Valentine’s Day isn’t just for lovers — it’s the perfect time to celebrate some of the most iconic actors who’ve tackled both romantic comedies and horror films. As we prepare for our episode reviewing the romantic comedy/slasher Heart Eyes (2025), we’ve gathered a list of more than 40 actors who’ve switched gears between heartwarming love stories and stomach-churning carnage in our past episodes.
- Drew Barrymore
Rom-Coms: The Wedding Singer (1998), 50 First Dates (2004), Never Been Kissed (1999)
Horror: Scream (1996), Firestarter (1984), Donnie Darko (2001) - Tom Hanks
Rom-Coms: Sleepless in Seattle (1993), You’ve Got Mail (1998)
Horror: He Knows You’re Alone (1980) - Hugh Grant
Rom-Coms: Notting Hill (1999), Love Actually (2003)
Horror: Heretic (2024) - Octavia Spencer
Rom-Coms: Never Been Kissed (1999)
Horror: Ma (2019) - Jennifer Love Hewitt
Rom-Coms: Heartbreakers (2001), Can’t Hardly Wait (1998)
Horror: I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998) - Ryan Reynolds
Rom-Coms: The Proposal (2009), Definitely, Maybe (2008)
Horror: The Amityville Horror (2005) - Jessica Biel
Rom-Coms: Valentine’s Day (2010), I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007)
Horror: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) - Megan Fox
Rom-Coms: Friends with Kids (2011), This Is 40 (2012)
Horror: Jennifer’s Body (2009) - Vince Vaughn
Rom-Coms: Wedding Crashers (2005), The Break-Up (2006)
Horror: Psycho (1998), Freaky (2020) - Brandy Norwood
Rom-Coms: Best. Christmas. Ever! (2023)
Horror: I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998) - Jennifer Aniston
Rom-Coms: Along Came Polly (2004), The Break-Up (2006)
Horror: Leprechaun (1993) - Paul Rudd
Rom-Coms: Clueless (1995), The Object of My Affection (1998), I Love You, Man (2009)
Horror: Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995) - Cary Elwes
Rom-Coms: The Princess Bride (1987)
Horror: Saw (2004), Saw 3D (2010), Black Christmas (2019) - Liam Neeson
Rom-Coms: Love Actually (2003)
Horror: The Haunting (1999) - Alicia Silverstone
Rom-Coms: Clueless (1995), Blast from the Past (1999), Beauty Shop (2005)
Horror: The Lodge (2019), The Requin (2022), Vamps (2012), Y2K (2024) - Owen Wilson
Rom-Coms: Wedding Crashers (2005), Marley & Me (2008)
Horror: The Haunting (1999) - Adam Brody
Rom-Coms: Sleeping with Other People (2015), In the Land of Women (2007)
Horror: Jennifer’s Body (2009), Ready or Not (2019) - Katherine Heigl
Rom-Coms: 27 Dresses (2008), The Ugly Truth (2009)
Horror: Bride of Chucky (1998), Valentine (2001) - Kristen Bell
Rom-Coms: Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008), When in Rome (2010)
Horror: Scream 4 (2011) - Courteney Cox
Rom-Coms: Bedtime Stories (2008), Friends with Money (2006)
Horror: Scream (1996), Scream 2 (1997), Scream 3 (2000), Scream 4 (2011), Scream (2022), Scream VI (2023) - David Arquette
Rom-Coms: Never Been Kissed (1999)
Horror: Scream (1996), Scream 2 (1997), Scream 3 (2000), Scream 4 (2011), Scream (2022) - Amanda Seyfried
Rom-Coms: Mamma Mia! (2008), Letters to Juliet (2010)
Horror: Jennifer’s Body (2009), Things Heard & Seen (2021) - Sarah Michelle Gellar
Rom-Coms: Simply Irresistible (1999), Suburban Girl (2007)
Horror: I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), Scream 2 (1997), The Grudge (2004) - Freddie Prinze Jr.
Rom-Coms: She’s All That (1999), Down to You (2000)
Horror: I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998) - Matthew Lillard
Rom-Coms: She’s All That (1999)
Horror: Scream (1996), Thir13en Ghosts (2001) - Anna Paquin
Rom-Coms: She’s All That (1999)
Horror: Trick ‘r Treat (2009), Scream 4 (2011) - Winona Ryder
Rom-Coms: Reality Bites (1994), Mr. Deeds (2002)
Horror: Beetlejuice (1988), Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) - Justin Long
Rom-Coms: He’s Just Not That Into You (2009)
Horror: Jeepers Creepers (2001), Tusk (2014), Barbarian (2022), Drag Me to Hell (2009), It’s a Wonderful Knife (2023) - Emma Roberts
Rom-Coms: Holidate (2020), Valentine’s Day (2010)
Horror: Scream 4 (2011) - Aubrey Plaza
Rom-Coms: Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (2016), The To Do List (2013), Happiest Season (2020)
Horror: Child’s Play (2019) - Kristen Stewart
Rom-Coms: Happiest Season (2020)
Horror: Underwater (2020) - Elisabeth Moss
Rom-Coms: Did You Hear About the Morgans? (2009), Get Him to the Greek (2010)
Horror: The Invisible Man (2020), Us (2019) - Nicolas Cage
Rom-Coms: Moonstruck (1987), It Could Happen to You (1994)
Horror: Mandy (2018), Renfield (2023) - Keanu Reeves
Rom-Coms: Something’s Gotta Give (2003), Always Be My Maybe (2019)
Horror: Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) - Chris Hemsworth
Rom-Coms: Isn’t It Romantic (2019)
Horror: The Cabin in the Woods (2011) - Kate Hudson
Rom-Coms: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003), Something Borrowed (2011)
Horror: The Skeleton Key (2005) - Naomi Watts
Rom-Coms: I Heart Huckabees (2004), Le Divorce (2003)
Horror: The Ring (2002) - John Krasinski
Rom-Coms: License to Wed (2007), Something Borrowed (2011)
Horror: A Quiet Place (2018), A Quiet Place Part II (2021) - Lena Headey
Rom-Coms: Imagine Me & You (2005)
Horror: The Purge (2013) - Sigourney Weaver
Rom-Coms: Working Girl (1988), Heartbreakers (2001)
Horror: Alien (1979), The Cabin in the Woods (2011) - Usher
Rom-Coms: She’s All That (1999)
Horror: The Faculty (1998) - Anna Faris
Rom-Coms: Just Friends (2005)
Horror: Lover’s Lane (2001) - Marley Shelton
Rom-Coms: Never Been Kissed (1999)
Horror: Planet Terror (2007), Scream 4 (2011), Scream (2022) - Nicholas Hoult
Rom-Coms: About a Boy (2002)
Horror: Warm Bodies (2013), Renfield (2023), Nosferatu (2024)
There are even more actors who’ve crossed into horror (we’re looking at you, Jennifer Lopez, Renée Zellweger, and Matthew McConaughey), so if we excluded your favorite here, let us know. If you’re curious to dive deeper into their horror credentials, be sure to check out our past and upcoming reviews of their horror appearances!
