Send in the clowns! Movies have gone a long way in debilitating the image and reputation of clowns, once beloved pillars of comedy, by employing them in all manner of brightly colored mischief and mayhem. In Stephen King’s horror epic, It, the title monster can transform into virtually any monster. Unsurprisingly, it frequently takes on the form of a common, snaggletoothed clown. As It: Chapter Two arrives in theaters — all but guaranteeing no child will ever take up the innocent, shadow-cloaked offers of the neighborhood sewer jester (what kind of paranoid world are we creating?) — we’re diving deep into the white powder and blood with 13 more creepy clowns!
IT (1990)
Miniseries or movie series? Take your pick because they’re both terrifying.
Krampus (2015)
A jack-in-the-box with a big spring and an even bigger mouth, he’s yet another reason to lose all of your Christmas spirit.
The Dark Knight (2008)
The Clown Prince of Crime has never been more sinister and enigmatic than when given the Christopher Nolan treatment, though we’re guessing Joaquin Phoenix is going to put in a good fight.
Clown (2014)
Before Spider-Man: Far From Home, before Homecoming, hell, even before Cop Car, director Jon Watts cut his teeth on this micro-budget horror film about a man who just can’t seem to remove his old clown suit.
Potergeist (1982)
Any kid who thought they were too tough to be afraid of clowns officially lost it in this suburban chiller where clown toys and rancid meat come to life.
The Devil’s Rejects (2005)
Hooray for Captain Spaulding! Rob Zombie pays tribute to the Marx Bros. by incongrusouly naming his signature clown creation here and in The Devil’s Rejects after the Animal Crackers character.
Killer Klowns from Outer Space
(1988)
They may be played for laughs, but there’s still something about gathering dozens of extraterrestrial murder clowns into one place that’s slightly unnerving.
Terrifier
(2016) A new murder clown for a new age, first seen in the anthology film All Hallows’ Eve.
The Last Circus
(2010) In this surreal dark fantasy, a travelling circus employs a Sad Clown and a Funny Clown, two sides of the same creepy coin.
The House on Sorority Row
(1982) This slasher gives you clues on who the real killer is, up until this clown leaps out of the shadows in the attic. Someone call an exterminator!
Xtro (1982)
A child’s toy comes to life to murder the neighbor, and that isn’t even the strangest thing in this sub-B movie of alien-impregnated Bond girls and babies who come out as fully formed adults.
Fear of Clowns (2004)
Because Coulrophobia: The Motion Picture doesn’t quite have the same ring to it.
Gacy (2003)
Our exaggerated fear of clowns is all fun and games, but unfortunately, this one’s based on reality: John Wayne Gacy killed over 30 young men in the ’70s while working as a party clown.
