Gallery: 30 Hollywood Stars Who Started Out in Horror Movies
01Chloe Grace-Moretz
Horror movies often get a bad wrap -- too violent, too exploitative, too cliche, too many women walking around casually not wearing bras (because don't we all wear button downs half undone with nothing underneath?) -- but if we look at them a little closer, we see the great equalizer of the cinematic universe. That's right. Horror movies are a place where many of the brightest stars in the Hollywood firmament once appeared early in their careers, including unexpected actors like Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Charlize Theron, George Clooney, Jon Stewart, and Katee Sackhoff. And these roles that need to be celebrated for the star-making turns they (maybe, probably, kinda) were. Did you fall in love with Renée Zellweger singing "Sugarhigh" to you in *Empire Records*? Then light a jack-o-lantern for her terrorized prom goer in *Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation*, which was filmed before *Empire*, but released after. Bonus co-star? Matthew McConaughey, playing perhaps the most psychotic role of his career as Vilmer Slaughter. Do you swoon over George Clooney or stand in awe of his seemingly endless reservoir of screen talents? Then dig *Return to Horror High* out of moth balls and behold the majesty of his pre-*ER* mullet. But don't blink! He's a first kill. And yes, that *is* Marcia Brady erotically rubbing blood all over her body - for no reason! Think the new *Carrie* is Chloë Grace-Moretz's first brush with the horror cannon? Go back and re-watch *The Amityville Horror* from 2005 (above). Though we understand if you can't see past Ryan Reynolds' pre-ScarJo six-pack (24 pack?). Contrary to appearances, these fine specimens of stage and screen were not grown in labs. They were not flown in from some magic island and dropped into our laps camera-ready. They worked long and hard, putting in their time getting murdered by cornstalk monsters, aliens, and sadistic sociopaths. Remember, having skeletons in your closet is some JV material. But having Jason, Freddy, Michael Myers, or Leatherface kicking around in there? That's when you've made the varsity team. Check out some of the best pre-A-list horror performances above. __Above:__ Chloë Grace-Moretz ------------------ __Movie:__ *The Amityville Horror* (remake) __Year:__ 2005 __Age:__ 8 __Role:__ Chelsea Lutz, youngest of the Lutz daughters __Fate:__ Lives __Since then:__ Now starring as the title character in the new *Carrie*
02Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart ----------- __Movie:__ *The Faculty* __Year:__ 1998 __Age:__ 36 __Role:__ Professor Edward Furlong, high school science teacher __Fate:__ Lives, but briefly becomes an alien host and loses an eye and four fingers __Since then:__ Host of the Emmy and Peabody award-winning *The Daily Show*
03Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Joseph Gordon-Levitt -------------------- __Movie:__ *Halloween H20: 20 Years Later* __Year:__ 1998 __Age:__ 17 __Role:__ Jimmy Howell, well-meaning neighborhood boy __Fate:__ Dies first, by ice hockey skate to the face __Since then:__ Wrote, directed, and starred in this year's indie romantic comedy *Don Jon*
04Renee Zellweger
Renée Zellweger --------------- __Movie:__ *Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation* __Year:__ 1994 __Age:__ 25 __Role:__ Jenny, Final Girl/heroine who has to survive the Slaughter family on her prom night __Fate:__ Lives (uncovers Illuminati plot) __Since then:__ 1 Oscar win, 2 more nominations
05George Clooney
George Clooney -------------- __Movie:__ *Return to Horror High* __Year:__ 1987 __Age:__ 26 __Role:__ Oliver, an actor playing a cop on the set of horror movie __Fate:__ First to die __Since then:__ 2 Oscar wins, 6 more nominations
06Mila Kunis
