The scariest horror movie villain of all time, according to science

A study of votes gathered from viewers and critics across multiple online sources ranked Freddy Krueger as the scariest horror film villain of all time. The result highlights how enduring characters can become central to a horror series, sometimes more memorable than the stories their creators first intended to tell.

The ranking was compiled by data aggregator Daniel Parris for Stat Significant. Michael Myers placed second, followed by Pennywise, Leatherface, Pazuzu and Hannibal Lecter; characters from Friday the 13th, The Ring, Sinister, Terrifier and Alien also made the top 15. The article suggests Krueger’s blend of the fantastical, the surreal and psychological complexity helped secure his leading position.