Monsters We’d Swipe Right On: 19 Hottest Horror Icons, Ranked
From brooding vampires to growling werewolves, reanimated heartbreakers to chaos-causing slashers, horror has gifted us some of the most unexpectedly sexy creatures in pop culture. Let’s get honest: Some of these characters could get it. These are the monsters who make us nervously check our phones… and maybe our closets. They’re scary, dangerous, and maybe just a little bit irresistible. Our hearts are beating fast, whether that’s from a little bit of desire or mostly fear, we’ll never know.
In the spirit of Halloween, Swooon has rounded up the hottest monsters across movies and TV, from the undead to the unhinged, the furry to the fanged. Some will haunt your dreams, some will make you laugh, and all of them are totally deserving (in some universe) of a swipe right.
Check out our ranking below of the monsters in the horror genre who would make us pause on the apps. Who is your favorite horror movie hottie? Let us know in the comments!
19. Kong, King Kong (2005)
Humans and apes are practically cousins, so it’s not that crazy to include him on our list of hot horror icons. Kong (Andy Serkis) is big, bold, and utterly devoted to his lady, ready to smash anything (and anyone) who gets in his way. Honestly? He’s probably less complicated than most of our exes… and way more romantic in the “tear-apart-the-city-for-love” department.
18. Gill-Man, Creature From the Black Lagoon
He swam so that the fish guy in The Shape of Water could… you know. This reptilian hottie (Ricou Browning) is honestly not the worst profile we’ve seen on dating apps. We’d swipe right over the dudes holding a fish any day. He’s got a pout that could slay, a sculpted twelve-pack (or are those scales?), and cardio strength that screams, “Snorkeling date, anyone?” We’re already packing our flippers.
17. Kayako Saeki, The Grudge (2004)
Did she haunt our nightmares after we saw this way too young? Absolutely. Do we still hesitate to turn corners in case she crawls out with those twisted limbs? Totally. But is Kayako Saeki (Takako Fuji) objectively hot? Also yes. That long, dark hair is giving major Charli XCX vibes, and those plain, flowing gowns could honestly be a vintage TikTok fashion moment. Scary and stylish? We’re here for it.
16. Betelgeuse, Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) is hot in the same way your friend’s dad was hot when he manned the BBQ — unexpected, chaotic, and somehow magnetic. Yes, he’s rocking a receding hairline, striped suit, and a constant stream of sarcastic negativity, but somehow it works. Plus, that whole “say my name” energy? Yeah… it translates perfectly to the bedroom.
15. Venom, Venom
Sure, Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) might be conventionally attractive, but it’s the alien parasite Venom that really gets our hearts racing. That ridiculously long tongue? Yeah, we’re curious. He’s ripped, confident, and ambitious about taking over the world, and honestly… a total catch. Dangerously hot never looked so good.
14. Michael Myers, Halloween
No, but hear us out: We could totally fix Michael Myers (Nick Castle). Is he misunderstood? Absolutely, and that’s his own fault. Dangerously hot with a side of “bad boy” energy? Mr. Myers fits right in on the dating apps.
13. Candyman, Candyman (1992)
He may have a hook for a right hand, but Candyman (Tony Todd) has layers upon layers of emotional depth and backstory. He’s tragic, brooding, and endlessly devoted to the woman he loves, which somehow makes the horror totally swoonworthy. Plus, that smooth voice and intense stare? Let’s just say we wouldn’t mind him whispering our name… five times.
12. Freddy Krueger, A Nightmare on Elm Street
When we were younger, Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) haunted our literal nightmares. Now, seasoned in the wild world of dating apps, we’re ready to give him a second chance. He can’t be any worse than our exes, right? Sure, those knife-fingers make us squirm and rule out certain bedroom activities, but stripes are back in fashion, fedoras could totally make a comeback, and, honestly, his skin is mostly still there. Couple all that with a little dark humor and we’re… intrigued.
11. Pennywise, It (2017)
This might get us canceled, and honestly, we probably deserve it. But hear us out: Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise was… creepily attractive. Only a man this hot could make us debate swiping right for a homicidal clown—or, let’s be real, any clown. The forehead is a bit of an ick, but hey, he likes to laugh… sometimes. He brings balloons, and maybe we can negotiate flowers next? Yeah, we’ll put ourselves in a time out.
