The Top 10 Creepiest Movie Clowns
5. Zombie Clown- Zombieland
So far on this movie clowns list, we’ve had psychos, aliens, and even a demon. The only thing missing is a zombie, and luckily one of the best horror comedies of all time has that covered for us. Zombieland is far from your typical zombie movie filled with lots of laughs and loveable characters with a surprising amount of depth to them. The entry for this list appears as the heroes find themselves in an amusement park filled with zombies. Things go from bad to worse when the hero finds himself face to face with his worst nightmare (Hell, this guy might be my worse nightmare as well). While this flesh-eating clown doesn’t get much screen time he manages to make one hell of an impression as one of the most unsettling zombies of all time.
4. The Joker- The Dark Knight
One of the greatest comic villains of all time has to be Batman’s archnemesis, The Joker. While there have been plenty of big screen adaptations over the years from Cesar Romero to Jared Leto, the one I’m honoring on this list of movie clowns is the Heath Ledger version. Unconcerned with things like money and power, this Joker simply wants to watch the world burn, which makes him wildly unpredictable. The only motivation for his action is the thrill he gets from the chaos he inspires. A master manipulator and brilliant tactician, this version of the Joker is not to be taken lightly. Don’t believe me? Just ask him to show you that magic trick he does with a pencil some time.
3. Pennywise the Dancing Clown- It and It: Chapter 2
It is one of Stephen King’s most beloved novels (as well as one of the better big-screen adaptations), so there was no question whether Pennywise would appear on this list. While people might love the Tim Curry version of this terrifying creature, he appeared in a TV mini-series and doesn’t qualify for this list of movie clowns. Luckily, Bill Skarsgård turns in a spine-tingling performance as the sewer-dwelling killer clown. Pennywise is an otherworldly entity that devours children by tormenting them with their greatest fears before digging its fangs into them. While he might be terrifying, I have to admit that he certainly lives up to the title of Dancing Clown When you think of terrifying movie clowns, no doubt Pennywise springs to mind, but he’s not number one when it comes to terrifying movie clowns.
2. Kent McCoy- Clown
To be honest, I watched Clown on a whim when I had nothing better to do. I found myself enthralled by this dark and twisted tale on the origin of the killer clown trope in horror. The film follows a realtor that finds a clown suit hidden in the attic of a house he’s trying to sell. In hopes of giving his kid a good birthday party, he puts on the costume only to find it impossible to remove. As the movie goes on, he undergoes a monstrous transformation into a Clöyne, a demon that feasts on children. What makes this film so terrifying is that Kent is aware of what is happening to him and desperately fights it every step of the way. It’s a delightfully creepy and original take on killer movie clowns and I loved this movie more than I thought I would.
1. Haunted Doll- Poltergeist
For the number one spot on this list of killer clowns, I’m turning to one that scared me as a kid. Poltergeist is not only one of the best haunted house movies of all time but also features one of the creepiest dolls ever to appear on film. That’s right, the creepiest movie clown of all time was nothing more than a doll. Still, it’s the kind of doll where you have to wonder what the parents were thinking when they bought it. On its own, it’s the kind of thing I would burn and then scatter the ashes to the winds. Toss in the fact that it becomes a terrifying tool for the Poltergeist haunting the Freeling house and you’ve got the stuff of nightmares. While it might not be as menacing as some of these other movie clowns, but it’s one that is absolutely unforgettable.
There’s more than one clown in the circus, so if I missed one of your favorite creepy movie clowns, be sure to leave me a comment below letting me know. I’d also love to hear about the ones that earned a spot on this list. As always, I’ll be updating this list as new and improved movie clowns make their big screen debuts. So, be sure to check back from time to time to see how the rankings change.