Laurie Strode (Halloween Franchise 1978-2022)
Laurie Strode is arguably one of the most infamous final girls in horror and movie history, having squared up against Michael Myers in 5 different timelines. We see Laurie go from a high school babysitter to a badass woman who eventually beats her boogeyman. In October of 2022, we saw Laurie win in her 40+ year showdown against Myers. While her story may be over, she has earned her place in horror history.
Sidney Prescott and Gale Weathers (Scream Franchise 1996-Present)
Sidney Prescott and Gale Weathers have been through the wringer. Over the course of the series, we have seen them face off with nine different Ghostface killers over the course of almost 27 years. Each time, the two come out on top with minor injuries. Sidney has been dealing with this since she was a teen. While Sidney will not be returning for the upcoming Scream VI, we will see Gale face off with Ghostface again in theaters on March 10th, 2023.
Erin (You're Next 2011/2013)
Erin is a lesser-known final girl when it comes to mainstream horror movies. However, she is probably the most badass on this list. Having grown up on a survivalist compound in Australia, Erin springs into action when a group of masked assailants attacks the family reunion that she is attending as a date. Throughout the film, Erin fights, sets traps, and outsmarts the attackers. It’s no wonder that she ends up being the last one standing.
Grace le Domas (Ready or Not 2019)
Grace is unknowingly pulled into the ultimate survival game of hide and seek. If found, her new husband and his family will sacrifice her in a ritual and have to do so before sunrise. Unfortunately for the le Domas family, Grace is more capable of survival than she seems and she ends up winning the night-long game of cat and mouse. Talk about a nightmare wedding.
Amanda Young (Saw Franchise 2004-Present)
Amanda is an interesting one when it comes to the final girls. Not only did she survive two traps created by the Jigsaw killer, but she was also actually working with him after her first test. It's unique to see a survivor turn to the side of the person who almost killed them. Amanda's storyline ended in 2006 with her death in Saw III. However, we have not seen the last of her. It was announced in December of 2022 that Amanda's actress, Shawnee Smith, had joined the upcoming installment, Saw X, which will take place between the second and third films. Audiences are set to see Amanda's return on October 27th, 2023.
The horror genre hasn't always kept a great track record with how they treat women but these characters amongst countless others have challenged the damsel in distress role and have shown how capable women can truly be.
