As the new IT trailer has been opening up new dimensions in clown terror across the Internet, we’re celebrating (?) the occasion with 17 more terrifying clowns from movie and TV history!
THE SIMPSONS (1989-present) Homer makes this terrifying clown bed for Bart after giving his crib to new-born Lisa.
Michael Jerome West as Cheezo in CLOWNHOUSE (1989, 40%) A child who fears clowns stumbles into a circus infiltrated by murderous, escaped mental patients masquerading as clowns.
Derek Graf in ZOMBIELAND (2009, 90%) A brain-eating post-apocalyptic zombie clown? Whatever it takes to get through and get a Twinkie.
Heath Ledger in THE DARK KNIGHT (2008, 94%) This iteration of The Joker is a fan of chaos and random acts of violence, just for the fun of it. Don’t ask him how he got his scars.
Tim Curry in IT (1990, 67%) A shape-shifting entity that spends most of its time as a clown named Pennywise with sharp teeth and uses phobias to try to scare children to death.
Jack Nicholson in BATMAN (1989, 72%) After being dropped in a vat of toxic waste, The Joker seeks revenge by releasing a chemical that makes people laugh themselves to death.
John Carroll Lynch in AMERICAN HORROR STORY (2011-present) Missing half his face after a botched suicide attempt, Twisty seeks love by killing “mean” parents and kidnapping an audience.
KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE (1988, 70%) Bloodsucking alien clowns arrive on Earth and wrap people up in cotton-candy cocoons, making all our carnival nightmares come true.
John Leguizamo in SPAWN (1997, 19%) Violator is a hell-born demon dressed like a clown who helps Satan gather evil souls for his army.
Will Sandin as Michael Myers in HALLOWEEN (1978, 94%) Six-year-old Michael Myers kills his older sister on Halloween night, then escapes a mental institution years later, bent on continuing his murderous spree.
Cameron Dye in OUT OF THE DARK (1989, 50%) Bobo is a pyschotic clown that stalks and murders phone-sex workers.
Peter Crombie in SEINFELD (1989-98) Once a prominent TV writer, “Crazy” Joe Davola begins stalking Elaine and Jerry, eventually dressing up as the clown from the opera Pagliacci.
POLTERGEIST (1982, 88%) Kids are scared enough of the dark without having to worry about possessed creepy clown dolls trying to kill their family.
POLTERGEIST (2015, 32%)
The iconic creepy crown re-created in a middling remake of the original.
Bobcat Goldthwait as SHAKES THE CLOWN (1992, 37%) Proving that the clown line of work is a dark one indeed, Shakes is a depressed alcoholic birthday party clown who gets framed for murder.
Sid Haig in THE DEVIL’S REJECTS (2005, 53%) A vulgar clown, Captain Spaulding has an obsession with serial killers, madmen and the like.
Ronald McDonald in MAC & ME (1988, 0%) Ronald McDonald makes a cameo in this tone-deaf E.T. rip off so bad it earned a 0% Tomatometer score.
