If you’re a fan of The Conjuring and its terrifying sequels, then you know there’s nothing quite like a good haunted house movie to send shivers down your spine. The Conjuring universe, masterminded by horror maestro James Wan, has set a high bar when it comes to supernatural scares. But if you’ve binged the entire franchise and are still craving more demonic possessions, creepy dolls, and things that go bump in the night, fear not! We’ve compiled a list of 20 hair-raising films that are sure to satisfy your appetite for all things spooky. From modern gems to classic chillers, these movies like The Conjuring will have you sleeping with the lights on. Let’s dive in, shall we?
1. Insidious (2010)
Directed by none other than James Wan himself, Insidious is a natural choice for fans of The Conjuring. The film follows a couple whose son falls into a coma and becomes a vessel for malevolent entities from a realm known as “The Further.” With its creepy atmosphere, jump scares, and memorable demon designs, Insidious launched a successful franchise of its own. If you enjoyed the Warrens’ paranormal investigations, you’ll love watching the medium Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye) and her team battle supernatural forces.
2. The Amityville Horror (1979)
Based on the allegedly true story of the Lutz family, who moved into a house where a mass murder had taken place, The Amityville Horror is a classic of the haunted house subgenre. The film’s slow-burn approach to terror, combined with its 1970s aesthetic, makes it feel like a spiritual predecessor to The Conjuring. Fun fact: the real-life Ed and Lorraine Warren actually investigated the Amityville case, adding an extra layer of connection between the two films.
3. Poltergeist (1982)
Directed by Tobe Hooper of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre fame and produced by Steven Spielberg, Poltergeist is a quintessential ghost story that blends horror with family drama. When the Freeling family moves into a new suburban home, they soon discover that it’s built on a cemetery and is plagued by vengeful spirits. With its iconic scares (who can forget that clown doll?) and themes of familial bonds tested by supernatural forces, Poltergeist is a must-watch for any fan of The Conjuring.
4. The Changeling (1980)
Starring George C. Scott as a grieving composer who moves into a secluded mansion, The Changeling is a slow-burn ghost story that relies on atmosphere and psychological tension rather than jump scares. As Scott’s character uncovers the dark history of the house and the restless spirit that haunts it, the film builds to a chilling climax. Like The Conjuring, The Changeling demonstrates the power of a well-crafted haunted house tale.
5. Sinister (2012)
While not strictly a haunted house movie, Sinister shares The Conjuring’s knack for creating an oppressive sense of dread. Ethan Hawke stars as a true-crime writer who moves his family into a home where a brutal murder took place, only to discover a box of disturbing home movies that unleash a supernatural evil. With its creepy visuals and unsettling soundtrack, Sinister is a modern horror gem that will get under your skin.
6. The Others (2001)
Starring Nicole Kidman as a mother living in a remote mansion with her two photosensitive children, The Others is a gothic ghost story with a twist ending that will leave you reeling. Set in the aftermath of World War II, the film’s period setting and isolated location create a claustrophobic atmosphere that’s reminiscent of The Conjuring’s 1970s farmhouse. As Kidman’s character begins to suspect that her home is haunted, the tension ratchets up to an unforgettable climax.
7. The Orphanage (2007)
Produced by Guillermo del Toro, The Orphanage is a Spanish-language horror film that combines ghost story tropes with themes of grief and motherhood. When a woman returns to the orphanage where she grew up, intending to reopen it as a home for disabled children, her own son disappears and she begins to uncover the dark secrets of the place. With its emotional depth and chilling visuals, The Orphanage is a must-see for fans of The Conjuring’s blend of family drama and supernatural horror.
8. The Woman in Black (2012)
Based on the novel by Susan Hill, The Woman in Black stars Daniel Radcliffe as a young lawyer who travels to a remote village to settle the estate of a recently deceased client, only to encounter the vengeful ghost of a scorned woman. With its Victorian setting, Gothic atmosphere, and old-fashioned scares, The Woman in Black feels like a classic ghost story in the vein of The Conjuring.
9. The Haunting (1999)
Not to be confused with the 1963 film of the same name, The Haunting is a loose adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s novel The Haunting of Hill House. The film follows a group of people invited to stay in a creepy mansion as part of a sleep study, only to discover that the house is alive with malevolent spirits. While not as critically acclaimed as The Conjuring, The Haunting boasts an impressive cast (including Liam Neeson and Catherine Zeta-Jones) and some genuinely creepy set pieces.
10. Oculus (2013)
Directed by Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House, Doctor Sleep), Oculus tells the story of two siblings who believe that an antique mirror is responsible for the deaths and misfortunes that have plagued their family. As they attempt to prove the mirror’s supernatural powers and destroy it, reality begins to unravel around them. With its mind-bending plot and creepy visuals, Oculus is a unique take on the haunted object trope that fans of The Conjuring will appreciate.
