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.

Related: The Exorcist: Believer - Release Date, Cast & Everything We Know

The Devil Inside (2012)

Suzan Crowley as Maria in The Devil Inside
  • 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)

Rachel Hurd-Wood in An American Haunting
  • 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)

Sara and Matt in The Haunting In Connecticut
  • 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 members 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.

Related: 10 Horror Movies That Aren’t Totally Based On True Stories (& What Was Changed)

The Haunting In Connecticut 2: Ghosts Of Georgia (2013)

Scene from The Haunting In Connecticut 2 Ghosts of Georgia
  • 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)

Horned mask in 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)

The little girl being possessed in The Possession. 
  • 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)

A still from the 2021 film The Exorcism of God.
  • 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)

Nick Cheung in Keeper of Darkness
  • 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.

RELATED: 10 Best Hong Kong Horror Movies, Ranked (According To Rotten Tomatoes)

The Last Exorcism (2010)

A woman bending backwards in a blood-stained dress in a barn in The Last Exorcism
  • 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)

Anthony Hopkins in the 2011 horror movie The Rite.
  • 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.

The Witch (2015)

A still from the 2015 horror film The Witch.
  • Available on Max

The Witch, sometimes stylized as The VVitch, is the 2015 directorial debut of horror legend Robert Eggers. A tale that places a particular emphasis on historical accuracy, it's a bleak and rugged story of seventeenth-century English colonizers enduring the horrors of witchcraft. Apart from being one of the best exorcism movies of the last decade, it's also among the best horror movies based on American folklore, which is what makes its take on exorcists particularly interesting. Lifting language directly from old accounts of the era, it's a bit of a dry watch in the beginning - but only to lay the foundations for truly memorable horrors.

Deliver Us From Evil (2014)

A still from an exorcism scene in Deliver Us From Evil.
  • Available on Starz

Another film purported to be based on a true story, Deliver Us From Evil has a solid pedigree thanks to director Scott Derrickson. He also helmed the horror flicks Sinister and The Exorcism of Emily Rose, which has a higher spot among the best exorcism movies. Nonetheless, Deliver Us From Evil is notable for how it is largely a cop drama with creepy, supernatural elements. Police officer Ralph Sarchie (Eric Bana) investigates strange events, but things really take off when he meets a young, shaggy-haired priest/exorcist named Mendoza (Edgar Ramirez). Solid jump scares, an intense family drama, atmospheric creepiness, and well-acted possession scenes make Deliver Us From Evil a must-see.

The Exorcist III: Legion (1990)

The Exorcist III Legion scene with gemini in a hooded cloak running after the nurse with shears
  • Available on Peacock and Hulu

Unlike The Exorcist II: The Heretic, which didn't involve author William Peter Blatty (the original novel's writer), The Exorcist III was written and directed by Blatty himself. In The Exorcist III, the demon that was exorcised from Regan’s body in the '70s was so angry at Father Karras (Jason Miller) that it put the soul of a serial killer in his body, and that soul was used to commit murders by jumping into other people at night. Though not on par with the original, The Exorcist III still deserves a place alongside the best exorcism movies for continuing Blatty's true story-inspired vision for horror.

Constantine (2005)

Keanu Reeves smoking in Constantine
  • Available on Max

Loosely based on the DC comic book series Hellblazer, the action horror film Constantine stars Keanu Reeves as John Constantine, a cynical mystic who exorcises demons and sends them back to Hell. However, John isn't running a charity for Heaven, and he wants something in return from the angel Gabriel (Tilda Swinton): an extension on his life, which is doomed due to lung cancer. John needs this extension because he knows his soul is bound for Hell. While Constantine isn't the first film that comes to mind when it comes to the topic of the best exorcism movies, this esoteric, neo-noir, DC Vertigo-inspired, and action-filled film remains a notable contribution to the subgenre.

