I used to find the idea of “creepy clown horror movies” as a subgenre kind of odd because people in white makeup, big red noses, ridiculous wigs, and colorful baggy clothes never scared me as a child. However, they certainly scare me now as an adult, especially after seeing great horror movies like Terrifier and its sequels, which propelled the smiling sadist Art the Clown into the mainstream.
With the upcoming VOD debut of Terrifier 3, which sees him stirring around the holidays, on November 26, it sounds like a great time to look back on his previous violent exploits and that of other classic horror movie villains of the harlequin variety. Read on and see how to watch the best creepy clown horror movies, if you dare.
The Clown At Midnight (1998)
Director: Jean Pellerin
Starring: Christopher Plummer, Margot Kidder
What it’s about: While refurbishing an old opera house, a girl and other teens find themselves stalked by a clownish killer she believes is connected to her past.
Why it is one of the best creepy clown horror movies: Originally released straight-to-video, The Clown at Midnight is an overlooked Canadian slasher with fun scares and star power from acclaimed actors Christopher Plummer and Margot Kidder in the cast.
How to watch The Clown at Midnight
Drive Thru (2007)
Director: Brendan Cowles, Shane Kuhn
Starring: Leighton Meester, Nicholas D’Agosto
What it’s about: Someone dressed as the mascot of a clown-themed fast food restaurant goes on a murderous rampage in Orange County.
Why it is one of the best creepy clown horror movies: Drive Thru is another straight-to-video slasher with some pretty cool kills and a star-studded ensemble, which also includes The Office cast member Melora Hardin and another Gossip Girl cast member, Penn Badgley.
How to watch Drive Thru
It And It Chapter Two (2017, 2019)
Director: Andy Muschietti
Starring: Bill Skarsgård, Jaeden Martell
What it’s about: Decades after a shapeshifting entity terrorized them as kids in the ‘80s, a group of grown-ups reunite to defeat it once and for all.
Why it is one of the best creepy clown horror movies: While the titular antagonist of the acclaimed, two-part, theatrically-released adaptation of Stephen King’s classic novel, It, can appear as whatever it wants, its default mode is the grinning harlequin Pennywise.
How to watch It and It Chapter Two
- Stream It and It Chapter Two on Max
- Rent or buy It and It Chapter Two on Amazon
- Buy It and It Chapter Two on Blu-ray from Walmart
Stephen King's It (1990)
Director: Tommy Lee Wallace
Starring: Harry Anderson, Annette O’Toole
What it’s about: The original adaptation of Stephen King's popular novel starred Tim Curry as the terrifying clown that, in the '50s, feeds on the fear of children who later reunite as adults in the '80s.
Why it is one of the best creepy clown horror movies: Before Skarsgård’s take on Pennywise became one of modern horror cinema’s greatest villains, it was Tim Curry’s portrayal in ABC’s two-part, made-for-TV adaptation of It that was the definitive mascot for coulrophobia (fear of clowns).
How to watch Stephen King’s It
Terrifier And Terrifier 2 (2016, 2022)
Director: Damien Leone
Starring: David Howard Thornton, Lauren LaVera
What it’s about: A silent, violent, clownish stranger stalks innocent, unsuspecting people on Halloween night.
Why it is one of the best creepy clown horror movies: For my money, Pennywise has nothing on Art the Clown — the sadistic star of the unapologetically brutal cult favorite slasher, Terrifier, and its even more extreme follow-up, Terrifier 2, which are both among the best horror movies on Amazon Prime as of October 2024.
How to watch Terrifier and Terrifier 2
- Stream Terrifier on Amazon Prime
- Stream Terrifier on Tubi
- Buy Terrifier on Blu-ray on Amazon
- Stream Terrifier 2 on Amazon Prime
- Buy Terrifier 2 on Blu-ray on Amazon
All Hallows’ Eve (2013)
Director: Damien Leone
Starring: Mike Gianelli, Katie Maguire
What it’s about: Art the Clown pops up in the terrifying stories found on a mysterious tape that a babysitter plays on Halloween night.
Why it is one of the best creepy clown horror movies: Before the Terrifier movies made the character a household name, Damien Leone introduced horror fans to Art the Clown in his underrated horror anthology movie, All Hallows’ Eve.
