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The Best Demonic Possession Movies of All Time

11 October 2022

Part of what makes tales about demonic possession so scary is that it’s a supposedly actual phenomenon. The idea has been a staple of the horror film style, and among the most well-known scary films ever have revolved round demons taking management of harmless victims. Here are among the finest demonic possession films ever.

Related: 100+ Best Movies of All Time

Best Demonic Possession Movies

The Exorcist (1973)

Linda Blair because the possessed Regan floats above her mattress in “The Exorcist” (1973), the most effective demonic possession films of all time.

Warner Bros.

When individuals discuss demonic possession films, The Exorcist (1973) is the one that the majority will take into consideration. William Friedkin’s 1973 film relies on a guide, which itself relies on true occasions. Of course, the creator and filmmakers made important adjustments (in actuality, the supposed sufferer of possession was a 14-year-old boy as a substitute of a younger lady). This movie is chargeable for most of the tropes related to demonic possession, together with projectile vomiting, hovering within the air and victims turning their heads all the way in which round. The movie impressed a number of sequels, a parody and numerous knock-offs.

The Conjuring (2013)

Patrick Wilson as Ed Warren stands in entrance of the ghostly picture of a witch hanging in “The Conjuring” (2013)

New Line Cinema

Another movie that is based mostly on a real story, The Conjuring (2013) tells the story of the Perron family, who transfer right into a Rhode Island farmhouse solely to search out that the spirit of an evil witch haunts the property. To make issues worse, the witch marks the household and can try and possess certainly one of them except it’s stopped. The story relies on the well-known (or notorious) demonologist couple Ed and Lorraine Warren, who’re portrayed by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. While the authenticity of the Warrens’ tales has been continuously referred to as into query, it is plain that their tales make for unsettling movies.

The Amityville Horror (1979)

James Brolin as George Lutz chases Kathy Lutz (Margot Kidder) and daughter Amy (Natasha Ryan) in “The Amityville Horror” (1979), the most effective demonic possession films of all time.

American International Pictures

Like The Conjuring, The Amityville Horror relies on a case investigated by the Warrens. Unlike that movie, nevertheless, this movie focuses completely on the Lutz household and leaves the Warrens out of the story. After shifting right into a Long Island, NY, home, the household quickly begins noticing unusual occurrences. George Lutz, the daddy, begins performing surprisingly and it shortly turns into obvious that some evil entity resides in the home. While the story it is based mostly on has additionally been referred to as into query, the movie continues to be thought-about a horror basic.

Paranormal Activity (2007)

Katie Featherston in “Paranormal Activity” (2007), the most effective and most revolutionary demonic possession films of all time

Paramount Pictures

Here’s a tip: do not attempt to seize ghosts on movie, as a result of it is not going to work out. Paranormal Activity (2007) is a low-budget film based mostly on a easy idea: After experiencing some unexplainable occasions, a pair units up a digicam to movie them whereas they sleep. The film takes its time increase the stress, with early scenes merely exhibiting a door shifting inexplicably. Before lengthy, the couple finds animal-like footprints subsequent to their mattress and begin calling for exorcists.

Insidious (2010)

Patrick Wilson and a demon in “Insidious” (2010)

Blumhouse

After launching the Saw franchise, however earlier than The Conjuring, director James Wan made Insidious (2010). This movie tells the story of the Lambert household, who’re struggling to care for his or her son after he falls right into a mysterious coma. As is the case with many demonic possession movies, unexplainable occasions start occurring round the home. After contacting a group of ghost hunters, the household discovers that their son is not in a coma, he is been taken by a demonic entity.

