Overview
- National outlets published the findings on Oct. 22 alongside an interactive quiz commissioned by candy brand Nerds.
- 34% of respondents said they could outrun a masked villain, and 75% trusted their quick thinking and survival instincts.
- Freddy Krueger and Hannibal Lecter ranked as the most terrifying villains, with Pennywise in third place.
- Self-assessed reactions split widely: 42% expected to be picked off first, 14% believed they would outsmart the killer, and 13% would run without looking back.
- Audience notes included 40% favoring suspense and 30% psychological twists, 40% snacking on sweets while watching, abandoned asylums (20%) and remote cabins (17%) as scariest settings, and a preference to never split up (48%) or team with a survival expert (48%) or calm thinker (47%).