History Main / OurBansheesAreLouder

They are also prominent in Irish legends, where many of the more well-known banshee stories come from, as being a type of fairy typically connected to a single family. Banshees are one of the worst examples of SadlyMythtaken, as, believe it or not, their crying was actually due to ''[[HowlOfSorrow mourning]]'' for members of the family who were ''already'' about to die, which often served to ''[[DeathWail warn others]] of their loved one's death''. It was actually a privilege for a family to have a Banshee. There have been stories of banshees haunting families even as late as the 19th Century. And, as often in the original folklore, the fairy woman might be explicitly described as a ghost; TheFairFolk were a little unclear about the edges.

* In [[Myth/CelticMythology Irish and Scottish folklore]], the banshee (or [[SpellMyNameWithAnS bean-sidhe]]) is a [[TheFairFolk fairy-woman]] and often guardian spirit of the old Gaelic families who can [[PortentOfDoom foretell death]] in "her" family; she [[HowlOfSorrow wails]] and [[OneWomanWail cries]] through the night to warn the family that one of them will soon die; if the family hears her crying three nights in a row, they know that they should begin planning a funeral. As she can foretell death in the family that she protects, the banshee is also [[DeathWail grieving]] with the family as well as warning them of impending death. When multiple mná-sídhe (fairy-women) are heard wailing at once, it foretells the death of an important political or religious figure. She is heard more often than seen, and most often the banshee is depicted as old and menacing, but she can also appear as a strikingly beautiful woman of any age that suits her.

* In [[Myth/CelticMythology Irish and Scottish folklore]], the banshee (or [[SpellMyNameWithAnS bean-sidhe]]) is a [[TheFairFolk fairy-woman]] and often guardian spirit of the old Gaelic families who can [[PortentOfDoom foretell death]] in "her" family; she [[HowlOfSorrow wails]] and [[OneWomanWail cries]] through the night to warn the family that one of them will soon die; if the family hears her crying three nights in a row, they know that they should begin planning a funeral. As she can foretell death in the family that she protects, the banshee is also [[DeathWail grieving]] for the family as well as warning them of impending death. When multiple mná-sídhe (fairy-women) are heard wailing at once, it foretells the death of an important political or religious figure. She is heard more often than seen, and most often the banshee is depicted as old and menacing, but she can also appear as a strikingly beautiful woman of any age that suits her.

* In [[Myth/CelticMythology Irish and Scottish folklore]], the banshee (or [[SpellMyNameWithAnS bean-sidhe]]) is a [[TheFairFolk fairy-woman]] and often guardian spirit of the old Gaelic families who can [[PortentOfDoom foretell death]] in "her" family; she [[HowlOfSorrow wails]] and [[OneWomanWail cries]] through the night to warn the family that one of them will soon die; if the family hears her crying three nights in a row, they know that they should begin planning a funeral. As she can foretell death in the family that she protects, the banshee is also grieving for the family as well as warning them of impending death. When multiple mná-sídhe (fairy-women) are heard wailing at once, it foretells the death of an important political or religious figure. As she is often a guardian spirit to specific clans and can foretell death in "her" family, she is [[DeathWail mourning]] the impending death as well as warning the family. Most often, the banshee is depicted as an old, frightening woman, but she can also appear as a strikingly beautiful woman of any age that suits her.

* The ''bean-chaointe'' ("keening woman") is the human equivalent of the banshee. The Gaels of Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man have a currently defunct [[DeathWail keening]] tradition, the practice of ritualized singing and wailing for the dead. "Keening" is derived from the Gaelic verb ''caoin'', meaning "to weep, to mourn/lament" and the verb ''caoineadh'' ("weeping") also refers to a musical style, a lament for the dead. A [[OneWomanWail keening-woman]] would be hired by the family of the deceased to lead the community through their grief, with the keening occurring at the graveyard and the keening-woman (or ''bean-chaointe'' in Gaelic) would sing and wail a semi-improvised lament with the rest of the mourners joining at least during the chorus, the whole performance often punctuated with sobs. It was a way of helping the family and the community through their grief as well as a means of ensuring that the sou of the departed with reach Heaven, [[Myth/CelticMythology The Otherworld]], or wherever spirits seek to go. the wealthier the family of the deceased, the more keening-women that they would hire. The ''caoineadh'' usually consisted of stock elements (the illustrious ancestry of the deceased, their good qualities, and the heavy hearts of their surviving family and friends) and was often half-improvised, complete with beating your hands and tearing at your hair.

