#10 Violator – Spawn

Violator is a fictional character that appears in the Spawn comic books.  The character first appeared in Spawn #2, in 1992.  The violator is a demon sent to earth disguised as an overweight, balding evil clown.  There was a movie “Spawn” based on the comic book series, released in 1997.  John Leguizamo played as the clown Violator.

#9 Captain Spaulding – The Devil’s Rejects

Captain Spaulding is a serial killer clown that is a character in the two Rob Zombie movies, “House of 100 Corpses” which was released in 2003 and “The Devil’s Rejects” which was released in 2005.  Captain Spaulding is a crusty old man with disgusting teeth and smeared clown make-up.  Sid Haig plays the part of Captain Spaulding in both movies.

#8 Ronald McDonald

Ronald McDonald is a clown character mascot for McDonald’s fast-food chain.  Ronald McDonald is said to have been created by Willard Scott in 1963.  Although he is supposed to be seen as a happy clown character to attract children to eating burgers, he tends to be rather creepy.

#7 The Joker – Batman

The Joker is a fictional character who made his first appearance in the comic book Batman #1, in 1940.  The Joker is the archenemy of Batman.  The Joker has been portrayed by Cesar Romeo in the Batman TV series, Jack Nicholson in Tim Burtons Batman and Heath Ledger in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight.  The Jokers most prominent weapon is his Joker venom, a deadly poison that infects victims with a ghoulish grin as they die while laughing uncontrollably.

#6 Evil clowns – Killjoy series

“Killjoy” is horror film franchise consisting of three movies.  Killjoy was released in 2000, Killjoy 2 in 2002 and Killjoy 3 in 2010.  Each movie focuses on a killer clown who is summoned to assist revenge plots, only to prove overwhelming for each character who calls them.  The clowns have long hair, colourful clown make-up and sharp teeth.

#5 Needles Kane – Twisted Metal

“Needles Kane”, often referred to as “Sweet Tooth”, is a character in the Twisted Metal video game series.  Twisted Metal is a series of vehicular combat video games.  In his past, his real name was Marcus Kane, he had a wife and children and he worked as an ice cream man. His normal and dull life causes him to feel depressed and he tries to suppress a rage inside him but soon fails. His suppressed feelings turn him into the psycho killer “Sweet Tooth”. He is an insane clown with flaming hair that can be seen on all the covers for the video games.  In the game he drives around in an old fashioned ice-cream truck with pink polka dots.

#4 Creepy clown – Amusement

“Amusement” was a movie released in 2008.  The movie is not about a clown but the clown is in part of the movie – the best part.  The clown also appears on the movie poster.  The clown makes his entrance later in the movie, he is a life-size clown sitting in a rocking chair holding an accordion but he doesn’t stay sitting for long!  The clown is creepy and original looking.

#3 Pogo the Clown – John Wayne Gacy

American serial killer and rapist John Wayne Gacy Jr. became known as the “killer clown” due to his charitable services at events, parades and children’s parties where he would dress up as “Pogo the Clown” a character he devised himself. There was a movie “Gacy” released in 2003 with Mark Holton playing Gacy.  The movie poster features the face of Gacy with his clown make-up on.

#2 Scary clown doll – Poltergeist

The clown is not a main character in the movie “Poltergeist” but merely a doll prop – yet he seems to steal the show and scare audiences both young and old.  The clown toy is sitting in a chair in the boys room, it freaks him out so he covers the clown.  When the boys turns to look again the chair is empty.  He looks under this side of the bed then the other but sees nothing.  When the boy sits up the clown is behind him and pulls him under the bed.

#1 Pennywise – It

This clown was originally created by Stephen King in his 1986 horror novel “It”.   In 1990 “It” was made into a TV movie.  “It” primarily appears in the form of Pennywise the clown in order to attract it’s preferred prey of young children.  Tim Curry plays Pennywise in the movie and manages to scare a whole generation of movie goers.  Pennywise is one scary clown and deserves the #1 spot for the scariest clown!