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15 Movies like Hereditary and Other Haunted House Horrors

May 27, 2023
movies like hereditary

What’s scarier in cinema than haunted house horrors? I’d wager not much. A house is a place where you are meant to feel safe, a place that is meant to protect you from the outside world, a place that’s meant to feel like home. That place suddenly turns on you, and now you have to escape its clutches. Movies like Hereditary are all about exploiting this primal fear through the power of cinema.

Hereditary follows the story of a family, haunted by a mysterious spirit after their grandmother’s death. They soon begin to uncover some grave secrets about their own ancestry, a secret that aims to chase them into their deaths. Hereditary was a huge success, earning over $70 million in the box office internationally upon release.

This movie is a harrowing story that has been called “the scariest movie of 2018”. If you’re looking for other chilling haunted house horrors, to keep you shivering with fear beneath the blankets, then here are 15 movies like Hereditary for you to watch.  

List of Movies like Hereditary

  1. Insidious
  2. A Haunted House
  3. The Shining
  4. The Haunting
  5. The Deep House
  6. The Amityville Horror
  7. Paranormal Activity
  8. 1408
  9. The Orphanage
  10. His House
  11. What Lies Beneath
  12. A Tale of Two Sisters
  13. Poltergeist
  14. The Uninvited
  15. The Innocents

1. Insidious (2010)

Insidious follows the story of a married couple who get into dire straits when their son enters a comatose state, and begins to get possessed by a group of demons. These demons begin to haunt their home through manifestations in their son, quite similar in premise to movies like Hereditary.

Insidious has its fair share of scares, both silent creeping ones and sudden jump scares, a good mix in terms of horror. It has an added twist with the inclusion of the astral realm. Its quality sound design means its atmosphere but visually and sonically are as captivating and gripping as any other horror movie out there.

2. A Haunted House (2013)

A Haunted House goes the comedic route with a story about a couple, named Malcolm, played by Marlon Wayans and Kisha, played by Essence Atkins. Together they move into a new home only to discover that it is haunted. This haunting manifests due to Kisha being possessed by a demon.

Malcolm tries all he can to help banish the demon that has possessed his wife. It’s a satirical haunted house horror-comedy that got bad critic reviews but was able to secure impressive box office numbers irrespective of this, as fans found it considerably entertaining. Check this out if you love movies like Hereditary.

3. The Shining (1980)

Things get serious quickly following that last one with Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. The Shining follows the story of Jack Torrance, played by Jack Nicholson, a man who takes over as a winter caretaker for the secluded Overlook Hotel. He moves into the hotel with his wife Wendy and his son Danny, but things take a turn for the worse as he begins to have sinister visions.

The Shining is one of the greatest horror films of all time, and the benchmark that movies like Hereditary are compared to. The Shining opened to mixed reviews but has since aged so well that it is regularly placed on numerous greatest movies lists. The Shining is a must-watch.

Also Read: Movies like Midsommar

4. The Haunting (1963)

The Haunting follows the story of Dr John Markway, an anthropologist who visits a haunted house, known as Hill House alongside two selected women. They soon get more than what they bargained for, as manifestations begin to ensue, with strange sounds and occurrences taking place in the house.

Another haunted house horror for fans of movies similar to Hereditary, The Haunting is a truly terrifying watch that scared the early cinema audiences of the 60s. It is also one of the more visually ambitious movies of that era, and if you’re wondering how you can get to watch it, you can check out its DVD release.

5. The Deep House (2021)

The Deep House is another extremely haunting haunted house horror similar to films like Hereditary. This movie follows two YouTubers who take a deep dive into a French lake, and find a house that has been submerged underneath its surface. They soon discover that the house was the setting of many an insidious crime.

The atmosphere of The Deep House is first of all molded to perfection. It’s a unique premise that is only able to be pulled off due to the technical expertise on show by the crew, and the convincing performances by the cast. If you’re looking for something completely out of left field, then The Deep House is the one for you.

6. The Amityville Horror (2005)

In The Amityville Horror, we are faced with a story centered on Ryan Reynolds’ George Lutz and Melissa George’s Kathy, a couple who move into a new quaint house located in the town of Amityville, New York. They soon realize that the reason the house was so cheap was due to the rumors of it being haunted. A rumor which they soon see to be true.  

