Comedians Who Made Horror Movies
Comedy and horror run on the same thing: timing. Comedians who crossed over to make some of the best horror films of the last decade, from Jordan Peele to Zach Cregger.
It sounds like an odd career move, but it keeps happening: comedians make great horror filmmakers. Both genres are built on the same skills: setting up an expectation, building tension, and timing the release, whether it's a laugh or a scream. Just in time for Halloween, here are the comedians who crossed over.
Jordan Peele
Half of the sketch duo Key & Peele, Peele made his directing debut with Get Out (2017), a horror film about race that became a box-office hit and won him the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. He followed with Us (2019) and Nope (2022), and became one of the most important horror filmmakers working today.
Zach Cregger
A founding member of the sketch comedy group The Whitest Kids U' Know, Cregger wrote and directed Barbarian (2022), a horror film famous for its wild twists, and followed it with Weapons (2025).
John Krasinski
Best known as Jim from The Office, Krasinski directed and starred in A Quiet Place (2018), a horror film where making a sound means death, and its sequel. Not a stand-up, but a TV comedy star who proved his horror chops.
Bobcat Goldthwait
The stand-up comedian known for his manic stage persona wrote and directed the found-footage Bigfoot horror film Willow Creek (2013), among several darker films he's directed.
Why it works
Comedians spend years learning exactly how long to make an audience wait. A joke and a jump scare are both about the pause before the payoff. Many also bring a sharp eye for social satire, which is part of what made Get Out land.
Want more comedians?
See our lists of the most popular comedians in the world, redhead comedians, and Druski on the TIME100 Next cover.
Photo: St. George Temple Visitors Center Movie Theater Dark Room Jesus by Itsetsyoufree32, CC BY-SA 4.0.