Top Tier Demon Movies
by Encyclopedia_of_Horror | created - 15 May 2020 | updated - 29 Nov 2022 | PublicAll cultures and religions have some form of demon and they are all prevalent in the horror genre. This is a list of movies rated 8+ by Eric Myford, author of The Encyclopedia of Horror & Suspense Movies book series...
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1. Demons (1985)
Not Rated | 88 min | Horror
A group of random people are invited to a screening of a mysterious movie, only to find themselves trapped in the theater with ravenous demons.
Director: Lamberto Bava | Stars: Urbano Barberini, Natasha Hovey, Karl Zinny, Fiore Argento
Votes: 26,509
2. Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight (1995)
R | 92 min | Action, Fantasy, Horror
High-level demons collect low-level demons as warriors in attempt to obtain a key containing the blood of Christ. The key is guarded by immortal warriors called Demon Knights.
Director: Ernest R. Dickerson | Stars: Billy Zane, William Sadler, Jada Pinkett Smith, Brenda Bakke
Votes: 26,273 | Gross: $21.09M
3. Constantine (2005)
R | 121 min | Action, Fantasy, Horror
Supernatural exorcist and demonologist John Constantine helps a policewoman prove her sister's death was not a suicide, but something more.
Director: Francis Lawrence | Stars: Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz, Djimon Hounsou, Shia LaBeouf
Votes: 373,729 | Gross: $75.98M
4. Wishmaster (1997)
R | 90 min | Fantasy, Horror
A demonic djinn attempts to grant its owner three wishes, which will allow him to summon his brethren to Earth.
Director: Robert Kurtzman | Stars: Tammy Lauren, Andrew Divoff, Angus Scrimm, Ari Barak
Votes: 25,342 | Gross: $15.72M
5. The Gate (1987)
PG-13 | 85 min | Fantasy, Horror
Kids left home alone accidentally unleash a horde of malevolent demons from a mysterious hole in their suburban backyard.
Director: Tibor Takács | Stars: Stephen Dorff, Christa Denton, Louis Tripp, Kelly Rowan
Votes: 19,546 | Gross: $13.54M
6. Hellraiser (1987)
R | 94 min | Horror, Thriller
A woman discovers the newly resurrected, partially formed, body of her brother-in-law and lover. She starts killing for him to revitalize his body and escape the demonic beings that are pursuing him after he escaped their underworld.
Director: Clive Barker | Stars: Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, Sean Chapman
Votes: 140,303 | Gross: $14.56M
7. Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988)
R | 97 min | Horror, Thriller
Kirsty is brought to an institution after the horrible events of Hellraiser (1987), where the occult-obsessive head doctor resurrects Julia and unleashes the Cenobites and their demonic underworld.
Director: Tony Randel | Stars: Doug Bradley, Ashley Laurence, Clare Higgins, Kenneth Cranham
Votes: 56,045 | Gross: $11.09M
8. Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992)
R | 97 min | Horror
An investigative reporter must send the newly unbound Pinhead and his legions back to Hell.
Director: Anthony Hickox | Stars: Terry Farrell, Doug Bradley, Kevin Bernhardt, Lawrence Mortorff
Votes: 34,981 | Gross: $12.53M
9. The Other Side (I) (2006)
R | 92 min | Action, Thriller
Samuel North (Nathan Mobley) escapes from Hell to find the person who murdered him, but a team of invincible bounty hunters called REAPERS are sent from the Netherworld to bring him back.
Director: Gregg Bishop | Stars: Nathan Mobley, Jaimie Alexander, Cory Rouse, Poncho Hodges
Votes: 1,525
10. The Amazing Screw-On Head (2006 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 22 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A Civil War-era secret agent with an extraordinary special power serves under president Abraham Lincoln protecting America from supernatural foes. Unsold animated TV pilot adapted from a short comic book from the creator of Hellboy.
Director: Chris Prynoski | Stars: Paul Giamatti, David Hyde Pierce, Patton Oswalt, Corey Burton
Votes: 2,114
11. Drag Me to Hell (2009)
PG-13 | 99 min | Horror
A loan officer who evicts an old woman from her home finds herself the recipient of a supernatural curse. Desperate, she turns to a seer to try and save her soul, while evil forces work to push her to a breaking point.
