25 Times Celebs Starred In Halloween Films That Made No Sense With The Rest Of Their Career

Dwight Schrute was in a horror movie!?

1. Kelly Rowland in Freddy vs. Jason

New Line Cinema

Pop icon and child of Destiny Kelly makes her on screen debut in this crossover slasher film from 2003. Supernatural serial killer Freddy Krueger attempts to team up with Jason Voorhees so that he can once again terrorise the residents of Springwood. Now it's up to a band of traumatised teens, including Kelly, to find a way to stop both killers, or at least pit them against each other.

2. Johnny Depp in A Nightmare on Elm Street

New Line Cinema

This Wes Craven classic from 1984 kickstarted one of the most iconic slasher franchises of all time, and also birthed the character of Freddy Krueger. Johnny, in his film debut, plays pretty boy Glen Lantz, who is one of four teenagers living on Elm Street being stalked and killed in their dreams by Freddy.

3. Bradley Cooper in The Midnight Meat Train

Lionsgate

The Hangover star appears in this gory 2008 horror as Leon, a struggling photographer so desperate to make a name for himself that he tracks down an infamous serial killer known only as the "Subway Butcher". This bloodbath of a film is actually based on a short story by Clive Barker, and also stars Vinnie Jones as the killer.

4. Sebastian Stan in The Covenant

Sony Pictures Releasing

If you've never seen The Covenant, lemme just say the term "homoerotic" was coined for this film. It's basically a so-bad-it's-good supernatural horror also starring Chace Crawford and Taylor Kitsch. Set in the elite Spencer Academy, we follow four hot guys with magical powers. Sebastian plays a corrupt new student called Chase who wants to drain the power of the other four boys for his own, but he'll have to defeat them all first.

5. Paris Hilton in House of Wax

Warner Bros. Pictures

This cheesy noughties feature follows a group of sexy teens who get waylaid in a creepy ghost town on the way to a football game. After seeking shelter in a local wax museum, they become the unfortunate targets of two unhinged murderous twin brothers. Paris plays Paige Edwards, who suffers a particularly gruesome fate!

6. Rainn Wilson in House of 1000 Corpses

Lionsgate Films

Can you believe that The Office fan-favourite Rainn once starred in a Halloween b-movie about a group of young creatives on a roadtrip who are kidnapped and tortured by a psychotic family? Styled after "Grindhouse" exploitation films of the 1970s, Rainn plays Bill, a writer who is the victim of a pretty gory mutilation scene!

7. JLo in Anaconda

Sony Pictures Releasing

Modern Renaissance woman Jennifer Lopez stars in this crazy jungle caper as Terri Flores, a director hoping to document the long-lost Shirishamas tribe, an indigenous group who live along the Amazon river. She and her crew travel deep into the rainforest only to encounter the legendary anaconda, a colossal snake intent on eating literally everything! Will anyone escape its clutches?

8. Gerard Butler in Dracula 2000

Miramax Films

This modern retelling of the classic Dracula story sees Gerard take on the role of the iconic vampire Count. Dracula has been imprisoned for decades by Abraham Van Helsing but is set free by thieves in modern day New Orleans. Now he's out here turning people into vampires and desperately searching for the descendent of his mortal foe, Van Helsing.

9. Jensen Ackles in My Bloody Valentine 3D

Lionsgate

Supernatural fan-favourite Jensen appears in this gory 2009 slasher, which is a 3D remake of the 1981 original. Tom (Jensen) returns to his home town 10 years after he caused the deaths of several men in a mining accident. Haunted by his past, he soon learns that a pickaxe-wielding maniac – who may or may not be a vengeful ghost after Tom – is terrorising the town.

10. Brad Pitt in Cutting Class

Republic Pictures Home Video

This is Brad Pitt's first major role, in which he portrayed super cool jock Dwight Ingalls. The Heathers adjacent plotline sees problem teen Brian Woods return to school after the death of his father and his brief internment at a mental hospital. To Dwight's chagrin, Brian befriends his girlfriend Paula, but when a series of grizzly murders occur, they are all placed at the centre of the investigation.

11. Jada Pinkett Smith in Tales from the Crypt presents: Demon Knight

Universal Pictures

Jada plays Jeryline, a convict on work release, who is drawn into a world full of demons and blood oaths in this 1995 horror comedy. A demon known as The Collector is after a key that will trigger the end of days; it's up to Jeryline and the misfits she boards with at a halfway house to stop him in his apocalyptic mission.

