6 Iconic Slasher Final Girls Who Defined Horror Movies: From 'Scream' to 'I Know What You Did Last Summer'
The killer might get the poster, but the final girl who steals the spotlight! Over the decades, slasher films have given us scream queens, badass survivors, and characters who have evolved from terrified teens into undeniable icons. With the new I Know What You Did Last Summer legacy sequel now in cinemas, it’s the perfect time to look back at some of the most game-changing and unforgettable final girls who have left blood-soaked footprints on horror history!
Sidney Prescott – Scream (1996)
Played by Neve Campbell, Sidney is the heart of Wes Craven’s Scream franchise and redefined what it means to survive a slasher and the iconic Ghostface. She is smart, self-aware, and emotionally grounded. Sidney grew from a traumatized teen into a fierce, empowered survivor and her evolution mirrored a shift in horror cinema itself, being a time when slasher films were becoming more self-aware and meta after so long being formulaic.
Scream and Sidney Prescott revitalized the genre by acknowledging the tropes, being sceptical and questioning horror logic itself (something that has far too many times made me scream internally!) Sidney Prescott is a must-mention for fans searching for the best slasher movies or of course iconic horror heroines.
Julie James – I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
Julie James, portrayed by Jennifer Love Hewitt, is the anchor 1997s I Know What You Did Last Summer by director Jim Gillespie- a film that's obviously seeing renewed interest right now with the 2025 legacy sequel where Hewitt reprises her role along with Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar and Brandy Norwood.
Julie’s guilt and paranoia surrounding the infamous events of the film’s namesake- last summer- and her subsequent fight to stay alive perfectly capture the era’s teen slasher formula. Her famous scream- “What are you waiting for?!”- is etched in pop culture history, making her one of the most memorable final girls of the genre.
Nancy Thompson – A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Unlike many horror victims, Nancy Thompson, brought to life by Heather Langenkamp in Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street used intelligence and strategy to survive- not just luck. Unlike many horror heroines before her, Nancy actively investigated, strategized, and fought back against the supernatural killer Freddy Krueger. She set traps, studied dreams, and refused to be dismissed by adults. Wes Craven conceptualized her after a conversation with his daughter, who questioned his over clumsy-depiction of the heroine in 1982’s Swamp Thing. So he wanted Nancy to be the start of more positive portrayals of women in his films.
Nancy Thompson is a fan-favourite for horror purists and ranks high on “best final girls” lists thanks to her role in one of the most iconic horror franchises of all time. Her influence still echoes in today's supernatural and slasher hybrids.
Laurie Strode – Halloween (1978)
The original final girl! Not to mention a true horror icon. From her first face-off with Michael Myers in John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978) to her grittier returns in the 2010s trilogy, the legacy of Laurie Strode- played by Jamie Lee Curtis- spans decades. Not only did she endure, but she evolved. In the later Halloween films, especially the 2018 reboot and its sequels, Laurie becomes a hardened survivor, shaped by PTSD and trauma. She was no longer just hiding in closets but setting traps, taking shots, and reclaiming power. Laurie’s evolution helped redefine the final girl trope as not just a survivor, but a fighter.
Laurie Strode paved the way for every slasher survivor that followed, continuing to influence modern horror storytelling and is a top result for anyone Googling " who is the ultimate slasher final girl?" (Try it now, I’ll wait- make sure you come back though- we have more final girls to talk about!)
Grace Le Domas – Ready or Not (2019)
Whilst the final girls of classic slashers are indeed iconic and the easiest to recall when thinking of the best “final girls”, there are a whole new generation of them making their marks and in the case Grace Le Domas, firing their shotguns. Played by Samara Weaving, Grace is a blood-soaked bride turned brutal survivor in Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett’s Ready or Not. What starts as a fairytale wedding night turns into a brutal game of survival when Grace is hunted by her new in-laws as part of some deadly family ritual. She gives audiences a different kind of final girl- one motivated by vengeance and catharsis and not just survival.
That modern, satirical take on the final girl trope was a hit with horror fans and critics alike. Grace’s relentless fight against her murderous in-laws made her a modern horror icon and a favourite in the “strong female horror lead” and “underrated final girls” categories. Stylish, savage, and unbreakable, Grace is built for today’s horror audience because- and it had to be done- ready or not, here she comes! I'm not sorry.
Erin Harson – You're Next (2011)
Whilst many have challenged tropes and evolved past them, Erin Harson, portrayed by Sharni Vinson, flips it on its head. In You're Next by director Adam Wingard, she doesn’t just survive- she dominates. With her survivalist skills and no-nonsense attitude, Erin became an instant cult favourite- a reminder that sometimes, the hunted can become the hunter.
Erin a refreshing break from the scream-and-run model- she’s grounded, she’s calm, capable and tactical- and there’s no lucky escape, just sheer skill and grit. Erin turns ordinary household items into lethal weapons which make her a rare kind of final girl: one who feels prepared for the horror rather than overwhelmed by it. Erin isn’t just memorable because she survives- she’s unforgettable because she fights back and takes control in a genre where that still (somehow) feels unnatural.
Final girls are more than just survivors- they’re the soul of the slasher genre! From '70s classics to modern cult hits, they’ve redefined what it means to make it to the end credits. The killer may come and go, but the final girl is, well, final.
Want more horror? Check these out:
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