Whether it’s fear, fascination, or something more otherworldly, we can’t help but be drawn to films about possession and exorcism. If you’re a horror fan looking to move beyond the world of serial killers, vampires, or other paranormal activity and into one of the darkest corners of the genre, we’ve narrowed down a list of the best possession and exorcism movies.
What are the best possession and exorcism horror movies as of 2025?
Since The Exorcist first premiered in 1973, possession films have lived at the intersection of taboo and entertainment. There have even been rumors that making these movies invites something sinister into the process itself. Maybe it’s superstition, or maybe it’s our cultural and religious ties that make these stories more unsettling. Either way, there’s something uniquely horrific about exorcism and possession that stands apart from the other corners of the horror genre. Though this list highlights a few of our favorites, there are plenty more to keep you awake at night.
The Exorcist (1973)
It might feel like a predictable pick, but there’s no denying it’s one of the best. Directed by William Friedkin and with a screenplay by William Peter Blatty (based on his 1971 novel), The Exorcist tells the story of a young girl possessed by a demonic force and the desperate attempts to free her from this unspeakable evil. As the supernatural events escalate, so do the film’s groundbreaking special effects and chilling production elements. And by ‘chilling,’ we actually mean a scene shot on a set cooled to -20F to create the illusion of icy breath condensation. And just one example of what went into this film’s production.
The film became a cultural phenomenon and the first horror movie ever nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. “I’ve always preferred a generic approach to film criticism; I ask myself how good a movie is of its type,” Roger Ebert wrote in his review. “The Exorcist is one of the best movies of its type ever made.” That’s a lot coming from good old Roger. He wasn’t usually one for too much praise.
Beyond its cinematic achievements, The Exorcist’s reputation was also bolstered by rumors of a production “curse” stemming from on-set stories of unexplained, tragic events. Whether those tales were publicity stunts or just strange coincidences, they only added to the film’s mystique. Nearly fifty years later, The Exorcist remains a horror classic and a cornerstone of film history. You can usually catch this one on the big screen in theaters around Halloween, and it’s worth it.
The Wailing (2016)
Written and directed by South Korean filmmaker Na Hong-jin, The Wailing is easily one of the best possession movies out there, even if it’s still lesser known than some of the others on our list. The movie kicks off when a mysterious Japanese man arrives in a small village in South Korea. Not long after, a strange infection starts spreading, and villagers begin committing horrifying acts of violence, including against their own families. A local policeman gets pulled into the chaos when his young daughter becomes infected, and he soon meets a woman who tells him the mysterious stranger is actually an evil spirit.
If you’ve gotten a little tired of the American horror movie model (we can all agree that by 2016 things were feeling stale, though the new wave has definitely helped), The Wailing feels like something extraordinary. Na Hong-jin manages to blend South Korean mythology, spirituality, and ritual with epidemic horror, demonic possession, and even the undead. From the writing to acting to cinematography, The Wailing somehow manages to be beautiful and unnerving. If you haven’t dipped your toes into Korean cinema yet, particularly Korean horror cinema, this one’s absolutely worth starting with.
Hereditary (2018)
The first feature in Ari Aster’s canon, Hereditary, is one of those movies that people love or hate. But typically for horror aficionados, it’s a favorite. The movie opens with the funeral of the family matriarch, Ellen. Given how secretive Ellen is, Annie (Toni Collette) is surprised by the number of attendees. After the funeral, strange events begin occurring to the family, though not in the typical ooks-and-spooks kind of way. Things do get progressively more horrific, leading to one of the strangest (and most disturbing) endings. Before long, it becomes clear there’s a demonic attachment at play, just not in the way anyone expects.
Hereditary premiered at Sundance in 2018 and went on to gross $82.8 million worldwide against a $10 million budget. Reviews were mixed at first, with critics generally loving it more than general audiences, a divide that probably comes down to how the film moves beyond straightforward horror into something more psychological and surreal. Since its release, Hereditary has been named one of the best horror films of the 21st century, and it’s hard to argue otherwise.
The Conjuring (2013)
In 1971, Roger and Carolyn Perron, along with their five daughters and family dog, Sadie, moved into a secluded farmhouse in Rhode Island. Pretty soon, strange and terrifying things start happening, forcing the family to call in paranormal investigators Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) Warren for help. And while the husband-and-wife duo have handled their share of supernatural cases, including the infamous Annabelle doll, this one might be more than even they can manage.
Directed by James Wan (Saw, Insidious), The Conjuring does what The Amityville Horror tried to do decades earlier. Both share the creepy house, the malevolent force, and the unraveling family, but Wan gets the formula exactly right. It’s what we’d call a masterclass in mounting dread, proving that perfectly paced tension can outdo any flashy VFX. Add this one to your Halloween watchlist.
Get Out (2018)
This pick slightly strays from the purely demonic entities that dominate the rest of the list, but Get Out absolutely qualifies as a possession film thanks to its freaky “body snatcher” premise. It counts, and we’d be remiss not to take the opportunity to include this film here. The story follows Chris, a young Black photographer from Brooklyn, who travels with his girlfriend, Rose, to meet her parents for the first time. Right away, Chris jokingly asks if her parents know he’s Black, and Rose reassures him that they’re the kind of liberal white folks who will say they “would have voted for Obama a third time if they could.” And sure enough, when they arrive, that’s exactly what her father says. What begins as a smart, funny, and slightly awkward meet-the-parents setup quickly takes a dark turn as Chris starts to uncover what this family is really up to.
Get Out was a breakout triumph for writer-director Jordan Peele, marking his feature debut after years of work in comedy. Made on a modest $4.5 million budget, it became a massive success, grossing over $255 million worldwide and earning Peele an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay — the first Black screenwriter to win in that category.
How we picked the best possession and exorcism horror movies
To narrow down our picks, we focused on some of the highest-rated films in the genre while also branching out to the edges of what “possession” can mean. There are the classic head-spinning, power-of-Christ-compels-you types of possession movies, but the idea of being taken over by something dark (and the need for an exorcism) comes in many forms. These are just a few of our favorites.
If you’re looking for even more creepy content, check out our list of the best Halloween horror films.
