I’ve always found clowns strangely unsettling, and I think it’s because they exist in this weird space between happy childhood memories and genuine fear. It’s like their makeup, that big, painted-on smile, hides what they’re really feeling. For years, horror creators have been really good at using this to scare us in movies, TV shows, games, and comics. And it still works! They take something meant to bring joy and twist it into something scary that preys on our fears. It’s a really effective trick, honestly.
Today, Pennywise is the clown most people think of when they think of scary clowns. Bill Skarsgård’s portrayal successfully brought the character – originally created by Stephen King – to a new audience and made him a worldwide phenomenon. This began with the 2017 film It, which was a huge box office success and became the highest-grossing horror movie ever. The success continued with a sequel in theaters and will continue with the upcoming HBO series IT: Welcome to Derry in 2025. However, Pennywise’s popularity sometimes overshadows other frightening clowns who have also made a lasting impact on the horror genre.
7) Zeebo the Clown
I still remember being absolutely terrified of Zeebo the Clown from Are You Afraid of the Dark?! He first showed up in an episode called “The Tale of the Laughing in the Dark” way back in 1992, and honestly, he was genuinely creepy. The story was about this kid, Josh, who stole a clown nose, and Zeebo, played by Aron Tager, basically haunted him as a sort of ghostly carnival performer. What made Zeebo so scary wasn’t just jump scares, it was this feeling that he was always coming for you, this really suffocating pressure. He wasn’t about hitting or fighting, it was all psychological. Seriously, Zeebo gave a whole generation of kids nightmares, and it’s amazing how such a low-budget show created such a lasting, iconic villain!
6) The Poltergeist Clown Doll
The 1982 film Poltergeist is famous for a particularly frightening jump scare involving a simple toy. Amidst the movie’s supernatural dangers, a small clown doll in Robbie Freeling’s bedroom stands out. The scare works so well because the doll unexpectedly goes from being a harmless object to a terrifying threat during a storm. Director Tobe Hooper skillfully creates suspense by first making the doll disappear, forcing Robbie and the audience to search the darkness. When the clown finally attacks, pulling Robbie under the bed, it plays on the common childhood fear that toys might come alive and be dangerous.
5) The Cloyne
The 2014 film Clown heavily features body horror, centering around an ancient, terrifying demon called the Cloyne. The story follows Kent McCoy, a real estate agent, who finds an old clown suit and puts it on for his son’s birthday. He quickly learns the suit isn’t just a costume – it’s the actual skin of the demon, and it’s fusing with his body. The film vividly portrays the painful change as Kent transforms into a monstrous, pale creature with a disturbing craving for children. As the suit and makeup become a permanent part of him, Kent loses his humanity and begins to embody the traits of a wild beast that once hunted children every winter.
4) Twisty the Clown
John Carroll Lynch gave an incredibly memorable performance as Twisty the Clown in season four of American Horror Story, titled Freak Show. Twisty is a former performer who severely injured his lower jaw in a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He conceals his disfigurement with a disturbing prosthetic mask that’s actually more frightening than his real face. Because he doesn’t speak, the audience has to understand his motives through his powerful expressions and sudden violent outbursts. Although the show later reveals a tragic backstory explaining his behavior, Twisty initially appears as a relentlessly efficient and terrifying villain, comparable to the most iconic figures in horror.
3) Violator
As a huge comic book fan, I’ve always been fascinated by truly memorable villains, and Violator is definitely one of them. Created by Todd McFarlane and first showing up in Spawn #2 back in ’92, this demon is seriously creepy. He deliberately chooses the form of a short, overweight clown – just to mess with people! John Leguizamo nailed the role in the movie, portraying this character with a terrifyingly sharp and chaotic sense of humor. But it was Mark Hamill’s voice work in the HBO animated series that really showcased how sadistically fun Violator is, and how good he is at pushing Spawn towards a darker path. He’s just a brilliant villain because he combines immense power with this really unsettling, almost comical appearance. Honestly, he’s one of the most impactful and frightening comic book villains ever created.
2) Sweet Tooth
The popular video game series Twisted Metal has become a hit TV show on Peacock, and the character Sweet Tooth is its most recognizable face. Sweet Tooth is actually Needles Kane, a huge serial killer who wears a leather mask with a crown of real flames. On the show, pro wrestler Samoa Joe provides the character’s imposing physical presence, while Will Arnett voices the chaotic clown. Together, they create a villain who is both physically intimidating and mentally unhinged. Sweet Tooth is truly frightening because he sees the ruined world around him as his own personal playground, and he enjoys the drama of death as much as the act itself. He hunts people down in his weaponized ice cream truck, often turning chases into dangerous, high-speed crashes. This mix of showmanship and violence makes him one of the scariest clowns in pop culture today.
1) Art the Clown
Art the Clown, as seen in the Terrifier films, has quickly become a major new figure in horror. Played by David Howard Thornton, Art is a silent, mime-like character known for incredibly graphic violence that has actually made some moviegoers leave the theater. What makes Art the ultimate scary clown is that he seems to kill purely for his own enjoyment, creatively and brutally mutilating his victims. He carries a bag of old, rusty tools and moves with a disturbingly playful energy, making his violent attacks even more shocking. While other horror clowns like Pennywise use illusions and the supernatural, Art focuses on real, physical pain and the agonizing destruction of the body, often pausing to taunt his victims during the carnage.
Who do you think is a more frightening clown than Pennywise? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!
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2026-01-19 22:13