Horror is undoubtedly reigning supreme at the box office in 2025, with no film making quite the same impact as The Conjuring: Last Rites, which shattered records upon its release just last week.
With this instalment being touted as the final chapter of the franchise, we figured it was time to refine our list of must-see paranormal films. To help, we turned to the RUSSH editors and our most passionate horror aficionados to curate a selection of films that truly deserve a spot. The criteria? They must be genuinely terrifying, feature a supernatural element (no fantasy or sci-fi here), and, above all, remain thoroughly entertaining.
Read our picks below...
1. Hereditary
If you appreciated the sinister family dynamics in The Conjuring, A24's smash-hit Hereditary will draw you in with its deeply unsettling portrayal of grief and inherited trauma. We still hold true that Toni Colette was robbed of an Oscar for this one.
2. Amityville Horror
If you didn't already know, the real-life Amityville case is connected to the Warrens' work (they investigated the haunting in the opening of The Conjuring 2). It's a chilling story of a family terrorised by dark forces in their new home. There's also a new remake on the way.
3. Paranormal Activity
If, like me, you were a pre-teen when the first Paranormal Activity film dropped, you'll remember what a cultural touchstone this franchise became. A simple yet effective found-footage style horror film, it's tense and chilling and will make you scared of your own hallways.
4. Talk to Me
A fresh take on possession from the Australian twin filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou, Talk to Me was a horror hit from 2023 that follows a group of friends inadvertently invites dark forces into their lives through a dangerous ritual. Of course, we're also down for anything starring Sophie Wilde and Zoe Terakes.
5. Annabelle
An official spin-off of The Conjuring franchise, Annabelle (and its sequels) are about a seemingly innocent doll that harbours an ancient evil that begins to haunt a young couple.
6. The Exorcist
A landmark horror film this one. The Exorcist delves into the terrifying experience of a young girl’s possession and the battle to save her. You've probably heard your parents talk about how truly terrifying this was for them to watch as kids.
7. Insidious
Another modern classic, Insidious takes you on a journey into a supernatural realm where malevolent spirits and forces beyond our world threaten a family’s safety. Reddit agrees it was one of the best (and scariest) horror films ever made.
8. 32 Malasana Street
For a foreign language option, this Spanish film is set in a dilapidated apartment building and introduces a terrifying presence that haunts a family after they move in. It's beautifully shot, completely unnerving and (like The Conjuring) was also inspired by true events from the 70s.
9. Sinister
In Sinister, a true-crime writer (played by Ethan Hawke) stumbles upon cursed footage tied to a string of supernatural killings. As he investigates further, the terrifying nature of the entity behind these events becomes impossible to ignore, leading to a disturbing and ominous conclusion.
10. The Nun
Taissa, our underrated scream queen. If you didn't already have a Tumblr blog dedicated to her and Evan Peters in American Horror Story, then you might after this film. Set against the haunting backdrop of a Romanian abbey, The Nun explores the dark past of an ancient demon.
11. American Horror Story (Season One 'Murder House')
Speaking of – I know this list is supposed to be exclusively films, but it would be remiss not to mention how delightfully spooky (and darkly romantic) the first season of Ryan Murphy's uber-popular AHS series was. The first season follows the Harmon family who move into a haunted Victorian mansion in Los Angeles.
12. Ouija
When a group of teens uses a Ouija board to contact the dead, they inadvertently summon a malevolent force. You'll find a young Olivia Cooke in this one (from The Girlfriend and House of Dragon fame).
12. Lights Out
In Lights Out, we get another Aussie scream queen at the fore: Teresa Palmer. It's about a terrifying entity only appears when the lights go out, causing chaos in a family’s life. Its minimalist approach to horror is really fun.
13. The Haunting of Hill House
I know, I know. It's another TV show – well, technically a miniseries. But ask any horror afficionado, and they'll tell you that you're not to skip over a viewing of The Haunting of Hill House on Netflix. It's an unsettling look at a family haunted by both their past and the malevolent spirits of a cursed house.
14. Poltergeist
The lore of Poltergeist almost outshines the film. But I say 'almost' because honestly, it really holds up. Sure, some of the CGI is a little cheap now, but the story of a suburban family is terrorised by unseen forces in their home, leading to a frightening battle against a malevolent spirit honestly never gets old. Vale Heather O'Rourke and Dominique Dunne.
15. Oculus
Oculus centres around a cursed mirror that distorts reality and terrorises a family with its disturbing supernatural influence. It sounds weird, I know, but it's still very scary I promise.
16. The Exorcism of Emily Rose
Laura Linney the icon that you are. The Exorcism of Emily Rose combines courtroom drama with supernatural horror, as a young woman undergoes an exorcism that spirals into a tragic event. Very in the vein of The Conjuring.
17. The Shining
A psychological horror masterpiece, The Shining takes place in an isolated hotel where a man slowly succumbs to madness under the influence of sinister forces. It's worth a watch just for the cultural capital alone.
18. The Babadook
The Babadook tells the story of a mother and son haunted by a mysterious entity that emerges from a children’s book. The film explores grief and motherhood through a supernatural lens, and it still makes me laugh that the monster has been co-opted by the LGBTQIA+ community as a new queer icon.
19. Bring Her Back
A relatively new film from the RackaRacka brothers, Bring Her Back revolves around the mysterious disappearance of a woman, and the supernatural events that unfold as those closest to her try to uncover the truth. It's got an 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is pretty damn good for a horror film.
20. The Others
I have vivid memories of watching this film as a child and being absolutely haunted by the ending. In The Others, a woman and her children are haunted by mysterious forces in their secluded mansion. Of course, Nicole is irreverent, but this film is all about the mystery.
21. The Haunting
If you're into the proper classics, this 60s horror film takes place in a grand, eerie mansion where strange occurrences begin to escalate. There's a 1999 remake with Liam Neeson you can opt for too.
22. Late Night with the Devil
Set in a 1970s television studio, Late Night with the Devil follows a live broadcast where dark forces are unleashed. If you're looking for more of that 70s aesthetic in your horror, this one's a real gem.
23. The Ring
A classic, honestly. When a cursed videotape begins to spread, a reporter investigates its origins, only to find herself in a race against time to stop an impending supernatural doom. If you haven't already seen The Ring, we'd suggest get onto it pronto.
24. The Sixth Sense
M. Night Shyamalan's magnum opus, The Sixth Sense revolves around a young boy who can see and communicate with the dead, leading to a deep psychological journey. It's deeply disturbing and has so many incredible twists and turns. Haley Joel Osment was prodigious in this.
25. Blair Witch Project
A turning point in horror, this found footage film honestly had people stumped as to whether or not its contents were real when it first came out. It follows a group of filmmakers who venture into the woods to investigate a local legend, only to become the subject of terror themselves.
26. The Rite
Another horror film inspired by true events, a skeptical young priest is sent to Rome to witness an exorcism firsthand, confronting dark forces he never imagined.
27. Candyman
Set in the haunting backdrop of urban legends, Candyman brings a terrifying supernatural figure to life, with a legacy of horror tied to a hidden myth – perfect for Conjuring fans.
