16 Best Exorcism-Themed Movies

Exorcism refers to the practice of driving out evil spirits from the human body or inanimate objects. Typically performed by religious or spiritual authorities, such as Catholic priests or Islamic clerics, this ritual employs various unique methods and specific techniques to each group or individual. 

The following practices have been found effective in mitigating the negative impacts of malevolent spirits that interfere with human life. Exorcism, also referred to as ruqyah in Islamic terminology, has been performed since the prophetic era and continues to be practiced in this modern age.

With the assistance of advanced technology, the detection of evil spirits has become more sophisticated through the use of various methods. These include capturing audio, sensing heat waves, and identifying shadows in photographs and video footage, among other techniques.

The concept of exorcism is prominently featured in films from various countries, including Hollywood productions. Utilizing advanced special-effects technology, these movies can portray evil spirits with striking realism.

Of the many movies that raise this theme, here are the 15 best exorcism movies that we highly recommend you to watch.

1. The Exorcist

One of the most iconic horror films in history is an adaptation of the best-selling novel by William Peter Blatty, named The Exorcist. Brought to the screen by director William Friedkin, the movie enjoyed global success and remains one of the highest-grossing horror films of all time.

The film is filled with numerous chilling and captivating scenes, one of which features a young girl possessed by an evil spirit, rotating her head a full 360 degrees. At the time, this scene was particularly terrifying.

Unfortunately, the reputation of this film has become a little tarnished with the presence of several sequel and prequel films that are of very poor quality, namely Exorcist II: The Heretic [1977], The Exorcist III [1990], Exorcist: The Beginning [2004] and Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist [2005].

2. The Conjuring

Ed and Lorraine Warren, a renowned paranormal duo, gained fame for their exorcism practices during the 1970s. One particular case they managed in 1971 in Rhode Island, USA, served as the inspiration for a movie's plot. In this film, actors Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga share remarkable chemistry, creating a compelling on-screen partnership.

The movie features numerous terrifying scenes that leave the audience utterly astonished. Director James Wan demonstrates his expertise in shocking viewers with his masterful execution. Following the success of this film, The Conjuring 2 was released in 2016, recounting the couple's experience in expelling malevolent spirits from a house in London, UK.

3. Constantine

The film, an adaptation of a comic released by DC/Vertigo Comics, stars Keanu Reeves as an exorcist with the unique ability to enter the afterlife in order to vanquish malevolent spirits that possess humans. He is bound by a pact with Lucifer, the King of Demons.

One technique employed in the movie involves trapping wicked spirits within a sizeable mirror before shattering it.

Despite his seemingly careless and disorganized demeanor, the protagonist possesses a kind heart and an unwavering dedication to protecting humanity from relentless evil forces that constantly threaten human existence.

4. The Exorcism of Emily Rose

This dramatic horror film centers on the trial of a priest accused of causing the death of his patient during an exorcism. Despite the serious subject matter, the film presents groundbreaking and disturbing scenes of possession and exorcism, including one where the victim's body contorts to the point where it is nearly unrecognizable.

The plot is based on the true story of Anneliese Michel, who tragically died as a result of an exorcism performed in Germany in 1976. A unique aspect of this film is its portrayal of multiple spirits possessing a single body, each of whom represents a legendary evil figure such as Cain, Nero, Judas Iscariot, Belial, and even Lucifer himself.

5. Deliver Us From Evil

Rewinding to the days of America's conflict with militants in Iraq, three US soldiers—Santino (Sean Harris), Griggs (Scott Johnsen), and Jimmy (Chris Coy)—stumble upon a cave adorned with enigmatic writings. Little did they know that their fateful encounter within the cave would have severe repercussions in the years to come.

Fast forward to the present, and police officer Ralph Sarchie (Eric Bana) finds himself investigating a series of crimes connected to the aforementioned trio of US soldiers.

As Sarchie goes deeper into the case, he comes to the unsettling realization that this is far from an ordinary criminal investigation. His path crosses with that of a contemporary priest, Mendoza (Edgar Ramirez).

Together, Sarchie and Mendoza come to the chilling conclusion that the soldiers who ventured into the Iraqi cave have become possessed by demons. Mendoza commits to performing an exorcism on Santino, one of the three soldiers, but he must first uncover the name of the demon inhabiting his body.

6. Stigmata

A woman suffered injuries resembling those found on Jesus' body, prompting an investigation by a priest dispatched from the Vatican. Through a series of exorcisms, the priest ultimately discovered that the woman was possessed by the spirit of a deceased priest who had taken his own life.

In order to save the woman, a pact was made with the spirit. Toward the end of the film, the existence of the Gospel of St. Thomas is revealed. This gospel, believed to have been written during Jesus' lifetime, has been rejected by the Vatican.

7. The Rite

Starring Anthony Hopkins, the movie is based on a true story of an aspiring exorcist who embarks on a journey to assist a veteran priest in performing exorcisms.

In the beginning, the protagonist does not have full and unwavering faith in God. However, after the veteran priest is possessed by Baal, one of Lucifer's sons, the protagonist finally regains his faith in God and manages to drive Baal back to hell.

