Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Battlefield 6 Classes - Support trailer image

    Battlefield 6 Really Wants You To Play Support (But Knows You Won’t)

    07/31/2025
    Battlefield 6 Multiplayer Reveal promotional image

    Battlefield 6 Classes, Maps, And More: Everything You Need To Know

    07/31/2025
    A glimpse at all the upcoming Star Wars stories coming to the galaxy

    Star Wars Stories: What We Learned At SDCC 2025

    07/25/2025
    Blindspot episode still

    It’s been 5 years since ‘Blindspot’ ended. Why haven’t you watched it yet?

    07/24/2025
    Strange Scaffold

    Strange Scaffold Summer Showcase Delivers Bizarre And Brilliant Games

    07/22/2025
  • Fantasia Festival
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Switch 2 Games
But Why Tho?
Home » BWT Recommends » 10 Best Modern Day Scream Queens

10 Best Modern Day Scream Queens

vanessa makiBy vanessa maki01/15/20257 Mins Read
10 Modern Day Scream Queens
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

The history of horror is quite rich, and as much as final girls are always worth discussing, scream queens also have their place in the genre. Throughout the decades, there have been quite many prominent scream queens. What’s a scream queen? A scream queen is an actress who is notable and has prominence in the horror genre. Oftentimes, they’ve built their careers off starring in horror and boldly claiming the title.

Some examples of older scream queens include Jamie Lee Curtis, Heather Langenkamp, Linnea Quigley, Marilyn Burns, Barbara Crampton, Danielle Harris, Shawnee Smith, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and more. The list goes on for each decade, and we’re here to talk about more modern scream queens. We’re talking about some people who have hit the horror scene in the 2010s-2020s and have captivated audiences. After all, we all scream for scream queens. Here are some of the best scream queens that have come out in the past 15 years (so far).

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Anya Taylor-Joy

Anya Taylor-Joy

Horror media she’s best known for: The Witch

After she vows to live deliciously and be free in The Witch, Anya Taylor-Joy has continued to draw people in with her performances in horror films. Her breakout role in The Witch gave her more opportunities to shine in the genre and further prove how she can play various characters, from characters that start meekly like Thomasin in The Witch to a crafty sex worker like Margot in The Menu. Taylor-Joy owns the room when she’s in a scene and delivers very natural performances. Cheers to her and any upcoming horror films she’s planning to star in.

Samara Weaving

Samara Weaving

Horror media she’s best known for: Ready or Not

With a scream like a banshee and a delightful presence, Samara Weaving has unapologetically become one of the most enticing scream queens. After a brief television role in Ash vs Evil Dead, Weaving’s contribution to horror grew, and she’s become a sought-after talent for her acting chops. She’s appeared in numerous horror films, with one of her most popular roles being Grace LeDomas in the beloved Ready or Not and her most recent being Azrael. Weaving also has the honor of being one of the few allowed to be the opening kill in a Scream film (Scream VI). The likable energy she brings to her roles continues to cement why she’s so beloved as a scream queen.

Mia Goth

Mia Goth

Horror media she’s best known for: X trilogy

A wide-eyed revelation is one of the best ways to describe Mia Goth as an actress. Despite not fully understanding the label of ‘scream queen,’ Goth continues to embrace her love from the horror community. Her roles throughout the genre, particularly the X trilogy, have been driven by her ability to immerse herself into the characters she’s playing. Goth’s commitment to character work and dynamic performances make her a memorable talent. After playing three separate characters in the X trilogy, she more than earned her status as a scream queen.

Jenna Ortega

Jenna Ortega

Horror media she’s best known for: Scream (2022) or Wednesday 

Full of wit and ambition, Jenna Ortega is a tremendous young talent across the board. But her contributions to horror have already earned her the scream queen title. The genre is still bulking up as far as scream queens of color, so Ortega has helped pave the way. Her ability to deliver mature and memorable performances is nothing short of masterful. Whether it’s her restrained character in X, Tara Carpenter in Scream (2022), and Scream VI or her other horror performances, Ortega is a talent to watch out for.

Melissa Barrera

Melissa Barrera

Horror media she’s most known for: Scream (2022) or Scream VI

The rise of Melissa Barrera has been nothing short of remarkable to witness. After doubts from hateful Scream fans, Barrera proved everyone wrong by stealing the show in Scream VI. Despite the treatment she’s experienced for being unwavering in what she stands for, Barrera continues to deliver performance-wise, be a fantastic Latinx representation, and land roles she enjoys. Barrera captures the spirit of what it means to be an icon in the horror genre. Whether facing off against serial killers, vampires, or something else entirely, she’s proven herself as a scream queen.

Lauren LaVera

Lauren LaVera

Horror media she’s most known for: Terrifier 2 and Terrifier 3 

It’s magical when a scream queen shows up practically out of nowhere. Lauren LaVera is the epitome of a fast-rising star in the horror genre. Instead of being overshadowed by Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton) in Terrifier 2 and 3, her character is equally integral to the growing franchise. Her likability as an actor and her ability to go to extreme places in her character portrayals make her a talent you want to remember. LaVera’s trajectory as a scream queen is only upwards from here on out.

