The ‘final girl’ has notoriously been the last one standing, so let’s take a look at how she does it, shall we?
Horror films have long been a stage for people’s worst fears— clowns, ghosts, psychotic serial killers who wear people’s skin, you name it. But out of the darkness, a singular figure often emerges. One who defies the odds, outlasts the monsters, and becomes a symbol of survival. The awe-inspiring “final girl.”
Whether it’s Laurie Strode facing off with Michael Myers in Halloween or Sidney Prescott running from the umpteenth Ghostface in Scream, the final girl has become an enduring trope in horror.
These women face the unimaginable, and their ability to endure has made them some of the most iconic characters in cinema.
As we look at the legacy of the final girl, we’ll take a look at the most iconic of the bunch and how this archetype has shifted over the decades to enter a more dynamic, bolder territory.
The Origins of the Final Girl
The final girl trope, now a staple in horror films, is defined as the last woman standing, the one who confronts and often defeats the antagonist. Her journey is one of survival, fear, and ultimately, empowerment.
This character first appeared in old-school horror flicks of the 1970s and ‘80s, with notable examples like Sally Hardesty from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) and Laurie Strode from Halloween (1978).
Early final girls were often positioned as morally upright—pure and virtuous—contrasting with the other characters, particularly women, who were typically killed off for indulging in taboo behaviors like sex or drugs.
These final girls, however, were not always fighters. They survived by being resourceful, but they were largely reactive, escaping by the skin of their teeth.
The morality of early final girls reinforced societal expectations of female behavior at the time, rewarding those who conformed while punishing those who rebelled (I think “punished” is too light of a word for being hacked apart by a psycho killer, but that’s just me).
But as horror has evolved, so has the final girl, moving from a figure of purity to a more complex, nuanced character—capable of both vulnerability and strength, survival and action.
Iconic Scream Queens
Throughout horror history, several characters have defined and redefined what it means to be a final girl. These women not only survived but became iconic in their own right:
- Laurie Strode – Halloween (1978): Jamie Lee Curtis’ Laurie Strode is the quintessential final girl. Resourceful and smart, Laurie faces down Michael Myers with little more than a knitting needle (badass) and a desire to protect the children she’s babysitting. She survives not because she’s stronger or faster but because she’s determined and clever.
- Ellen Ripley – Alien (1979): Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley is another defining final girl, but she’s also one of the first to challenge the trope by being more than just a survivor. Ripley is tough, pragmatic, and prepared to take the fight directly to the alien threat (hell yeah, sister). She shows that a final girl can be both fierce and capable from the start, not just reactive.
- Sidney Prescott – Scream (1996): Neve Campbell’s Sidney brought a meta-awareness to the final girl trope. She understands the horror genre’s rules and manages to evade the killer(s) while wrestling with her own traumatic past. (She’s better than me because I don’t know if I’d run from Billy Loomis and Stu Macher <3) Sidney’s arc across the Scream franchise shows how the final girl can evolve with each new wave of horror.
Evolution of the Final Girl – From Survivor to Fighter
As horror films have progressed, so too has the role of the final girl. No longer just the last woman standing, she has transformed into an assertive and often vengeful figure, ready to fight back. Where early final girls like Laurie were more reactive, the ones in modern film are proactive, taking the fight to their tormentors.
- Dani Ardor – Midsommar (2019): Florence Pugh’s Dani begins as a grieving, emotionally devastated woman, yet by the film’s end, she transforms into a figure of power. The horror here is more psychological, and Dani’s journey is one of self-discovery, where she takes control in the most horrific of circumstances.
- Tess Marshall – Barbarian (2022): Tess subverts many expectations of the final girl by being not only proactive, but also smart and bold in her decision-making. She doesn’t just flee from the terror she faces, but actively confronts it, breaking the mold of the helpless victim.
These modern final girls are more than survivors; they are active participants in their own stories, embodying a new kind of strength that’s more layered and multidimensional.
Breaking the Mold
One of the most exciting developments in recent years is the expansion of the trope to include more diverse backgrounds and experiences. This girl is no longer just the good little white girl next door, or the one who adheres to specific moral codes. She can be anyone, from any walk of life, facing horrors that reflect broader societal concerns.
- Adelaide Wilson – Us (2019): Lupita Nyong’o’s dual performance as Adelaide and Red in Us adds layers of complexity to the final girl trope. Us explores themes of identity, class, and privilege while positioning Adelaide as a deeply complicated character whose survival is intertwined with her darker self.
- Grace Le Domas – Ready or Not (2019): Samara Weaving’s Grace brings a fresh perspective, as she must survive a deadly game of hide-and-seek in a wealthy family’s mansion (as if rich people weren’t scary enough). Her resilience and humor in the face of chaos make her stand out as a final girl who is both relatable and fierce.
As horror films continue to embrace more inclusive and dynamic characters, we’re seeing the final girl evolve to reflect the diversity of experiences that modern audiences can relate to. The future of the final girl is one that breaks traditional molds and embraces different kinds of strength and survival.
How have final girls changed horror?
These leading ladies have had a profound impact on the horror genre. Not only have these characters become icons in their own right, but they’ve also shaped the way we view women in horror.
Early members of this trope often reinforced traditional gender roles, but over time, it has evolved to challenge those roles and offer more complex representations of strength and resilience.
Final girls have shifted from passive survivors to active fighters, and horror films are all the better for it. They’ve expanded the possibilities of female characters in horror, showing that women can be both vulnerable and powerful and that survival often requires intelligence, emotional strength, and a willingness to face the darkest parts of oneself.
To Sum It Up
The Final Girl has come a long way since her inception in the slasher films of the 1970s. From Laurie Strode’s quiet resilience to Adelaide’s layered complexity, these characters have evolved to reflect changing cultural attitudes about women, strength, and survival.
Gen Z audiences in particular are poised to push the boundaries of what it means to survive—and thrive—in a genre that feasts on fear. Needless to say, the future of horror looks bright, bloody, and full of fearless final girls who refuse to back down from the dark (I’m so excited, I could just scream).
