The Top 10 Most Dangerous Female Stalkers in Cinema

      While most real-life stalkers are men, numerous films portray female stalkers prominently.

      Here are some of the most frightening female stalkers depicted in cinema.

      But First

      Erika Christensen and Jesse Bradford in Swimfan. Twentieth Century Fox

      January is recognized as Stalking Awareness Month, and the U.S. Department of Justice highlighted in 2023 that stalking is “a form of gender-based violence that affects every community and neighborhood,” noting that “statistics indicate that one in three women and one in six men experience stalking at some point in their lives.”

      In 1998, the Justice Department pointed out that although stalking is a gender-neutral crime, “the majority (78 percent) of stalking victims are female, and most (87 percent) of stalking offenders are male.”

      So why do movies feature so many female stalkers? One reason is that filmmakers aim to challenge audience expectations. Additionally, it could be beneficial for men to witness, in these films where men are stalked by women, the feelings associated with being on the receiving end of obsessive, unwelcome attention. What may appear to the stalker as a romantic comedy can feel like a horror story to the victim.

      With that in mind, here are nine of the most terrifying female stalkers in film.

      Evelyn (Jessica Walter) in Play Misty for Me (1971)

      Jessica Walter and Clint Eastwood in Play Misty for Me. Universal

      Did Clint Eastwood’s directorial debut, Play Misty for Me, help popularize the female stalker genre? It’s quite possible.

      Eastwood portrays a disc jockey in a small town who continually receives requests from an obsessive fan (Walter) for the jazz standard “Misty.” Following a chance encounter at a bar, they go home together, but Evelyn’s behavior grows increasingly possessive and strange. Things quickly escalate to violence.

      Despite its disturbing nature, it’s interesting to watch this film knowing some present-day context: Eastwood would later become a highly esteemed director and the mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, where the film was shot; Walter would go on to portray the vastly different yet equally entertaining Lucille Bluth on Arrested Development.

      Alex Forrest (Glenn Close) in Fatal Attraction (1987)

      Michael Douglas and Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction. Paramount

      It's fair to claim that Fatal Attraction's success initiated a wave of female stalker movies. Similar to the 1994 Michael Douglas film Disclosure, which addresses workplace sexual harassment, Fatal Attraction reverses the typical male-on-female dynamic.

      The story revolves around Dan Gallagher, an ordinary man who has an affair with Alex (Glenn Close), oblivious to the fact that she is a sociopath who won’t let him go. Soon, she begins to terrorize him and his family, culminating in the film's iconic scene where she boils their pet rabbit.

      The film’s cultural influence was significant: it became the second-highest-grossing film of 1987 and garnered six nominations at the 60th Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It sparked the erotic thriller trend of the late ’80s and ’90s, making references to “boiling the rabbit” a shorthand for an unhinged romantic partner.

      Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates) in Misery (1990)

      Kathy Bates in Misery. Columbia Pictures

      Kathy Bates delivers a brilliant performance in Misery, which was released during an exceptional period for director Rob Reiner in the late ’80s and early ’90s.

      While Alex Forrest leveraged sexuality, Bates’ Annie Wilkes employs an arguably more frightening approach: she pretends to be nurturing towards Paul (James Caan), a bestselling author who, after a car accident, winds up in the isolated residence of his self-proclaimed “number one fan.”

      However, Annie becomes furious when she discovers that Paul plans to kill off her beloved character, Misery Chastain, and makes it clear she will do anything to maintain her control over him. The film’s highlight is the incredibly tense hobbling scene.

      Bates rightfully won the Oscar for Best Actress for her role, making Misery the only film adapted from a Stephen King novel to win an Academy Award.

      Hedy Carlson (Jennifer Jason Leigh) in Single White Female (1992)

      Jennifer Jason Leigh and Bridget Fonda in Single White Female. Columbia Pictures.

      The stalking originates from within the residence! Or at least, the apartment.

      Single White Female flips the traditional stalker narrative by featuring Jennifer Jason Leigh as a woman who stalks another woman, specifically her new roommate, Allison Jones, portrayed by Bridget Fonda.

      Initially, Hedy appears quiet and reserved, but the film humorously intensifies as she adopts Allison’s distinctive short, red hairstyle. However, this is minor compared to what follows, which includes Hedy's deceased twin sister and her inappropriate attempts to impersonate Allie.

      The film showcases some creative stabbings, including one