* The ''bean-chaointe'' ("keening woman") is the human equivalent of the banshee. The Gaels of Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man have a currently defunct [[DeathWail keening]] tradition, the practice of ritualized singing and wailing for the dead. "Keening" is derived from the Gaelic verb ''caoin'', meaning "to weep, to mourn/lament" and the verb ''caoineadh'' ("weeping") also refers to a musical style, a lament for the dead. A [[OneWomanWail keening-woman]] would be hired by the family of the deceased to lead the community through their grief, with the keening occurring at the graveyard and the keening-woman (or ''bean-chaointe'' in Gaelic) would sing and wail a semi-improvised lament with the rest of the mourners joining at least during the chorus, the whole performance often punctuated with sobs. It was a way of helping the family and the community through their grief as well as a means f ensuring that the sou of the departed with reach Heaven, [[Myth/CelticMythlogy The Otherworld]], or wherever spirits seek to go. the wealthier the family of the deceased, the more keening-women that they would hire. The ''caoineadh'' usually consisted of stock elements (the illustrious ancestry of the deceased, their good qualities, and the heavy hearts of their surviving family and friends) and was often half-improvised, complete with beating your hands and tearing at your hair.

* The ''bean-chaointe'' ("keening woman") is the human equivalent of the banshee. The Gaels of Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man have a currently defunct [[DeathWail keening]] tradition, the practice of ritualized singing and wailing for the dead. "Keening" is derived from the Gaelic verb ''caoin'', meaning "to weep, to mourn/lament" and the verb ''caoineadh'' ("weeping") also refers to a musical style, a lament for the dead. A [[OneWomanWail keening-woman]] would be hired by the family of the deceased to lead the community through their grief, with the keening occurring at the graveyard and the keening-woman (or ''bean-chaointe'' in Gaelic) would sing and wail a semi-improvised lament with the rest of the mourners joining at least during the chorus, the whole performance often punctuated with sobs. It was a way of helping the family and the community through their grief as well as a means f ensuring that the sou of the departed with reach Heaven, [[Myth/CelticMythlogy The Otherworld]], or wherever spirits seek to go. the wealthier the family of the deceased, the more keening-women that they would hire. The ''caoineadh'' usually consisted of stock elements (the illustrious ancestry of the deceased, their good qualities, and the heavy hearts of their surviving family and friends) and was often half-improvised, complete with beating your hands and tearing at your hair.

* ''SERRAted Edge'', by Creator/MercedesLackey, has a male Banshee as an enemy of the elves, with a painful false etymology (mixing Gaelic with Old English) that banshees are the ''bane'' of the Sidhe.

* ''Literature/SERRAtedEdge'', by Creator/MercedesLackey, has a male Banshee as an enemy of the elves, with a painful false etymology (mixing Gaelic with Old English) that banshees are the ''bane'' of the Sidhe.
* ''Literature/{{Shadowfae}}'', by Erica Hayes, features banshees with [[EnthrallingSiren siren-like abilities]]. These banshees seem to be a type of [[TheFairFolk fae]] with a [[MagicMusic magical affinity]] for sound rather than death, although they can kill with a [[MusicalAssassin song]] or [[MakeMeWannaShout scream]] if they want to. They can also cast a variety of spells through song, [[CompellingVoice manipulate humans]], and secrete venom from beneath their tongues that they can use as an [[KissOfDeath additional weapon]] besides their voices. Their magical affinity for sound gives them [[SuperSenses preternatural hearing]] but also gives them the ability to [[RequiredSecondaryPowers filter sounds so they don't get overwhelmed by auditory stimuli]], as well as enhancements to their inner ear that give them extraordinary balance and agility. They all look like attractive human women, but with unusually colored [[YouGottaHaveBlueHair hair]] and [[TechnicolorEyes eyes]], and usually their eyes and hair are of different but unnaturally bright neon or metallic colors. They are known for being violent, lustful, and usually [[AxCrazy just a little psychotic]], and in one book, a banshee is employed as an enforcer and bodyguard for a supernatural version of the mob. They are born with innately magical voices, but their magic can be taken from them by some other kinds of supernatural beings who [[PowersAsPrograms use the banshee's voice magic for themselves]].

