Demons are among the scariest, most supernatural and dangerous creatures in horror movies. Demonic spirits, devils, and entities play an important role in genre productions, inspiring some of the most iconic and terrifying scenes in cinematic history. Tales of demonic possession, exorcisms, and supernatural creatures have been happening all along. And these movies feature a variety of fascinating storylines, ranging from jumping on bed sheets to levitating bodies and spinning heads. Here is a roundup of some of the best demon movies out there.
What Are Demon Movies?
Demon movies are horror films featuring entity spirits, devils, and other supernatural creatures that may possess or haunt people and locations. Even if demon movies aren’t always about possession in a literal sense—sometimes it’s about the fear associated with supernatural spirits and other dark forces—they often depict those experiences, whether real or imagined. Generally, demon movies involve storylines and characters attempting to rid themselves of these malevolent entities, often with the help of a priest, an exorcist, or other powerful characters.
The 10 Most Terrifying Demon Movies
The Exorcist (1973): This is one of the classic movies about demonic possession, and one that continues to inspire horror filmmakers to this day. The Exorcist tells the story of a 12-year-old girl who is possessed by the Devil, and her mother’s desperate attempt to save her with the help of two priests.
The Conjuring (2013): James Wan’s horror classic features the real-life paranormal investigators Lorraine and Ed Warren, as they help the Perron family in their fight against a supernatural entity that is terrorizing their home.
The Witch (2015): Robert Eggers’ film tells the story of a Puritan family who move to a remote area of New England. Soon they realize something evil is lurking in the woods, and lying in wait for them.
The Omen (1976): Richard Donner’s horror classic stars Gregory Peck and Lee Remick as a couple whose adopted son turns out to be the Antichrist.
The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005): Director Scott Derrickson tells the story of a priest who is put on trial for the death of a young woman during an exorcism.
The Exorcist III (1990): In this third installment of the iconic horror franchise, a detective investigates a string of grisly murders, only to find them linked to a deadly entity from his past.
Drag Me to Hell (2009): Sam Raimi returns to horror with this movie, where a cursed woman is tormented by a demonic spirit and attempts to undo her curse.
Insidious (2010): James Wan’s story follows a family whose young son falls into a deep coma, after which they discover he has been possessed by a powerful entity.
The Amityville Horror (1979): The Chases move into an old house, only to discover it’s haunted by a powerful and malevolent force.
The Nun (2018): In this prequel to The Conjuring franchise, a priest and a nun are sent to a remote abbey to investigate the mysterious death of a nun.
Who Are the Biggest Stars Who Have Appeared in Demon Movies?
Many of Hollywood’s biggest and most renowned actors have appeared in demon movies over the years. Here are some of the most famous stars in demonic horror movies:
Max von Sydow: He is best known for his role as Father Merrin in The Exorcist. Other demon movies he has starred in include Needful Things and The Legacy.
Linda Blair: Blair is best known for her iconic performance as Regan in The Exorcist. She has also appeared in Hell Night and Exorcist II: The Heretic.
Ellen Burstyn: She starred as Chris MacNeil in the classic The Exorcist, as well as in The Exorcism of Emily Rose.
Lorraine Warren: She is the real-life paranormal investigator at the center of The Conjuring and The Conjuring 2.
Patrick Wilson: Best known for his star-making performance as Ed Warren in The Conjuring series, Wilson has also appeared in Insidious: Chapter 2.
Vera Farmiga: Farmiga stars as Lorraine Warren in The Conjuring series, alongside Patrick Wilson.
The Best Demon Movies of All Time
The best demon movies of all time are some of the scariest and most iconic horror films ever made. Here are some of the all-time classic demonic horror movies.
The Evil Dead (1981): Sam Raimi’s classic horror film follows a group of friends who encounter malevolent forces in a remote cabin in the woods.
The Exorcist (1973): The classic horror movie is one of the most acclaimed and influential films of all time, and its depiction of demonic possession is still considered one of the scariest movie scenes ever.
The Shining (1980): Stanley Kubrick’s horror masterpiece follows Jack Torrance as he descends into a terrifying world of madness and paranormal phenomena.
The Omen (1976): This classic horror movie tells the story of a young boy who is revealed to be the Antichrist.
Rosemary’s Baby (1968): Roman Polanski’s classic horror film follows really young couple living in an eerie apartment building, who soon become involved in a terrifying conspiracy.
The Amityville Horror (1979): The classic haunted house movie is based on the real-life experiences of the Lutz family, who experienced paranormal phenomena in their Long Island home.
The Conjuring (2013): One of the most successful horror movies of the past decade, this movie follows real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren as they attempt to free a family from a powerful supernatural force.
The Babadook (2014): Jennifer Kent’s critically acclaimed horror masterpiece follows a single mother struggling to protect her young son from a mysterious evil entity.
Demon movies provide some of the scariest and most powerful moments in horror filmmaking, and many of these films are considered classics. Whether it’s demonic possession, exorcism, and other supernatural forces, these stories explore some of the most terrifying phenomena in the cinematic universe. Demon movies continue to inspire generations of horror filmmakers, and no doubt we can expect more fascinating and gripping storylines as time goes on.