14 Black Scream Queens Who Changed the Horror Film Game

A good horror movie is nothing without its “scream queen.” Since the genre’s inception, actresses have been making history in these films, capturing our attention and sending chills down our spines with their respective performances.

For Black actresses, these roles have been nothing short of iconic, defining the careers of legacy actresses like Angela Bassett and Octavia Spencer, while reintroducing us to actresses earlier in their careers, such as Lupita Nyong’o and Keke Palmer.

We’re taking a look at some of our favorite Black scream queens over the years.

Lupita Nyong’o 

We naturally have to start with the one and only Lupita Nyong’o, the Academy Award-winning actress who has earned rave reviews for multiple roles in horror films, the biggest being Jordan Peele’s epic, “Us.” Critics are still baffled at the lack of an Oscar nomination for in that film, which saw her play two roles (Adelaide “Addy” Wilson and her doppelganger, Red). She also starred in “A Quiet Place: Day One,” one of the biggest horror films of 2024.

Brandy

While she may be famous for singing “Sittin’ Up in My Room,” Brandy also made a name for herself as an actress, specifically on “Moesha” but also in the popular slasher film, “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer.” She earned “final girl” status in that iconic sequel, surviving at the end alongside Jennifer Love Hewitt, and even appeared in an epic scene in this summer’s “I Know What You Did Last Summer” reboot (the final scene hints at a potential sequel with Hewitt and Brandy starring). Brandy also starred in last year’s “The Front Room,” a psychological horror film from A24. Clearly, Brandy loves working in horror films.

Keke Palmer

An entire generation has grown up with Keke Palmer, from her debut in “Akeelah and the Bee” to her role on “True Jackson VP” and eventual film roles in hits like “Hustlers.” It was Jordan Peele’s third film “Nope,” however, that gave Palmer the role of a lifetime, earning her Oscar buzz and rave reviews from critics. Don’t’ forget, Palmer also starred in Ryan Murphy’s “Scream Queens” series, which was a dark comedy slasher show. 

Regina Hall

How can we not include the legendary Regina Hall on this list? The actress made a name for herself starring as Brenda in the “Scary Movie” franchise, comedy-horror films that were parodies of the popular slashers of the time. Hall was so good at playing the fan-favorite role, that they brought her back time and time again (even if she died in the previous installment, which she did often). Much of the success of “Scary Movie” belongs to Hall, who also got to appear in a proper horror film in 2022’s “Master.”

Jada Pinkett Smith

Jada Pinkett Smith may not have made a name for herself starring in horror films, but her impact on the genre cannot be understated. In “Scream 2,” Smith starred in the iconic “first kill” scene, which always features a major celebrity (Drew Barrymore famously starred in the first one). In a meta-scene commenting on the common trope that Black people die first in horror films, Smith stars in one of the most iconic scenes int he entire franchise, with Ghostface killing her in a movie theater, surrounded by frenzied fans in masks. In one word, it’s epic. She also starred in 1995’s “Demon Knight,” but she survives in that one!

Jasmin Savoy Brown

Jasmin Savoy Brown stars in the new “Scream” films and has become a staple of the franchise’s new era. Starring alongside Mason Gooding as the Meeks-Martin twins, they serve as the heart of the series, with Brown’s character playing the film buff who knows all of the horror movie rules. Both Brown and Gooding are set to return for the third film in the new trilogy (“Scream 7”), making them the rare characters that have lived to survive three “Scream” films.

Halle Berry

Fresh off her Academy Award win for “Monster’s Ball,” Halle Berry starred in “Gothika” in 2003, a psychological thriller. While the film did not earn the best reviews, it’s a popular selection for horror fans, and Berry delivers a chilling performance as a psychiatrist who becomes stuck in the penitentiary where she works.

Sanaa Lathan

Yes, Sanaa Lathan is known for her roles in “Love & Basketball” and “The Best Man,”  but Lathan also has some pretty serious horror credits to her name. She starred in the epic horror crossover film, “Alien vs. Predator,” which while relatively popular at the time, has become a cult classic film for horror fans. You may remember she also appeared in the first “Blade” as the titular character’s vampire mother.

Aaliyah

Aaliyah’s impact on popular culture is constantly being reevaluated, but we can’t forget about her roles as an actress as well, including her work in “Queen of the Damned.” Based of the Anne Rice film, Aaliyah played Akasha, the first vampire.

Angela Bassett

Angela Bassett has dabbled in horror throughout her epic career, including starring in the cult classic comedy horror “Vampire in Brooklyn” alongside Eddie Murphy. Her turn in Ryan Murphy’s “American Horror Story,” however, earned her rave reviews when she starred in the “Coven,” “Freak Show,” “Roanoke,” and “Apocalypse” seasons of the epic series. She earned two Emmy nominations for her work in the series.

Andra Day

Andra Day made her horror debut in the much-talked-about Netflix film “The Deliverance.” From the mind of Lee Daniels, the film went viral for its themes of the supernatural and occult, but Day’s performance was praised.

Kelly Rowland

Kelly Rowland also appeared in the horror space, starring in the epic crossover film “Freddy vs. Jason.” Starring as Kia Waterson, Rowland’s character did not make it to the end of the film, but did get an epic death sequence worthy of a proper scream queen.

Octavia Spencer

Octavia Spencer is an exciting horror character for a new generation with “Ma.” The Blumhouse Productions film became a cult hit following its 2019 release, with a sequel on the way reuniting viewers with Sue Ann “Ma” Ellington. 

Ola Ray

Yes, “Thriller” is a music video, but it’s the greatest music video of all time, and essentially a horror short film! Without Ola Ray, who plays Michael Jackson’s girlfriend in the video, it may not be as iconic as it is without that iconic scream.