20 Greatest Horror Villains Of The 2020s (So Far)

And really, could there be another #1 pick than Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton) from the Terrifier franchise? 

Though it's absolutely fair to point out that the first Terrifier actually released back in 2016 - and Art had appeared in two short films prior to this - it had a relatively muted initial release and didn't become a cult hit until the post-pandemic era.

The enormous success of Terrifier 2 cemented Art's place in the genre pantheon - his playful penchant for nauseating torture and dismemberment elevated at all turns by the physical performance of the brilliant David Howard Thornton, who ensures Art is more than just another creepy clown antagonist.

By the time Terrifier 3 arrived last year, it was pretty much indisputable that Art was one of the few truly iconic horror mascots of the 2020s, and one who will likely be remembered alongside the hallowed kings of the genre decades from now.