11. The Sixth Sense (1999)
M. Night Shyamalan’s breakout hit, The Sixth Sense, follows a child psychologist (Bruce Willis) who tries to help a young boy (Haley Joel Osment) who claims to see dead people. While not as overtly scary as The Conjuring, The Sixth Sense shares its themes of supernatural gifts and the emotional toll they can take on those who possess them. Plus, the film’s iconic twist ending is still talked about to this day.
12. The Babadook (2014)
An Australian horror film that became a surprise international hit, The Babadook tells the story of a single mother struggling to raise her troubled son after the death of her husband. When a mysterious children’s book about a sinister entity known as the Babadook appears in their home, the line between reality and nightmare begins to blur. With its themes of grief, motherhood, and the power of storytelling, The Babadook is a deeply unsettling film that will linger in your mind long after the credits roll.
13. The Exorcist (1973)
No list of supernatural horror films would be complete without mentioning The Exorcist, the granddaddy of all possession movies. When a young girl becomes possessed by a demon, her mother turns to two priests for help. With its shocking visuals, iconic soundtrack, and unforgettable performances, The Exorcist set the standard for the subgenre and remains just as terrifying today as it was nearly 50 years ago. If you loved the exorcism scenes in The Conjuring, you owe it to yourself to watch this classic.
14. The Ring (2002)
A remake of the Japanese horror film Ringu, The Ring follows a journalist investigating a cursed videotape that allegedly kills the viewer seven days after watching it. As she races against time to uncover the mystery behind the tape and save herself and her son, she uncovers a dark history of murder and revenge. With its creepy visuals (that final scene still haunts us) and atmospheric dread, The Ring is a modern horror classic that shares The Conjuring’s knack for creating unforgettable scares.
15. The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
Okay, so this one’s a TV series, not a movie, but hear us out. Mike Flanagan’s The Haunting of Hill House, loosely based on the Shirley Jackson novel of the same name, is a masterclass in haunted house storytelling. The series follows the Crain family, who lived in the titular mansion in the 1990s and experienced a series of terrifying events that still haunt them in the present day. With its complex characters, emotional depth, and genuinely chilling scares, The Haunting of Hill House is a must-watch for any fan of The Conjuring.
16. A Quiet Place (2018)
While not strictly a supernatural horror film, A Quiet Place shares The Conjuring’s focus on family dynamics in the face of terrifying circumstances. In a post-apocalyptic world overrun by blind monsters with ultra-sensitive hearing, a family must navigate their daily lives in complete silence. With its innovative premise, masterful use of sound (or lack thereof), and powerful performances, A Quiet Place is a modern horror masterpiece that will have you holding your breath from start to finish.
17. The Shining (1980)
Based on the novel by Stephen King and directed by Stanley Kubrick, The Shining is a classic of the haunted hotel subgenre. When aspiring writer Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) takes a job as the winter caretaker of the isolated Overlook Hotel, he hopes to find inspiration in the solitude. Instead, he descends into madness as the hotel’s dark history and supernatural forces begin to influence him. With its iconic visuals, unsettling atmosphere, and unforgettable performances, The Shining is a must-see for any horror fan.
18. It Follows (2014)
A modern indie horror gem, It Follows tells the story of a teenage girl who, after a sexual encounter, finds herself stalked by a malevolent entity that can take the form of anyone. As she and her friends try to outrun the entity and uncover its origins, the film builds an atmosphere of paranoia and dread that’s reminiscent of The Conjuring’s most intense moments. With its stylish visuals, haunting soundtrack, and clever subversion of horror tropes, It Follows is a standout of the genre.
19. The Conjuring 2 (2016)
We know, we know – this one’s a bit of a cheat. But how could we not include The Conjuring 2, the sequel that proved that lightning can strike twice? This time, Ed and Lorraine Warren travel to England to investigate the Enfield poltergeist case, where a single mother and her children are terrorized by a malevolent spirit. With its emotional depth, terrifying set pieces (that nun!), and stellar performances from Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, The Conjuring 2 is a rare sequel that lives up to (and in some ways surpasses) the original.
20. Hereditary (2018)
Last but certainly not least, we have Hereditary, a film that took the horror world by storm upon its release in 2018. When the Graham family matriarch passes away, her daughter Annie (Toni Collette) and her family begin to unravel terrifying secrets about their ancestry. With its slow-burn pacing, unsettling imagery, and gut-wrenching performances (Collette’s in particular), Hereditary is a modern masterpiece of psychological horror that will leave you shaken to your core.
And there you have it – 20 spine-chilling movies like The Conjuring that are sure to keep you up at night. From classic ghost stories to modern indie gems, these films showcase the enduring power of supernatural horror to terrify and entertain us. So grab some popcorn (and maybe a security blanket), turn off the lights, and prepare to be scared silly by these haunting tales. Just don’t blame us if you have trouble sleeping afterward – after all, that’s the sign of a truly great horror movie.
