If you've ever sat wide‐awake, heart pounding, clutching the sofa armrest during the last 10 minutes of a horror film, you know the final girl is everything. She's the one who stands when the rest fall, who confronts the monster, the killer, and the supernatural evil. Sometimes she redefines what it means to survive. From slasher chills to supernatural demon lore, the final girl is the anchor in the chaos.
But this list is a little different and skips over the obvious choices like Laurie Strode from Halloween (1978) and Sidney Prescot from Scream (1996). These characters vary from young friends in danger to reluctant heroes, while others are forced into courage by circumstance. They're not always perfect, and that's part of what makes them compelling. Whether you love classic slashers or twisted psychological horror, there's always a final girl to root for. Head over to Peacock, Prime Video, and more to fall in love with them now.
Julie - I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
Julie James (Jennifer Love Hewitt) is the kind of final girl who carries guilt, fear, and the moral weight of a terrible secret. After she and her friends cover up a car accident, Julie is the one who must face consequences when a killer starts sending menacing messages. She might not be the most weapon‐savvy, but Julie's resourcefulness and survival instincts make her a genre icon.
Fans of late '90s slashers, nostalgic horror vibes, summer beach nights gone wrong, and teenage remorse mixed with suspense will love the chaos of I Know What You Did Last Summer. If you enjoy Scream‐adjacent slashers or films where the final girl fights more than just the killer (she fights her own fear and guilt), Julie is your girl.
Grace - Ready or Not (2019)
Grace Le Domas (Samara Weaving) is a final girl who is thrust into an aristocratic nightmare in Ready or Not. And she doesn't just survive, she fights back. Pulled into the lethal tradition of playing "hide and seek" with her in‐laws, she navigates not only physical danger but moral choices like how far will one go for survival, and what does it cost to keep one's integrity?
Grace is fearless in more than just the obvious way. She's clever, she's compassionate, and in her worst hour, she refuses to be a victim. The movie is a great choice for horror lovers who like their fear with satire, dark humor, and social critique. If you like horror that comments on class, tradition, and power, like Get Out (2017), then Grace will speak to you.
Zoey - Escape Room (2019)
Zoey Davis (Taylor Russell) is a final girl who becomes a strategist under duress. Trapped in an escape room with a group of strangers, each room more lethal than the last, Zoey isn't just running. She's analyzing puzzles, leading others, and making decisions under pressure. Her fear is real, but so is her sharp mind, adaptability, and willingness to do what she must to make it out.
In Escape Room, Zoey isn't privileged with knowledge. All she has are her wits and courage. Her final moments feel earned because she's climbed from terrified to tenacious. This movie is perfect for people who love puzzles with a final girl that survives through ingenuity rather than just luck. If you liked Saw (2004), you will feel right at home with this story.
Tess - Barbarian (2022)
Tess Marshall (Georgina Campbell) is a final girl whose entrance into horror seems almost ordinary. But a simple job interview, which requires a stay at an Airbnb, quickly turns into a fight for survival in the most grotesque and unexpected ways. What starts as personal misfortune snowballs into uncovering something deeply warped in the house she rents in Barbarian.
In the chaos of hidden tunnels, betrayal, and monstrous revelations, Tess holds on against both human monsters and literal ones. Tess's strength lies in her endurance. She's confronted with horrors that would break many, but never gives up. Viewers who like horror that mixes social commentary with scares will enjoy this film.
Sam - It Lives Inside (2023)
Samidha Dutta (Megan Suri) is a modern final girl whose biggest battles are as much about identity and culture as demons. She's an Indian‐American teenager trying to fit in, distancing herself from her heritage, all while strange and terrifying forces tied to folklore leak into her life. When an ancient demonic force is unleashed, Sam is forced to face her roots, responsibility to friends, and the monster.
Sam's fight is multi‐layered. Not only is she surviving the supernatural horror, but she's also surviving cultural dislocation and guilt about abandoning her heritage. It's a less flashy but deeply emotional battle. If you're interested in horror that does more than scare, It Lives Inside is the ideal movie for you.
Jessica - Thanksgiving (2023)
Jessica Wright (Nell Verlaque) is not your typical scream-and-run type of final girl. Even when Thanksgiving serves up a Black Friday tragedy that turns into a small-town nightmare, Jessica has clarity under pressure. And when someone dressed as Plymouth's original pilgrim starts killing people, she refuses to be a victim, despite being at the center of the violent chaos.
She slowly pieces together clues while her friends fall one by one. Thanksgiving is perfect for horror fans who love a slasher that mixes holiday absurdity with razor-sharp suspense. If you like your gore served with dark humor and a wink to old-school slashers like My Bloody Valentine (2009), Jessica will give you plenty to be thankful for.
