The 11 Most Terrifying Female Stalkers in Movies

      In reality, the majority of stalkers are men, yet many films challenge this narrative by featuring female stalkers as central characters.

      According to the U.S. Department of Justice in 2023, stalking is described as “a form of gender-based violence that affects all communities and neighborhoods,” highlighting that “statistics reveal that one in three women and one in six men experience stalking during their lifetimes.”

      The Justice Department reported in 1998 that though stalking is a crime that applies to any gender, “the majority (78 percent) of stalking victims are female and most (87 percent) of stalking offenders are male.”

      This leaves us wondering why there are so many female stalkers represented in films. For one, filmmakers often aim to subvert audience expectations. Additionally, it might be beneficial for men to see — through narratives where men are stalked by women — what it feels like to be on the receiving end of intense, unwanted attention. What the stalker perceives as a romantic comedy may feel like a horror story to the person being stalked.

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

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

      In Clint Eastwood’s directorial debut, Play Misty for Me, Eastwood portrays a small-town disc jockey who repeatedly receives requests from an obsessed fan (Walter) for the jazz piece “Misty.” After an accidental encounter at a bar, the two spend the night together, but Evelyn's possessiveness escalates, leading to violent outcomes. This film is particularly interesting in retrospect, as Eastwood would go on to become a highly respected director and the mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, where the story unfolds, while Walter would later portray a completely different, yet equally captivating character, Lucille Bluth, in Arrested Development.

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

      The success of Fatal Attraction can be credited with launching a decade filled with portrayals of female stalkers. Similar to the 1994 film Disclosure, which tackled workplace sexual harassment, Fatal Attraction reversed the typical gender dynamic in stories of stalking. The plot follows Dan Gallagher, a seemingly average man who engages in an affair with Alex (Glenn Close), unaware that she is a sociopath unwilling to let him go. Her horror-inducing behavior soon turns dangerous for him and his family, culminating in the notorious scene where she boils their pet rabbit. The film holds significant cultural relevance, becoming the second highest-grossing movie of 1987, earning six Academy Award nominations including Best Picture, and inspiring a wave of erotic thrillers in the late '80s and early '90s.

      Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates) in Misery (1990)

      Kathy Bates delivers an exceptional performance in Misery, part of a remarkable series of successes for director Rob Reiner during the late ’80s and early ’90s. Unlike Alex Forrest, who uses sexuality, Bates’ character Annie Wilkes employs something arguably more terrifying: she pretends to show motherly care for Paul (James Caan), a best-selling author who ends up in her isolated home following an accident. When Annie discovers that Paul intends to kill her favorite character, Misery Chastain, her wrath emerges, and she makes it clear she will do anything to maintain her hold over him. The film’s most gripping moment features the tense hobbling scene. Bates rightfully won the Best Actress Oscar for her role, making Misery the only adaptation of a Stephen King novel to receive such an honor.

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

      The stalker in Single White Female is portrayed by Jennifer Jason Leigh as a woman stalking her new roommate, Allison Jones (Bridget Fonda). Although Hedy initially appears to be quiet and reserved, the film escalates in strangeness as she starts to mimic Allison's signature short red hairstyle. This odd behavior spirals into something far more sinister involving Hedy’s deceased twin sister and her increasingly inappropriate impersonation of Allie. The film also features creatively violent scenes, including stabbings with a stiletto heel.

      Mrs. Mott (Rebecca De Mornay) in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)

      Rebecca De Mornay’s character Mrs. Mott presents a chilling twist on the female stalker trope in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle. After Claire (Annabella Sciorra) accuses her doctor husband of sexual misconduct, resulting in his suicide and Mrs. Mott losing her home, she seeks revenge by infiltrating Claire’s family. The situation escalates as she frames a handyman (Ernie Hudson), threatens a child, and even breastfeeds Claire’s infant. Naturally, the story culminates in violence, with a symbolic white picket fence making an impactful appearance.

      Drew Barrymore as Ivy in