* The ''WesternAnimation/ExtremeGhostbusters'' fought Banshee sisters; one was the stereotype, the other could use her voice to hypnotize people. It was a trap: The Siren was the carrot, the Banshee the stick. In the episode, the banshee & siren could stay young if they stole the youth of humans. So they would use the siren to lure young people in and the banshee would then steal the youth.

They are also prominent in Irish legends, where many of the more well-known banshee stories come from, as being a type of fairy typically connected to a single family. Banshees are one of the worst examples of SadlyMythtaken, as, believe it or not, their crying was actually due to ''[[HowlOfSorrow mourning]]'' for members of the family who were ''already'' about to die, which often served to ''[[DeathWail warn others]] of their loved one's death''. There have been stories of banshees haunting families even as late as the 19th Century. And, as often in the original folklore, the fairy woman might be explicitly described as a ghost; TheFairFolk were a little unclear about the edges.

* ''Fanfic/HarbingerFinmonster'': Ember McLain(from WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom) is [[AdaptationSpeciesChange a banshee instead of a ghost]]. According to her, they're people chosen by the Fates, neither ghosts nor fairies. Ember appears to have MagicMusic, channeled through the literal Strings of Fate on her guitar, and she leeks creepy black tears when she detects evil forces nearby. And since she's from Ireland, she has a FunetikAksent.

* ''Fanfic/HarbingerFinmonster'': Ember McLain(from WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom) is [[AdaptationSpeciesChange a banshee instead of a ghost]]. According to her, they're people chosen by the Fates, neither ghosts nor fairies. Ember appears to have MagicMusic, channeled through the literal Strings of Fate on her guitar, and she leeks creepy black tears when she detects evil forces nearby. And since she's from Ireland, she has a FunetikAksent. Also, she's BadassGay!

* Much of Latin America believes in the legend of LaLlorona, the spirit of a woman who died after she drowned her children and cannot enter Heaven until she has found them; she is heard crying "¡Ay, mis hijos!" ("Oh, my children!") as she searches for them. Those who hear her crying supposedly are doomed to die soon.

* The [[Myth/CelticMythology Irish and Scottish]] tradition of [[DeathWail keening]] (singing a lament combined with wailing) over the body during the funeral procession and at the burial site is strikingly similar to the death wail of the [[OurBansheesAreLouder Banshee]]

* ''TabletopGame/{{Scion}}'': The original Celtic breed show up in ''Scion Companion'', under their original name of ''bean sidhe'' ("sidhe" is pronounced "shee"). Since Creator/WhiteWolf DidTheResearch, they're fixated on death but aren't particularly big on screaming.

* ''VideoGame/BloodstainedRitualOfTheNight has the Cyhyraeth, a notorious BeefGate with incredibly powerful attacks, the ability to inflict the Curse status, and a slew of resistances that cover most available early-game weaponry and Shards.

* ''VideoGame/Fable'':

* ''VideoGame/FableII'': Banshees are enemies that tend to be accompanied by {{Undead Child}}ren.

They are also prominent in Irish legends, where many of the more well-known banshee stories come from, as being a type of fairy typically connected to a single family. Their crying was due to [[HowlOfSorrow mourning]] for members of the family who were about to die, which often served to [[DeathWail warn others]] of their loved one's death. There have been stories of banshees haunting families even as late as the 19th Century. And, as often in the original folklore, the fairy woman might be explicitly described as a ghost; TheFairFolk were a little unclear about the edges.

