Every Oscar-Winning Horror Movie Performance, Ranked

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Horror fans have a lot to be excited about with several recent thrillers – including Frankenstein, Sinners, The Ugly Stepsister, and Weapons – receiving nominations. While the Academy Awards haven’t always been kind to horror films, they occasionally recognize strong performances within the genre.

Six actors have won Oscars for their roles in thrilling and scary movies, and another could join that group after the upcoming awards ceremony. But before we find out on March 15, 2026, let’s consider: which horror movie performance truly deserved the Oscar the most?

Ruth Gordon Is Chillingly Charming In Rosemary’s Baby

A standout performer in the running for a 2026 Academy Award is , who captivated audiences in Zach Cregger’s thrilling new film. She plays Gladys, an elderly woman with a surprisingly spooky side. Many are comparing her quirky yet unsettling performance to Ruth Gordon, who was the first to win an Oscar in this category for a horror movie.

Ruth Gordon is only the second actor to win an Oscar for a horror film, and she earned it for her role in Roman Polanski’s 1968 classic, Rosemary’s Baby. She played Minnie Castevet, a neighbor who befriends the title character, Rosemary (Mia Farrow), after Rosemary and her husband (John Cassavetes) move into Minnie’s apartment building. Even after it becomes clear that Minnie has sinister intentions for Rosemary, Gordon manages to remain likable and even charming, making her performance particularly unsettling and memorable.

Fredric March Is Perfect As Both Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde

The 2026 Oscar nominations are particularly noteworthy for horror fans because of Ryan Coogler’s vampire film, which received an impressive 16 nominations, recognizing stars like Delroy Lindo, Wunmi Mosaku, and Michael B. Jordan. Jordan’s Best Actor nomination likely came from his skillful portrayal of dual roles, a feat also shared by the first horror actor ever to be recognized by the Academy.

As a movie buff, I always thought the Academy Awards only recently started acknowledging horror films, but it turns out they recognized the genre way back in 1931! Fredric March actually won Best Actor – sharing the award with Wallace Beery – for his incredible performance in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. It’s amazing how convincingly he played both the doctor and his terrifying alter ego; you really don’t think of it as the same actor playing both roles. He was clearly talented – he even won another Oscar for The Best Years of Our Lives in 1948!

Natalie Portman Is Hypnotic And Heart-Wrenching In Black Swan

Many predicted 2025 would continue the trend of the Academy recognizing horror performances, but Mikey Madison’s win for Anora proved them wrong. Currently, the last time an actress won an Oscar for a horror film was Natalie Portman in 2011 for Black Swan.

Natalie Portman, known for her roles in films like Closer and Jackie, delivers what many consider her best performance as a daring and troubled ballet dancer in Darren Aronofsky’s intense psychological thriller. The film is a haunting and captivating look at someone driven to extremes, ultimately achieving a chilling, flawless intensity – as Portman’s character herself declares, it’s “perfect.”

Kathy Bates Is Bone-Crushingly Scary In Misery

2025 concluded with the passing of a remarkably talented director, known for a diverse career that included beloved films like the fantasy comedy The Princess Bride and his 1990 adaptation of Stephen King’s Misery. Misery notably launched Kathy Bates to stardom with a truly terrifying performance as Annie Wilkes, an unforgettable villain in the horror genre.

The award-winning actress delivered a stunning performance as a troubled nurse who holds a severely injured author, Paul Sheldon (James Caan), captive. She forces him to rewrite his next book to her liking, threatening terrible consequences if he doesn’t comply. Her character embodies the extreme side of fandom, and is a chilling reminder of how frightening it can be for an author to let their readers down.

Jodie Foster Is Vulnerable And Courageous In The Silence Of The Lambs

Jodie Foster won her first Oscar in 1989 for her role in The Accused. Just two years later, she earned a second Best Actress award for her iconic performance as Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs. Notably, The Silence of the Lambs remains the only horror movie to ever win the Best Picture Oscar.

Jodie Foster perfectly captures the many layers of the FBI trainee, portraying both the pain of a difficult childhood and the incredible strength it gave her. Although Julianne Moore later played the character in the sequel, Hannibal, it’s hard to picture anyone else in the role – and the same is true of Foster’s memorable co-star.

Anthony Hopkins Perfects Sinister Sophistication In The Silence Of The Lambs

While several actors have played Hannibal Lecter, including Brian Cox in the 1986 film Manhunter, Gaspard Ulliel in Hannibal Rising, and Mads Mikkelsen in the Hannibal TV series, Sir Anthony Hopkins is the actor most people associate with the terrifying character.

The actor didn’t just play the role; he instantly became the frontrunner for the 1992 Best Actor award. He brilliantly captured a character who was purely and undeniably evil, yet possessed a strange charisma that made him captivating, even as his intense gaze became increasingly disturbing. Hopkins’ portrayal of Lecter is now considered a landmark achievement, not just in horror, but in film overall, and the Academy likely faced considerable backlash had he not received the award for his performance.

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2026-01-28 22:07