowly transforms him physically and psychologically into something monstrous. The movie includes a creative explanation for why clowns look the way they do. Though the premise is goofy, it’s surprisingly dark.
6. Terrifier (2016)
Art the Clown doesn’t need to speak to make people uncomfortable. In fact, his silence is one of his most haunting qualities. In Terrifier, he stalks two women on Halloween night and goes on an exceptionally violent killing spree. His black-and-white costume and playful interactions make him mime-like. In many ways, he is a sadistic version of a circus clown. Unlike Pennywise, Art does not manipulate through well-thought-out speeches designed to lure victims. His silent, cheerful reactions to the horrifying crimes he commits are what make him so disturbing.
7. Haunt (2019)
Haunt isn’t exclusively about clowns, but it definitely features one particularly memorable clown. A group of friends visits an extreme haunted attraction on Halloween. Naturally, they assume the masked performers and disturbing rooms are all part of the show. While this is true in a sense, the people running the attraction have sinister plans. One of the pursuers is a killer wearing a creepy clown mask. The movie takes advantage of the fact that inside a haunted house, nobody immediately knows when fake danger has become real.
8. Hell House LLC (2015)
Hell House LLC manages to make a motionless clown mannequin terrifying. The found-footage movie revolves around a haunted-house attraction. The footage follows a group preparing a haunted-house attraction inside an abandoned hotel in the weeks leading up to opening night. As opening night approaches, strange things begin happening inside the building. One of the creepiest moments involves a clown figure that changes positions when nobody is looking. The movie proves that even a seemingly immobile clown is scary.