The 5 Scariest Clowns in Film

April 6, 2021

ComingSoon.net is taking a look at the scariest clowns in film history. Check out our selections in the gallery below!

Many would likely thank Stephen King for making clowns terrifying, but the truth is that they’ve always been a source for fear and horror—dating back even before the publication of one of King’s most notable works. Across horror, science fiction, fantasy, and even action genres, clowns continue to strike terror into the hearts of viewers everywhere. As evidenced by box office numbers, they aren’t going anywhere any time soon, either.

You’ve got your regular everyday clowns, of course—people like Pee-Wee Herman or Mr. Bean who could never hurt a soul and aren’t terrifying at all. Then you’ve got your carnival clowns. There’s just something about the absurdly bright and cheery makeup, the vivid colors contrasted against the stark white face paint, the exaggerated nose and hair shape and size (not to mention the outfit, from the oversized shirt and pants to the gargantuan shoes). Clowns are freaky. There’s no denying it. Just look to these films—you’ll understand why.

Which of these clowns is the scariest to you? Let us know in the comments below!

Scariest clowns

House of 1000 Corpses (2003)

Rob Zombie’s House of 1000 Corpses was panned upon its release, but it still has its champions—clown fans, especially.
It (1990, 2017)

The titular clown from Stephen King’s famous novel has been realized multiple times now, each one more terrifying than the last. No matter if its Tim Curry or Bill Skarsgard, It is utterly horrific.
Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988) 

This one might be the most campy entry in the slideshow, but those sharp-toothed clowns will never not be terrifying.
Poltergeist (1982)

While the movie might be about ghosts, that doesn’t mean that clowns can’t come into the mix. One particularly nightmarish sequence goes down in history as one of the top reasons why clowns continue to scare.
The Dark Knight (2008)

The Joker probably isn’t the first face that comes to mind when thinking about clowns, but Heath Ledger’s performance in The Dark Knight is so inspired that it manages to be as unsettling as any of these other clowns.