* ''WesternAnimation/RubyGloom'': Misery is [[{{Fanon}} often suspected of being a banshee]], along with her [[OneGenderRace all-female family]], allthough it's not official.

* In [[Myth/CelticMythology Irish and Scottish folklore]], the banshee (or [[OurBansheesAreLouder bean-sidhe]]) is a [[TheFairFolk fairy-woman]] and often guardian spirit of the old Gaelic families who can [[PortentOfDoom foretell death]] in "her" family; she [[HowlOfSorrow wails]] and [[OneWomanWail cries]] through the night to warn the family that one of them will soon die; if the family hears her crying three nights in a row, they know that they should begin planning a funeral. As she can foretell death in the family that she protects, the banshee is also grieving for the family as well as warning them of impending death. When multiple mná-sídhe (fairy-women) are heard wailing at once, it foretells the death of an important political or religious figure. As she is often a guardian spirit to specific clans and can foretell death in "her" family, she is [[DeathWail mourning]] the impending death as well as warning the family. Most often, the banshee is depicted as an old, frightening woman, but she can also appear as a strikingly beautiful woman of any age that suits her.

* ''ComicBook/CortoMaltese'' once meets an Irish girl named Banshee, and asks her why she was given such an inauspicious name. She dodges the question, but she isn't, as far as the story goes, a supernatural creature.
* Franchise/TheDCU has Jeanette, of the Comicbook/SecretSix, and Franchise/{{Superman}} foe Silver Banshee. The banshee of the DCU are typically mystical in origin, receiving immortality, superstrength, and a hideous scream that can kill those who hear it.
** Of course, Silver Banshee has to know your TrueName. Her power doesn't work on Superman because she doesn't know his birth name is neither Superman nor Clark Kent, but Kal-El.
** Depends on how you define "doesn't work". It won't kill him, but it will cause some of the most extreme pain you can imagine. An absurdly loud sound, at close ranges, being heard by someone whose ears are sensitive enough to pick up a whisper from across the city? ''Not fun.'' However, if she ''does'' know your true name, her scream is less "standard sonic attack" and more ''instantaneous death.''
** Jeanette's scream won't kill you, but it ''will'' [[MindRape completely fuck you up]] [[BrownNote if you hear it]], as she forces you to relive her botched execution, where her head was clumsily cut off with several crude axe blows. It reduced ''Franchise/WonderWoman'' to a crumpled heap on the ground, foaming at the mouth!
* In the New 52, Silver Banshee gets reimagined, this time a girl who inherited [[CursedWithAwesome a family curse]], and became a friend of Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}. She retains the hideous scream, which now [[MakeMeWannaShout lays waste to anything around]], but also gets the power to speak any language, even alien or animal, after hearing only a few words. Her father, who she inherited the curse from, became one of the undead, feeding on others' souls.
* In one ''ComicBook/DylanDog'' story he meets a girl named Banshee, who brings death and bad luck to all those who are close to her. Of course, our hero tries to seduce her ''and'' break the nefarious curse by surviving himself.
* Banshees are a type of creature in ''ComicBook/DeathVigil''. One of their screams is enough to blow Sam halfway across a graveyard and paralyze him until Bernie intervenes.

* Disney's ''Film/DarbyOGillAndTheLittlePeople'' had a banshee that appeared and wailed to warn that someone was about to die. It also summoned the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Coach Cóiste-bodhar]] (Death Coach) to take away the soul to the afterlife. It's generally considered a standard-bearer of childhood terror.
* Creator/TimBurton's and Creator/DannyElfman's ''WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas'' opening song ''This is Halloween'':
-->Skeleton Jack might catch you in the back\\
And scream like a banshee\\
Make you jump out of your skin

* Much of Latin America believes in the legend of [[LaLlorona La Llorona]], the spirit of a woman who died after she drowned her children and cannot enter Heaven until she has found them; she is heard crying "¡Ay, mis hijos!" ("Oh, my children!") as she searches for them. Those who hear her crying supposedly are doomed to die soon.