Director: Sam Raimi | Stars: Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Ruth Livier, Lorna Raver
Votes: 217,254 | Gross: $42.10M
12. Paranormal Activity (2007)
R | 86 min | Horror, Mystery
After moving into a suburban home, a couple becomes increasingly disturbed by a nightly demonic presence.
Director: Oren Peli | Stars: Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat, Mark Fredrichs, Amber Armstrong
Votes: 255,910 | Gross: $107.92M
13. The Evil (1978)
R | 89 min | Horror, Thriller
A doctor buys a Civil War era dilapidated mansion, and hires a few friends to fix it up, but the mansion hides a deadly secret.
Director: Gus Trikonis | Stars: Richard Crenna, Joanna Pettet, Andrew Prine, Cassie Yates
Votes: 3,126
14. Ninja Scroll (1993)
Not Rated | 94 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
A vagabond swordsman is aided by a kunoichi and a spy in battling a demonic clan of killers - led by a ghost from his past - who are bent on overthrowing the Tokugawa Shogunate.
Director: Yoshiaki Kawajiri | Stars: Kôichi Yamadera, Emi Shinohara, Takeshi Aono, Osamu Saka
Votes: 40,668
15. Rabid Grannies (1988)
R | 89 min | Comedy, Horror
Two sweet little old ladies fall victim to an ancient curse that transforms them into bloodthirsty killers!
Director: Emmanuel Kervyn | Stars: Catherine Aymerie, Caroline Braeckman, Richard Cotica, Danielle Daven
Votes: 2,036
16. Adam Chaplin (2011)
Not Rated | 84 min | Action, Crime, Horror
His life was torn apart when his wife was murdered by Mafia boss Denny. Filled with vengeance, Adam summoned a demon that endowed him with god-like strength so that he might survive his journey through Heaven's Valley.
Directors: Emanuele De Santi, Giulio De Santi | Stars: Emanuele De Santi, Valeria Sannino, Chiara Marfella, Christian Riva
Votes: 2,163
17. Knights of Badassdom (2013)
R | 86 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Live-action role players conjure up a demon from Hell by mistake and they must deal with the consequences.
Director: Joe Lynch | Stars: Ryan Kwanten, Steve Zahn, Peter Dinklage, Summer Glau
Votes: 21,502 | Gross: $0.09M
18. Bad Milo (2013)
R | 85 min | Comedy, Horror
A man learns that his unusual stomach pains are being caused by a demon living in his intestines.
Director: Jacob Vaughan | Stars: Ken Marino, Gillian Jacobs, Patrick Warburton, Mary Kay Place
Votes: 7,967 | Gross: $0.02M
19. Devil's Nightmare (1971)
R | 95 min | Fantasy, Horror
A group of tourists traveling on a bus take a detour to stay overnight in a castle owned by a family cursed with a history of Satanism and death.
Director: Jean Brismée | Stars: Erika Blanc, Jean Servais, Daniel Emilfork, Lucien Raimbourg
Votes: 2,180
20. Inkubus (2011)
R | 80 min | Horror
This movie tells the story of a skeleton crew working the final shift at a soon to be demolished police station. The night takes a gruesome turn when the demon, Inkubus, calmly walks into ... See full summary »
Director: Glenn Ciano | Stars: Robert Englund, William Forsythe, Joey Fatone, Jonathan Silverman
Votes: 1,241 | Gross: $0.08M
21. The Hagstone Demon (2011)
R | 96 min | Horror
Douglas Elmore is an alcoholic writer and caretaker haunted by visions of his dead wife and pursued by supernatural forces bent on revenge for his past deeds. When tenants start turning up ... See full summary »
Director: Jon Springer | Stars: Mark Borchardt, Nadine Gross, Cyndi Kurtz, Sasha Andreev
Votes: 360
22. The Devil's Rock (2011)
Not Rated | 83 min | Horror
Set in the Channel Islands on the eve of D Day, two Kiwi commandos, sent to destroy German gun emplacements to distract Hitler's forces away from Normandy, discover a Nazi occult plot to unleash demonic forces to win the war.
