If you’re looking for a list of movies like Orphan, you’ve come to the right place. Orphan is an American psychological horror movie directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and starring Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard.
The movie centers on a couple who adopt a nine-year-old girl, only to realize that she may not be as innocent as she looks. If you’re a fan of Orphan, you’ll want to check out some other movies on this list.
From psychological thrillers to supernatural horror movies, there’s something for everyone. Here is a list of movies like Orphan:
1. The Omen (2006)
- Director: John Moore
- Star casts: Liev Schreiber, Julia Stiles, Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick, David Thewlis, Predrag Bjelac, Carlo Sabatini, and Bohumil Svarc
- IMDb rating: 5.5/10
The Omen was released in 2006 and starred Liev Schreiber and Julia Stiles. The movie was a remake of the 1976 classic of the same name and followed the story of a young boy who was adopted by an American couple after the death of their child.
However, as the child grows older, it becomes apparent that a demonic force may possess him. The Omen was a critical and commercial success and spawned a sequel, Damnation, in 2010. This is one of the amazing movies like Orphan.
2. The Good Son (1993)
- Director: Joseph Ruben
- Star casts: Macaulay Culkin, Elijah Wood, Wendy Crewson, David Morse, Daniel Hugh Kelly, Jacqueline Brookes, and Quinn Culkin.
- IMDb rating: 6.4/10
This 1993 movie stars Macaulay Calkin as Mark, a disturbed 12-year-old who moves to Maine to live with his aunt and uncle after the death of his mother.
Henry and Connie, his cousins, are reintroduced to him, but shortly after, Henry begins to behave erratically, threatening Mark and acting horrifyingly.
The two children soon get involved in a horrific conflict. The Good Son still can frighten even if it’s more thriller than supernatural, but it has plenty of frightening children scares.
3. The Exorcist (1973)
- Director: William Friedkin
- Star casts: Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Linda Blair, Lee J. Cobb, Kitty Winn, Jack MacGowran, and Jason Miller.
- IMDb rating: 8.1/10
The Exorcist is a 1973 American horror movie directed by William Friedkin, adapted from the 1971 book of the same name written by William Peter Blatty. The movie stars Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Max von Sydow, and Lee J. Cobb.
It tells the story of Regan MacNeil, a 12-year-old girl who becomes possessed by a demon and starts exhibiting increasingly disturbing behavior. This leads her mother to seek the help of two Catholic priests to perform an exorcism.
The movie was released theatrically in the United States on December 26, 1973, by Warner Bros. Records.
The movie grossed $441 million worldwide against its $12 million budget, becoming one of the highest-grossing movies ever.
4. Case 39 (2009)
- Director: Christian Alvart
- Star casts: Renée Zellweger, Ian McShane, Jodelle Ferland, Bradley Cooper, Callum Keith Rennie, Adrian Lester, and Kerry O’Malley.
- IMDb rating: 6.2/10
Case 39 is one of the great movies like Orphan. In a terrifying thriller starring Renee Zellweger and Ian McShane, Zellweger plays social worker Emily, who is looking into the home life of Lilith Sullivan, whose family is being investigated.
As the terror intensifies, Lilith calls Emily, afraid her parents will kill her. Emily is spared from a terrible destiny and decides to take care of Lilith on her own, but the truth about Lilith is yet to be revealed, which sets up a frightening climax.
5. The Ring (2002)
- Director: Gore Verbinski
- Star casts: Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, Brian Cox, David Dorfman, Jane Alexander, Lindsay Frost, and Amber Tamblyn.
- IMDb rating: 7.1/10
This is a 2002 American supernatural horror movie directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Martin Henderson, Naomi Watts, David Dorfman, and Rachel Taylor.
The movie is a remake of the 1998 Japanese horror movie Ring, based on the novel by Koji Suzuki.
The Ring follows Rachel Keller, a journalist investigating a cursed videotape that kills whoever watches it after seven days.
The Ring was one of the most commercially successful horror movies of its time and helped to revitalize the American horror genre. It also spawned a successful franchise, with two sequels and a prequel released in Japan.
6. The Grudge (2004)
- Director: Takashi Shimizu
- Star cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jason Behr, Clea DuVall, William Mapother, KaDee Strickland, Grace Zabriskie, and Bill Pullman.
- IMDb rating: 5.9/10
This is a 2004 American supernatural horror movie directed by Takashi Shimizu and written by Stephen Susco. It is a remake of Shimizu’s 2002 Japanese movie Ju-on: The Grudge.
The movie stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, KaDee Strickland, Clea DuVall, Bill Pullman, Jason Behr, and Grace Zabriskie.
The Grudge tells the story of a curse that is born when someone dies in the grip of extreme rage or sorrow.
Those who encounter this deadly curse die violently, their souls consumed by the vengeful spirit. The only way to break the curse is to solve the mystery of the individual’s death.
However, this is not always possible, and the grudge can span generations, dooming any who come into contact with it to an untimely demise.
Columbia Pictures released the Grudge in North America on October 22, 2004, and grossed $110 million worldwide.
The movie received mixed reviews from critics but was successful enough to spawn two sequels: The Grudge 2 (2006) and The Grudge 3 (2009). This is one of the amazing movies like Orphan.