* In ''Literature/HarryPotter'', a Boggart turns into one when it's Seamus' turn; she's described as 'a woman with floor-length black hair and a skeletal, green-tinged face'. Seamus uses the Riddikulus spell to make her lose her voice.

* In "Literature/TheGypsiesInTheWood", an in-universe series of twee English children's stories features a stereotypical {{leprechaun}} with a housemaid named Brenda Banshee. The EveryEpisodeEnding of these stories is Brenda howling with distress after being punished for misbehaving.

* Creator/MercedesLackey's ''[=SERRAted=] Edge'' novels have a male Banshee as an enemy of the elves, with a painful false etymology (mixing Gaelic with Old English) that banshees are the ''bane'' of the Sidhe.
* In Literature/TheIcewindDaleTrilogy book, ''The Halfling's Gem'', Drizzt do'Urden and Wulfgar have to fight a classic D&D-style banshee. [[spoiler:Both sides survive, because the local village actually relies on the fact that a banshee lairs nearby for tourism, and Drizzt and Wulfgar promised not to destroy her.]] This is a plot point because her lair holds the enchanted mask that lets Drizzt pass as a plain old elf to avoid the obvious problems of being recognized as a dark elf on the surface and that eventually [[spoiler:falls into the hands of Artemis Entreri]].
* Likewise, banshees in ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}}'' are straight out of the D&D mold, since Dragonlance was written to popularize a D&D setting. The most noteworthy banshees in that setting are the three former elven clerics who sabotaged Lord Soth's quest to stop the Cataclysm, since they were part of [[CantArgueWithElves the elf supremacist conspiracy]] that led to it, in the belief that they could ''force'' the Gods of Good to empower them to wipe out all evil races. Because of that, they are {{curse}}d to constantly tell the story of how their own blind arrogance led to the destruction of the old world and their own damnation.
* ''Literature/TheSpiderwickChronicles'': Banshees are detailed in the series' field guide. They are described as ghost-like beings that appear around homes when an occupant is about to die, wailing without end. A single individual can appear by the same home for generations.

* Erica Hayes's ''Shadowfae'' series of urban fantasy novels features banshees with [[EnthrallingSiren siren-like abilities]]. These banshees seem to be a type of [[TheFairFolk fae]] with a [[MagicMusic magical affinity]] for sound rather than death, although they can kill with a [[MusicalAssassin song]] or [[MakeMeWannaShout scream]] if they want to. They can also cast a variety of spells through song, [[CompellingVoice manipulate humans]], and secrete venom from beneath their tongues that they can use as an [[KissOfDeath additional weapon]] besides their voices. Their magical affinity for sound gives them [[SuperSenses preternatural hearing]] but also gives them the ability to [[RequiredSecondaryPowers filter sounds so they don't get overwhelmed by auditory stimuli]], as well as enhancements to their inner ear that give them extraordinary balance and agility. They all look like attractive human women, but with unusually colored [[YouGottaHaveBlueHair hair]] and [[TechnicolorEyes eyes]], and usually their eyes and hair are of different but unnaturally bright neon or metallic colors. They are known for being violent, lustful, and usually [[AxCrazy just a little psychotic]], and in one book, a banshee is employed as an enforcer and bodyguard for a supernatural version of the mob. They are born with innately magical voices, but their magic can be taken from them by some other kinds of supernatural beings who [[PowersAsPrograms use the banshee's voice magic for themselves]].

* In ''Series/{{Charmed|1998}}'' banshees are spirits attracted to heartbroken humans; they use their high-pitched screams to kill them. If they use their screams on a witch [[spoiler: the witch [[TheVirus turns into a new banshee]]]].

* In the Disney show ''Series/SoWeird'' Fi fears that a banshee has come for her Irish grandfather.
* In ''Series/TeenWolf'', [[spoiler: Lydia]] is eventually revealed to be one. This comes with the ability to sense death and a piercing scream. In this universe, banshees scream to drown out noises that might distract them from listening on a psychic wavelength only they can hear. They can also use their scream to purposefully hurt other supernaturals, as fellow banshee Meredith demonstrates later on.