Mila Kunis ---------- __Movie:__ *American Psycho II: All American Girl* __Year:__ 2002 __Age:__ 19 __Role:__ Rachael Newman, criminology student who became obsessed with serial killers after watching Patrick Bateman kill her babysitter __Fate:__ Lives after faking death __Since then:__ *Esquire*'s sexiest woman alive, all-around hilarious and hot
07Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck ----------- __Movie:__ *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* (The only clip we could find was in Spanish.) __Year:__ 1992 __Age:__ 20 __Role:__ Basketball player who shows up for a matter of seconds __Fate:__ Lives (Probably. It's unconfirmed.) __Since then:__ 2 Oscar wins
08Kristen Stewart
Kristen Stewart --------------- __Movie:__ *Panic Room* __Year:__ 2002 __Age:__ 12 __Role:__ Sarah Altman, one half of the mother-daughter combo stuck in a panic room __Fate:__ Lives, survives asthma attack __Since then:__ Became Bella Swan, Snow White, Joan Jett, GF of R.Pattz, perfecter of hair-flipping
09Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence ----------------- __Movie:__ *House at the End of the Street* __Year:__ Filmed in 2010, released in 2012 __Age:__ 20 __Role:__ Elissa, heroine starting a new life with her mom who befriends the troubled boy in the house at the end of the street __Fate:__ Lives, starts a new life with her mom, again __Since then:__ 1 Oscar win, 1 more nomination, Mystique and Katiniss Everdeen
10Taylor Kitsch
Taylor Kitsch ------------- __Movie:__ *The Covenant* __Year:__ 2006 __Age:__ 25 __Role:__ Pogue Perry, super hunky prep school student and member of the Sons of Ipswich warlock collective __Fate:__ Lives, wears a speedo in swim class __Since then:__ Tim. Riggins.
11Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron --------------- __Movie:__ *Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest* __Year:__ 1995 __Age:__ 20 __Role:__ Young woman (uncredited), child of the corn __Fate:__ Death by mutant corn stalk monster __Since then:__ 1 Oscar win, 1 nomination
12Chris Hemsworth
Chris Hemsworth --------------- __Movie:__ *The Cabin in the Woods* __Year:__ Filmed in 2009, released in 2012 __Age:__ 27 __Role:__ Curt Vaughn, the hottie buff-guy friend __Fate:__ Dies third __Since then:__ Thor
13Katee Sackhoff
Katee Sackhoff -------------- __Movie:__ *Halloween: Resurrection* __Year:__ 2002 __Age:__ 22 __Role:__ Jen, the wild child friend __Fate:__ Killed fourth, by decapitation __Since then:__ Starbuck in *Battlestar Galactica* and recently starred in *Riddick*
14Matthew McConaughey
Matthew McConaughey ------------------- __Movie:__ *Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation* __Year:__ 1994 __Age:__ 25 __Role:__ Vilmer Slaughter, alpha male/head sadist of the Slaughter family __Fate:__ Death by plane propeller __Since then:__ Coming up in Martin Scorcese's *The Wolf of Wall Street*
15Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp ----------- __Movie:__ *A Nightmare on Elm Street* __Year:__ 1984 __Age:__ 21 __Role:__ Glen Lantz __Fate:__ Dies after Freddy pulls him into a hell hole through his bed __Since then:__ 3 Oscar nominations
16Keira Knightly
Keira Knightly -------------- __Movie:__ *The Hole* __Year:__ 2001 __Age:__ 16 __Role:__ Frankie Smith, boarding school girl __Fate:__ First to die __Since then:__ Elizabeth Swann in the *Pirates of the Caribbean* franchise and (roughly) 1 million period pieces
17Naomi Watts
Naomi Watts ----------- __Movie:__ *Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering* __Year:__ 1996 __Age:__ 28 __Role:__ Grace Rhodes, heroine who comes home to work in the local doctor's office only to find the town's children possessed by a demon force __Fate:__ Saves the day __Since then:__ 2 Oscar nominations
18Maggie Gyllenhaal
