Freddy Krueger
Off the top of your head, what’s Nancy’s surname? Better yet, how many of you can even remember that Nancy Thompson was Freddy Krueger’s main nemesis in The Nightmare on Elm Street franchise? Yeah, you can try to act clever in the comments, but I know that you had to Google at least one of those facts.
As one of the most popular villains in horror cinema, Freddy terrorizes horny teenagers to the delight of viewers everywhere. He’s appeared in everything from video games to a short-lived TV series, solidifying himself as the late Wes Craven’s greatest creation. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t know the “One-Two-Freddy’s coming for you” lullaby.
Whether it’s Jackie Earle Haley or the legendary Robert Englund in the striped sweater and worn-out fedora, Freddy is the only reason that we bother with this never-ending franchise. End of story.