Director: Paul Campion | Stars: Craig Hall, Matthew Sunderland, Gina Varela, Karlos Drinkwater
Votes: 4,555
23. Heartless (I) (2009)
114 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Jamie Morgan, a young man with a large heart-shaped birthmark on his face, discovers that there are demons on the streets of East London.
Director: Philip Ridley | Stars: Jim Sturgess, Luke Treadaway, Clémence Poésy, Justin Salinger
Votes: 10,372 | Gross: $0.00M
24. Curse of the Demon (1957)
Approved | 96 min | Fantasy, Horror, Mystery
American professor John Holden arrives in London for a parapsychology conference, only to find himself investigating the mysterious actions of Devil-worshipper Julian Karswell.
Director: Jacques Tourneur | Stars: Dana Andrews, Peggy Cummins, Niall MacGinnis, Maurice Denham
Votes: 15,486
25. Rare Exports (2010)
R | 84 min | Adventure, Fantasy, Horror
In the depths of the Korvatunturi mountains, 486 meters deep, lies the closest ever guarded secret of Christmas. The time has come to dig it up. This Christmas everyone will believe in Santa Claus.
Director: Jalmari Helander | Stars: Jorma Tommila, Onni Tommila, Peeter Jakobi, Tommi Korpela
Votes: 32,130 | Gross: $0.26M
26. Cult (2013)
84 min | Horror
Follows 3 actresses who play themselves as they appear on a paranormal television show to investigate the exorcism of the Kaneda family.
Director: Kôji Shiraishi | Stars: Yû Abiru, Mayuko Iwasa, Sayuri Oyamada, Mari Iriki
Votes: 965
27. House on Willow Street (2016)
Unrated | 90 min | Action, Crime, Horror
After a young woman is kidnapped, her captors soon come to realize that in fact they may be the ones in danger and this young woman has a dark secret inside her.
Director: Alastair Orr | Stars: Sharni Vinson, Carlyn Burchell, Steven John Ward, Gustav Gerdener
Votes: 9,559
28. The Dark Tapes (2016)
98 min | Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi
A genre-defying mixture of horror, sci-fi, myth, mystery and thrills told as four interlocking tales in one intelligent anthology. Ghosts, spirits, creatures, demons and more from the paranormal world collide with rational curiosity.
Directors: Michael McQuown, Vincent J. Guastini | Stars: David Banks, Sara Areyano, Cortney Palm, David Rountree
Votes: 3,287
29. It (I) (2017)
R | 135 min | Fantasy, Horror
In the summer of 1989, a group of bullied kids band together to destroy a shape-shifting monster, which disguises itself as a clown and preys on the children of Derry, their small Maine town.
Director: Andy Muschietti | Stars: Bill Skarsgård, Jaeden Martell, Finn Wolfhard, Sophia Lillis
Votes: 605,055 | Gross: $327.48M
30. Death Note (2006)
Not Rated | 126 min | Crime, Drama, Fantasy
A battle between the world's two greatest minds begins when Light Yagami finds the Death Note, a notebook with the power to kill, and decides to rid the world of criminals.
Director: Shûsuke Kaneko | Stars: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Ken'ichi Matsuyama, Asaka Seto, Yû Kashii
Votes: 31,845
31. Death Note: The Last Name (2006)
Not Rated | 141 min | Adventure, Crime, Drama
Picking up where the first one leaves off, Light joins the task force searching for Kira in an effort to avert suspicion from himself---and get rid of L.
Director: Shûsuke Kaneko | Stars: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Ken'ichi Matsuyama, Erika Toda, Nana Katase
Votes: 17,611
32. Death Note: Light Up the New World (2016)
TV-14 | 135 min | Crime, Drama, Horror
An update to the "Death Note" series in which a mysterious notebook contains deadly powers.
Director: Shinsuke Sato | Stars: Sôsuke Ikematsu, Noémie Nakai, Masaki Suda, Ken'ichi Matsuyama
Votes: 3,316
33. Don't Knock Twice (2016)
R | 93 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
A mother desperate to reconnect with her troubled daughter becomes embroiled in the urban legend of a demonic witch.
Director: Caradog W. James | Stars: Katee Sackhoff, Lucy Boynton, Richard Mylan, Nick Moran
Votes: 14,917
34. Funny Man (1994)
R | 93 min | Comedy, Horror
After winning a English stately house in a game of poker, a record producer finds it to be haunted by a demonic jester intent on murdering his family.
