The Best Demonic Possession Movies of All Time
These movies are scary as hell!
Part of what makes stories about demonic possession so scary is that it is a supposedly real phenomenon. The concept has been a staple of the horror movie genre, and some of the most famous scary movies ever have revolved around demons taking control of innocent victims. Here are some of the best demonic possession movies ever.
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Best Demonic Possession Movies
The Exorcist (1973)
Warner Bros.
When people talk about demonic possession movies, The Exorcist (1973) is the one that most will think about. William Friedkin's 1973 movie is based on a book, which itself is based on true events. Of course, the author and filmmakers made significant changes (in reality, the supposed victim of possession was a 14-year-old boy instead of a young girl). This film is responsible for many of the tropes associated with demonic possession, including projectile vomiting, hovering in the air and victims turning their heads all the way around. The film inspired several sequels, a parody and countless knock-offs.
The Conjuring (2013)
New Line Cinema
Another film that's based on a true story, The Conjuring (2013) tells the story of the Perron family, who move into a Rhode Island farmhouse only to find that the spirit of an evil witch haunts the property. To make matters worse, the witch marks the family and will attempt to possess one of them unless it is stopped. The story is based on the famous (or infamous) demonologist couple Ed and Lorraine Warren, who are portrayed by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. While the authenticity of the Warrens' stories has been frequently called into question, it's undeniable that their stories make for unsettling films.
The Amityville Horror (1979)
American International Pictures
Like The Conjuring, The Amityville Horror is based on a case investigated by the Warrens. Unlike that film, however, this film focuses entirely on the Lutz family and leaves the Warrens out of the story. After moving into a Long Island, NY, house, the family soon starts noticing strange occurrences. George Lutz, the father, begins acting strangely and it quickly becomes apparent that some evil entity resides in the house. While the story it's based on has also been called into question, the film is still considered a horror classic.
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Paranormal Activity (2007)
Paramount Pictures
Here's a tip: don't try to capture ghosts on film, because it's not going to work out. Paranormal Activity (2007) is a low-budget movie based on a simple concept: After experiencing some unexplainable events, a couple sets up a camera to film them while they sleep. The movie takes its time building up the tension, with early scenes simply showing a door moving inexplicably. Before long, the couple finds animal-like footprints next to their bed and start calling for exorcists.
Insidious (2010)
Blumhouse
After launching the Saw franchise, but before The Conjuring, director James Wan made Insidious (2010). This film tells the story of the Lambert family, who are struggling to care for their son after he falls into a mysterious coma. As is the case with many demonic possession films, unexplainable events begin occurring around the house. After contacting a team of ghost hunters, the family discovers that their son isn't in a coma, he's been taken by a demonic entity.
Related: The Best Horror Movies of All Time
Jennifer's Body (2009)
20th Century Fox
Never trust a musician. Megan Fox stars as the titular Jennifer in Jennifer's Body (2009), who gets offered up as a sacrifice by a band in exchange for fame and fortune. Unfortunately, the sacrifice called for a virgin, which Jennifer was not. Instead, she ends up possessed by a demon and begins killing boys at her school. Unlike most movies on this list, this movie is a dark comedy and isn't particularly scary. That doesn't mean it's not worth watching close to Halloween or on dark and stormy nights—especially because Adam Brody is particularly hilarious as a wannabe rockstar who would literally do anything for a record deal.
Prince of Darkness (1987)
Alive Films
John Carpenter is most famous for creating Michael Myers, the masked serial killer from the Halloween franchise. In 1987, he made Prince of Darkness (1987), a movie that combines quantum physics with demonic possession. After the church notices an ancient evil awakening, a local priest invites a group of science majors to stay at the church and hopefully figure out a way to contain the evil, which could possibly be the embodiment of Satan. There's also an Alice Cooper cameo, because with that title, of course there is.
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The Last Exorcism (2010)
Strike Entertainment
When a con artist decides to come clean in this found-footage horror film, he discovers that demons actually do exist. Patrick Fabian stars as Reverend Cotton Marcus, an exorcist that performs fake rituals on people who think they're possessed. After having a change of heart, he invites a film crew along with him to reveal the scam to prevent future fake exorcists from taking advantage of people. Unfortunately for him, The Last Exorcism (2010) is the one time when he may have actually come across a real possession.
The Evil Dead (1981)
Renaissance Pictures
Director Sam Raimi launched his career in 1981 with the low-budget horror film The Evil Dead. It tells the story of a group of teens that visit a cabin in the woods and discover a book called The Necronomicon. After playing a recording of the book being read out loud, they accidentally awaken an evil force in the woods. One by one, the group is slowly possessed by evil until only Ash Williams (the indelible and indomitable Bruce Campbell) remains. Raimi is most well-known for directing the early 2000s Spider-Man movies and Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness (2022), but horror fans will always know him for The Evil Dead.
