Why is the horror audience mostly female? One reason has to be the genre's long tradition of heroines, scream queens, or final girls.



They're the last ones left standing in the movie's final act, taking on the killer or monster while -- armed with little more than pluck and righteous anger (and the occasional sharp object). Then again, who doesn't enjoy watching a horror movie lead character overcome their fear and act like a badass? While not all horror movie heroines face-off with the Big Bad by the end of the film, they do suffer through all the jump-scares with us. It's a miracle we they come out alive.



Here are 25 of the best horror movie heroines who conquered demons -- both internal and external -- before conquering the multiplex.