The Amityville Horror was a box office success, opening with $107 million to its $19 million budget. It’s a creepy horror, with slower building scares as opposed to some of the more bombastic scares that can be found in movies similar to Hereditary. Still, its subtle horror can make for an enthralling watch, if that is more your style.

7. Paranormal Activity (2007)

Paranormal Activity is yet another haunted house horror similar to films like Hereditary. It just might be THE modern haunted house horror, and has since been viewed more and more over the years as a classic. The movie follows the story of Katie and Micah who move into a haunted home. They hope to capture this phenomenon with the help of hidden cameras.

Directed by Oren Peli, Paranormal Activity was a game changer due to its found footage style of filming, a style that was used in its sequels, and was soon also replicated in a number of other films. Paranormal Activity broke the record of another horror movie for best box office numbers in comparison to its budget, as it made $194.2 million off of a $15,000 production budget.

8. 1408 (2007)

John Cusack is Mike Enslin in 1408, a psychological haunted house horror which centers on Enslin, an author who upon being warned not to lodge in room 1408 of a New York City hotel. He ignores these warnings, and soon becomes trapped in the room, where he experiences some truly terrifying phenomena.

1408 makes use of psychological horror more than just mere scares, and has been particularly praised for Cusack’s acting performance which more than elevated the movie as a whole. This movie also features Samuel L. Jackson in a supporting role, so it doesn’t lack in the talent department. If you love films similar to Hereditary, there’s a good chance you’ll love this.

9. The Orphanage (2007)

From haunted hotel rooms to haunted orphanages, that’s where we’re headed to in The Orphanage. The movie is centered on the story of a woman who moves back to her childhood home, which used to be an orphanage. Things take a creepy turn when her son starts to talk to a new ‘friend’.

The Orphanage is a truly unnerving film, in a similar vein to movies like Hereditary. None of its scares feel cheap, and it’s more of an atmospheric horror that will make for a real nail-biter. Regarded as one of the best horror films of 2007, if you’re looking for some quality haunted house flicks, then this is the one for you.  

10. His House (2020)

His House follows the story of a Sudanese refugee and his family, who escape their war torn country, and move to a quaint English town to start all over again. They soon discover that all may not be as it seems, and that there seems to be an evil presence in the heart of this town.  

A straight to Netflix movie, directed by Remi Weekes, His House was released to critical acclaim, with praise particularly reserved for its socially relevant messaging all wrapped into a deeply enthralling horror story. If you like films similar to Hereditary, you’ll like this one.

11. What Lies Beneath (2000)

What Lies Beneath follows the tale of Harrison Ford’s Dr Norman Spencer whose wife, Claire, played by Michelle Pfeifer, claims to be hearing voices of a lady in their home. He doesn’t believe her at first, but the haunting starts to manifest in more concrete ways, threatening to derail his and his wife’s lives.

What Lies Beneath makes for a thrilling ride from start to finish, one which you cannot be too sure of what will happen next. It’s a spooky haunted house horror similar to movies like Hereditary, and if you’re looking for slow building scares, then you’re in the right place with this movie.

Also Read: Movies like The Menu

12. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)

A Tale of Two Sisters is a South Korean psychological thriller written and directed by Kim Jee-woon. The film centers on the story of a released mental asylum patient who returns home with her sister, but soon begins to see premonitions of a ghost which haunts her and the house.

This movie was a boundary breaking movie for South Korean cinema, being the first South Korean movie to be screened in American theaters. It’s a truly disturbing piece of cinema with a dark setting, and if you were drawn to those qualities in movies similar to Hereditary, then the same will apply here.

13. Poltergeist (1982)

The strangest things always seem to happen to the most normal of families, and this is very much the case in Poltergeist, a story about a Californian family known as the Feelings. The Freelings are going about living their normal lives until one day when ghosts start to talk to them through their television set.

Poltergeist spawned some of the most iconic and scariest scenes in horror movie history, and has even been named by the Chicago Film Institute as the 20th scariest film ever made. If you’re looking for haunted house horror films like Hereditary that can chill you to your bones, then you have to check out Poltergeist.  

14. The Uninvited (2009)

The Uninvited follows the story of Anna, played by Emily Browning, who begins to notice some changes and movement in the store of her home. She soon discovers that the cause of these changes is the ghost of her mother, who is out for revenge, after discovering that her husband was dating her murderer.