Director: Simon Sprackling | Stars: Tim James, Christopher Lee, Benny Young, Ingrid Lacey
Votes: 1,413
35. Kakurenbo (2005)
TV-14 | 25 min | Animation, Short, Fantasy
A young boy named Hikora enters the ruins of a forbidden city with a group of other children to play "Otokoyo" (a game of hide-and-seek where the players are said to be kidnapped by ghosts and demons) to find his missing sister.
Director: Shûhei Morita | Stars: Dan Green, Mika Ishibashi, Akiko Kobayashi, Ryô Naitô
Votes: 1,031
36. The Demon of Mount Oe (1960)
114 min | Fantasy, Horror
A team of samurai warriors team up to defeat a shape-changing, supernatural creature.
Director: Tokuzô Tanaka | Stars: Kazuo Hasegawa, Raizô Ichikawa, Shintarô Katsu, Kôjirô Hongô
Votes: 169
37. It Chapter Two (2019)
R | 169 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Twenty-seven years after their first encounter with the terrifying Pennywise, the Losers Club have grown up and moved away, until a devastating phone call brings them back.
Director: Andy Muschietti | Stars: Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa
Votes: 301,346 | Gross: $211.59M
38. The Infernal Cauldron (1903)
2 min | Short, Horror
Two demons throw helpless captives into a boiling cauldron, and then try to summon forth their spirits.
Director: Georges Méliès | Star: Georges Méliès
Votes: 2,303
39. A Purgatory Story (2019)
16 min | Short, Comedy, Fantasy
A demon stuck with spirit board duty falls for a girl on the other side.
Director: Tom Albanese | Stars: Joana Metrass, Joey Long, Simon Barbaro, Lucas Royalty
Votes: 125
40. Amulet (2020)
R | 99 min | Horror, Mystery
An ex-soldier, living homeless in London, is offered a place to stay at a decaying house inhabited by a young woman and her dying mother. As he starts to fall for her, he cannot ignore his suspicion that something sinister is going on.
Director: Romola Garai | Stars: Carla Juri, Alec Secareanu, Imelda Staunton, Anah Ruddin
Votes: 4,636
41. Born of Fire (1987)
R | 84 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
A musician searches for the Master Flautist, a supernatural creature who is planning to blow up the world.
Director: Jamil Dehlavi | Stars: Peter Firth, Suzan Crowley, Stefan Kalipha, Orla Pederson
Votes: 646
42. Hotel Inferno 3: The Castle of Screams (2021)
68 min | Horror
Frank, although you have retrieved the Fire element, you are still trapped in the hellish Hotel Inferno. Now you must retrieve the Ice element, and take the second step towards your resurrection.
Directors: Giulio De Santi, Tiziana Machella | Stars: Rayner Bourton, Sarah T. Cohen, Wilmar Zimosa, Christian Riva
Votes: 605
43. Attack of the Demons (2019)
Not Rated | 75 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The year is 1994 - For centuries, a demonic cult has been plotting the destruction of mankind. When a small Colorado town is overrun by a legion of mutating demons, three non-demon hunter ... See full summary »
Director: Eric Power | Stars: James Hill, Lauren Hill, Katie Maguire, Jake Merritt
Votes: 213
44. Nekrotronic (2018)
R | 99 min | Action, Comedy, Drama
A man discovers that he is part of a secret sect of magical beings who hunt down and destroy demons in the Internet.
Director: Kiah Roache-Turner | Stars: Ben O'Toole, Monica Bellucci, Caroline Ford, Tess Haubrich
Votes: 3,789
45. DaemonRunner (2017)
5 min | Short, Sci-Fi
A demon hunting team chases a demon using the internet to possess unsuspecting victims.
Director: Kiah Roache-Turner | Stars: Catherine Terracini, Alex Jewson, Nandalie Campbell Killick, Carmel Rose
Votes: 164
46. The Confession (IV) (2017)
2 min | Short, Horror
Winner of the #MyAnnabelleCreation Contest (UK). Fiona seeks refuge in her local church, escaping the evil within her house only to find that something far darker sits in the confession booth next to her.
