9 Best Movies Like Hereditary (Ranked & Where to Watch)

Delving deep into occult ritualism and the harrowing psychological cost of seeking profound spiritual contact, A Dark Song resonates powerfully with Hereditary's exploration of dark forces. It meticulously builds an atmosphere of suffocating dread, focusing on two characters trapped in an isolated house, pushing their sanity to the brink to perform a dangerous ceremony. The horror isn't just external; it's the internal unraveling, the agonizing sacrifices demanded, and the blurred lines between faith and madness. It’s a relentless, character-driven journey into the black arts, mirroring Hereditary's insidious grip of manipulation and the profound grief that can drive one to desperate measures.

Brian De Palma’s masterful adaptation of Stephen King's Carrie captures a suffocating familial terror and psychological abuse that echoes through Hereditary. Sissy Spacek’s Carrie is a victim of both relentless bullying and her fanatically religious mother, whose twisted love and emotional torture are a horror unto themselves. The film meticulously builds towards an explosive, tragic climax, much like Hereditary's inexorable march towards its devastating third act. It explores the destructive power of generational trauma, the vulnerability of the young, and the horrifying consequences when a broken individual gains an unimaginable, destructive power, culminating in a visceral, unforgettable experience.

Burnt Offerings is a chilling, slow-burn classic that prefigures much of Hereditary's familial disintegration under a malevolent influence. A family moves into a remote, decaying mansion where the house itself seems to feed on their life force, slowly driving them apart and into madness. Karen Black delivers a phenomenal performance as the matriarch increasingly consumed by the home's sinister power. It's less about jump scares and more about the psychological erosion of a family unit, a pervasive sense of dread, and the terrifying idea that a place can possess and devour its inhabitants, much like Paimon's insidious grip on the Graham family.

Sidney J. Furie’s The Entity is a deeply disturbing film that plunges its protagonist, Carla Moran, into an unimaginable nightmare of relentless supernatural assault. Similar to Hereditary's depiction of a family losing control, Carla is repeatedly attacked by an invisible, malevolent force, leading her to question her sanity while those around her offer little help or dismiss her experiences. The horror is intensely personal, violating, and inescapable, focusing on one woman's psychological torment and the absolute loss of agency. It's a grueling, unflinching look at supernatural violation and the terror of being utterly alone against an unseen, unstoppable evil.

While not overtly supernatural, Robert Aldrich's Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte shares Hereditary's focus on deep-seated family secrets and a terrifying descent into madness. Bette Davis stars as Charlotte, an aging Southern belle haunted by a horrific past and manipulated by those around her, blurring the lines between reality and delusion. The film masterfully crafts an oppressive atmosphere of dread and suspicion, as Charlotte's sanity unravels amidst accusations and sinister plots. It's a powerful exploration of psychological torment, the burden of a dark legacy, and the tragic consequences of a family history steeped in violence and deception.

Christophe Gans’ adaptation of Silent Hill captures a similar sense of oppressive, inescapable dread and a desperate parent’s journey into a nightmare realm. Rose Da Silva ventures into the titular town to find a cure for her daughter, only to find herself trapped in an ever-shifting, horrifying landscape populated by grotesque entities. Like Hereditary, the film thrives on its disturbing atmosphere, visceral creature design, and the psychological torment of a mother fighting to protect her child against overwhelming, otherworldly forces. It's a visually stunning and emotionally grueling experience, highlighting the lengths one will go for family in the face of absolute horror.

André Øvredal’s The Autopsy of Jane Doe masterfully builds suspense and dread within a confined space, echoing the claustrophobic terror in parts of Hereditary. Father and son coroners discover that an unidentified corpse holds dark, ancient secrets, and as they delve deeper, a malevolent force awakens, trapping them in the morgue. The horror here is relentless and psychological, arising from the gradual revelation of a terrifying truth and the inescapable consequences. It's a taut, intelligent horror film that uses its limited setting to maximum effect, creating a feeling of profound helplessness against an encroaching, unyielding evil that mirrors the sense of predestination.

While more overtly a ghost story, James Wan’s The Conjuring expertly portrays a family under siege by malevolent entities, a theme resonant with Hereditary's depiction of a family manipulated by unseen forces. Director James Wan crafts a masterclass in tension and atmosphere, focusing on the Perron family’s torment and the valiant, though terrifying, efforts of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. The film emphasizes the emotional toll on the family, particularly the children, as they confront an escalating supernatural threat. It's a powerful example of how a family's vulnerability can become a conduit for pure evil.

Emerging as a compelling modern entry, Oddity delves into the profound, destructive nature of grief and the desperate search for closure, much like the emotional core of Hereditary. After a brutal family tragedy, a woman turns to the occult — specifically, haunted items — to exact revenge. This film explores the dark side of trauma and the dangerous power of using supernatural means to achieve earthly ends, creating a psychological tension as the protagonist grapples with loss and vengeance. It promises a unique blend of supernatural horror and an unsettling exploration of obsession and the price of playing with forces beyond human understanding.