Emily Browning was praised for her acting performance as Anna, which was more than impressive, especially for an actor of that age. The movie has some very impressive cinematography and some truly shocking scenes in the mix. For fans of movies like Hereditary, it’d be nice to check this out also.

15. The Innocents (2021)

A truly disturbing horror similar to movies like Hereditary, The Innocents is centered on a group of four children who discover they have supernatural powers while on their summer holiday. They spend their days roaming the forests, but soon discover that there is something sinister hiding beneath the surface.

The major characters are all well portrayed due to an absolute master class in child acting. This movie also manages to touch on some deeper themes like abuse, parenthood and autism. It’s all in all a wonderfully written story that you should try to see for yourself if you haven’t.  

Honorable Mentions

Here are some movies like Hereditary full of scares that didn’t quite make the list but you can watch regardless:

  1. Things Heard & Seen (2021)
  2. The Evil Dead (1981)
  3. The Entity (1982)
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When Lost aired over a decade ago, its successful narrative created a pop culture impact and changed the landscape of television. If you are a fan and want to watch shows like Lost then you can have a look at this list we made just for you.

Lost

The hugely successful television series Lost aired in 2004. The premise, as we know, deals with a group of people surviving a commercial passenger plane crash on a remote island. The show masterfully explores supernatural and sci-fi elements on this mysterious south Pacific island. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTu8iDynwNc

The use of cliffhangers at the end of each episode of Lost kept the viewers on the edge of their seats, desperately craving for the next episode to come. Even though it's a large ensemble cast, most of the characters receive a justifiable personal arch. Lost was inspired by the movie Castaway and became one of the most expensive pilots to be shot at the time! Lost continues to be appreciated for its originality in storytelling and dynamic character arcs. 

List of TV Shows Like Lost

  1. The Leftovers
  2. Manifest
  3. Lost Room
  4. Twin Peaks
  5. The Prisoners
  6. Battlestar Galactica
  7. The New People
  8. Flight 29 Down
  9. Fringe
  10. Alcatraz
  11. Under the Dome
  12. Dark

1. The Leftovers (2014)

IMDB ratings: 8.3/10

Cast: Carrie Coon, Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman and Margaret Qualley

Creator: Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta

The director of Lost, Damon Lindel also created a supernatural drama series called The Leftovers. The show begins 3 years after an unexplainable global event called ‘Sudden Departure’  where almost 2 per cent of the population, nearly 140 million people, disappear. The Leftovers isn't about WHY people are gone, it's about how the ones who remain dealt with their loss, people often try to comfort themselves with dreams, angels, gods, or even death.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLT3YUALJno&t=8s

The Leftovers will leave you with so many questions but beyond words, you have to feel it and savour its unanswered questions to find peace. The Leftovers is an incredible television series that starts incredibly well but loses its way by the series's end. I have to say though, Carrie Coon has brilliant moments in the end. The Leftovers is so weird, fragmented and nonsensical at times that it reminds me of Lost. If you are looking for shows like Lost, I recommend that you give The Leftovers a try.

2. Manifest  (2018) 

IMDB ratings: 7.1/10

Cast: Melissa Roxburgh, Josh Dallas and J.R. Ramirez 

Creator: Jeff Rake


The Manifest is a supernatural drama show about a bunch of people who discover that they lost 5 years of their lives when they landed in New York after their aeroplane faced severe turbulence. All the people on the plane were presumed to be dead. Now, these people have to find a way to adjust themselves to a new life around their loved ones. Mild spoiler! They learn their loved ones and the rest of society is not as they left it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1hNAIzkQWY

I found that the show’s premise was very intriguing and the actors give a very convincing performance. The narrative details of the show, however, in my opinion, are a bit sloppy and inconsistent. The writers surely have room for improvement but their concept is incredibly thrilling. Every episode of Manifest keeps you on your toes. Manifest has completed 3 seasons up until now and continues to be on air. Manifest is a pretty good choice if you want to watch TV shows like Lost.