Director: Liam Banks | Stars: Charlie Clarke, Phill Martin, Esmee Matthews, Jessica Messenger
Votes: 111
47. The Outer Darkness (2015)
25 min | Short, Horror, Thriller
On Friday evenings in Lynnsmouth Community Centre, meets a group led by Father Jonathan Crowe. Together they share their stories - tales of strange occurrences, horrific events and bizarre encounters that have scarred their lives.
Directors: Ben Franklin, Anthony Melton | Stars: David Blood, Anita Booth, Isla Carter, Anthony Edridge
Votes: 162
48. Urotsukidoji: Legend of the Overfiend (1989)
Not Rated | 108 min | Animation, Action, Fantasy
The relative coexistence of the human world, demon world and beast world is soon to be disrupted by The Overfiend, an immensely powerful demon who'll be reborn after 3000 years to remake the world to his own liking.
Director: Hideki Takayama | Stars: Christopher Courage, Rebel Joy, Sonny Weil, Bick Balse
Votes: 3,660
49. Urotsukidôji II: Legend of the Demon Womb (1993 Video)
Unrated | 88 min | Animation, Adult, Fantasy
In this sequel to Urotsukidoji: Legend of the Overfiend, the unbelievable sexual violence of the Overfiend and his cohorts from Hell continues to wreak havoc on the earth. Who can stop this relentless onslaught?
Director: Hideki Takayama | Stars: Christopher Courage, Rebel Joy, Bill Timoney, Lucy Morales
Votes: 860
50. Urotsukidoji III: Return of the Overfiend (1992 Video)
Unrated | 53 min | Animation, Adult, Fantasy
As the Overfiend slumbers, the mad emperor Caesar rises to power, enslaving a new race of demon beasts. Into this cruel existence is born the Lord of Chaos, the Overfiend's nemesis. As the ... See full summary »
Director: Hideki Takayama | Stars: Tsutomu Kashiwakura, Yoshio Kawai, Yasunori Matsumoto, Miyuki Matsushita
Votes: 399
51. Incubus (1966)
Unrated | 78 min | Horror
On a strange island inhabited by demons and spirits, a man battles the forces of evil.
Director: Leslie Stevens | Stars: William Shatner, Allyson Ames, Eloise Hardt, Robert Fortier
Votes: 2,099
52. Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons (2013)
PG-13 | 110 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Tang Sanzang, an aspiring Buddhist hero tries to protect a village from three demons. He develops complex feelings for Miss Duan, the demon hunter who repeatedly helps him, and finally quests to meet the legendary Monkey King.
Directors: Stephen Chow, Chi-Kin Kwok | Stars: Zhang Wen, Shu Qi, Huang Bo, Show Lo
Votes: 13,963 | Gross: $0.02M
53. Don't Move (2013)
14 min | Short, Horror
Set on one fateful night, six friends gather for their monthly 'games night'... and accidentally unleash a demonic force that might tear them - and their friendships - to pieces.
Director: Anthony Melton | Stars: Rachel Bright, Jake Hendriks, Beth Cooper, Kate Braithwaite
Votes: 750
54. Empire of the Dark (1990)
Not Rated | 93 min | Action, Adventure, Horror
A private detective searching for a killer comes across a satanic cult from another dimension, monsters called up from hell and murderous ninja assassins.
Director: Steve Barkett | Stars: Steve Barkett, Christopher Barkett, Tera Hendrickson, Richard Harrison
Votes: 243
55. Wicked City (1987)
Not Rated | 82 min | Animation, Action, Fantasy
While protecting a signatory to a peace treaty between their peoples, a male human and a female demon discover that their mutual attraction may be the key to unifying their worlds.
Director: Yoshiaki Kawajiri | Stars: Yûsaku Yara, Toshiko Fujita, Ichirô Nagai, Takeshi Aono
Votes: 9,555
56. Hellraiser (2022)
R | 121 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
A young woman struggling with addiction comes into possession of an ancient puzzle box, unaware that its purpose is to summon the Cenobites.
Director: David Bruckner | Stars: Odessa A'zion, Jamie Clayton, Adam Faison, Drew Starkey
Votes: 48,644
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