* Often mistaken for {{goth}}, Wrestling/{{MsChif}}'s a {{Metalhead}} banshee. A {{guttural growl|er}}ing, ScreamingWarrior with [[YouGottaHaveBlueHair green hair]].

* ''TabletopGame/{{Orpheus}}'': Banshees are a [[{{Splat}} Shade]] of ghost/projector. In keeping with the name, their major talents are the ability to see the future and a wail that can either control emotions or shatter your eardrums.
* One of the possible hauntings in ''TabletopGame/BetrayalAtHouseOnTheHill'' is a banshee of the ghostly type.
%%* ''TabletopGame/{{Edgewalkers}}'': The banshees are a substran.%%What?

* Banshees are an enemy in ''VideoGame/FableII'' that tend to be accompanied by {{Undead Child}}ren.
* ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}}'' banshees are Undead units who attack with their high-pitched screeches. They function as spellcasters, making enemies miss, rendering units invulnerable to magic, or possessing enemies. They were once High Elves whose bodies and souls were defiled by the Scourge, forcing them to exist as bitter, spiteful ghosts.
** The most notable Banshee is Sylvanas Windrunner. Originally forced into a ghostly state as a final cruelty by Arthas, she was the first Banshee and became the "Banshee Queen". As a reward for her service to Arthas, she eventually received her original (now undead) body to possess.
** They also show up in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', unsurprisingly. Part of them keep their long-range wail attacks while others melee the player, most still use curses that reduce stats or make the target miss. At least one (a boss) can temporarily possess players.
* One of the enemies in the English version of ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaOrderOfEcclesia'' is called the Banshee (in Japan, it was an [[StringyHairedGhostGirl onryo]]). One quest requires you to record its scream on a phonograph.
* The "Frozen Lady" of ''VideoGame/MysteryCaseFiles: Dire Grove'' is also identified as a banshee. She doesn't have a scream attack, but when you can freeze a good chunk of England solid while still mystically bound, do you need one?
* Banshees appear as enemies in the wacky ''VideoGame/{{Miitopia}}'', but their gimmick is ''crying'' instead of shouting. Their CrocodileTears can inflict the Crying status on the playable Miis. There is another variant, the Basheevil, who instead turn Miis evil.
* Misdreavus and its evolution Mismagius from ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' are a relatively lighthearted take on banshee, as they use their cries to scare others for fun as often as they use them to battle. Perish Song, which causes both combatants to faint if they listen to it for three rounds, appears to be their SignatureMove, though other Pokemon can use it. They're portrayed as ghosts/witches rather than fairies, and can be male.
* The ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' series has a few {{Mooks}} called banshees, generally either [[TheFairFolk sprite or pixie-like creatures]] or [[NightOfTheLivingMooks undead of various stripes]]. The ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'' incarnation (which is a zombie) is distinguished by having as its signature move the strongest of the game's many [[MakeMeWannaShout sonic attacks]].

* VideoGame/NancyDrew investigates banshee sightings in ''The Haunting Of Castle Malloy''. [[spoiler: Turns out it's a weird old hermit woman who'd been spotted flying around [[ItMakesSenseInContext with a jetpack]].]]
* A banshee makes a brief appearance in ''VideoGame/{{Shadowgate}}'' in the form of a JumpScare.
* ''Franchise/MortalKombat'''s Sindel fits the criteria thanks to her Banshee Scream attack and ghostly appearance. She even returned from beyond the grave in [[VideoGame/MortalKombat3 her debut]].

