7 Best Movies Like It Follows (Ranked & Where to Watch)

Sidney J. Furie's The Entity is arguably the spiritual predecessor to It Follows in its depiction of a woman terrorized by an invisible, relentless, and profoundly violating force. Like the slow, inexorable entity in David Robert Mitchell's film, the poltergeist in The Entity represents an inescapable dread that infiltrates every aspect of the protagonist's life. Carla Moran's plight mirrors the psychological torment of Jay, as both face an unseen aggressor that cannot be reasoned with, debated, or easily escaped. The film masterfully builds suspense around an assailant whose presence is felt, not seen, creating a chilling sense of vulnerability and a pervasive violation of personal space and autonomy. It's a deeply unsettling, often uncomfortable exploration of relentless, personal horror.

Oz Perkins’ The Blackcoat’s Daughter excels in cultivating a pervasive, bone-chilling atmosphere that resonates deeply with the slow-burn dread of It Follows. Set against the bleak backdrop of a secluded boarding school during winter break, it conjures a profound sense of isolation and creeping evil. The horror isn't found in cheap jump scares but in the psychological unraveling and the insidious presence of an unseen, malevolent force. The film’s quiet, deliberate pacing and unsettling visual palette draw parallels to It Follows' methodical terror, where the real fear stems from an inescapable, spiritual threat that slowly consumes its victims, leaving an indelible mark on their psyche. It's a masterclass in mood and psychological torment.

James Wan’s Malignant might seem an unlikely bedfellow for It Follows at first glance, but beneath its stylish, giallo-infused exterior lies a core of relentless, inescapable horror. Madison's torment by visions that turn out to be real, grisly murders, executed by a parasitic entity intrinsically linked to her, echoes the personal, inescapable nature of the curse in It Follows. The sheer creativity of its monstrous antagonist, Gabriel, who is both intimately connected to the protagonist and savagely relentless in its pursuit, creates a sense of visceral dread and body horror that feels deeply personal and inescapable. It’s a bold, unique vision of horror where the threat is literally a part of you, much like a transmissible curse.

For those who appreciate the sheer, relentless pursuit element of It Follows, Victor Salva's Jeepers Creepers offers a more overtly monstrous but equally terrifying hunt. The film features two siblings on a road trip who become the targets of the Creeper, an ancient, flesh-eating entity that relentlessly tracks its prey. While the monster is visually distinct and its motives more explicitly predatory, the sensation of being hunted by an unstoppable, intelligent, and inhuman force that never gives up directly mirrors the core terror of It Follows. The open road, much like the suburban landscapes of Mitchell's film, becomes a canvas of inescapable dread when an unkillable foe is always closing in.

Nicolas Winding Refn's The Neon Demon provides a different flavor of existential dread that resonates with the psychological undercurrents of It Follows. While not a supernatural pursuit film, it explores the pervasive, consuming horror of the fashion industry, where youth and beauty become a curse, leading to metaphorical and literal devouring. The film’s dreamlike, hyper-stylized cinematography and hypnotic score create an atmosphere of unsettling artifice and underlying menace, much like It Follows' surreal suburban landscapes. The horror here is less about a tangible stalker and more about an insidious, inescapable force of societal predation and self-consumption, making beauty itself a transmissible danger.

Zach Cregger's Barbarian excels at subverting expectations, much like It Follows with its unique threat. It begins with the classic horror trope of a double-booked Airbnb, only to descend into a nightmarish labyrinth of hidden horrors. The film captures an intense sense of violated sanctuary and inescapable dread, as the protagonists discover layers of unspeakable evil lurking beneath the surface. While the horror is more overt and creature-based than It Follows, the feeling of being trapped and relentlessly pursued by an unstoppable, primal force within a seemingly safe space creates a similar, suffocating terror. It's a masterclass in escalating, relentless, and deeply unsettling suspense.

Oren Peli's Paranormal Activity provides a found-footage perspective on the insidious, escalating, and often invisible horror that echoes It Follows' core concept of an unseen threat. The dread here stems from an entity that slowly but surely invades the sanctity of a home, its presence only hinted at through subtle disturbances before escalating into full-blown terror. While the style differs, the film shares It Follows' ability to create profound fear through implication and the slow build of an inescapable force that targets individuals. The feeling of being relentlessly targeted by an entity you can't fight, that gradually wears down your psychological defenses, makes it a potent companion.