Top 15 Murderous Women in Film

Some of the most unforgettable big screen characters are women who turn to violence to get what they want or to survive what the story throws at them. They range from calculating masterminds to chaotic forces of nature, and each one leaves a trail of bodies that pushes the plot forward in ways audiences still talk about today. This list looks at the characters themselves, the stories they drive, and the key production details that shaped how these films were made.

You will find a mix of adaptations, original screenplays, and true crime stories here, along with directors, stars, and studios that brought them to theaters. Each entry notes the film’s distributor in a simple way so you can place the release in its industry context while focusing on what the character actually does on screen.

Amy Dunne in ‘Gone Girl’ (2014)

Amy stages her own disappearance and sets up her husband Nick through a false diary, staged blood evidence, and a carefully timed escape that turns a missing person case into a national spectacle. Her plan later shifts when she reconnects with a wealthy ex named Desi, then returns home under a new narrative that secures her public image.

The film is based on Gillian Flynn’s novel with a screenplay by the author and direction by David Fincher. Rosamund Pike plays Amy opposite Ben Affleck as Nick, and the release was handled in theaters by 20th Century Fox.

Annie Wilkes in ‘Misery’ (1990)

Annie is a former nurse who rescues novelist Paul Sheldon after a car crash and keeps him captive in her remote home. She forces him to write a new book to her demands and uses restraints and a brutal punishment to keep him from leaving.

Rob Reiner directed from a screenplay by William Goldman adapted from Stephen King’s book. Kathy Bates plays Annie and James Caan plays Paul, and the film reached audiences through Columbia Pictures.

Alex Forrest in ‘Fatal Attraction’ (1987)

Alex begins an affair with lawyer Dan Gallagher that quickly turns into stalking and repeated confrontations in his home and office. She harms the family pet, vandalizes property, and escalates to a final home intrusion that ends in violence.

Adrian Lyne directed with Glenn Close as Alex and Michael Douglas and Anne Archer as Dan and Beth. The film opened widely in theaters with distribution by Paramount Pictures.

Catherine Tramell in ‘Basic Instinct’ (1992)

Catherine is a crime novelist linked to a series of murders that mirror scenes from her books. She manipulates detective Nick Curran during a high profile investigation and uses interviews and social settings to keep control of the case.

Paul Verhoeven directed from a screenplay by Joe Eszterhas with Sharon Stone as Catherine and Michael Douglas as Nick. The release was carried in theaters by TriStar Pictures.

Carrie White in ‘Carrie’ (1976)

Carrie is a teenager who discovers telekinetic abilities while dealing with bullying at school and abuse at home. A cruel prank at the prom triggers a violent outburst that destroys the venue and leads to a deadly night across town.

Brian De Palma directed from Lawrence D Cohen’s adaptation of Stephen King’s first published novel. Sissy Spacek stars as Carrie with Piper Laurie as her mother Margaret, and United Artists brought the film to theaters.

Pamela Voorhees in ‘Friday the 13th’ (1980)

Pamela targets counselors at Camp Crystal Lake as payback for a past tragedy involving her son. She moves around the shuttered camp during a storm and kills the staff one by one until the final struggle at the lakeshore.

Sean S. Cunningham directed with a story developed to fit a summer camp setting and practical gore created by Tom Savini. Betsy Palmer plays Pamela, and the film reached theaters through Paramount Pictures.

Mallory Knox in ‘Natural Born Killers’ (1994)

Mallory teams up with Mickey on a cross country killing spree that becomes fodder for a sensational media narrative. The pair leave a pattern of random and targeted murders and later trigger a prison riot during a televised interview.

Oliver Stone directed from a screenplay that originated with a story by Quentin Tarantino. Juliette Lewis plays Mallory opposite Woody Harrelson as Mickey, and Warner Bros. Pictures handled the original theatrical distribution.

O-Ren Ishii in ‘Kill Bill: Vol. 1’ (2003)

O-Ren rises to the top of the Tokyo underworld after a childhood marked by organized crime and assassination. She leads the Crazy 88 and faces The Bride in the House of Blue Leaves, where the duel concludes on a snowy rooftop.

Quentin Tarantino directed with Lucy Liu as O-Ren and Uma Thurman as The Bride, and the production combined live action with an animated backstory sequence. Miramax Films released the movie in theaters.

Aileen Wuornos in ‘Monster’ (2003)

Aileen, based on the real person, kills several men while drifting through Florida and forms a close relationship with a young woman named Selby. The murders begin with a violent encounter and continue as she tries to secure money and transportation, which eventually leads to her arrest.

Patty Jenkins wrote and directed with Charlize Theron as Aileen and Christina Ricci as Selby. Newmarket Films distributed the release, and the production emphasized character detail through extensive makeup and wardrobe work.

Hedra Carlson in ‘Single White Female’ (1992)

Hedra moves in with software designer Allison Jones after answering a roommate ad and starts copying her clothes and hair. She isolates Allison from friends and coworkers and commits multiple killings to protect the double life she is building.

Barbet Schroeder directed with Jennifer Jason Leigh as Hedra and Bridget Fonda as Allison. The film was produced by Columbia and reached theaters through Columbia Pictures.

Ava in ‘Ex Machina’ (2015)

Ava is an artificial intelligence housed in a humanoid body who meets a young programmer brought in to evaluate her. She uses conversations and staged power outages to separate her evaluator from her creator and then engineers an escape from the underground facility.

Alex Garland wrote and directed with Alicia Vikander as Ava alongside Domhnall Gleeson and Oscar Isaac. The film’s theatrical rollout in the United States was handled by A24, and the production won an Academy Award for visual effects.

Tiffany Valentine in ‘Bride of Chucky’ (1998)

Tiffany resurrects the soul of serial killer Charles Lee Ray into the Good Guy doll and later becomes a doll herself. She and Chucky travel with an unsuspecting couple while leaving bodies behind, all while seeking a way to restore human form.

Ronny Yu directed with Jennifer Tilly as Tiffany and Brad Dourif voicing Chucky, and the story connects directly to earlier entries in the series. Universal Pictures released the film in theaters.

Pearl in ‘Pearl’ (2022)

Pearl lives on a rural Texas farm and dreams of leaving for the stage while caring for her ailing father and strict mother. Rejection and isolation push her toward a string of killings that connect to events explored further in a related film from the same creative team.

Ti West directed and cowrote the screenplay with Mia Goth, who also plays the lead role. A24 distributed the film in theaters, and the production was designed as a companion piece to ‘X’ with matching locations and crew.

Phyllis Dietrichson in ‘Double Indemnity’ (1944)

Phyllis convinces insurance salesman Walter Neff to help kill her husband and collect on a policy clause that pays extra for unusual circumstances. She uses meetings at the family home and a staged train ride to move the plan forward while hiding the plot from a sharp claims investigator.

Billy Wilder directed and cowrote the screenplay with Raymond Chandler based on James M Cain’s novella. Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray star, and Paramount Pictures managed the original theatrical release.

Esther in ‘Orphan’ (2009)

Esther arrives as an adoptee who presents as a young girl but later reveals a violent pattern within the family home. The story discloses her real identity and medical condition after a series of suspicious incidents that include staged accidents and targeted attacks.

Jaume Collet Serra directed with Isabelle Fuhrman as Esther and Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard as the parents. The film was produced with Dark Castle and opened in theaters through Warner Bros. Pictures.

Share the murderous women you would add to the list in the comments so everyone can compare notes.