Related: The Best (and Worst!) Horror Movie Remakes of All Time
Night of the Demons (1988)
Blue Rider Pictures
It's never a good idea to party in a funeral parlor, especially on Halloween night. When a group of teens does such a thing in 1988's Night of the Demons, they accidentally awaken a demon. While this movie never received a wide-theatrical release, it has since become a cult classic. The film was followed up by several sequels and was remade in 2009, with Shannon Elizabeth taking the lead role.
The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)
Screen Gems
Another movie based on a true story, The Exorcism of Emily Rose focuses on the aftermath of an exorcism gone wrong. The movie is more of a legal drama instead of a horror movie, telling the story of Father Richard Moore trying to defend himself for the death of Emily Rose (Dexter's Jennifer Carpenter). He had performed an exorcism on her, which the prosecutors argue is responsible for her death. While Moore is adamant that a demon killed Emily, his lawyer (a fantastic Laura Linney) must figure out a way to mount a defense.
Sinister (2012)
Summit Entertainment
In Sinister (2012), struggling writer Ellison Oswalt (the always great Ethan Hawke) hopes to reignite his career by producing a novel about the murder of a family in Pennsylvania. He moves his family into the deceased family's house (where they were actually killed) and hopes to uncover the secret of their deaths. After discovering a box in the attic full of disturbing home movies from seemingly random families that all end in their brutal murders, Oswalt realizes that something supernatural might be at work.
In addition to being one of the best demonic possession movies ever, a study showed that Sinister may actually be the scariest movie of all time.
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Hereditary (2018)
A24 Films
Family secrets can be a real drag. Hereditary (2018) tells the story of the Graham family as they recover from the death of their maternal grandmother. Toni Collette delivers a truly terrifying and heartwrenching performance as a distraught, grieving daughter and mother. That scene (we won't spoil it here) begins a series of events that reveals the grandmother's dark secrets. Hereditary was praised upon release for its creepy atmosphere and slow build to an incredibly shocking ending.
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Deliver Us From Evil (2014)
Screen Gems
It turns out, cops don't have much jurisdiction over demons. Eric Bana stars as NYPD Sergeant Ralph Sarchie who responds to a domestic disturbance call only to find himself caught up in a potential demonic possession. Deliver Us From Evil (2014) is somewhat based on true events, as Sarchie was a real NYPD officer who became involved in demonology. The story told in the film, however, was created by the filmmakers and is entirely fictional.
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Fallen (1998)
Warner Bros.
Denzel Washington stars as Philadelphia detective John Hobbes who is investigating a series of murders in Fallen (1998). The killings are similar to those of a serial killer that Hobbes previously caught and saw executed. It turns out, the killer was possessed by a fallen angel, who is now moving from victim to victim throughout the city. While the film was considered a bomb when it was released in 1998, it has since become a cult classic in the horror genre.
Stigmata (1999)
MGM
Stigmata (1999) is a real-life phenomenon where the victim will suddenly display the same wounds that Jesus is believed to have received on the cross (puncture wounds on the wrists and ankles and slashes on their abdomens). The film tells the story of a young woman who begins showing such wounds after receiving a stolen rosary as a gift. While she starts to show signs of possession, the stigmata is often associated with being touched by God, not a demon.
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Ghostbusters (1984)
Columbia Pictures
While many people may not consider a movie about demonic possession, Ghostbusters (1984) actually features multiple people being taken over by otherworldly entities. While Gozer and its minions may not technically be demons, it's unlikely that their victims would notice the difference. Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver) and Louis Tully (Rick Moranis) discover that they live in a building designed by a cultist who wished to bring Gozer, an ancient and destructive god, to Earth. The two soon find themselves possessed by Gozer's minions Zuul and the Gatekeeper and are forced to help the entity open the doorway from its home realm.
Christine (1983)
Columbia Pictures
While it's not entirely clear what was up with it, the car from Christine (1983) definitely shows all of the signs of being possessed. Not only that, it clearly possesses its unfortunate owner, the nerdy Arnie. This 1983 horror was directed by John Carpenter and is based on a story by Stephen King. The plot revolves around a car that is both seemingly alive and evil. As the bodies pile up, Arnie's friends begin to question whether or not the car has taken control of him.
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The Haunting in Connecticut (2009)
Lionsgate
Once again, a family moves into a new home looking for a fresh start only to discover that a demon haunts the property. The Haunting in Connecticut (2009) is also another film based on supposedly true events, but also once again, the authenticity of the reports around those events has been called into question. Regardless, the movie is a solid film about how funeral homes are terrible places to move a family into.
Rosemary's Baby
William Castle Productions
Pregnancy is stressful enough without having to worry about the devil. Mia Farrow stars as the titular Rosemary, a woman living in New York City with her husband, in Rosemary's Baby, based on the Ira Levin novel. After moving into a building with a dark history, she soon becomes pregnant after having a nightmare about being raped by a devil. As the pregnancy continues, it quickly becomes clear that there's something wrong with both the building's other residents and the baby itself.