Jennifer’s Body (2009)

Megan Fox as demonically possessed Jennifer in “Jennifer’s Body” (2009)

twentieth Century Fox

Never belief a musician. Megan Fox stars because the titular Jennifer in Jennifer’s Body (2009), who will get provided up as a sacrifice by a band in alternate for fame and fortune. Unfortunately, the sacrifice referred to as for a virgin, which Jennifer was not. Instead, she finally ends up possessed by a demon and begins killing boys at her college. Unlike most films on this checklist, this film is a darkish comedy and is not significantly scary. That doesn’t suggest it is not price watching near Halloween or on darkish and stormy nights—particularly as a result of Adam Brody is especially hilarious as a wannabe rockstar who would actually do something for a file deal.

Prince of Darkness (1987)

Susan Blanchard in “Prince of Darkness” (1987)

Alive Films

John Carpenter is most well-known for creating Michael Myers, the masked serial killer from the Halloween franchise. In 1987, he made Prince of Darkness (1987), a film that mixes quantum physics with demonic possession. After the church notices an historic evil awakening, a neighborhood priest invitations a gaggle of science majors to remain on the church and hopefully determine a approach to include the evil, which might presumably be the embodiment of Satan. There’s additionally an Alice Cooper cameo, as a result of with that title, of course there may be.

The Last Exorcism (2010)

Patrick Fabian as Cotton Marcus and Ashley Bell as Nell Sweetzer in “The Last Exorcism” (2010)

Strike Entertainment

When a con artist decides to come back clear on this found-footage horror movie, he discovers that demons truly do exist. Patrick Fabian stars as Reverend Cotton Marcus, an exorcist that performs pretend rituals on individuals who suppose they’re possessed. After having a change of coronary heart, he invitations a movie crew together with him to disclose the rip-off to stop future pretend exorcists from benefiting from individuals. Unfortunately for him, The Last Exorcism (2010) is the one time when he could have truly come throughout an actual possession.

The Evil Dead (1981)

Ellen Sandweiss in Sam Raimi’s “The Evil Dead” (1981)

Renaissance Pictures

Director Sam Raimi launched his profession in 1981 with the low-budget horror movie The Evil Dead. It tells the story of a gaggle of teenagers that go to a cabin within the woods and uncover a guide referred to as The Necronomicon. After taking part in a recording of the guide being learn out loud, they unintentionally awaken an evil pressure within the woods. One by one, the group is slowly possessed by evil till solely Ash Williams (the indelible and indomitable Bruce Campbell) stays. Raimi is most well-known for steering the early 2000s Spider-Man movies and Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness (2022), however horror followers will at all times know him for The Evil Dead.

Night of the Demons (1988)

Amelia Kinkade in “Night of the Demons” (1988)

Blue Rider Pictures

It’s by no means a good suggestion to celebration in a funeral parlor, particularly on Halloween evening. When a gaggle of teenagers does such a factor in 1988’s Night of the Demons, they unintentionally awaken a demon. While this film by no means acquired a wide-theatrical release, it has since change into a cult basic. The movie was adopted up by a number of sequels and was remade in 2009, with Shannon Elizabeth taking the lead position.

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The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)

Jennifer Carpenter in “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” (2005)

Screen Gems

Another film based mostly on a real story, The Exorcism of Emily Rose focuses on the aftermath of an exorcism gone mistaken. The film is extra of a authorized drama as a substitute of a horror film, telling the story of Father Richard Moore making an attempt to defend himself for the demise of Emily Rose (Dexter‘s Jennifer Carpenter). He had carried out an exorcism on her, which the prosecutors argue is chargeable for her demise. While Moore is adamant {that a} demon killed Emily, his lawyer (a incredible Laura Linney) should determine a approach to mount a protection.

Sinister (2012)

Ethan Hawke in “Sinister” (2012)

Summit Entertainment

In Sinister (2012), struggling author Ellison Oswalt (the at all times nice Ethan Hawke) hopes to reignite his profession by producing a novel in regards to the homicide of a household in Pennsylvania. He strikes his household into the deceased household’s home (the place they have been truly killed) and hopes to uncover the key of their deaths. After discovering a field within the attic filled with disturbing dwelling films from seemingly random households that every one finish of their brutal murders, Oswalt realizes that one thing supernatural may be at work.

