THE BLACK GIRL ACTUALLY SURVIVES IN THIS ONE WATCHLIST

In her 1992 book Men, Women, and Chain Saws, film scholar Carol J. Clover explored one of horror's most recognizable characters: the final girl. She's the woman who survives the slaughter long enough to face the killer herself. Traditionally, she was smarter, more cautious, and supposedly more virtuous than her doomed friends. Virginity was practically a prerequisite. Because apparently, having a sex life was enough to get you murdered.

Thankfully, horror has moved well beyond that checklist. Today's final girls are complicated and sometimes prove just as dangerous as the monsters hunting them. And Black women have given us some of the genre's most memorable survivors. Some fit the traditional definition; others stretch it. Either way, here are twelve final girls who've more than earned their flowers.

Spoilers ahead, obviously.

Jeryline — Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight (1995)

played by Jada Pinkett

Jeryline is just trying to make it through another shift at a rundown boardinghouse when a mysterious stranger arrives with an ancient artifact and a demon hot on his heels. Before long, she's trapped inside with a bunch of increasingly doomed strangers, and the fate of humanity is somehow her problem.

By the end of the night, she's inherited the responsibility of protecting a sacred key. She defeats the demon by spitting holy blood in his face. Then she boards a bus to continue the fight. Not bad for someone who was probably just trying to clock out.

Karla Wilson — I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998)

played by Brandy

First of all, Karla deserved a refund on this entire vacation. What begins as a tropical getaway with her best friend Julie quickly becomes a nightmare when a hook-wielding serial killer shows up to ruin everyone's good time.

And while Julie is technically the movie's main final girl, Karla deserves some recognition of her own. She's resourceful, loyal, and manages to survive an encounter with the fisherman himself. Honestly, after this, Julie would've had to find herself a new travel buddy.

Selena — 28 Days Later (2002)

played by Naomie Harris

Selena has absolutely no time for anyone's foolishness, which is probably why she's still alive. When a virus turns Britain into a living-dead nightmare, she's one of the few survivors who understands the rules: Move quickly, stay alert, and don't get sentimental when somebody's infected.

But surviving the infected turns out to be only half the battle. When Selena and her companions encounter a group of soldiers with some deeply disturbing ideas about repopulating the country, she discovers that the uninfected can be just as dangerous. Selena survives that ordeal, too. If anyone's earned a little peace after the apocalypse, it's her.

Alexa Woods — Alien vs. Predator (2004)

played by Sanaa Lathan

There are final girls, and then there's Lex Woods, a woman who somehow survives an encounter with two of science fiction's most terrifying alien species. Recruited to guide an expedition beneath Antarctica, she quickly discovers that the researchers have wandered into an ancient extraterrestrial battleground. Naturally, almost everyone dies.

But Lex adapts, eventually teaming up with a Predator to defeat a Xenomorph Queen. She even earns the respect of the alien warriors, who present her with a gnarly weapon. Most people come back from a work trip with airport snacks.

Zoey Davis — Escape Room (2019)

played by Taylor Russell

If a mysterious stranger ever invites you to participate in an escape room with a $10,000 prize, Zoey Davis would probably advise you to stay home. The brilliant college student finds herself competing against five strangers in a series of elaborate puzzles that quickly become deadly.

Fortunately, Zoey is very good at noticing things. While the other contestants struggle to survive, she's figuring out how the game works and, more importantly, how to beat it. Her smartest move? Refusing to play by the rules at all.

Adelaide Wilson — Us (2019)

played by Lupita Nyong'o

Nothing ruins a family vacation quite like a murderous doppelgänger. When a family of red-jumpsuit-wearing strangers appears outside the Wilsons' vacation home, Adelaide finds herself fighting to protect her husband and children from people who look exactly like them.

And Adelaide doesn't play around when it comes to protecting the fam. Of course, that ending complicates things considerably. Turns out the woman we've been rooting for is actually the doppelgänger who stole the real Adelaide's life as a child. Does that disqualify her from final girl status? You tell me.

Jenn — Sweetheart (2019)

played by Kiersey Clemons

A boating accident leaves Jenn stranded on a seemingly deserted island. And while she already has enough to worry about finding food and shelter, at night, a massive creature emerges from the ocean looking for its next meal.

And when other survivors finally arrive, they refuse to believe her warnings. Men ignoring a woman who knows exactly what she's talking about? Groundbreaking. Fortunately, Jenn doesn't need anyone's permission to save herself. She eventually kills the creature and presents its head as proof. Eat that!

Emerald Haywood — Nope (2022)

played by Keke Palmer

Emerald Haywood sees opportunity in just about everything, including the mysterious creature terrorizing her family's horse ranch. While her brother OJ approaches the situation with considerably more caution, Em is already thinking about the money they could make from capturing proof of its existence.

Of course, things don't exactly go according to plan. But when everything falls apart, Em proves she's more than capable of thinking on her feet, taking down the creature with an enormous inflatable cowboy and getting it all on film with a well-timed photo op. She survives the alien encounter, saves the family legacy, and gets the shot.

Evie Jackson — The Invitation (2022)

played by Nathalie Emmanuel

Evie just wants to learn more about her family. After taking a DNA test, she discovers some very wealthy British relatives who invite her to a lavish wedding at an English country estate. There's even a handsome aristocrat who seems particularly interested in her. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, the family is part of a centuries-old vampire conspiracy, and Evie's been recruited to become Dracula's third bride. Unfortunately for him, she's not interested in marrying into the family business. Evie turns the wedding into a bloodbath, burns the whole thing down, and lives to tell the tale. So much for marrying rich.

Tess Marshall — Barbarian (2022)

played by Georgina Campbell

Tess Marshall's first mistake was booking an Airbnb. Her second was deciding to stay after discovering that a strange man was already inside. But as it turns out, the double-booked rental is the least of her problems. There's something horrifying living beneath the house, and the deeper Tess goes, the worse things get.

What's particularly frustrating is that Tess keeps trying to save people who have absolutely no intention of returning the favor. Including one man who literally throws her off a water tower to save himself. After everything she survives, I hope her next vacation involves a five-star hotel and absolutely no basements.

Cherie — Run Sweetheart Run (2022)

played by Ella Balinska

Cherie agrees to what should be a perfectly ordinary dinner with one of her boss's clients. He's handsome, charming, and apparently allergic to the idea of letting a woman get home safely. What starts as a promising date turns into a nightlong chase across Los Angeles when the client reveals he's something far worse than your average terrible date.

And Cherie quickly discovers that the police are no help, the men around her can't be trusted, and her attacker has some seriously supernatural connections. But with help from a group of women, she figures out his weakness and turns the tables by sunrise. Turns out, the worst date of her life was the last one of his.

Asia Reaves — They Will Kill You (2026)

played by Zazie Beetz

Asia Reaves didn't come to make friends. She came to get her sister. After spending years in prison, she tracks her younger sister to an exclusive Manhattan apartment building, only to discover that its wealthy residents are part of a murderous Satanic cult.

Unfortunately for the cult, Asia is more than capable of defending herself. She fights her way through an army of wealthy psychopaths who have the deeply unfair advantage of being immortal. There are final girls who survive by running away, and then there's Asia, who seems personally offended that anyone thought they could kill her in the first place.

After crawling through air vents, fleeing a headless Heather Graham, and battling a demon possessed see-you-next-tuesday sporting a severed pig's head, she gets herself and her sister out alive. Mission accomplished. Satanists be damned.

Now, the important question: Who's your favorite final girl?