Related: Constantine 2 Updates, Cast & Story Details

The Priests (2015)

Kang Dong-won and Kim Yoon-seok in The Priests
  • Not Available for Streaming

In this impressive first feature from writer/director Jang Jae-Hyun, the old and experienced Father Kim and the young rebellious Deacon Choi successfully exorcise a young girl who belongs to Kim's parish. However, with help from a Roriscrucian sect of priests, Kim and Choi soon find out that they're facing a powerful and ancient demon. What makes this one of the best exorcism movies is how Father Kim and Deacon Choi's conversations and actions - including how they finally banish the demon - are all based on specific bible verses. Indeed, The Priests is notable among scary exorcism movies for how its supernatural elements are grounded in Catholic scripture and Korean traditions.

The Pope's Exorcist (2023)

Russell Crowe in The Pope's Exorcist
  • Available on Vudu

Most exorcists are ordained for the task by bishops, but Father Gabriele Amorth - played by Russel Crowe in The Pope's Exorcist - is the only one who personally answers to the Pope. Even this, however, doesn't save Father Gabriele from getting in trouble with the Vatican's tribunal of cardinals for his unusual practices. The written exploits of the real Father Gabriele Amorth, who was the chief exorcist of the Diocese of Rome, provided the true stories that inspired The Pope's Exorcist. Father Gabriele was a controversial figure, not only for how his cases inevitably became sensationalized, but also for how he himself stated that most so-called possessions aren't demonic in nature.

The Entity (1982)

Barbara Hershey as Carla Moran in The Entity 1982
  • Available on Starz

This paragraph references sexual violence and rape.

Author Frank De Felitta adapted his own 1978 book of the same name for the screenplay of The Entity, which is based on the real case of Doris Blither, who claimed to have been raped by an "invisible entity." The sensitive subject is treated respectfully, but this in no way diminishes how scary the titular entity can be. The Entity deserves a place among the best exorcism movies not just for its comparatively unique story, but also in how sci-fi factors in the characters' actual attempts to exorcise the unseen tormentor. Gore hounds well-versed in exorcisms and poltergeists will find The Entity to be a surprising breath of fresh air from the '80s.

The Medium (2021)

disturbing scene from The Medium movie
  • Available on Shudder & AMC Plus

Shot in the style of a documentary, The Medium follows the Thai shaman Nim, who claims to have been possessed by the goddess Ba Yan, because Nim's sister Noi converted to Christianity and refused to be Ba Yan's host. Soon, Noi's daughter Mink begins channeling multiple personalities, including a drunkard, an old man, a prostitute, and a child. As the dark past of Nim and Mink's family gets revealed, the entity possessing Mink gradually reveals itself. The Medium is unique among scary exorcism movies for its focus on Thai mythology and being a uniquely captivating psychological thriller. In 2021, The Medium was regarded as the Best Film by four different international film industry awards.

The Conjuring (2013)

Ed and Lorraine Warren in The Conjuring
  • Available on Max

James Wan laid claim to the horror genre in the mid-2000s with the gore-soaked Saw, but his later effort, 2013's The Conjuring, may have eclipsed his original outing in terms of sheer cultural impact. Featuring a hapless family tormented by the spirit of a witch, The Conjuring tells an aggrandized tale of real-world paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. In the inaugural movie of The Conjuring universe, Ed and Lorraine help the Perron family deal with a malevolent spirit that has attached itself not just to their home, but the Perrons themselves. There's nothing truly groundbreaking about The Conjuring, but it ranks highly among the best exorcism movies for perfectly executing the subgenre's fundamentals.

Rosemary's Baby (1968)

Rosemary is in shock after seeing her new baby
  • Available on Vudu

Based on the 1967 novel of the same name, Rosemary's Baby, along with The Exorcist, helped to establish many of the common tropes in movies depicting demonic possession. Involving a secretive covenant and a plot to birth the son of Satan, it laid the groundwork for everything from The Conjuring to American Horror Story. Unlike The Exorcist, however, Rosemary's Baby is much more of a psychological thriller, continually teasing the viewer and holding its greatest reveals for the end. It may not be as out-and-out scary as other films in the genre, but there's a reason for its sterling reputation as one of the first and best exorcism movies.

