From an all-time classic to modern chillers, here are 20 of our favorite exorcism-themed movies, ranked.
Is she mentally ill…or is she truly demonically possessed?
And, to top it off, the fiendish parody generally received positive reviews ours included.
Vera Farmiga in ‘The Conjuring’; Linda Blair in ‘The Exorcist’; Anya Taylor-Joy in ‘The Witch’.Credit:Michael Tackett/Warner Bros. Pictures/Everett; Warner Bros./Everett; A24/Everett
The resulting storyline explores unconventional exorcism and pagan theology in frightening terms plusthe Doorsare rocking on the soundtrack.
As many horror fables go, they move into a new home on supernatural turf.
The evil entity here is Abyzou, Hebrew for “Taker of Children.”
Maria Gabriela de Faria in ‘The Exorcism of God’.Saban Films/Everett
In a classic bait-and-switch, just when they think the demon is gone, Abyzou resurrects in unlikely locations.
Terrifying and compelling, Wan proves once again he’s a puppet master of the genre.
The summoning of evil is tenfold here.
Bonnie Morgan in ‘The Devil Inside’.Paramount Insurge/Everett
He pushes down, her flesh burning as several men hold a mirror above the bed.
In other words: the farmer’s possessed daughter is slaughtering his farm animals.
Cotton then springs into action as a documentary crew captures his last exorcism in crazed found footage style.
(From left to right) Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, James Franco, and Craig Robinson in ‘This Is the End’.Suzanne Hanover/Sony Pictures/Everett
Your place is in solitude."
Unfolding like a tragedy in the aftermath of diabolical events makesAgnesthat much more of an effective horror story.
Horror fanatics have consideredIII’s qualities without writing a list of comparisons to the original.
Olivia Horton in ‘Deliver Us From Evil’.Andrew Schwartz/Screen Gems/Everett
Its many nail-biting scenes are petrifying, to say the least.
3 in a long-running franchise, people often forget howThe Exorcist IIIis a good movie in its own right.
to which she responds, “I love the statues, Father…the Blessed Virgin especially.”
Alix Angelis in ‘The Cleansing Hour’.Shudder/Everett
That’s spot-on here, withAnthony Hopkins' intense performance as a Welsh Jesuit exorcist.
Hopkins' performance is wide-ranging, swinging the pendulum from an eccentric clergyman to a man overcome by darkness.
Fun fact: Director Mikael Hafstrom attended real exorcisms in preparation for making the film.
Natasha Calis in ‘The Possession’.Diyah Pera/Lionsgate/Everett
Where to watchThe Exorcist: Max
Madison Wolfe in ‘The Conjuring 2’.New Line Cinema/Everett
Keanu Reeves and Rachel Weisz in ‘Constantine’.Warner Bros/Everett
(Clockwise from upper left) Patrick Fabian, Louis Herthum, Caleb Landry Jones, and Ashley Bell in ‘The Last Exorcism’.Patti Perret/Lionsgate/Everett
Hayley McFarland in ‘Agnes’.Magnet Releasing/Everett
George C. Scott in ‘The Exorcist III’.Everett Collection
Lalor Roddy and Lauren Coe in ‘The Devil’s Doorway’.IFC Midnight
Anthony Hopkins (back) and Marta Gastini in ‘The Rite’.Warner Bros/Everett
(From left to right) Joshua Close, Kenneth Welshm, Tom Wilkinson, Jennifer Carpenter, and Andrew Wheeler in ‘The Exorcism of Emily Rose’.Screen Gems/Everett
Narilya Gulmongkolpech in ‘The Medium’.Shudder/Everett
Lili Taylor in ‘The Conjuring’.Michael Tackett/Warner Bros/Everett
Harvey Scrimshaw and Kate Dickie in ‘The Witch’.A24/Everett
Walter Schmidinger, Sandra Huller, and Jens Harzer in ‘Requiem’.IFC Films/Everett
Kim Hwan-hee and Kwak Do-won in ‘The Wailing’.Well Go USA/Everett
Linda Blair in ‘The Exorcist’.Everett Collection