In addition to being the most effective demonic possession films ever, a study showed that Sinister may very well be the scariest film of all time.

Hereditary (2018)

Toni Collette in “Hereditary” (2018)

A24 Films

Family secrets and techniques could be a actual drag. Hereditary (2018) tells the story of the Graham household as they get well from the demise of their maternal grandmother. Toni Collette delivers a really terrifying and heartwrenching efficiency as a distraught, grieving daughter and mom. That scene (we can’t spoil it right here) begins a sequence of occasions that reveals the grandmother’s darkish secrets and techniques. Hereditary was praised upon release for its creepy environment and sluggish construct to an extremely stunning ending.

Deliver Us From Evil (2014)

Edgar Ramirez and Sean Harris in “Deliver Us From Evil” (2014)

Screen Gems

It seems, cops haven’t got a lot jurisdiction over demons. Eric Bana stars as NYPD Sergeant Ralph Sarchie who responds to a home disturbance name solely to search out himself caught up in a possible demonic possession. Deliver Us From Evil (2014) is considerably based mostly on true occasions, as Sarchie was an actual NYPD officer who turned concerned in demonology. The story informed within the movie, nevertheless, was created by the filmmakers and is completely fictional.

Fallen (1998)

Denzel Washington in “Fallen” (1998)

Warner Bros.

Denzel Washington stars as Philadelphia detective John Hobbes who’s investigating a sequence of murders in Fallen (1998). The killings are just like these of a serial killer that Hobbes beforehand caught and noticed executed. It seems, the killer was possessed by a fallen angel, who’s now shifting from sufferer to sufferer all through town. While the movie was thought-about a bomb when it was launched in 1998, it has since change into a cult basic within the horror style.

Stigmata (1999)

Patricia Arquette in “Stigmata” (1999)

MGM

Stigmata (1999) is a real-life phenomenon the place the sufferer will immediately show the identical wounds that Jesus is believed to have acquired on the cross (puncture wounds on the wrists and ankles and slashes on their abdomens). The movie tells the story of a younger girl who begins exhibiting such wounds after receiving a stolen rosary as a present. While she begins to indicate indicators of possession, the stigmata is commonly related to being touched by God, not a demon.

Ghostbusters (1984)

Sigourney Weaver as Dana Barrett possessed by Zuul in “Ghostbusters” (1984)

Columbia Pictures

While many individuals could not think about a film about demonic possession, Ghostbusters (1984) truly options a number of individuals being taken over by otherworldly entities. While Gozer and its minions could not technically be demons, it is unlikely that their victims would discover the distinction. Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver) and Louis Tully (Rick Moranis) uncover that they dwell in a constructing designed by a cultist who wished to carry Gozer, an historic and damaging god, to Earth. The two quickly discover themselves possessed by Gozer’s minions Zuul and the Gatekeeper and are pressured to assist the entity open the doorway from its dwelling realm.

Christine (1983)

A scene from John Carpenter’s “Christine” (1983), a demonic possession film based mostly on the Stephen King story

Columbia Pictures

While it is not completely clear what was up with it, the automotive from Christine (1983) positively exhibits all the indicators of being possessed. Not solely that, it clearly possesses its unlucky proprietor, the nerdy Arnie. This 1983 horror was directed by John Carpenter and relies on a narrative by Stephen King. The plot revolves round a automotive that’s each seemingly alive and evil. As the our bodies pile up, Arnie’s pals start to query whether or not or not the automotive has taken management of him.

The Haunting in Connecticut (2009)

“The Haunting in Connecticut” (2009)

Lionsgate

Once once more, a household strikes into a brand new dwelling on the lookout for a recent begin solely to find {that a} demon haunts the property. The Haunting in Connecticut (2009) can also be one other movie based mostly on supposedly true occasions, but additionally as soon as once more, the authenticity of the studies round these occasions has been referred to as into query. Regardless, the film is a strong movie about how funeral houses are horrible locations to maneuver a household into.