3. Lost Room (2006)

IMDB ratings: 8.1/10

Cast: Peter Krause, Julianna Margulies and Peter Jacobson

Creator: Christopher Leone, Laura Harkcom

This lesser-known show The Lost Room is an American Sci-fi television miniseries which only had 3 episodes of 90 mins each and no follow-up seasons. The show was based on a very unique idea where the room in question (known as the ‘Lost Room’) and the objects in the said room had supernatural powers. This strange room is set in a 1960s motel along the iconic U.S. Route 66. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfWrECLnFYU

One day the protagonist (Peter Krause) Joe Miller’s daughter disappears inside the room. Joe, with the help of objects present in the room, tries to find his daughter Anna (Elle Fanning). The story of Lost Room was intensely engaging. I found the direction and the actor’s performances to be absolutely brilliant. It baffles me that the creators did not return to make another short season within the same concept. If you have been searching for TV series like Lost then I can assure you that Lost Room will be worth a watch.

4. Twins Peaks (1990) 

IMDB ratings: 8.8/10

Cast: Kyle MacLachlan, Mädchen Amick, Sherilyn Fenn and David Lynch

Creator: David Lynch

David Lynch, the well-known director of weird and captivating films such as Eraserhead and Blue Velvet created an iconic show called Twin Peaks. It is a hauntingly eccentric show about the investigation of the mysterious murder of a small-town homecoming queen named Laura Palmer. Believe me, as odd as the show may seem at first, you will grow to love it, after all, it is considered to be one of the best mystery shows ever created. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwn9ou_nf-I

With the mysteries, the supernatural elements and the list of bizarre characters, Twin Peaks has it all. In my opinion, the cinematography of the show was truly ahead of its time. Kyle’s Dale Cooper was especially entertaining. Twin Peaks’ experimental formula of the satirical soap opera is extremely unsettling yet rewarding to watch, I must warn you, it’s not for the faint-hearted!  If you are in search of TV shows like Lost then Twin Peaks won’t disappoint you.

The Prisoners (1967)

IMDB ratings: 8.5/10

Cast: Patrick McGoohan, Angelo Muscat and Geroge Markstien

Creator: Patrick McGoohan


The Prisoner centres around an unnamed British agent (Patrick McGoohan) who tries to flee his country after abruptly quitting his high-ranking government job. He is abducted and held captive in a strange ‘sea-side’ village that is isolated from the rest of the world. This village is a highly secure and monitored place filled with weird technology. There are only 17 episodes to this late 60s show but it manages to bring up such surreal surprises, it's sure to leave a great impact on the viewer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JrNr85fPms

The Prisoner’s unique concept influenced many popular shows including Lost. The creators of Lost even cited the show. I was very impressed by how ahead of its time The Prisoners proves to be. If you want to watch more shows similar to Lost the Prisoners should definitely be on your list.

6. Battlestar Galactica (2004)

IMDB ratings: 8.7/10

Cast: Katee Sackhoff, Edward James Olmos and Tricia Helfer 

Creator: Glen A. Larson

The 2004 Battlestar Galactica is a reboot of the original 1978 miniseries of the same name. Do not be mistaken by the title, the show is not related to Star Trek.  Battlestar Galactica is set in the 7th millennium AD and follows Cylons, the robot enemy of humanity that resurfaces to destroy the 12 colonies of Mankind. Only a few survive and are able to escape on ships led by a powerful warship called Battlestar Galactica. Mankind struggles to fight the Cylons and work their own political agendas and disputes while finding their long-lost 13th colony Earth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnYsf2Yv8i8

The show is a dark, intense and gritty socio-political commentary with EPIC cinematic value. The script is especially clever and as a huge fan of sci-fi shows, this show ticks the boxes in all the right categories. When the show was released, it blew the viewers and critics away. As far as an obsessive and gripping story goes, Battlestar Galactica is one of the most similar to shows like Lost. 

7. The New People (1969)

IMDB ratings: 7.3/10

Cast: David Moses, Zooey hall and Tiffany Boiling

Creator: Larry Gordon Aaron Spelling

The New People is an American Tv series that aired only for 1 season and is focused on a couple of college students who survive a plane crash. The incident takes place while they were returning from a trip to Southeast Asia, their plane crashes on an island in the south of the Pacific ocean. 