7. The Sixth Sense (1999)
- Director: M. Night Shyamalan
- Star casts: Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette, Olivia Williams, Trevor Morgan, Donnie Wahlberg, and Peter Anthony Tambakis.
- IMDb rating: 8.2/10
There are plenty of movies like Orphan, but The Sixth Sense is one of the best. Dr. Malcolm Crowe is a child psychologist who starts to treat a young boy named Cole Sear.
Cole can see and talk to ghosts, which terrifies him. Malcolm is initially skeptical but eventually believes that Cole is telling the truth.
The two work together to help the ghosts haunt Cole and ultimately help them move on to the other side. It’s a heartwarming yet chilling story that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
8. Lady in the Water (2006)
- Director: M. Night Shyamalan
- Star casts: Paul Giamatti, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jeffrey Wright, Bob Balaban, Sarita Choudhury, Cindy Cheung, and M. Night Shyamalan.
- IMDb rating: 5.5/10
The 2006 American supernatural drama “Lady in the Water” tells the story of a tenant in an apartment complex who discovers a water nymph living in the building’s swimming pool.
The movie was directed and written by M. Night Shyamalan and stars Paul Giamatti, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Jeffrey Wright. Like “Orphan,” “Lady in the Water” is a dark fantasy movie with elements of horror that will keep you tense.
9. The Babadook (2014)
- Director: Jennifer Kent
- Star casts: Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Daniel Henshall, Hayley McElhinney, Barbara West, Ben Winspear, and Chloe Hurn.
- IMDb rating: 6.8/10
The Babadook is a 2014 Australian supernatural psychological horror movie written and directed by Jennifer Kent in her directorial debut.
The movie stars Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Daniel Henshall, Hayley McElhinney, Barbara West, and Ben Winspear.
It follows the story of a mother struggling to cope with the death of her husband and the demonic entity that has taken over her son.
The Babadook was inspired by several classic horror movies, including The Exorcist, Rosemary’s Baby, and The Omen. It was also influenced by psychological thrillers such as gaslighting.
The movie received critical acclaim upon its release, with many praising its direction, acting, writing, atmosphere, and originality.
10. The Conjuring (2013)
- Director: James Wan
- Star casts: Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Ron Livingston, Lili Taylor, Shanley Caswell, Hayley McFarland, and Joey King.
- IMDb rating: 6.5/10
The Conjuring is a supernatural horror movie directed by James Wan. The movie stars Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson as a couple investigating the haunting of a Rhode Island farmhouse.
The Conjuring is based on the true story of the Warrens, famous for their paranormal investigation work. This is one of the amazing movies like Orphan.
11. A Haunting in Connecticut (2002)
- Director: John Kavanaugh
- Star casts: Brett Fleisher, Rod Pearson, Tyler Reid, Kelli Barrett, Lee Lively, Jim McKeny, and Maggie Geroe.
- IMDb rating: 6.9/10
When finding movies like Orphan, one needs to look no further than the real-life case that inspired the movie.
In 1986, Dr. William Petit, Sr. was brutally murdered in his own home in Cheshire, Connecticut, along with his wife and two young daughters.
The crime shocked the small community and made national headlines. The case remained unsolved for years until 2009 when a man named Joshua Komisarjevsky confessed to the murders and led police to the bodies of the two missing girls.
Komisarjevsky is currently on death row in Connecticut, awaiting execution. The movie explores the impact of such a horrific event on a family and how they manage to find some measure of peace and justice in the aftermath.
12. The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)
- Director: Scott Derrickson
- Star casts: Laura Linney, Tom Wilkinson, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Campbell Scott, Jennifer Carpenter, Colm Feore, and Joshua Close.
- IMDb rating: 6.7/10
This movie is a 2005 American supernatural horror movie directed by Scott Derrickson and starring Laura Linney and Tom Wilkinson.
The movie is based on the true story of Anneliese Michel, a German Catholic woman possessed by demons who died during an exorcism in 1976.
It follows the trial of Father Richard Moore, the Catholic priest who performed the exorcism, who is charged with negligent homicide after Emily’s death.
Attorney Erin Bruner takes on his case, and Father Moore recounts the events leading up to Emily’s possession and eventual death.
The Exorcism of Emily Rose is a chilling, suspenseful movie that will leave you questioning your beliefs. If you’re looking for one of the best movies like Orphan, this is one to add to your list.
13. The Haunting of Julia (1977)
- Director: Richard Loncraine
- Star casts: Mia Farrow, Keir Dullea, Tom Conti, Jill Bennett, Robin Gammell, Cathleen Nesbitt, and Anna Wing.
- IMDb rating: 6.2/10
While Mia Farrow has appeared in her fair number of spooky child movies, fans of the horror genre typically miss this dramatic, slow-burning ghost thriller.
Based on Peter Straub’s book Julia, you see the heartbreaking death of Kate, who choked on an apple piece as her parents tried to rescue her before performing the Heimlich maneuver.
Mia and Keir Dullea, Julia’s parents, divorce. Julia lives alone in a creepy old house, afraid her ex is breaking in, and she gradually believes that something supernatural is going on.
Although the movie’s closing scene is often recognized as one of the most frightening, others have criticized the movie’s gradual ambient unraveling of the narrative.