* ''VideoGame/{{Blood}}'' has ghosts which screamed. You got used to AAAAAH! AAAAH! AAAAH! as you had to fight these things. Their screaming didn't do any damage but holy hell, it was loud.
* Averted in ''VideoGame/StarcraftII'', where the Banshee is a ground-attack [[FutureCopter chopper]] (with Screamer missiles) with cloaking capabilities. The pilot has a few lines on its namesake.
--> Holler back.
--> Screamin' fury.
--> In space, everyone can hear me scream... 'cuz I'm the banshee, get it?
* Averted with the [[ScaryDogmaticAliens Covenant]] Banshee flyer from ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'', which is actually rather quiet.
* The Doom Howler from ''[[VideoGame/NexusWar Nexus Clash]]'' is louder to the [[IncrediblyLamePun tune]] of up to three different screaming-related attacks. The most basic one merely demoralizes the enemy, but the worst can kill huge numbers of people if left uninterrupted.
* The now-defunct ''VideoGame/DailyLifeWithMonsterGirlOnline'' had Nia the banshee. As the name of the game implies, Nia is a CuteMonsterGirl almost indistinguishable from a human besides her MysticalWhiteHair and [[RedEyesTakeWarning red eyes]]. Personality-wise she's entirely benevolent: she's described as a total [[TheWoobie woobie]] prone to crying jags when she randomly remembers an unfortunate event, and she enjoys animes with happy endings. Whether she has a sonic scream or anything of the sort is unclear, but unlikely.
* The ''Blood And Wine'' expansion for ''VideoGame/TheWitcher3WildHunt'' has banshees as enemies. Functionally they are a specter enemy similar to higher wraiths like the noon and night variant, but with a sonic scream that can stun Geralt and the ability to [[MookMaker summon skeletons]] to harass him. Lorewise they are closer to the original folklore: they are drawn to death and misfortune and weep over it, but despite not being particularly malicious they are still considered a bad omen.
* PlayedWith in ''VideoGame/QuakeIV'' with the Strogg Iron Maidens. They hover and teleport like ghosts, scream like banshees, and emerge from a coffin-like enclosure that's inspired by the IronMaiden execution device.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales1987'' episode "Luck O' the Ducks", Far Daric sends a banshee to scare Scrooge and company away, so the leprechauns won't have to grant Scrooge's wish for the leprechaun king's gold.
* One of the ''WesternAnimation/CasperTheFriendlyGhost'' cartoons featured his teacher Ms. Banshee, who had a particularly powerful scream.
* A banshee was one of the main characters in the cartoon ''WesternAnimation/RoswellConspiracies''.
* The ''WesternAnimation/ExtremeGhostbusters'' fought Banshee sisters; one was the stereotype, the other could use her voice to hypnotize people. It was a trap: The Siren was the carrot, the Banshee the stick. In the episode, the banshee & siren could stay young if they stole the youth of humans. So they would use the siren to lure young people in and the banshee would then steal the youth.
* In ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAbracadabraDoo,'' Scooby and the gang face a number of threats, including a banshee that was imported to America because the castle it had been associated with in Ireland had been brought, brick by brick, to the U.S. Shockingly, in the ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'' tradition, it turned out to be a fake.
* In ''WesternAnimation/XMen'', the above-mentioned Banshee makes an appearance, and he flies by screaming. So, naturally, at one point he has to give Comicbook/{{Wolverine}} a ride. [[HilarityEnsues Logan is not happy about this.]]
* Misery from ''WesternAnimation/RubyGloom'' is [[{{Fanon}} often suspected of being a banshee]], along with her [[OneGenderRace all-female family]], though it's not official.

** Kenner's toyline had a monstrous [[NonIndicativeName "Banshee Bomber"]] in its ghostly ranks. It's a large, red, dragon-like creature that drips "Ecto-Plazm" [''sic''] from its mouth.
* ''WesternAnimation/FilmationsGhostbusters'' had a banshee, but its screams ''created storms'', and only a leprechaun's magic could stop it. It's inaccurate, but then again, the show seems to treat banshees as a ''type'' of ghost with different variations.
* Appears in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}''.
* A banshee appears in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Catscratch}}'' when Gordon seeks to confirm whether or not he's really Scottish.

* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' has several banshee cards. They are typically black creatures with abilities that weaken other creatures or injure players without discrimination.

-->Skeleton Jack might catch you in the back
-->And scream like a banshee
-->Make you jump out of your skin