Scary clown movies operate in a specific space of peoples’ fears. Coulrophobia, the fear of clowns, is a well-known phobia for anyone who has watched viral videos of hatchet-swinging clowns or who has had a bad experience at a childhood birthday party. In the horror movie genre, clowns can be slasher villains, otherworldly monsters, or disguises for something far worse. There will always be an inherent comedy to scary clown movies but that doesn’t mean they’re not filled with spine-tingling horror. Clowns are a reliable go-to when it comes to horror movie villains, and the industry has produced more than its fair share over the decades. From mild-painted pranksters to bloodthirsty beasts with big red noses, Halloween is the perfect time of year to unleash these creepy characters onto the screen, and the best scary clown movies will chill even the most seasoned horror fan to the bone.