Emma Roberts

Emma Roberts

Horror media she’s most known for: American Horror Story franchise

Adding depth to bitchy or vapid characters is something that Emma Roberts has perfected quite a bit for several years. Roberts is mainly known for her roles throughout American Horror Story, The Blackcoat’s Daughter, Scream Queens, and a brief role in The Hunt. She brings confidence to her performances, which makes her endearing, even when her character might not be entirely likable. Scream queens like her help make for entertaining media, and there’s always room for that in the horror genre. Wherever she pops up next, as far as horror goes, she’s sure to bring her charm.

Kathryn Newton

Kathryn Newton

Horror media she’s most known for: Freaky or Lisa Frankenstein 

 Typically known for playing spunky or funny characters, Kathryn Newton‘s charm as an actress makes her so fun to watch in horror. Her growth from playing Claire Novak on Supernatural to her role in Abigail is incredibly evident. Newton embraces the genre and delivers a range of performances, like her role in Freaky, where she plays a serial killer in the body of a teenage girl, which further drives it home that she has the chops. Not to mention her comedic and scene-stealing role in Abigail. There’s nothing Newton can’t do with the right roles, and she’s absolutely a stellar scream queen.

Sadie Sink

Sadie Sink

Horror media she’s most known for: Stranger Things

Despite not having as wide of a horror filmography or TV roles, Sadie Sink is a force to be reckoned with. Her performance as Max in Stranger Things helped to put her on the map. From there, she earned her stripes as a young scream queen. Her role in Fear Street Part Two: 1978 as Ziggy Berman is one of her other notable horror roles. Sink’s charisma and ability to portray strong girls who aren’t afraid to speak their minds is delightful. The older she gets, the more she’ll reach peak scream queen status.

Maika Monroe

Maika Monroe

Horror media she’s most known for: Longlegs 

After her role in It Follows, which is widely considered a horror classic for the modern age, Maika Monroe earned her stamp as a certified scream queen. Since then, she has starred in numerous horror films and continues to grip audiences. Monroe’s recent performance in Longlegs is a significant highlight in the critically acclaimed horror hit. Her authentic acting style and evident grasp of the genre make what she does onscreen crystal clear. And for all of her horror roles, she more than earns recognition as one of the best scream queens today.


The horror genre wouldn’t be the same without its scream queens and final girls. While celebrating the ones who came before is good, so is celebrating the modern women who have a presence in horror.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘Green Lantern: Fractured Spectrum’ Issue 1
Next Article REVIEW: ‘Tales of Graces f Remastered’ Is A Delightful Experience (PS5)
vanessa maki

Vanessa Maki is a queer Blerd and freelance writer. She has written for publications like Dread Central, Daily Dead, Fangoria, Screensphere and more. She's a former regular contributor for Pink Advocate as well as The Mary Sue, and currently writes for a few places.

Related Posts

Mamoru Hosoda But Why Tho

Mamoru Hosoda: The Iconic Animation Directors Best Feature Films

07/28/2025
Razer Pokemon Edition Collection promotional logo

PRODUCT REVIEW: Razer’s Pokemon Edition Additions Are A Must-Have

07/19/2025
The Best Teams to build a Dynasty with in CFB 26

5 Best Teams In CFB 26 To Build A Dynasty Online or Solo

07/15/2025
Animation to look out for at Fantasia Film Festival

Fantasia Film Festival 2025: 5 Animated Films You Need To See

07/15/2025
Dr. Strange, Invisible Woman, Cloak, and Dagger in Marvel Rivals

4 Great ‘Marvel Rivals’ For A Phoenix Team-Up

07/11/2025
Anime villains

The 15 Greatest Anime Villains Of All Time

07/09/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Wildgate promotional key art
9.0
PC

REVIEW: ‘Wildgate’ Is Co-Op Space Mayhem Done Right

By Adrian Ruiz07/25/2025Updated:07/30/2025

Built for friends and tuned for competition, Wildgate is messy in the best way: smart, surprising, and bursting with room to grow.

Glass Heart
7.0
TV

REVIEW: ‘Glass Heart’ Offers Messy, Musical Catharsis

By Allyson Johnson07/22/2025

The musical drama series ‘Glass Heart’ soars when it focuses on the epic performances of it’s fictional band, TENBLANK.

Simon in An Honest Life But Why Tho
3.5
Film

REVIEW: ‘An Honest Life’ Is Terribly Dishonest About Its Own Politics

By Jason Flatt08/02/2025

An Honest Life is an overly severe misfire about a law student who falls in with anarchist burglars that can’t decide who it resents more.

Black Women Anime — But Why Tho (9) BWT Recommends

10 Black Women in Anime That Made Me Feel Seen

By LaNeysha Campbell11/11/2023Updated:12/03/2024

Black women are some of anime’s most iconic characters, and that has a big impact on Black anime fans. Here are some of our favorites.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here