The film was shot in Rome and Budapest and has been widely recognized by exorcists for its accurate portrayal of exorcism techniques. The movie earned $96.6 million in profits, exceeding its production budget of $37 million, upon its release in 2011.

8. The Possession

Sam Raimi has produced another movie featuring Dybbuk. The film portrays how Dybbuk, who hides in an old box, possesses children in a family, causing them to behave in an inexplicable manner.

In the end, the father requests the help of a Rabbi who successfully exorcises Dybbuk and puts him back in the box, thereby freeing the family from danger.

However, the movie ends with the unfortunate death of the Rabbi in an accident, which then causes Dybbuk to come out of the box once again. The curse continues and seeks out new prey to possess. Can the curse on Dybbuk finally end?

9. The Possession of Michael King

Shane Johnson plays Michael King, a man who doesn't believe in the existence of God or the devil. After his wife passes away, Michael becomes depressed and decides to make a supernatural movie to fill the void and prove that God and the devil are not real.

To gather material for his film, Michael reads books on certain rituals, consults with supernatural experts, and even befriends a sect of devil worshipers.

Despite all of this, he still doesn't believe in the existence of the devil and plans to continue with the movie. However, Michael is unaware that demons do exist and can harm humanity at will. Michael's documentary film project had become an 'invitation' for the devil to ensnare his soul.

10. The Last Exorcism

The found-footage style of this movie is full of suspense and features innovative displays of possession that are not commonly seen in other similar films. Despite a slow start, the movie builds a gripping foundation that compels the audience to follow the storyline until the end.

The malevolent spirit in the movie is named Abalam, who, according to Jewish tradition, is one of the Kings of Hell and closest to Lucifer. However, the sequel, The Last Exorcism Part II (2013), received a lot of criticism as it followed a standard movie format.

11. The Nun

Do you recall the demon nun that terrified audiences in "The Conjuring 2"? Well, that demon, Valak, was given its own spin-off movie titled "The Nun". Released in 2018, the film explores the history of Valak and how it began to spread terror among humans.

The movie is set in a monastery in Romania where a nun dies under mysterious circumstances, shocking the Vatican. The Vatican sends Father Burke (Demián Bichir) and a young nun, Irene (Taissa Farmiga), to investigate.

During their stay at the convent, both Father Burke and Sister Irene experience terrifying visions that reveal the mystery of the building. As the movie progresses, the true form of Valak begins to emerge, and the story of how the demon came to terrorize humanity is revealed bit by bit.

13. Incarnate

Exorcisms are typically conducted by religious figures, but the movie "Incarnate" features a scientist, Dr. Seth Ember (Aaron Eckhart), performing the exorcisms instead. Dr. Seth possesses a unique ability to access the human subconscious, which he utilizes to conduct exorcisms.

In one particular case, Dr. Seth is tasked with treating Cameron (David Mazouz), a young boy believed to be possessed by an evil spirit. However, Cameron's case presents a new challenge for Dr. Seth. In order to exorcise the evil spirit from Cameron's body, Dr. Seth must first confront the traumatic experiences of his own past.

14. The Possession of Hannah Grace

Megan Reed, portrayed by Shay Mitchell, was a former police officer who had battled with depression. Due to her struggles, she eventually made the difficult decision to resign from her job and transitioned to a role as a morgue officer at a local hospital.

One night, a new corpse named Hannah Grace, played by Kirby Johnson, was delivered to the hospital. However, following its arrival, a series of terrifying events began to unfold, and Megan soon realizes that an evil entity resides within Hannah Grace's body, causing her to be plagued by its malevolent presence.

15. The Vatican Tapes

"The Vatican Tapes" offers a unique perspective by combining elements of exorcism with the rise of the Antichrist, a figure prophesied in the Bible as the adversary of Christ.

The film's plot centers around Angela (Olivia Taylor Dudley), who experiences a bizarre incident on her 25th birthday. While cutting her cake, she accidentally slices her hand and is taken to the hospital. Following her treatment, Angela begins to hear strange voices and develops multiple personalities.

Father Lozano (Michael Peña) attempts to exorcise the demon he believes possesses Angela, but ultimately enlists the Vatican's assistance. The Vatican sends Vicar Imani (Djimon Hounsou) and Cardinal Bruun (Peter Andersson) to perform the exorcism.

Initially, the ritual proceeds smoothly, but it soon devolves into chaos as Angela displays uncontrollable and violent behavior. The film's conclusion is unexpected, as Angela seemingly rises from the dead and becomes a woman with the power to heal various ailments.

16. The Unborn

In most cases, evil spirits are portrayed as being exorcised by priests using crosses and holy water. However, the movie in question deviates from this norm. The reason for this is that the evil spirit depicted in the film is a Dybbuk, a legendary figure from Jewish folklore who preceded the birth of Jesus.

As a result, it requires a Rabbi well-versed in Hebrew mantras from the Torah to banish this evil spirit back to its realm. Despite the film's lackluster reception, its portrayal of the Dybbuk and its abilities serves to enrich our knowledge on the subject.

While not all films of this genre boast high quality, they often contain gripping scenes that can captivate viewers. Additionally, these movies provide insight into various types of evil spirits from diverse traditions, as well as the unique methods employed by exorcists to expel them.