Horror Fans, Which Possession Movie Is the Best?

Originally published October 7, 2026. This article covers the best possession horror movies. Check out our Spooktacular event page for even more spooky news and fun!

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Possession movies can feel like a dime a dozen. There are many out there to choose from, after all. Why does this horror subgenre have such a hold over audiences?

Like many powerful horror concepts, possession movies force the viewer to consider their lack of control. When you first hear the word “possession,” demons of course come to mind right away. And that’s certainly one type. But there are also other methods of possession out there, as explored by a number of edge-of-your-seat horror movies.

Whether it’s unseen demonic forces or the disastrous deeds of a human, these movies are the natural evolution of ghost and monster stories. They grapple with complex issues of faith, autonomy, and social structures that we might otherwise avoid in real life. Plus, they’re extremely scary. So what are the best possession movies around? Consider adding the following 10 films to your watchlist.

• The Exorcist
• Evil Dead
• Possession
• Night of the Demons
• Jennifer’s Body
• The Conjuring
• Talk to Me
• Smile 2
• Obsession
• Leviticus

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The Exorcist

• Release Date: 1973
• Director: William Friedkin
• Type of Possession: Demonic

It all started here as far as cinematic possessions go. With the bone-chilling voice talent of Mercedes McCambridge, a demonic force takes over the body of a young girl. From there, it’s a fight to save Regan MacNeil’s soul from the hellish Pazuzu.

No matter what you believe in, The Exorcist challenges the viewer’s faith in the power of good over evil. It also set the standard for possession movies when it comes to feats of otherworldly power. You gotta hand it to Regan — the girl’s got range.

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Evil Dead

• Release Date: 1983
• Director: Sam Raimi
• Type of Possession: Demonic

What’s a nice trip to the woods without some Kandarian demons to spice things up? If there was ever any doubt, Evil Dead is a cautionary tale against reading out loud (or at all) that creepy infernal book of hellish literature you found last weekend. Staying true to possession tradition, when Kandarian demons turn Ash Williams’ friends into Deadites, they taunt him with knowledge from their hosts. Plus, they can reanimate dead flesh. Nothing is safe from these guys.

But they’re not zombies! Don’t get it twisted — and don’t forget your chainsaw.

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Possession

• Release Date: 1983
• Director: Andrej Żuławski
• Type of Possession: Supernatural

Some relationships really feel doomed from the start, and it looks like this German couple certainly falls prey to … something. As the relationship between Mark and Anna deteriorates, a parasitic force influences them both. Initially, that influence is more direct over Anna, whose sanity seems scattered across their cramped apartment. Of particular note is Anna’s subway tunnel breakdown. Isabelle Adjani portrays vulnerability in the face of destruction so painfully you can’t look away, while Sam Neill’s Mark is not as blameless as he appears to be.

A relationship possessed is its own unnatural force of nature, and Mark and Anna are certainly forced to examine parts of themselves they tried to keep locked away.

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Night of the Demons

• Release Date: 1988
• Director: Kevin S. Tenney
• Type of Possession: Demonic

As a whole, the 1980s produced many movies that delightfully combined humor and horror. Sometimes it’s good to cut the shivers with some laughter sprinkled throughout. Night of the Demons is one of those cheesy popcorn flicks that is fun to watch with friends, laughing at the characters’ over-the-top clowning and reveling in the gory practical effects. This one is for fans of Return of the Living Dead and Regan’s pea soup fountain.

You might even find some inspiration here for your own Halloween party!

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Jennifer’s Body

• Release Date: 2009
• Director: Karyn Kusama
• Type of Possession: Demonic

At the time of its release, Jennifer’s Body was marketed as a silly scary movie with a hot lead actor. Over time, however, the film has been hailed as a flaming-tongue-in-cheek cult classic led by a brilliantly chaotic bi queen.

Behind Jennifer’s possessed popular girl antics there’s also an allegory here about assault. After all, the high schooler is sacrificed by a rock band so they can achieve fame and glory. It’s a Faustian exchange that demands a high price from an innocent girl. But don’t worry — deals like that go both ways.

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The Conjuring

• Release Date: 2013
• Director: James Wan
• Type of Possession: Paranormal

Here’s another classic trope of the possession genre: The possessed doll! As if old Victorian dolls weren’t inherently creepy enough, Annabelle sits there with that wide-eyed, frozen smile plastered across her face. It’s enough to make you swear off antiquing forever.

Though The Conjuring also delves into haunting/haunted house territory, it’s Annabelle who kicks off the frightful festivities. You could also argue that throughout the film, various characters are possessed by a manic need to understand the paranormal happenings around them. You know what they say about curiosity…

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Talk to Me

• Release Date: 2023
• Director: Michael Philippou / Danny Philippou
• Type of Possession: Paranormal

The most innocent of games can often go awry faster than the blink of an eye. Alright, alright, so playing with the supposedly cursed hand of a deceased person isn’t necessarily innocent. Yet the terror of Talk to Me really begins once the game is over because spirits never know when to stop.

Plus, for a while “Le Monde” by Richard Carter was inescapable and Edith Piaf’s haunting wails will now forever be associated with vengeful spirits.

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Smile 2

• Release Date: 2024
• Director: Parker Finn
• Type of Possession: Supernatural

Sequels are a hard act to pull off but Smile 2 builds off its predecessor in a truly showstopping way. It’s hard to imagine Smile without its jaw-dropping encore, Smile 2. Whereas Smile focused on a therapist, Smile 2 centers a pop star. The vastly different ways in which the smiling entity uses its hosts to infect others will have you avoiding mirrors for weeks. Even the soundscape and cinematography of Smile 2 push the limits of what the audience can endure.

Smile 2 is full of more twists and turns than the original but they really work best as a double feature for the full impact. And talk about a needle drop during the film’s final performance.

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Obsession

• Release Date: 2026
• Director: Curry Barker
• Type of Possession: Supernatural

“Be careful what you wish for” is the old but simple adage that nobody ever seems to get right. A magical wish is not something to take for granted and it’s also necessary to think through all the details. Of course, if you were given a supernatural stick to grant you heart’s desire, and all you had to do was snap it in two, would you really be thinking clearly?

Through Nikki’s gut-wrenching, slightly-out-of-body torture, Obsession shows the horror of stolen autonomy. When we lose control over our own will, there’s not much left beyond a silent scream into the abyss.

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Leviticus

• Release Date: 2026
• Director: Adrian Chiarella
• Type of Possession: Supernatural

The road to hell is paved with good intentions and often those intentions are laid down by those who think their word is law. In the Bible, the Book of Leviticus aims to tell followers how to live their lives. It’s a code of conduct, essentially. A fitting title for a film that shows two young men tormented by their religious community because they dare to love each other. Here, the community is equally at fault as the supernatural entity in ruining Naim and Ryan’s lives. Both systemic evils are a plague against an emotion that should be regarded with joy, not judgement.

You might think twice the next time you want to take some cute photo booth pictures, too.

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What’s your favorite possession movie?

Join the conversation with other horror fans over at Sideshow Social Network or in side.show/geekgroup, then head to our Spooktacular page to stay in the know on all things spooky this season.