If you think about it, horror movies have historically catered to guys better than any other genre of film, action included. What's the key ingredient to any successful scary movie? Sexy women in compromising situations, of course—though, likable characters and well-developed shocks never hurt. Granted, those situations usually find beautiful ladies evading a knife-wielding maniac, but the hotness remains no matter how grave the danger.

Just look at Scream 4, the iconic slasher franchise's long-awaited new entry (opening this Friday). Considering that the recent output of horror remakes has sucked (we're looking at you, producers of Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street), we're hoping that returning director Wes Craven has some sick tricks up his sleeve. Even if Ghostface's latest murder spree turns out to be an anticlimactic bomb, though, at least its cast will serve as gorgeous distractions. The 11-years-in-the-making sequel reunites mainstays Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox while introducing fresh, and hot, faces, including Alison Brie, Marielle Jaffe, and Hayden Panettiere.

It’s not like guys are lining up to see Scream movies for David Arquette or hoping for a Jamie Kennedy cameo. As horror die-hards know, the genre’s smartest filmmakers stock their flicks with ample eye candy. Since Hollywood’s earliest days, many actresses have even worked in the genre multiple times, reaching official "scream queen" status. With the beauties of Scream 4 in our sights, we’ve ranked the 50 Hottest Scream Queens of All Time. They're so sexy that it's, well, scary.