The Amityville Horror (1979)

George and Kathy Lutz hiding in front of their house in The Amityville Horror
  • Available on The Roku Channel

George and Kathy Lutz, along with Kathy's three children from a previous marriage, move into a new home that turns out to be the former residence of American mass murderer Ronald DeFeo Jr., who killed his entire family there. Seemingly possessed, George's behavior turns unusual and outright violent at times. Meanwhile, Kathy suffers from nightmares and terrifying visions, while Father Delaney who attempts to exorcise the evil from the home gets attacked by unseen forces. Similar mysteries befell the real Lutz family, whose true story inspired The Amityville Horror. Apart from being one of the best exorcism movies, The Amityville Horror is a foundational haunted house horror hailed by Stephen King as a classic.

Requiem (2006)

Sandra Huller in Requiem 2006
  • Available on AMC Plus

The winner of 16 international film industry awards, Requiem is based on the true story of Anneliese Michel, who died in 1976 after she was reportedly possessed by six or more demons. Michel's life and death was also the true story that inspired the Exorcism of Emily Rose. In Requiem, Michaela Klingler is a German college student who suffers from epilepsy. After also suffering a mental breakdown, she turns to a priest for help. Several of Requiem's awards are for Sandra Hüller's performance as Michaela, including the Best Actress awards from the Berlin International Film Festival and the German Film Critics Association Awards. Indeed, it is Hüller's Michaela which distinguishes Requiem from other scary exorcism movies.

The Exorcism Of Emily Rose (2005)

Emily Rose grinning in The Exorcism Of Emily Rose
  • Available on Apple TV

Near the beginning of the film, it is made clear that the titular Emily Rose (Jennifer Carpenter) dies following exorcisms performed by Father Moore (Colin Wilkinson). The Exorcism of Emily Rose then jumps back and forth between Moore’s trial for negligent homicide and the events that took place at the Rose family’s farm that led to her death. Emily suffers from terrifying visions, eats bugs, contorts herself, and is pinned to her bed and choked by an invisible hand. Like Requiem, The Exorcism of Emily Rose is an adaptation of the true story of German teenager Anneliese Michel, who suffered through 67 exorcisms over the course of almost one year.

The Wailing (2016)

Shaman ritual scene The Wailing
  • Available on Peacock

Out of the best exorcism movies in film history, The Wailing contains the most twists. When a Japanese stranger arrives at the small South Korean mountain village of Gokseong, a mysterious disease highly similar to a zombie plague infects the villagers. Police officer Jong-goo who investigates the case soon meets a young woman who claims that the Japanese stranger is an evil spirit who caused the disease. However, after Jong-goo's daughter gets infected and kills their neighbor, a shaman named Il-gwang tells Jong-goo that the mysterious woman he met is the real culprit, and that the Japanese stranger is innocent. Zombies, exorcists, and a police investigation combine into a unique supernatural mystery in The Wailing.

The Exorcist (1973)

A possessed Reagan in The Exorcist.
  • Available on Max

The best exorcism movies are creatively rooted in 1973's The Exorcist, the adaptation of William Peter Blatty's novel of the same name. Both good and bad exorcist movies have blatantly and inadvertently borrowed heavily from the story of Linda Blair's Regan MacNeil, which in turn is based on a true story of demonic possession from 1949 that Blatty heard about as a student in 1950. From the contorting, vomiting, and other body-horror elements, to the viscerally blasphemous effects of possession and the Catholic rites performed by the priests, The Exorcist is the ground zero of this horror subgenre. While The Exorcist was temporarily banned for deeply upsetting audiences in '73, it's on streaming now.