While the final girl is a common horror movie feature, there's no denying the fact that Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) from Scream and Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) from Halloween are the two best ones. Fans of the genre adore these characters because they are so intelligent, fully formed, and they feel like real people going through an extraordinary, intense, and terrifying situation.

Countless horror movies feature final girl characters who emerge as winners at the very end, able to fight back against the killer, but most movies don't show fans what it's like for these people to continually deal with something so horrible and scary. Thankfully, both of these popular horror franchises give fans the chance to keep up with Sidney Prescott and Laurie Strode over several films. Both Scream and Halloween explore the aftermath of being a final girl in compelling ways.

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Laurie and Sidney are two popular final girls and while the horror franchises Scream and Halloween do show what their lives are like as they face the killers Michael Myers and Ghostface, the movies also show what it's like for a final girl after the original events are over. What happens when the horror keeps coming and these characters are never truly out of the woods? How does being a final girl affect their lives, hopes, dreams, careers, and personal relationships, from friendships to family to romantic? Can these characters ever move on and feel safe, or is that impossible?

Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode in Halloween

While horror fans will always love Laurie Strode, it could be argued that the Scream franchise does a better job showing what Sidney Prescott's life is like after the original movie. When Sidney comes back for Scream (2022), she has moved on from the Ghostface killings and is now a married mother who is enjoying life with Detective Mark Kincaid (Patrick Dempsey). Many years have passed since the events of Scream 4, and while Sidney knew that it was possible that another Ghostface would surface, she has done her best to put the scary past behind her and live her life.

However, the film still alludes to the tough times that Sidney has faced and how she can never really feel safe. When Dewey Riley (David Arquette) phones Sidney to say that Ghostface is back, Sidney isn't shocked. This is totally expected and unsurprising because she's Sidney Prescott, a final girl, and this is just what she has to deal with.

In contrast, Laurie in Halloween and Halloween Kills is a sadder case, although still a great, well-written character. Sidney has been fighting back against Ghosface for a long time, and in 2018's Halloween, Laurie is fed up with Michael Myers and ready to kill him. Laurie's family is introduced (her daughter Karen, played by Judy Greer, and granddaughter Allyson, played by Andi Matichak), but fans don't get the impression that Laurie has been able to enjoy herself even once in the decades since she has run from Michael. Laurie is a broken-down woman and while sometimes the final girl can be a trope, Laurie still a nicely developed character who stands out among others. However, fans can't help but wish that they got a bit more detailed information about Laurie in the present day.

Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera) with Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) and Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) in Scream 2022

The Scream and Halloween franchises both give fans what they expect and what they want: two final girls who grow up, learn a lot, and continue to face the horrors that they dealt with several decades earlier. Sidney and Laurie both feel fully formed and fascinating, and fans would watch countless horror movies about them.

So many horror movies feature final girls who survive the story's events. They fight for survival and want nothing more than to emerge victorious, although of course they're just as afraid as the other characters. What sets a final girl apart is their determination to live and to move past the fear. What is so fascinating about Sidney and Laurie is how fans are able to keep up with them, even after their original films are over. That doesn't usually happen as a final girl will win, dust themselves off, and then audiences never hear from them again. Even if a successful and popular horror movie has a sequel, the new movie often focuses on new characters.

When fans get the chance to watch Scream 6, another part of Sidney's story will be told, which will allow the franchise to explore the final girl idea even more. The same thing will happen with Laurie in Halloween Ends. In each movie, fans can likely expect to see Sidney and Laurie as the strongest they have ever been. It's possible that they have both been waiting for this ultimate showdown with Ghostface and Michael Myers and that they never really believed that they were really safe or out of danger. And once again, horror fans will be reminded of why they love Sidney Prescott and Laurie Strode so much: because they are passionate, tough, and they truly can't be stopped.

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