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The order below is an editorial recommendation, not a box-office or critics’ score ranking. It weighs how central the exorcism or possession response is, the film’s distinct horror approach, and how well its premise serves viewers looking for this particular kind of story.
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20 exorcist-themed movies, ranked
1. The Exorcist (1973)
The defining possession-horror reference point, and still the most complete choice for viewers who want a ritual at the center of the terror. Its enduring force comes from treating possession as a crisis that tests family, faith, and the people called in to help. Rotten Tomatoes’ 2017 genre gallery placed it at 86% on its then-displayed Tomatometer and praised its effects and eerie atmosphere; that historical score is a snapshot, not a permanent measure.
2. The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)
This film makes the aftermath of an exorcism the engine of a courtroom story: Sony’s synopsis follows a lawyer defending a priest after a young woman dies during an exorcism. The format gives the horror a second register, as a legal case weighs explanations and responsibility rather than simply staging a ritual. TIME describes the story as loosely based on Anneliese Michel’s case and notes the film’s courtroom framing. Its supernatural interpretation is dramatization, not proof of what happened historically. Sony lists the film on Digital, Blu-ray, and DVD; see Sony Pictures’ film page for currently displayed formats.
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3. The Last Exorcism (2010)
A strong pick for viewers drawn to the question of whether an exorcism is a sincere religious response or a performance with another explanation. Its presence in Rotten Tomatoes’ exorcism-horror gallery makes it a clear fit for the category; the premise’s tension comes from the act of investigating the ritual as much as from the possibility of possession.
4. The Exorcist III (1990)
A natural next watch for anyone who wants to stay with the world of The Exorcist without simply repeating the original’s setup. It appears in Rotten Tomatoes’ genre gallery and broadens the appeal of the list beyond films built around a single classic ritual scene.
5. The Pope’s Exorcist (2023)
A modern, explicitly exorcist-centered entry. Sony describes the horror thriller as inspired by Father Gabriele Amorth’s files and follows Amorth investigating a boy’s possession. The real-person inspiration is a premise for a fictionalized film, not independent confirmation of the events it depicts. Sony lists Blu-ray and DVD editions on its film page; formats and retailer availability may change.
6. The Conjuring (2013) — borderline
This is primarily a haunting story, but its exorcism element is substantial enough to merit a place on a broad exorcist-themed list. TIME describes the story as involving the Warrens and an exorcism attempt after the Catholic Church refuses. It is a useful pick for viewers who want an investigative haunting narrative as well as possession horror. Rotten Tomatoes included it in its 2017 exorcism-horror gallery.
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Rank #2
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7. The Rite (2011)
For a more explicitly religious take on the subject, The Rite belongs on the shortlist: it is included in Rotten Tomatoes’ exorcism-horror gallery. It provides a change of pace from domestic possession stories by centering the figure of the exorcist, making it a sensible choice for viewers curious about the people and beliefs behind the ritual.
8. Constantine (2005) — borderline
Rotten Tomatoes’ broad gallery includes this supernatural action film, but it is an edge case rather than a straightforward exorcism drama. Its place here is for viewers who want religiously inflected supernatural spectacle more than a sustained ritual-centered horror story.
9. The Possession (2012) — adjacent tradition
Not every possession narrative is a Catholic exorcism story. TIME describes The Possession as drawing on Jewish dybbuk folklore, a distinction worth keeping in view rather than flattening different religious traditions into one genre label. It fits a broad possession-themed watchlist, though it sits outside the list’s strictest exorcist-centered definition.
10. The Exorcist: Believer (2023)
A contemporary continuation of the franchise is an obvious option for viewers who want a recent major-studio take on possession and exorcism. Its appeal here is primarily as a later entry in the cultural conversation opened by the original, not as a replacement for it.
