Horror Movies About Cults

Updated May 1, 2024

Dozens of creators have explored Horror Movies About Cults. We wrote about 17 of the top ones.

Rosemary's Baby (1968)

★★★★

3.2 out of 4 stars

From Roman Polanski, starring Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon, Sidney Blackmer
Rated Approved

Rosemary's Baby is a 1968 psychological horror film directed by Roman Polanski and based on the novel of the same name by Ira Levin. The film follows Rosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow) and her husband Guy (John Cassavetes) as they move into a New York City apartment building with a mysterious past. Rosemary soon becomes suspicious of her neighbors and discovers that they are part of a Satanic cult that is planning to use her unborn child in a ritual. The cult plans to use Rosemary's baby in a ritual to bring Satan an avatar on Earth. Rosemary struggles to protect her unborn child and ultimately must make a difficult decision with her husband as the cult closes in. The film was met with critical and commercial success upon its release, and was nominated for two Academy Awards.

Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple (2006)

★★★★

3.1 out of 4 stars

From Stanley Nelson, starring Rebecca Moore, Janet Shular, Tim Carter, Stanley Clayton

Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple is a 2006 documentary film directed by Stanley Nelson. The film documents the history of the Peoples Temple, a San Francisco-based cult founded by Jim Jones, and details the events leading up to the group's mass suicide in 1978 in Jonestown, Guyana. Using archival footage and audio recordings, the documentary provides an in-depth look at how Jones gained trust and power over his followers and the eventual deterioration of the group's culture. The film also features interviews with former members, survivors of the mass suicide, and family members of victims. The documentary raises questions about the power of cults and their ability to influence and control the lives of their followers. In the end, the film serves as a reminder of the dangers of unchecked authority and the power of blind faith.

Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

★★★★

3 out of 4 stars

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Todd Field, Sydney Pollack
Rated R

Eyes Wide Shut is a mysterious and erotic journey into the dark corners of the adult mind, directed by iconic filmmaker Stanley Kubrick. Tom Cruise stars as Dr. Bill Harford, a successful New York City doctor who is suddenly thrust into a nightmarish world of sexual temptation and betrayal. After learning of his wife's infidelity, Bill embarks on a dark odyssey of sexual and moral discovery, leading him to a stunning revelation about love and life. Along the way, he encounters mysterious masked figures, a cult-like orgy, and a dangerous group of seductive women. Powerful, visually stunning, and ultimately mysterious, Eyes Wide Shut is a timeless exploration of human nature and desire.

The Wicker Man (1973)

★★★★

3 out of 4 stars

From Robin Hardy, starring Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee, Diane Cilento, Britt Ekland
Rated R

The Wicker Man is a 1973 British psychological horror film directed by Robin Hardy and starring Christopher Lee, Edward Woodward, Diane Cilento, Britt Ekland, Ingrid Pitt, and Leslie Dwyer. The film follows Sergeant Howie, a devoutly Christian police officer from the Scottish mainland, as he travels to the remote Hebridean island of Summerisle to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. There he discovers a pagan society in which the inhabitants are engaged in bizarre fertility rituals, and his investigation is stymied by the islanders' refusal to answer his questions. As tensions escalate, Howie discovers the girl's fate, and ultimately his own. The film is an exploration of religious faith and its consequences, and is widely considered to be one of the best horror films of the 1970s.