12. Ty Burrell in Dawn of the Dead

Universal Pictures

This 2004 remake of the 1978 George A. Romero original stars actor, comedian, and Modern Family favourite Ty as one of several survivors of a sudden zombie apocalypse. When his Milwaukee neighbourhood is attacked by the walking dead, Steve and several others must find refuge or take on the increasing hordes of zombies.

13. Tom Hanks in He Knows You're Alone

United Artists

This '80s slasher movie follows a woman engaged to be married who is being stalked by a serial killer obsessed with brides-to-be. If you've watched this and you don't remember Tom (in his feature film debut) that's probably because he's in it for all of five minutes as a college student who is friends with the main character!

14. Hugh Grant in The Lair of the White Worm

Vestron Pictures

'90s British heartthrob Hugh may have stolen hearts in a string of iconic rom-coms, but not before he starred in this bizarre British fantasy-horror from 1988. Based on a short novel by Dracula author Bram Stoker, this was one of Hugh's first movies, in which he plays an English Lord who is connected to the local legend of a mythical snake-like creature.

15. Elizabeth Banks in Slither

Universal Pictures

You may remember this grotesque sci-fi horror movie from 2006 in which Elizabeth plays a South Carolina woman whose husband's body is invaded by a malevolent alien parasite. Mostly known for her comedy roles, this movie sees Elizabeth's character attempt to prevent an alien takeover with some pretty gross special effects.

16. Scarlett Johansson in Eight Legged Freaks

Warner Bros. Pictures

Before she was one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, Scarlett starred in a creepy spider-themed B-movie that is definitely NOT for arachnophobics! After a quiet mining town is overrun by giant man-eating spiders, several townspeople hide out a local mall before realising they will have to face down their new eight-legged foe.

17. Kit Harington in Silent Hill: Revelation

Open Road Films/Metropolitan Filmexport

Our very own Jon Snow first took to the screen in this psychological horror sequel, which also starred his Game of Thrones father, Sean Bean. Loosely based on the video game Silent Hill 3, this film revisited the fictitious American town from the first movie, but sadly it wasn't a hit with critics or fans of the franchise.

18. Hilary Swank in Buffy the Vampire Slayer

20th Century Fox

Hilary stars in the 1992 Buffy film, which formed the basis for the later, more successful TV series, as Buffy's friend Kimberly Hannah. Although this was a small role, it actually represents Hilary's on screen debut. She was cast soon after in The Next Karate Kid, which is still considered her breakout role today.

19. Jim Carrey in Once Bitten

The Samuel Goldwyn Company

This really odd movie was Jim's first ever major lead role in which he plays Mark Kendall, an innocent high-school virgin who wants to lose his V-plates to his girlfriend. Instead he ends up getting seduced in a nightclub by a beautiful 400-year-old vampire who wants to drink his virgin blood in order to stay youthful.

20. Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Troll

Empire Pictures

Comedy icon Julia actually made her feature film debut in this cult horror film from 1986. A troll possesses a young woman and begins to terrorise an apartment block turning everyone and everything into fairytale creatures and landscapes. Julia has a minor role as a tenant who is transformed into a scantily clad sprite by the troll.

21. Paul Rudd in Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers

Dimension Films

Did you know that in the same year Clueless was released, Paul also starred in this slasher from the iconic Halloween movie saga? He stars as reclusive teen Tommy Doyle (one of the kids Laurie Strode babysits in the original 1978 film) who becomes the newest target of unstoppable serial killer Michael Myers!

22. Hilary Duff in The Haunting of Sharon Tate

Saban Films

In this widely panned dramatisation of the real life and death of Hollywood actress Sharon Tate, Hilary stars as the titular Sharon who is attacked at home by members of the infamous Manson family death cult. This one also stars Mean Girls Alumnus Jonathan Bennett as Sharon's friend and ex-lover, Jay Sebring.

23. Angela Bassett in Critters 4

New Line Home Video

In this fourth instalment of the Critters franchise, which previously stars a young Leonardo DiCaprio (Critters 3), an alien bounty hunter is shot into space and wakes up on a spaceship in the year 2045. Angela Bassett is a badass pilot who, together with the crew, must face off against vicious invading Critter aliens.

24. And finally, George Clooney in Return of the Killer Tomatoes AND Return to Horror High

New World Pictures

If you can believe it, George starred in a couple of self-aware comedy horrors early on in his career before he shot to fame as Dr. Doug Ross on ER. In Return of the Killer Tomatoes he plays ladies' man Matt, and in Return to Horror High he has a minor role as an actor called Oliver.

Are there any other celebs you were surprised to see in horror movies? Tell us in the comments below!