Help isn’t coming, just about everyone else is dead and it all comes down to this—the final battle between the big bad, whether a terrifying serial killer or supernatural entity, and the lone survivor. It’s a staple of the genre, the moment audiences have been waiting for, and a well-done final battle can contribute to a satisfying ending.
Audiences can typically expect the good guys will win—although not always!—but the fun is in watching them get there. Horror’s best final battles feature a combination of wits, physicality and sheer determination to make it out alive, and even a movie that was otherwise underwhelming can culminate in an intense, brutal final battle that makes the lead-up worth it.
10Sally vs. Leatherface
‘The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’ (1974)
After learning her grandfather’s grave might have been vandalized, Sally (Marilyn Burns) set out with her paraplegic brother, Franklin (Paul A. Partain), and friends to find out what happened inThe Texas Chain Saw Massacre. While visiting the family’s old farmhouse,they discover something sinister about the next-door neighborsand are attacked by Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen), who wears a mask of one of his victims, until only Sally is left.
The ending ofThe Texas Chain Saw Massacreshows what a ruthless, relentless villain Leatherface really is. He pursues Sally for so long, it becomes exhausting for both her and the audience, and although she manages to escape, Leatherface is still on the loose, frustrated that he failed to get her. The film itself was—and continues to be—a huge influence on the genre, andits themes are still relevant today.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
A group of friends traveling through rural Texas encounter a family of deranged cannibals, including the terrifying Leatherface. As they explore an old homestead, they are systematically hunted down in gruesome ways. The film culminates in a harrowing chase and a desperate escape attempt by the last survivor, Sally, who narrowly evades the murderous Leatherface.
9Dutch vs. Predator
‘Predator’ (1987)
InPredator, a solider named Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is hired by the U.S. government to rescue a group of politicians stranded in Guatemala. But when they arrive, they encounter the Predator (Kevin Peter Hall), an advanced extraterrestrial. The final battle comes down to Dutch and the Predator—though the Predator has the upper hand, he offers Dutch a fair fight, without any protective gear or weapons, and Dutch emerges victorious.
As the Predator beginspicking off the soldiers one by one, it becomes clear just how dangerous it is—these are menwho should be strong and difficult to take down,but they’re no challenge for the Predator. That makes the final battle with Dutch even more meaningful. But it’s not the only great showdown in thePredatorfranchise. The final fight in sequelPredator 2was just as memorable.
8Chris vs. Jason
‘Friday the 13th Part III’ (1982)
In the thirdFriday the 13thfilm, killer Jason Vorhees (Richard Brooker), wounded after the events of the previous film, has taken refuge in a house near Crystal Lake. When Chris (Dana Kimmell) and her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Rick (Paul Kratka), arrive for a weekend getaway with friends, Jason targets them, as well. The final battle comes down to Chris and Jason, and she finally wins by burying an ax in his forehead.
As is often the case with horror sequels—and sequels in general—Friday the 13th Part IIIfailed to live up to the quality of the first,but it did have one awesome final battle. With one brief exception, Chris is on her own, and her eventual success results in a memorable scene. It’s an ending that’s beloved by fans and hailed as a great moment in horror, even if the rest of the film isn’t held in the same esteem.
Friday the 13th Part III
A group of friends spending the weekend at a remote cabin near Crystal Lake quickly find themselves the target of the ruthless Jason Voorhees. Donning his iconic hockey mask for the first time, Jason embarks on a violent killing spree, culminating in a tense showdown with the final survivor, Chris.
7MacReady vs. the Thing
‘The Thing’ (1982)
InThe Thing, a group of researchers in Antarctica discover an extraterrestrial life-form capable of taking on the form of other organisms. As it slowly kills the crew, they begin to distrust each other as they realize any one of them could be it. After most of them are dead, MacReady (Kurt Russell) is one of the very few left standing, and he uses a flare to set off a series of rigged explosives around the base.
The Thingis an excellent horror movie about paranoia and isolation, with practical effects that are still unnerving today andan equally unsettling score byEnnio Morricone. Those themes are carried through to the bitter end—despite the destruction in MacReady’s wake,it’s still unclear if the Thing has truly been defeated, meaning he and Childs (Keith David) are still unable to trust each other. And with the base gone,there’s nothing left for them to do but die.
A team of researchers set out to study an alien spacecraft found in Antarctica, where they also discover an alien body on the site. The alien buried in ice is actually alive and has the ability to imitate human form. The group must find a way to distinguish who the real person is from The Thing and stay alive. John Carpenter’s 1982 film is a remake of 1951’s The Thing from Another World and stars Kurt Russel as the hero RJ MacReady.
6Monsters vs. the Facility
‘The Cabin in the Woods’ (2011)
A group of five college students set out for a weekend in a cabin in the woods, where they are attacked by a number of different monsters inThe Cabin in the Woods. But things aren’t as they seem—the monsters are controlled by two scientists as part of an ancient ritual to save humanity. When the last two students standing learn the truth, they release all the monsters, who immediately attack their captors.
