9 Sci-Fi Horror Films With A Woman As The Lead

Iconic and influential are two apt words to describe Ridley Scott's Alien. The Alien franchise has been standing since the late '70s and gave us Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), who happens to be one of the best final girls of all time. Alien follows a large space crew who end up discovering a dangerous alien. Leading them to do whatever it takes to survive and escape their ship before they're killed. 

As far as sci-fi horror goes, this is a staple of the subgenre, and it's quite magical that Ripley is the head of the franchise from Alien to Alien: Resurrection. She's part of what makes Alien so great. Having her as the primary protagonist, when in most cases Dallas (Tom Skerritt) would be, is no doubt a surprise for first-time watchers. All in all, Alien is a must-watch for anyone who considers themselves a sci-fi horror buff. 

Fans are often split down the middle on this one, but Prometheus remains an interesting swing for the Alien franchise. Set 30 years before Alien's events, Prometheus follows a crew looking for answers about creation and humanity, who are traveling on their spaceship (Prometheus), and discover something powerful and dangerous. It's a much different direction than the first four Alien films. But it's quite fascinating in terms of the questions it broaches for the Alien universe. 

As the film is set before Alien, there's no Ripley or mention of her. However, that doesn't take away from the effectiveness of Prometheus. Shaw (Noomi Rapace) is an entirely different character in comparison and helps lend to the curiosity at the heart of the film. There's a lot to appreciate about Prometheus, even without the primary threat of xenomorphs. It's worth checking out if you want something different. 

There's no shaky found footage to be found with this entry in the Cloverfield series. 10 Cloverfield Lane follows a woman who finds herself facing what she's being told is the end of the world. The twists and turns within the film are played out so perfectly, and the uncomfortable feeling that lingers throughout is effective.

10 Cloverfield Lane isn't chaotic found footage like Cloverfield, but it's tense, and the characters display a claustrophobic tension in the cramped atmosphere of the underground bunker. Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is an incredibly capable character, and following her from the beginning of the film gives us someone to root for. If you're looking for gore and extreme violence, you won't find it here. But if you want an effective sci-fi horror thriller, then you'll enjoy this one. 

Everything that looks beautiful is dangerous in this film. Annihilation follows an expedition crew of scientists who enter a zone where an alien presence has influenced nature. Featuring a cast that mainly consists of women, Annihilation is an unforgettable film as far as visuals and themes go.

The film is deeply introspective and forces the characters to really think about what's happening. Annihilation is a film that aims to be terrifyingly beautiful and has some great performances, especially from Jennifer Jason Leigh as Dr. Ventress. There are some solid scary moments and “the Shimmer” is a cool concept. It's worth viewing at least once if you're into sci-fi horror that revels in doing something different. 

A man using an invisible suit to gaslight a woman is as horrific as it sounds. The Invisible Man is a reboot of the '33 film of the same name and follows a woman who is being terrorized by who she believes is her abusive ex-boyfriend in an invisible suit. Cecilia (Elisabeth Moss) goes through the wringer and has to find proof that what's happening is real. It's an unflinching look into gaslighting, domestic abuse, and the isolation that often occurs.

The (Chainsaw Award-winning) powerhouse performance that Elisabeth Moss delivers is part of why the film works so well. The Invisible Man is an uncomfortable film, and it's meant to be from beginning to end. The concept of an invisible suit being used by abusers is just as scary as a masked man with a kitchen knife.

Remember that dance that went viral on social media? M3GAN follows a recently orphaned girl whose aunt gifts her with an AI companion that becomes deadly. And anyone who gets in M3GAN's (Amie Donald and Jenna Davis) way is a threat she has no problem eliminating. M3GAN is a fun sci-fi horror film that serves as gateway horror, all while being appealing to seasoned horror fans.

The film touches base on AI and the dangers that it poses, all while being a good time with an unforgettable (yet short-lived) dance number from a killer doll. M3GAN is a flip on the killer doll trope, and all the ladies do a fantastic job in their roles. It's not a film to take too seriously, but it also has some heart and a bit of humor sprinkled in. If you're looking for something like that, M3GAN will scratch that itch.

Swapping bodies is a fun time until it's not. It's What's Inside follows a group of friends who come together for a weekend and decide to use a device to swap bodies. What starts as an enticing experience turns chaotic and detrimental. There are boatloads to enjoy about this film, especially the concept of body swapping.

It's What's Inside combines multiple genres, but there's something quite scary about the prospect of someone stealing your body. The film hits the nail on the head of why that would be, the dangers of comparison, and the effects of social media. While Shelby (Brittany O'Grady) might not be everyone's favorite, she's the character that drives the story until the bitter end. At the end of the day, it's a rewatchable film and is worth checking out for its uniqueness. 

A return to the familiar isn't always a bad thing in horror. Alien: Romulus is set between Alien and Aliens and follows colonists whose mission to escape their lives turns deadly on an abandoned ship. After a long stint since the last Alien film, Alien: Romulus still remains a welcome return to form. We meet a new creature and reunite with the ones we know all too well. 

Alien: Romulus pays homage to the films that came before it, takes inspiration from the video game Alien: Isolation, and is a heart-pounding journey, complete with delightful performances from its leads. Cailee Spaeny brings Rain to life, delivering a fully fleshed out character. Rain and Andy (David Jonsson) are the squishy heart of Alien: Romulus, and Rain is a likable final girl/protagonist.

The film is one hell of a ride, complete with scary moments and atmosphere. All in all, if you're looking for a return to form and many homages, Alien: Romulus will knock your space boots off. 

The Stepford Wives for the modern age is a fantastic way to describe this recently released hit. Companion follows a couple whose weekend turns upside down when one of them realizes they're a robot. The film explores deep topics about personhood, manipulative relationships, abuse, and gender roles. Instead of being a carbon copy of films that came before, it flips expectations and goes to bonkers places. 

Companion might not be the first AI robot horror film, but the film explores control and the reality of AI in our current world in an interesting way. Sophie Thatcher knocks it out of the park as the lead and brings her A game. Besides the serious discussions that spark from this film, it's also quite sharp with its humor and offers satisfying bloody moments to its audience. 

Looking for more new horror movie releases? Check out our list of 2025 horror movies coming your way.