10. The Mummy, The Mummy (1999)
For many of us, this film was a full-on sexual awakening, thanks to Rachel Weisz and Brendan Fraser. But while those explorers were definitely swoonworthy, there’s a slightly more unexpected crush on the list…the Mummy himself, aka Imhotep. Played by Arnold Vosloo, he’s an ancient Egyptian priest mummified alive and later resurrected. Sure, he’s a little decayed, but there’s undeniable potential. Let’s be real, we’d rather be mummified than ghosted any day.
9. Count Orlok, Nosferatu (2024)
Another Bill Skarsgård moment, proving he can make any monster hot. This time, he’s the sinister Count Orlok. Sure, limited hair, long creepy hands, and casually offing Ellen’s husband, Thomas. However, he owns property, he’s devoted to her, and he’s not letting a few decaying limbs get in the way — unlike most men and their man flu.
8. The Beast, Beauty and the Beast (2017)
This one definitely earned a spot on our “Hear Me Out” list. Whether it’s the animated classic or the live-action version with Emma Watson, the Beast is a solid entry on the hot monster roster. Voiced by Dan Stevens in 2017, he’s rocking horns, shaggy fur, and muscular arms that scream “date me, if you dare.” The catch? He’s only truly swoonworthy in beast form — once he turns back into a prince, sorry, not sorry, the magic’s a little gone.
7. Ghostface, Scream
Ghostface has truly leveled up over the years, and by Scream VI, he’s a certified freak — ready for these sheets, if you catch our drift. That slightly sinister grin is already a warning… and we love it. The all-black ensemble is peak mysterious energy, and that mask? Total blindfold vibes. We can’t help but think the rise in contemporary dark romance is partially due to Mr. Ghostface.
6. The Wolf Pack, Teen Wolf
Look, as teenagers, we were absolutely feral for the teenage werewolves on this show. With glowing red eyes, perfectly tousled hair, and shirtless abs that seemed way too thick for high schoolers, can you really blame us? Those sideburns alone were enough to make us swoon. Sure, they’d have to keep their paws off our expensive conditioner when they stayed over, but we’re ready to take the risk.
5. R, Warm Bodies
Of course, there’s a zombie on this list, and the crown goes to Warm Bodies. This Romeo and Juliet–inspired love story between a human and a zombie? Yeah, we’d have swapped places with Julie (Teresa Palmer) in a heartbeat. R (Nicholas Hoult) rocks that pale complexion and dark eye makeup — basically us during our raccoon-makeup phase. Even with a little blood dripping down his chin, he totally pulls it off. Undead never looked so… alive in the hottie department.
4. The Vampires, The Twilight Saga
Obviously, the vampires from Twilight had to make the list, but it’s not just Edward Cullen (though yes, we’d go for him in a heartbeat). We’re talking all the sparkly, honey-eyed vamps. James? Swipe. Victoria? SWIPE. The Volturi? Swipe, swipe, swipe —let’s menage-a-six this! It’s giving Renaissance fair vibes, but make it ridiculously sexy. Those dramatic cloaks would also double perfectly for some… creative role play. “Please, sir, I’m just a naughty vampire who went into the sun and revealed our species to humans, don’t punish me…” Yes, we’d obey.
3. The Bride & Frankenstein's monster, The Bride!
Okay, this is giving the hot ENM couple you meet on Feeld: Christian Bale as Frankenstein’s monster and Jessie Buckley as “the Bride.” Bale’s monster is classic — head nails, patchwork skin, and brooding vibes — while Buckley is channeling young Madonna with pale skin, dark lips, and edgy energy. Honestly? We’d definitely meet up with them to… explore a bit.
2. The Wolfman, The Wolfman (2011)
Werewolves don’t usually make it so high on our “heartthrob” list — vampires and 500-year-old Fae men usually get that honor — but Benicio del Toro‘s Wolfman? Undeniably hot. Furry, fanged, and seriously ripped, this wolf-man hybrid tears through his clothes and goes full-on rampage mode. And somehow, he clings to just enough consciousness to notice Emily Blunt, aka his lover and his late brother’s fiancée. Basically, he’s a wolf with a heart. Sold.
1. The Creature, Frankenstein (2025)
As if we’d ever skip a chance to swoon over Jacob Elordi as Frankenstein’s monster. He’s our equivalent of the Regina George word vomit in Mean Girls. This monster is scarred, broody, and low-key desperate for love—specifically from Mia Goth as Elizabeth. It’s giving 2010s video game main character vibes, but with actual muscles strong enough to pick us up and toss us around (consensually, of course). This is the closest Elordi can get to “ugly,” and yet we’d absolutely swipe right.
