Beginning with Rosemary's Baby and The Exorcist in the '60s and '70s, the best exorcism movies have deftly combined the psychological thrills of the unseen with the visceral and grotesque manifestations of malevolent spirits. Whether it is demons, tormented human souls, gods, or creatures from folklore, exorcists in movies confront the worst and most dangerous entities to crossover into the physical realm. Scary exorcism movies are traditionally based on Catholic or Judeo-Christian mythology. However, Asian filmmakers have also been tapping into Eastern folklore and mythology to contribute to the world's best exorcism movies, giving the overplayed horror subgenre a much-needed shakeup.
Indeed, while movies about demonic possession such as The Pope's Exorcist and The Exorcism of God keep the genre's core traditions alive, others like The Medium, The Wailing, and Keeper of Darkness tread new ground and open new creative avenues for the exorcism subgenre to grow. Today, it would be an understatement to say that exorcism horror movies have come a long way. Often, supernatural occurrences that call for exorcists also unravel dark past traumas, reveal deep-seated truths, and even underscore uncomfortable political issues. Whatever the case may be, there is always a malevolent and mystical entity involved, along with ways to banish or kill it. Here are the best exorcism movies from the last 55 years of film.
The Devil Inside (2012)
- Available on Pluto TV
The 2007 found-footage horror Paranormal Activity cast a long shadow, inspiring dozens of copycats that tried to replicate its terrifyingly authentic approach. Few succeeded, and many would lump The Devil Inside with the rest of the lame attempts to elicit fear from that era of horror, far removed from the best exorcism movies of all time. Yet, as outlandish and silly as it is in places, the story of Maria Rossi committing triple murder while being exorcised meshes well with the movie's found-footage pseudo-documentary style. There's also a genuinely eerie exorcism scene midway, and the movie may have been more well-received if it weren't for The Devil Inside ending abruptly.
An American Haunting (2005)
- Available on Freevee
In the 20th century, a young girl named Jane awakens from a nightmare about encountering the dreaded Bell Witch, a South American legend. After comforting Jane, her mother Elizabeth finds a note from an ancestor in some old letters. Switching to scenes in the early 19th century, An American Haunting then reveals the story of the Bell Witch, in which John Bell (Donal Sutherland) is found guilty of stealing land from Kate Batts, a rumored witch. Soon, supernatural maladies befall John, his wife Lucy (Sissy Spacek), and their daughter Betsy. It's not the best, but it's still notable among exorcism horror movies for being an interesting adaptation of the Bell Witch legend.
The Haunting In Connecticut (2009)
- Available on Hulu
In 1987, Sara and Peter Campbell regularly need to take their son Matt to the hospital for cancer treatments. Luckily, they strike a good deal on a rental home near the hospital. However, The Haunting in Connecticut reveals that the house was a former funeral home and mortuary, and the spirits still trapped within torment Matt and his family. There are no of the clergy in this movie, but the exorcism happens through the family's interactions with the spirits. It's not the greatest horror film but still deserves to be mentioned alongside actual scary exorcism movies. Whether The Haunting in Connecticut is really based on a true story remains contested.
The Haunting In Connecticut 2: Ghosts Of Georgia (2013)
- Available on Max
A psychological horror set in 1993, The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia is based on the book The Veil: Heidi Wyrick's Story, which chronicles purportedly true events about the real Wyrick house in Georgia. Andy and Lisa Wyrick get a good deal on a sizable rural property from the bank. The twist is that the house was once part of the Underground Railroad, and this time, the haunting is a result of the various atrocities committed on the property. What makes The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia one of the best exorcism movies is that its villainous spirit is uncharacteristically complex for the sub-genre of exorcist films.
The Crucifixion (2017)
- Available on Prime Video & Tubi
In The Crucifixion, New York journalist Nicole Rawlins investigates the botched exorcism of Sister Adelina Marinescu. After a violent, three-day ordeal, Sister Adelina died while Father Dumitru and the nuns that helped him perform the exorcism were arrested. When Nicole meets local priest Father Anton, she gets closer to the truth, but also gains the attention of the evil that befell Adelina. Though it ranks low among the best exorcism movies, The Crucifixion is nonetheless notable for being a fairly accurate retelling of the real-life Tanacu exorcism, which made headlines in Romania in 2005.
The Possession (2012)
- Available on Prime Video
Produced by Sam Raimi, The Possession relies heavily on standard genre fare but stands apart from the best exorcism movies for its focus on Jewish mythology. A 10-year-old girl named Em finds a dybbuk box on eBay, a wine cabinet haunted by an evil spirit called a dybbuk. When Em opens it, all kinds of horrors befall her and her family, including Em getting possessed. Medical tests show disturbing images of the dybbuk inside her, and the film's climax is a Hasidic Jewish take on the exorcism ritual, which is a nice change of pace. Plus, there are scary stories about The Possession's production.
The Exorcism Of God (2021)
- Available on Starz
A priest named Peter commits an unforgivable sin while possessed in the aftermath of an exorcism. To atone for his sins, Peter spends the next eighteen years living in a remote Mexican village. However, he cannot hide from his past forever, and he's eventually made to reap the terrible seeds he has sown. The Exorcism of God may sound outrageous enough to be hyperbole, but it represents an earnest attempt to break new ground in a very played-out genre. A mix of newer films like The Nun and classics like The Exorcist, this is decidedly one of the best exorcism movies of this decade - not for originality, but definitely for style.
Keeper Of Darkness (2015)
- Not Available for Streaming
Directed by and starring Hong Kong-born award-winning actor Nick Cheung, Keeper of Darkness was a box office hit in Hong Kong, where it was also nominated for six film awards. Cheung’s character, Fatt, is just a civilian who happens to be able to talk to spirits, and he exorcises them simply by having a good chat, convincing them to leave people alone. This works fairly easily when he’s dealing with more benevolent spirits, but he eventually comes across a father-daughter ghost team that’s not so easily convinced, and that’s when things get good. Its unique plot, slick effects, and touches of humor combine to make Keeper of Darkness one of the best exorcism movies.
The Last Exorcism (2010)
- Available on Hulu
With a modest $1.8-million budget, 2010’s The Last Exorcism is one of those little horror movies that could, raking in $67.7 million domestically. The documentary-style film follows an affable but faithless exorcist named Cotton Marcus (Patrick Fabian) who’s called to a farmhouse to perform an exorcism on the farmer’s daughter, Nell (Ashley Bell). A bit of a hustler, Marcus is used to performing fake exorcisms just to appease his clientele, but he’s in for a surprise. Well-executed genre conventions pave the way for a wild and unexpected ending, and for The Last Exorcism to deserve a place among the best exorcism movies.
The Rite (2011)
- Available on Apple TV
The Rite is not a perfect movie, but it still has some solidly creepy moments for fans of possession and exorcism films. The Rite stars Sir Anthony Hopkins as Father Lucas, who is defined by the calm wisdom of a time-hardened exorcist. The plot follows Michael (Colin O’Donoghue), a reluctant priest who is pushed into training to become an exorcist under Father Lucas at the Vatican. For viewers looking for the best exorcism movies, The Rite is a must-see for its compelling twists on the Catholic ritual. The Rite is based on events recounted by Father Gary Thomas, an American priest who, like Michael, was sent to Rome to become an exorcist.
