Actor Allison Williams said on The Sam Sanders Podcast in 2025 that the scream queen label feels ironic, because she is too frightened to watch horror films alone.
TL;DR
- Williams said she gets anxious watching horror and sees irony in the "scream queen" title.
- She earlier joked she is more of a "gasp queen" than a screamer.
- She credits Get Out for bringing her into the genre and its fans.
- M3GAN 2.0 reached UK cinemas on June 27, 2025.
aniel Kaluuya (left) and Allison Williams (right) in ‘Get Out.’.
Universal Pictures
Why Williams questions the scream queen label
Entertainment Weekly reported that Williams discussed her horror career with host Sam Sanders. She said she finds scary films hard to watch and sees irony in the title.
"I am a capital W, bona fide wimp," Williams said. She added that she can only watch horror on planes.
Williams said she still feels honored that genre fans like her work. She also said she covers her eyes during two gory scenes in M3GAN 2.0, even after attending the planning meetings.
She credits director Jordan Peele for bringing her into a genre she had never considered. Peele gave her the role of Rose Armitage in Get Out in 2017.
The 'gasp queen' joke is not new
Williams told SYFY WIRE before M3GAN's January release that she was probably a "gasp queen."
She said she enjoys being a horror actress but questioned how much screaming she had actually done. She added that most horror films frighten her, so the genre never seemed like a natural home.
How the label stuck
According to Wikipedia, some media outlets have deemed Williams a scream queen. Her credits include Get Out, The Perfection (2019) and M3GAN (2022), plus the sequel M3GAN 2.0 (2025). She produced both M3GAN films.
Writer Penelope H. Fritz argued at Martin Cid that the label flattens her roles, which work as comic performances in disguise.
The genre shows no sign of slowing, and a new Alien film is reportedly in development at 20th Century Studios.
How the M3GAN films performed at the box office
The original film became a surprise hit. The sequel earned far less.
$179 million+
M3GAN worldwide gross
$39 million+
M3GAN 2.0 worldwide gross
Where to watch M3GAN 2.0 in the UK
M3GAN 2.0 opened in UK cinemas on June 27, 2025, according to Flicks. The film was released on DVD in the UK on September 29, 2025, and HMV lists it at £7.99.
The disc includes both the unrated and theatrical versions. UK horror fans also have Ryan Coogler's X-Files reboot to look forward to, which is set to stream on Disney+.
Williams moves beyond horror in Kill Me
Williams plays Margot, a 911 operator, opposite actor Charlie Day in Kill Me. The comedy-mystery premiered at SXSW on March 12, 2026, according to Wikipedia.
Deadline reported that she would also executive produce the film. Rotten Tomatoes lists it at 100%.
In wider genre news, Wicker opened in select US theatres on October 23.
Reported from publicly available interviews and verified press sources. Last reviewed October 25, 2026.
