Mia Goth is the face of the "unhinged" aesthetic currently dominating teen TikTok and Letterboxd. If your teen is obsessed, it’s because she has spent the last few years becoming the undisputed queen of elevated horror—a subgenre that trades cheap jump scares for intense, psychological, and often very stylish discomfort.
TL;DR
Mia Goth is the reigning icon of A24 horror, most famous for her dual roles in X and the viral prequel Pearl. Her work is almost exclusively R-rated, graphic, and psychologically heavy, but her "it-girl" status in fashion and her upcoming lead in Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein make her inescapable for teens. If your kid is into her, they’re likely drawn to the "female rage" trope and the high-fashion weirdness she brings to every interview.
Your teen might not have even seen a Mia Goth movie, but they’ve definitely seen her face. The "Please, I’m a star!" monologue from Pearl became a foundational TikTok sound, used by everyone from theater kids to people joking about their own minor inconveniences.
Goth has a specific brand of "weird" that resonates with Gen Z. She has a high-pitched, doll-like voice, a lack of visible eyebrows, and a tendency to give incredibly intense, long-take performances where she screams, cries, or stares directly into the camera for minutes at a time. In a digital world of polished, filtered influencers, Goth represents a kind of raw, messy, and "unfiltered" intensity that feels more authentic to teens, even if she’s playing a literal axe murderer.
To understand the obsession, you have to look at the Ti West trilogy that put her on the map. These aren't your standard Friday the 13th slashers; they are stylized, period-piece character studies that happen to be very bloody.
- X: Set in the 1970s, Goth plays two roles—an aspiring adult film star and the elderly woman who owns the farmhouse where they’re filming. It’s graphic, sexually explicit, and violent.
- Pearl: The 1918-set prequel. This is the one your teen likely knows best. It’s a Technicolor nightmare about a girl who desperately wants to be famous and snaps when she realizes it might not happen. It’s essentially "Joker" for girls who like vintage dresses.
- MaXXXine: The 1980s-set finale that hit theaters in 2024. It follows Goth’s character to Hollywood, leaning into the "Satanic Panic" era and slasher tropes.
If your high schooler is asking to watch these, know that they earn their R ratings. We’re talking about "elevated" gore—artfully shot, but still very much gore. For a full look at what's okay for your teen, check out our digital guide for high schoolers.
The next big peak for Goth is her transition from indie horror darling to big-budget prestige star. She is set to star in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, which is currently one of the most anticipated films of 2026.
Based on the buzz and early production interviews, Goth isn't just playing a supporting role; the character was reportedly written specifically with her in mind. Del Toro is known for his sympathetic monsters and lush visuals, and Goth’s ability to play "beautiful but deeply unsettling" is a perfect match for his style. This movie will likely be the moment Goth moves from "that girl from the memes" to a household name.
If you want to actually connect with your teen about why they like Goth, ask them about "female rage." It’s a major cultural theme right now. Characters like Pearl are popular because they externalize feelings of being trapped, overlooked, or told to "be a good girl."
Obviously, the characters Goth plays take things to a murderous extreme, but the core emotion—the frustration of wanting more than life is giving you—is something teens feel deeply. Talking about Goth’s performances can be a great bridge into discussing how we handle big, messy emotions in real life.
The main friction point with Mia Goth’s filmography is the sexual content. Unlike many modern horror movies that lean into "PG-13" jump scares to get more kids in seats, Goth’s most famous movies (like X and Infinity Pool) feature explicit nudity and sexual violence. If your teen is watching her, they are seeing "adult" content, not just "scary" content. If you're looking for horror that's a bit more "entry-level," you might want to steer them toward our best movies for kids list for some slightly less intense options.
Q: Is Pearl too scary for a 14-year-old? It’s less about "scary" and more about "disturbing." It’s a slow-burn psychological study of a girl losing her mind. There is some gore (axes, pitchforks), but the most intense parts are the emotional breakdowns. If they’ve seen Stranger Things, they can handle the scares, but the themes are much more adult.
Q: Why is she called the "Queen of Horror"? Because she’s leaned into the genre more than almost any other A-list actress of her generation. From Suspiria to the X trilogy, she has made a career out of playing characters that are both victims and villains, often in the same movie.
Q: Is the new Frankenstein movie going to be okay for kids? Guillermo del Toro movies usually sit in that "hard PG-13" or "R" territory. Expect it to be visually stunning but potentially very dark. Since it's still upcoming, keep an eye on the trailers to see if it leans more toward fantasy or pure horror.
Mia Goth is a generational talent who has successfully branded herself as the face of "weird and intense." Your teen likely sees her as an icon of individuality and emotional honesty. While her movies are definitely for the older crowd, the interest itself is usually about a kid finding an artist who doesn't feel like a corporate product.
- Check out our best movies for kids list for horror-adjacent picks that aren't quite as graphic.
- If your teen loves the "A24 vibe," look at our digital guide for middle school for ways to navigate that transition into more mature media.
- Get help picking a horror movie for a family night
