Ranking the Best (and Worst) Final Girls of the ‘Halloween’ Franchise

The Halloween franchise has been scaring audiences for over four decades, but it’s not just the masked menace Michael Myers that keeps people coming back—it’s also the iconic “final girls” who take him on. While Laurie Strode is the definitive “scream queen” of Haddonfield, she’s not the only one to have faced off against The Shape.

In fact, across the 12 Halloween films featuring Michael Myers, nine different final girls have taken on the unstoppable killer (sorry, Halloween III: Season of the Witch fans, but the anthology flick isn’t on this list). Let’s rank these fierce survivors from worst to best, celebrating their courage, flaws, and even a few stumbles along the way.

9. Tina Williams (Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers)

Poor Tina. It’s tough to root for a character who feels more like the annoying friend in a horror movie, but Tina Williams, played by Wendy Kaplan, fits that role perfectly. In Halloween 5 (1989), she hogs the spotlight from the real final girl, Rachel Carruthers (more on her later), and brings so much high-energy irritation that you might find yourself hoping Michael will cut her story short sooner than he does. When Tina finally meets her end, it’s hard to care—it’s just one more misstep in a film full of them.

8. Sara Moyer (Halloween: Resurrection)

Ah, Halloween: Resurrection (2002), the movie where Busta Rhymes karate kicks Michael Myers. This entry is notoriously bad, and Bianca Kajlich’s Sara Moyer gets stuck in its shadow. Sara is not the worst final girl in the franchise, but she’s far from memorable. Despite putting up a good fight during a fiery showdown with Michael, her character lacks any defining traits to help her stand out—especially when the spotlight is stolen by Busta Rhymes’ larger-than-life Freddie Harris.

Related: Unraveling Michael Myers: His Motivations for Murder in ‘Halloween’

7. Kara Strode (Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers)

In Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995), Marianna Hagan’s Kara Strode is a final girl stuck in a very confusing film. Surrounded by Paul Rudd as a grown-up Tommy Doyle and the always-great Donald Pleasence as Dr. Loomis, Kara is more of a pawn in the strange plot than a true protagonist. She has some strong moments, but the film’s chaotic direction doesn’t do her justice, making it hard to say whether she’s supposed to be the star.

6. Laurie Strode (Halloween 1978 and Halloween II 1981)

Here’s where things get interesting—yes, we’re ranking Jamie Lee Curtis’ original Laurie Strode relatively low. While she’s the definitive final girl of the franchise, Laurie’s portrayal in the first two Halloween films, while iconic, isn’t without flaws. In John Carpenter’s 1978 classic, Laurie spends much of her time being scared and cowering, which, while understandable, doesn’t make her the strongest character. By Halloween II, she’s a whimpering mess, which doesn’t make for the most compelling heroine.

5. Rachel Carruthers (Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers)

Rachel Carruthers, played by Ellie Cornell, is the heart of Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988). She might not have the legacy of Laurie, but Rachel holds her own, especially in protecting her younger adopted sister, Jamie Lloyd (Danielle Harris). Rachel is selfish at first but proves her worth as a final girl by risking her life to save Jamie from her evil uncle. Sadly, her unceremonious death in Halloween 5 makes her arc feel incomplete.

4. Laurie Strode (Rob Zombie’s Halloween and Halloween II)

Rob Zombie’s gritty reimagining of Halloween (2007) and Halloween II (2009) brings us a new Laurie Strode, played by Scout Taylor-Compton. Though Zombie’s films are divisive, Taylor-Compton brings a raw, more disturbed version of Laurie to the table. She adds depth and trauma to the role, but the movies’ darker tone makes this version of Laurie far from the original’s more innocent, albeit anxious, teen.

Related: Every ‘Halloween’ Movie Ranked Worst to Best

3. Laurie Strode (David Gordon Green’s Halloween Trilogy)

In David Gordon Green’s Halloween trilogy (2018, Halloween Kills 2021, and Halloween Ends 2022), we see Jamie Lee Curtis return as a battle-hardened Laurie Strode. This Laurie has been shaped by years of trauma, turning her into a paranoid, doomsday-prepping warrior. While her role varies across the trilogy (she spends most of Halloween Kills side-lined in a hospital), her no-nonsense, gun-toting persona in the 2018 film earns her a place near the top of our list.

2. Jamie Lloyd (Halloween 4 and Halloween 5)

Jamie Lloyd, the young daughter of Laurie Strode, played by Danielle Harris, quickly became a fan-favorite in Halloween 4 and Halloween 5. As a child, Jamie outsmarts Michael Myers more than once, and her relationship with her foster sister Rachel adds emotional weight to her story. Danielle Harris’ performance is impressive, making Jamie a standout “final girl” in the franchise—even if her story ends tragically in Halloween 6 when she’s replaced by a different actress and quickly killed off.

1. Laurie Strode (Halloween H20: 20 Years Later)

At the top of our list is Jamie Lee Curtis’ portrayal of Laurie Strode in Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998). This version of Laurie is the best of them all—an older, traumatized woman living under an assumed name and working as a school headmistress. She’s a functioning alcoholic, constantly haunted by her past, but when Michael reappears, she confronts him head-on. In many ways, H20’s Laurie feels like the most realistic progression of the character, and her final showdown with her brother Michael Myers is one for the ages.

There you have it—the final girls of Halloween, ranked. Whether they’re the original scream queens or forgotten heroes, each of these women left their mark on the franchise in their own way.