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11. The Exorcism (2024)
This title belongs on a modern watchlist for viewers interested in how exorcism stories continue to be reworked for contemporary horror audiences. It is a less foundational pick than the classic and the courtroom-driven entries higher up, but extends the list beyond the familiar franchise landmarks.
12. Prey for the Devil (2022)
A recent possession-horror option for viewers who want a story shaped around the practice of exorcism and the religious institutions surrounding it. It is best approached as a genre pick rather than as a guide to real-world exorcism practice.
13. The Devil Inside (2012)
Another fit for viewers drawn to the found-footage side of possession horror. Its inclusion reflects the breadth of what audiences mean by “exorcism movies”: some emphasize a formal ritual, while others build dread around the investigation and recording of alleged possession.
14. Deliver Us from Evil (2014)
This is a broader supernatural crime-horror choice rather than a pure exorcism film. It suits viewers who like religious imagery folded into an investigation, but the category fit is looser than for films whose central conflict is an exorcism itself.
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15. The Exorcism of God (2021)
A possession-and-exorcism premise makes this a straightforward genre recommendation for viewers looking beyond the best-known American studio titles. It is an example of the international reach of the formula, though the list’s top entries remain stronger starting points for newcomers.
16. Requiem (2006)
For viewers interested in the real-case inspiration often associated with possession films, this German drama offers a more grounded, ambiguous alternative to supernatural spectacle. As with any dramatization of a real case, the film’s interpretation should not be mistaken for a settled historical account.
17. Possessed (2000)
This television film adapts the same broad real-case territory that has inspired later possession stories. Its value on a long watchlist is comparative: it lets viewers see how dramatically different filmmakers can shape material associated with reported possession and exorcism.
18. The Exorcism of Molly Hartley (2015)
A franchise-era supernatural horror option for viewers who have worked through the canonical titles and still want a possession story built around an exorcism. It is a deeper-cut pick, not the best first stop.
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19. American Exorcist (2018)
This lower-profile entry rounds out the list for dedicated genre viewers. It is a better fit for an exploratory marathon than for someone seeking the strongest introduction to exorcism horror.
20. Exorcist: The Beginning (2004)
A final franchise option for viewers who want to follow the series beyond its most celebrated film. Its position reflects the gap between historical significance and the uneven returns that often come with extending a horror property.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose your next exorcism movie
- For the foundational classic: Start with The Exorcist.
- For legal and moral tension: Choose The Exorcism of Emily Rose.
- For a contemporary exorcist as the protagonist: Try The Pope’s Exorcist.
- For a haunting story with an exorcism element: Choose The Conjuring, understanding that it is a borderline fit.
- For folklore beyond Catholic exorcism: Consider The Possession as an adjacent, dybbuk-based story rather than a Catholic ritual film.
Why exorcism-movie rankings differ
There is no single objective ranking. Rotten Tomatoes’ January 5, 2017 gallery, for example, excluded comedies and non-horror films, required at least 20 reviews, and ordered titles by Tomatometer score. That is one transparent method, but it favors films with a sufficient review pool and reflects a changing aggregate score. This list instead gives priority to a film’s fit with the subject and its usefulness to a viewer choosing what to watch.
The category also has a fuzzy edge. Some films put a formal exorcism at the center; others are possession stories, hauntings, or supernatural adventures in which an exorcism is one part. Naming that difference helps avoid treating Catholic ritual, Jewish folklore, and generalized supernatural horror as interchangeable.
Quick Recap
Sources and viewing details
- Rotten Tomatoes’ 2017 exorcism-horror gallery supplies the dated critics’ gallery methodology and candidate titles.
- Sony Pictures: The Exorcism of Emily Rose provides the studio synopsis and currently displayed formats.
- Sony Pictures: The Pope’s Exorcist provides the studio synopsis and currently displayed formats.
- TIME’s overview of exorcism films provides context on the courtroom framing of Emily Rose, The Conjuring’s exorcism attempt, and The Possession’s dybbuk folklore.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
