20 of Your Favorite '90s and '00s Heartthrobs Who Starred in Terrifying Horror Movies

Mar. 15, 2025

Chad Michael Murray in ‘House of Wax’ (left), Chace Crawford in ‘The Haunting of Molly Hartley’.Photo:Warner Brother;Freestyle Releasing

Warner Brother;Freestyle Releasing

Even the dreamiest teenheartthrobsof the ’90s and the early aughts had a dark side.In an era where the horror movie was evolving and bigger names were committing to bringing these spooky stories to life, we got to see some of the decade’s biggest names add horror titles to their impressive rosters. From budding boy crushes to certified early aughts hotties, you could find every kind of cute guy in a horror film.Here are just some of the heartthrobs of the era that appeared in films that kept your hearts racing in more ways than one.

Even the dreamiest teenheartthrobsof the ’90s and the early aughts had a dark side.

In an era where the horror movie was evolving and bigger names were committing to bringing these spooky stories to life, we got to see some of the decade’s biggest names add horror titles to their impressive rosters. From budding boy crushes to certified early aughts hotties, you could find every kind of cute guy in a horror film.

Here are just some of the heartthrobs of the era that appeared in films that kept your hearts racing in more ways than one.

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Chad Michael Murray in “House of Wax”

Chad Michael Murray.Getty;Warner Bros.

Getty;Warner Bros.

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Adam Brody in #34;Jennifer’s Body"

Adam Brody.Getty;Miramax

Getty;Miramax

A younger Brody also had a bit role in the 2002 horror classicThe Ring.

03of 20Taye Diggs in “House on Haunted Hill"Taye Diggs.Getty;MiramaxInHouse on Haunted Hill,Taye Diggsplays basketball played Eddie Baker, who is among five guests at a birthday party where everyone is offered $1 million to remain in the eerie house until morning.

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Taye Diggs in “House on Haunted Hill”

Taye Diggs.Getty;Miramax

InHouse on Haunted Hill,Taye Diggsplays basketball played Eddie Baker, who is among five guests at a birthday party where everyone is offered $1 million to remain in the eerie house until morning.

04of 20Chace Crawford in “The Haunting of Molly Hartley"Chace Crawford.Getty;Warner Bros.Chace Crawfordplays the nice guy trying to help a bullied and supernaturally followed Molly Hartley inThe Haunting of Molly Hartley. As Molly tries to figure out why she can’t start over after a tough time at her old school, Crawford’s Joseph offers an opportunity for escape.

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Chace Crawford in “The Haunting of Molly Hartley”

Chace Crawford.Getty;Warner Bros.

Chace Crawfordplays the nice guy trying to help a bullied and supernaturally followed Molly Hartley inThe Haunting of Molly Hartley. As Molly tries to figure out why she can’t start over after a tough time at her old school, Crawford’s Joseph offers an opportunity for escape.

05of 20Sebastian Stan in “The Covenant"Sebastian Stan.Getty;Sony PicturesInThe Covenant,Sebastian Stanplays Chase Collins, a student who befriends the Sons of Ipswich in an early antagonistic role. Conflicted about discovering powers of his own, Chase is driven to a dark place in search for understanding.

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Sebastian Stan in “The Covenant”

Sebastian Stan.Getty;Sony Pictures

Getty;Sony Pictures

InThe Covenant,Sebastian Stanplays Chase Collins, a student who befriends the Sons of Ipswich in an early antagonistic role. Conflicted about discovering powers of his own, Chase is driven to a dark place in search for understanding.

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Morris Chestnut in “Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid”

Morris Chestnut.Getty;Columbia Pictures

Getty;Columbia Pictures

07of 20Jake Gyllenhaal in “Donnie Darko"Jake Gyllenhaal.Getty;MiramaxJake Gyllenhaalis beloved for starring in the titular role of the cult classicDonnie Darkothat he admits often “confuses” fans. The troubled teen character has a chilling vibe that still resonates as he navigates his own personal haunted hell.

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Jake Gyllenhaal in “Donnie Darko”

Jake Gyllenhaal.Getty;Miramax

Jake Gyllenhaalis beloved for starring in the titular role of the cult classicDonnie Darkothat he admits often “confuses” fans. The troubled teen character has a chilling vibe that still resonates as he navigates his own personal haunted hell.

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James Marsden in “Disturbing Behavior”

James Marsden.Getty;Columbia Pictures

09of 20Busta Rhymes in “Halloween: Resurrection"Busta Rhymes.Getty;MiramaxBusta Rhymesappeared in the eighth installment of the franchise,Halloween: Resurrection, playing Freddie Harris, an entrepreneur and founder of Dangertainment. Harris finds himself facing off with the prolific killer after he dares to create a reality show set in Myers’ old home.

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Busta Rhymes in “Halloween: Resurrection”

Busta Rhymes.Getty;Miramax

Busta Rhymesappeared in the eighth installment of the franchise,Halloween: Resurrection, playing Freddie Harris, an entrepreneur and founder of Dangertainment. Harris finds himself facing off with the prolific killer after he dares to create a reality show set in Myers’ old home.

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Jared Leto in “Urban Legend”

Jared Leto.Getty;Miramax

11of 20

David Boreanaz in “Valentine”

David Boreanaz.Getty;Columbia Pictures

12of 20Ryan Reynolds in “Amityville Horror"Ryan Reynolds.Getty;MiramaxRyan Reynoldsin a darker role is so uncommon, but he did it chillingly wellinAmityville Horror, in which he plays George Lutz, head of a family that moved into the infamous DeFeo murder home in Amityville, Long Island. Reynolds is seen both as a loving father and devoted husband and as a monster as he descends into madness that gives credence to the DeFeo’s story.