By now this show must already be sounding a lot like Lost to you, and it surely is. The remaining group of people discover an unusual truth about the island: there’s an above-ground unused nuclear test site filled with supplies for the survivors. If you want to see more plane survival stories like Lost then The New People should definitely be on your list.

8. Flight 29 Down (2005)

IMDB ratings: 7.2/10

Cast: Allen Alvarado, Halle Hirsh and Corbin Bleu

Creator:  Stan Rowgow D. J. MacHale

The show Flight 29 Down is a drama series about a group of pre-teens/teens who are stranded on a South Pacific island after their plane crashes in a tropical storm while they were flying from an eco-adventure camping trip in Palau. The show is in many ways a younger version of the Adult-centred show Lost but sans the supernatural elements. I’d say that the show draws inspiration from the show The New People.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLeG0w3kL8k

Flight 29 Down uses the technique of a video diary as a plot device for the viewers to keep up with the story of these children. It was very engaging to watch young intelligent characters finding their way on the island. The first two seasons of the show are quite engaging but I seemed to lose interest in its 3rd and final season. Regardless, Flight 29 Down is a really good series to watch if you want to see TV shows like Lost.

9. Fringe (2008)

IMDB ratings: 8.4/10

Cast: Anna Torv, John Noble and Joshua Jackson

Creator: J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci

Fringe is a popular Sci-fi crime drama television series. It may seem like a standard procedural drama at first, but the show actually explores the parallel universe, alternate versions of people filled with crazy scientific experiments. I personally had a great time watching this show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29bSzbqZ3xE

Fringe is actually inspired by shows like Lost, The X-files and The Twilight Zone. The 3 main characters of the show work with a special division called Fringe. There are so many brilliant twists and turns in Fringe that in my opinion, the show is at the top of its category. If you are searching for TV series like Lost, I strongly recommend you watch Fringe. 

10. Alcatraz (2012)

IMDB ratings: 6.9/10

Cast: Sarah Jones, George Garcia and Jonny Coyne 

Creator: Elizabeth Sarnoff, Steven Lilien, Bryan Wynbrandt

This American fiction show is based on the infamous Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary built on Alcatraz island in San Francisco Bay. The prison is now closed but once kept some of the most dangerous criminals of America. The show takes the liberty to make a show around the conspiracies of the place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V514ACIGp_k

In the interesting premise we see that under unknown circumstances, 256 inmates and 46 guards of the prison disappear without a trace. Later the disappeared ones start to appear one by one without ageing a day and resume their criminal activities with no realisation of disappearance. A special government unit is dedicated to finding and putting those criminals back in prison. If you are looking for mystery shows similar to Lost, try watching Alcatraz. 

11. Under the Dome (2013)

IMDB ratings: 6.5/10

Cast: Alexander Koch and Rachelle Lefevre

Creator: Stephen King

Based on a novel written by the sci-fi legend Stephen King, Under the Dome tells the story of the residents of the fictional small town called Chester's Mill, when a huge, transparent and indestructible dome suddenly cuts them off from the rest of the world. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Y5YeYrqUk

Now the trapped residents try to find a way to discover the truth, origin and purpose of these domes. This journey forces them into situations where they learn more about each other than they ever knew. Under the Dome may not be on the top of this list but it’s quite a decent watch if you’re looking for mystery shows similar to Lost. 

12. Dark (2017)

IMDB ratings: 8.7/10

Cast: Louis Hofmann, Lisa Vicari and Gina Stiebitz

Creator: Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese

The German-language Netflix series Dark is an interesting blend of Science fiction and Mystery. Truly a compelling and mind-bending story to watch. At the beginning of Dark, many children suspiciously start disappearing in the German town of Winden. The dark past of generational mysteries of 4 families living in the town namely, Kahnwald, Nielsen, Doppler, and Tiedemann is brought to light.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrwycJ08PSA

After the discovery of a wormhole, the lives of the families intertwine more than one can imagine. I believe every element of the show is top-notch, especially Dark’s cinematography, which is a TRUE masterpiece. If you are looking for TV series similar to Lost then the intense and gripping story of Dark is sure to keep you engrossed.

Honourable Mentions

Here are a few TV shows like Lost that didn’t make the list, but you can check them out nonetheless: 

  1. Carnivale
  2. Yellowjackets
  3. Game of Thrones
  4. Black Mirror
  5. Flashforward
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