How to watch All Hallow’s Eve
- Stream All Hallow’s Eve on Tubi
- Rent or buy All Hallow’s Eve on Amazon
- Buy All Hallow’s Eve on Blu-ray on Amazon
House Of 1000 Corpses (2003)
Director: Rob Zombie
Starring: Sid Haig, Bill Moseley
What it’s about: Just a few days before Halloween 1977, twenty-somethings in search of the country’s scariest urban legends stumble upon their creepiest stop, and quite possibly their last.
Why it is one of the best creepy clown horror movies: The key reason why House of 1000 Corpses is one of Rob Zombie’s best movies is the late Sid Haig’s maniacally charming performance as clownish museum operator Captain Spaulding.
How to watch House of 1000 Corpses
- Stream House of 1000 Corpses on Tubi
- Stream House of 1000 Corpses on The Roku Channel
- Rent or buy House of 1000 Corpses on Amazon
- Buy House of 1000 Corpses on Blu-ray on Amazon
Clown (2014)
Director: Jon Watts
Starring: Andy Powers, Laura Allen
What it’s about: On his son’s birthday, Kent fills in as the party entertainment with a costume he happens to find, only to make a horrifying discovery when he is physically unable to remove it.
Why it is one of the best creepy clown horror movies: Produced by Eli Roth, Clown (also one of the best body horror movies of its time) is a unique entry in this subgenre by making its red-nosed central character both the victim and villain by way of grotesque body horror.
How to watch Clown
Stitches (2012)
Director: Conor McMahon
Starring: Ross Noble, Tommy Knight
What it’s about: Years after he is accidentally killed while performing at a child’s birthday party, a clown who calls himself Stitches is magically resurrected and vows to punish those who contributed to his death.
Why it is one of the best creepy clown horror movies: The underrated Irish thriller Stitches is a great horror-comedy movie that incorporates insanely over-the-top gore and casts an actual stand-up comedian as the titular villain.
How to watch Stitches
Blood Harvest (1987)
Director: Bill Rebane
Starring: Tiny Tim, Itonia Salochek
What it’s about: While visiting her hometown, a college student begins to fear for her life when her friends and family begin disappearing one by one.
Why it is one of the best creepy clown horror movies: Today, late musician Tiny Tim’s most famous contribution to horror is his song, “Tiptoe Through the Tulips,” appearing in the Insidious movies but his first was Blood Harvest, in which he gives his only film acting performance as the mentally unstable “Marvelous Mervo.”
How to watch Blood Harvest
Wrinkles The Clown (2019)
Director: Michael Beach Nichols
Starring: Christopher Barcia, Miguel Bey
What it’s about: A profile of a mysterious man in a clown mask who became a viral hit after offering parents to scare their children for a price.
Why it is one of the best creepy clown horror movies: Not all of the creepy clowns on this list are entirely fictional, such as the titular subject of Michael Beach Nichols’ documentary, Wrinkles the Clown.
How to watch Wrinkles the Clown
- Stream Wrinkles the Clown on Amazon Prime
- Stream Wrinkles the Clown on Tubi
- Buy Wrinkles the Clown on DVD on Amazon
Killer Klowns From Outer Space (1988)
Director: Stephen Chiodo
Starring: Grant Cramer, Suzanne Snyder
What it’s about: A couple tries to save their town from deadly extraterrestrials that have taken the form of grotesque harlequins, disguised their ship as a circus tent, and trapped their victims in cotton candy.
Why it is one of the best creepy clown horror movies: People who might not be ready for some of the truly terrifying titles above should consider the Chiodo Brothers’ cult-favorite, hilarious creature feature, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, as a good starting point.
How to watch Killer Klowns from Outer Space
- Stream Killer Klowns from Outer Space on Tubi
- Rent or buy Killer Klowns from Outer Space on Amazon
- Buy Killer Klowns from Outer Space on Blu-ray on Amazon
BONUS: Poltergeist (1982)
Director: Tobe Hooper
Starring: JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson
What it’s about: A couple tries to save their youngest daughter from the malevolent supernatural forces that have invaded their home and abducted her into a spiritual realm.
Why it is one of the best creepy clown horror movies: Tobe Hooper and co-writer and producer Steven Spielberg’s haunted house movie classic, Poltergeist, is not a definitive creepy clown movie, but one of the most iconic and horrifying scenes involves a creepy doll that is certainly clownish and quite terrifying.
How to watch Poltergeist
They say it is important to face your fears. If you happen have a fear of clowns, streaming some of these horror movies should help.