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Ryan Reynolds in “Amityville Horror”

Ryan Reynolds.Getty;Miramax

Ryan Reynoldsin a darker role is so uncommon, but he did it chillingly wellinAmityville Horror, in which he plays George Lutz, head of a family that moved into the infamous DeFeo murder home in Amityville, Long Island. Reynolds is seen both as a loving father and devoted husband and as a monster as he descends into madness that gives credence to the DeFeo’s story.

13of 20Shane West in “Dracula 2000"Shane West.Getty;Columbia PicturesShane Westonly has a small role inDracula: 2000as cameraman J.T., but it’s notable for the edgy look that accompanied it. West is one of a few heartthrobs in the film, which also stars Gerard Butler as Dracula.

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Shane West in “Dracula 2000”

Shane West.Getty;Columbia Pictures

Shane Westonly has a small role inDracula: 2000as cameraman J.T., but it’s notable for the edgy look that accompanied it. West is one of a few heartthrobs in the film, which also stars Gerard Butler as Dracula.

14of 20Elijah Wood in “The Faculty"Elijah Wood.Getty;MiramaxElijah Woodplays Casey Connor in the sci-fi horror flickThe Faculty.The unappreciated school photographer is the first to discover a small alien on the football field and bring the unusual parasite to the science teacher, unaware the school’s faculty is under alien control.

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Elijah Wood in “The Faculty”

Elijah Wood.Getty;Miramax

Elijah Woodplays Casey Connor in the sci-fi horror flickThe Faculty.The unappreciated school photographer is the first to discover a small alien on the football field and bring the unusual parasite to the science teacher, unaware the school’s faculty is under alien control.

15of 20Josh Hartnett in “30 Days of Night"Josh Hartnett.Getty;MiramaxIn30 Days of Night,Josh Hartnettshines as Sheriff Eben Oleson, trying to protect a town during a month of darkness and fending off vampires in the process. Making tough decisions and trying to protect the ones he loves most drives Oleson to the brink in more ways than one.

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Josh Hartnett in “30 Days of Night”

Josh Hartnett.Getty;Miramax

In30 Days of Night,Josh Hartnettshines as Sheriff Eben Oleson, trying to protect a town during a month of darkness and fending off vampires in the process. Making tough decisions and trying to protect the ones he loves most drives Oleson to the brink in more ways than one.

16of 20Nick Cannon in “Day of the Dead"Nick Cannon.Getty;MiramaxNick Cannon’s starring role in the 2008 direct-to-video horror movieDay of the Deadmay not be his most memorable, but it definitely hits different in the modern day. After the military quarantines a town against a deadly virus, Private Salazar and friends try to escape town and the dead who are starting to overrun it.

16of 20

Nick Cannon in “Day of the Dead”

Nick Cannon.Getty;Miramax

Nick Cannon’s starring role in the 2008 direct-to-video horror movieDay of the Deadmay not be his most memorable, but it definitely hits different in the modern day. After the military quarantines a town against a deadly virus, Private Salazar and friends try to escape town and the dead who are starting to overrun it.

17of 20Rider Strong in “Cabin Fever"Rider Strong.Getty;Universal PicturesRider Strongmight be cemented in your brain as hisBoy Meets Worldcharacter Shawn Hunter, but he took the opportunity to show us he was so much more inCabin Fever. Strong plays Paul, part of a group of city kids who decide to party in the woods to blow off some steam. Their innocent-enough quest takes a turn when a blood infection leads them to a fight for their lives.

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Rider Strong in “Cabin Fever”

Rider Strong.Getty;Universal Pictures

Getty;Universal Pictures

Rider Strongmight be cemented in your brain as hisBoy Meets Worldcharacter Shawn Hunter, but he took the opportunity to show us he was so much more inCabin Fever. Strong plays Paul, part of a group of city kids who decide to party in the woods to blow off some steam. Their innocent-enough quest takes a turn when a blood infection leads them to a fight for their lives.

18of 20Joseph Gordon-Levitt in “Halloween H20"Joseph Gordon Levitt.Getty;MiramaxJoseph Gordon Levitthas a quick but important part inHalloween H20,laying the groundwork for Michael Myers' 1998 return. His role as Jimmy came when the actor was relatively unknown, despite already having a decade’s work under his belt.

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Joseph Gordon-Levitt in “Halloween H20”

Joseph Gordon Levitt.Getty;Miramax

Joseph Gordon Levitthas a quick but important part inHalloween H20,laying the groundwork for Michael Myers' 1998 return. His role as Jimmy came when the actor was relatively unknown, despite already having a decade’s work under his belt.

19of 20Joshua Jackson in “The Skulls"Joshua Jackson.Getty;Universal PicturesInThe Skulls,Joshua Jacksonplays Luke, an aspiring lawyer from meager beginnings, in this story about a college secret society that’s gone too far. Luke has a chance at networking with significant people, but the cost proves higher than he could have imagined.

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Joshua Jackson in “The Skulls”

Joshua Jackson.Getty;Universal Pictures

InThe Skulls,Joshua Jacksonplays Luke, an aspiring lawyer from meager beginnings, in this story about a college secret society that’s gone too far. Luke has a chance at networking with significant people, but the cost proves higher than he could have imagined.

20of 20Devon Sawa in “Final Destination"Devon Sawa.Getty;New Line CinemaDevon Sawaset off a horror franchise as Alex Browning inFinal Destination. After predicting a deadly incident, he and other survivors must outrun the fate they avoided.

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Devon Sawa in “Final Destination”

Devon Sawa.Getty;New Line Cinema

Getty;New Line Cinema

Devon Sawaset off a horror franchise as Alex Browning inFinal Destination. After predicting a deadly incident, he and other survivors must outrun the fate they avoided.

source: people.com