Maggie Gyllenhaal ----------------- __Movie:__ *Donnie Darko* __Year:__ 2001 __Age:__ 24 __Role:__ Elizabeth Darko, sister of Donnie __Fate:__ Lives because Donnie sacrifices himself for the world __Since then:__ 2 Oscar nominations
19Rooney Mara
Rooney Mara ----------- __Movie:__ *A Nightmare on Elm Street* (remake) __Year:__ 2010 __Age:__ 25 __Role:__ THE Nancy Holbrook, Final Girl/heroine and nemesis of Freddy Krueger __Fate:__ Lives __Since then:__ 1 Oscar nomination
20Viggo Mortensen
Viggo Mortensen --------------- __Movie:__ *Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3* __Year:__ 1990 __Age:__ 32 __Role:__ Edie "Tex" Sawyer, murderous member of the infamous Sawyer clan __Fate:__ Death at the hands of the heroine, Michelle __Since then:__ Played Aragorn in the *Lord of the Rings* movies
21Michelle Williams
Michelle Williams ----------------- __Movie:__ *Halloween H20: 20 Years Later* __Year:__ 1995 __Age:__ 25 __Role:__ Molly Cartwell, student at the boarding school presided over by an incognito Laurie Strode __Fate:__ Lives, tries to kill Michael __Since then:__ 3 Oscar nominations
22Hillary Swank
Hilary Swank ------------ __Movie:__ *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* __Year:__ 1992 __Age:__ 18 __Role:__ Kimberly, wack friend who jacks Buffy's swag, sells her out to vampires __Fate:__ Lives, gets knocked out by school principal __Since then:__ 2 Oscar wins
23Paul Rudd
Paul Rudd (credited as Paul Stephen Rudd) ----------------------------------------- __Movie:__ *Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers* __Year:__ 1995 __Age:__ 26 __Role:__ Tommy Doyle, hero and all grown up version of the boy Laurie Strode babysat in the original *Halloween* __Fate:__ Lives, "kills" Michael Myers (who can't be killed) __Since then:__ Judd Apatow movie darling, coming up in *Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues*
24Michael Emerson
Michael Emerson --------------- __Movie:__ *Saw* __Year:__ 2004 __Age:__ 50 __Role:__ Zep Hindel, troubled man caught in Jigsaw's web __Fate:__ Beaten to death with toilet tank cover __Since then:__ Benjamin Linus on *Lost*
25Liev Schrieber
Liev Schreiber -------------- __Movie:__ *Scream* __Year:__ 1996 __Age:__ 31 __Role:__ Cotton Weary, acquitted for the murder of Maureen Prescott __Fate:__ Lives __Since then:__ Currently playing title role in Showtime series *Ray Donovan*
26Kate Mara
Kate Mara --------- __Movie:__ *Urban Legends: Bloody Mary* __Year:__ 2005 __Age:__ 22 __Role:__ Samantha Owens, heroine who solves the vengeful hauntings by the ghost of Mary Banner __Fate:__ Lives __Since then:__ Currently playing reporter Zoe Barnes in the acclaimed Netflix series *House of Cards*
27Lucy Hale
Lucy Hale --------- __Movie:__ *Fear Island* __Year:__ 2009 __Age:__ 20 __Role:__ Megan/Jenna, an underclassman who stows away to join the island getaway of a bunch of cool high school friends __Fate:__ Dies last by stabbing __Since then:__ Currently starring as Aria Montgomery on the hit ABC Family show *Pretty Little Liars*
28Emily Mortimer
Emily Mortimer -------------- __Movie:__ *Scream 3* __Year:__ 2000 __Age:__ 29 __Role:__ Angelina Tyler, plays Sidney Prescott in *Stab 3*, secretly slept her way to the part __Fate:__ Dies fifth, by stabbing __Since then:__ Currently starring in HBO's Aaron Sorkin show *The Newsroom*
29Elizabeth Olsen
Elizabeth Olson --------------- __Movie:__ *Silent House* __Year:__ 2011 __Age:__ 22 __Role:__ Sarah, terrorized heroine cleaning out her family's vacation home __Fate:__ Lives __Since then:__ Coming up in the English-language remake of *Oldboy*
30Amber Heard
Amber Heard ----------- __Movie:__ *SideFX* __Year:__ 2005 __Age:__ 19 __Role:__ Shay, a teenager caught up in the world of a medieval sex drug that turns users into bloodthirsty monsters __Fate:__ ? __Since then:__ Currently playing an agent undercover as a Texas beauty queen in *Machete Kills*