The Cabin in the Woodsisa brilliant meta horror-comedy,with a great twist which serves as a commentary on the horror genre itself. As the monsters are unleashed, plenty of classic horror movies are referenced—as well as some real-life horrors—making the scene a real treat for horror fans. It’s not much of a true fight, as the monsters understandablyare no real match for humans, but it’s a delight to watch.
The Cabin in the Woods
Five friends go for a break at a remote cabin, where they get more than they bargained for, discovering the truth behind the cabin in the woods.
5Laurie Strode vs. Michael Myers
‘Halloween H20’ (1998)
InHalloween H20, two decades after the events of the first film, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), who has faked her death and is now living in California, is once again hunted by killer Michael Myers (Chris Durand), her brother, after he learns where she is. She’s prepared to run from him once again, but after she gets her teenage son and his girlfriend to safety,she decides to face Michael once and for all.
Laurie Strode isone of the most iconic Final Girls of horror, andHalloween H20featured one of the best battles between her and Michael Myers. This time, Laurie is on the offensive instead of simply trying to evade Michael—one of the film’s best moments comes from her decision to pursue him. The movie also features a great cameo fromJanet Leigh, the mother of Curtis and one of Hollywood’s original Scream Queens.
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later
Laurie Strode, now the dean of a Northern California private school with an assumed name, must battle the Shape one last time, as the life of her own son hangs in the balance.
4Sidney vs. Billy and Stu
‘Scream’ (1996)
A masked, knife-wielding killer terrorized a group of suburban teenagers inScream, using scary movies as inspiration. In the end, only Sidney is left (Neve Campbell)—after she learns the killer is actually two people, her boyfriend, Billy (Skeet Ulrich), and his friend Stu (Matthew Lillard). She turns the tables on them and taunts them the way they taunted her before successfully taking them out. The movie was directed byWes Cravenandspawned a franchisethat’s still going strong today.
Screamis a classic thanks to the meta way it brilliantly played with horror tropes and shocked audiences by having not one but two killers.And Sidney wasa great Final Girlwho was able to think fastand hold her own against both of them, not only making for a great final battle but also solidifying her place as one of horror’s best Final Girls and paving the way for other meta horror classics.
A year after the murder of her mother, a teenage girl is terrorized by a masked killer who targets her and her friends by using scary movies as part of a deadly game.
3Freddy vs. Jason
‘Freddy vs. Jason’ (2003)
InFreddy vs. Jason—a crossover with theNightmare on Elm StreetandFriday the 13thfranchises—Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund), weakened now that many people are no longer afraid of him, turns to killer Jason Vorhees (Ken Kirzinge) for help and retrieves him from Hell. Jason’s subsequent killing spree was blamed on Freddy, helping him regain his powers. But when Jason kills one of Freddy’s intended victims, the two villains battle each other.
Fans have long debated about which villains could best each other in a matchup, andFreddy vs. Jasonactually went for it by pitting two classic violent horror villains against each other. And whilethe movie overall isn’t the best—although it is fun—the final showdown between the two killers is worth it, as they are evenly matched and it showcases both of their strengths, but exactly who won is up for debate.
Freddy vs. Jason
2Mia vs. the Abomination
While battling drug withdrawal, Mia (Jane Levy) invites her brother, his girlfriend and some friends to their family’s remote cabin in the woods to help her get through it inEvil Dead. When one of them fins a mysterious book and reads the incantations written in it, it awakens an evil force which begins to terrorize them all. Ultimately, Mia is the last one standing and even cuts off her own hand to make sure she wins.
Remakes of classic horror movies often fail to be as good as the originals, but in the case ofEvil Dead,the remake gave fans one fantastic final battle. While it looks as though Mia’s brother isabout to become the next Ash, that distinction actually goes to Mia.The showdown itself is great, but the best part is the blood which rains down as it’s happening, making for an amazing visual on top of everything else.
Evil Dead (2013)
Five friends head to a remote cabin to support their friend Mia in overcoming her addiction. They stumble upon the Naturom Demonto, an ancient book that unleashes a malevolent force. As the demonic entity possesses and terrorizes them one by one, the group faces unimaginable horrors.
1Ripley vs. the Alien Queen
‘Aliens’ (1986)
After the events ofAlien, Lt. Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) is in a shuttle found by a salvage team 57 years later in sequelAliens. When they arrive on LV-426, they find just one survivor, a little girl named Newt (Carrie Henn). In the movie’s final battle, Ripley goes up against the xenomorph queen to protect Newt—and wins by getting the alien into the airlock, sending her into the dark void of outer space.
With the xenomorph picking off people one by one,Aliensis essentially a slasher movie in space.Ripley’s fight against the alien queen is iconic, from her epic use of a cargo loader to Weaver’s incredible intense performance,which earned her an Oscar nomination, and, of course,the unforgettable line she delivers. The scene was also very influential on the action genre—it proved women could be just as tough as, if not tougher than, men.
Decades after surviving the Nostromo incident, Ellen Ripley is sent out to re-establish contact with a terraforming colony but finds herself battling the Alien Queen and her offspring.
