Movies like The Lucifer Effect (2017)
The best movies like The Lucifer Effect (2017) are Killer Legends (2014), Unknown Dimension: The Story of Paranormal Activity (2021) and Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror (2019). If The Lucifer Effect hooked you with its documentary and thriller, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedSpree (2020)6.4/10 from 594 votes
- NewestCreature of the Pines (2026)Released 2026
Killer Legends (2014)
Delving into our collective nightmares, this horror-documentary investigates the origins of our most terrifying urban legends and the true stories that may have inspired them.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & horror
SnoozefestMovies like thisUnknown Dimension: The Story of Paranormal Activity (2021)
A deep dive into the making of the Paranormal Activity films with first time ever interviews with cast and crew, never-before-seen footage from the movies, and a preview of the seventh installment in the franchise.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisHorror Noire: A History of Black Horror (2019)
Delving into a century of genre films that by turns utilized, caricatured, exploited, sidelined, and finally embraced them, this is the untold history of black Americans in Hollywood through their connection to the horror genre.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDoc of the Dead (2014)
The definitive zombie culture documentary, brought to the screen by the makers of THE PEOPLE vs. GEORGE LUCAS.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPennywise: The Story of ‘It’ (2021)
Thirty-plus years after its release, the popular two-part miniseries "It" and its infamous villain Pennywise live on in the minds of horror fans around the world. This documentary captures not only the buzz the "It" saga generated in 1990 but also the lasting impact it has had on an entire generation and the horror genre at large. Several years in the making, the film features exclusive interviews with many of the cult classic's key players, from cast members Richard Thomas, Seth Green, and Tim Curry, who portrayed the notorious monster clown Pennywise, to director Tommy Lee Wallace and special effects makeup artist Bart Mixon. The documentary also boasts a wealth of archival material and never-before-seen footage.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & horror
Worth the HypeMovies like thisLeap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist (2019)
A lyrical and spiritual cinematic essay on The Exorcist, the last film of Alexandre O. Philippe explores the uncharted depths of William Friedkin’s mind’s eye, the nuances of his filmmaking process, and the mysteries of faith and fate that have shaped his life and filmography.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & horror
Worth the HypeMovies like thisGoing to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film (2006)
This historical and critical look at slasher films, which includes dozens of clips, begins with Halloween, Friday the 13th, and Prom Night. The films' directors, writers, producers, and special effects creators comment on the films' making and success. During the Reagan years, the films get gorier, budgets get smaller, and their appeal wanes. Then, Nightmare on Elm Street revives the genre. Jump to the late 90s, when Scream brings humor and TV stars into the mix.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisLiving with Chucky (2022)
A filmmaker who grew up alongside Chucky the killer doll seeks out the other families surrounding the Child's Play films as they recount their experiences working on the ongoing franchise and what it means to be a part of the, "Chucky" family.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisLovecraft: Fear of the Unknown (2008)
A chronicle of the life, work and mind that created the Cthulhu mythos.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & horror
Worth the HypeMovies like thisNightmares in Red, White and Blue (2009)
An exploration of the appeal of horror films, with interviews of many legendary directors in the genre.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisTerror in the Aisles (1984)
A non-stop roller coaster ride through the scariest moments of the greatest terror films of all time.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both horror & documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisIn Search of Darkness: Part II (2020)
The ultimate ‘80s Horror retrospective just got BIGGER. In Search of Darkness: Part II is a four-hour-plus sequel to the Rondo Hatton-nominated In Search of Darkness, adding 15 new interviewees and 40+ returning favorites for the biggest and most comprehensive ‘80s Horror documentary cast ever assembled.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & horror
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMidnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream (2006)
From 1970-1977, six low budget films shown at midnight transformed the way we make and watch films.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisCropsey (2010)
Realizing the urban legend of their youth has actually come true, two filmmakers delve into the mystery surrounding five missing children and the real-life boogeyman linked to their disappearances.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisScream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street (2019)
Mark Patton sets the records straight about the controversial 1985 sequel to A Nightmare on Elm Street, which ended his acting career, just as it was about to begin.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & horror
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Green Prince (2014)
This real-life thriller tells the story of one of Israel’s prized intelligence sources, recruited to spy on his own people for more than a decade. Focusing on the complex relationship with his handler, The Green Prince is a gripping account of terror, betrayal, and unthinkable choices, along with a friendship that defies all boundaries.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & thriller
Worth the HypeMovies like thisIn Search of Darkness (2019)
An exploration of '80s horror movies through the perspective of the actors, directors, producers and SFX craftspeople who made them, and their impact on contemporary cinema.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & horror
Worth the HypeMovies like thisWelcome to Leith (2015)
In September 2012, the tiny prairie town of Leith, North Dakota, sees its population of 24 grow by one. As the new resident's behavior becomes more threatening, tensions soar, and the residents desperately look for ways to expel their unwanted neighbor.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both thriller & documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisTalhotblond (2009)
This is the true story of a love triangle that takes place entirely online. Lies lead to murder in real life, as a teenage vixen (screen name 'talhotblond') lures men into her web. Revealing a shocking true crime story that shows the Internet's power to unleash our most dangerous fantasies.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & thriller
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisGhost Adventures (2007)
In 2007, The Sci-Fi Channel premiered "Ghost Adventures," a raw documentary in which 3 men go to Virginia City, NV and Goldfield, NV on a ghost hunting expedition. Virginia City is rife with macabre lore and reputed to be one of the most haunted cities in America. Ghost Adventures has won a Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary that was given by the New York International Film & Video Festival.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary & horror
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisDocumenting the Witch Path (2018)
Documenting the Witch Path is a documentary film that is testing the limits of three young documentary filmmakers. They find out about a place called the Witch Path that leads out to the lake known as the Witch Lake. It's where they drowned innocent women in the 17th century because they were accused of witchery. All because the people blindly listened to the priests. Nowadays, the path and the lake is closed off by the township. No one wants to answer why, but these filmmakers will find out the horrifying truth about it.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both horror & documentary
Erasmus (2016)
Montse just wanted to make a documentary about partying at the Barcelona night clubs. But what begins as a fun evening out turns into hours of unending terror as Montse's video cameras capture a mysterious fiend killing off her friends one by one.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both horror & thriller
Spree (2020)
Desperate for an online following, a rideshare driver has figured out a deadly plan to go viral and he will stop at nothing to get his five minutes of fame.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both horror & thriller
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDiary of the Dead (2007)
A group of young filmmakers encounter real zombies while filming a horror movie of their own.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both horror & thriller
SnoozefestMovies like thisCreature of the Pines (2026)
Creature of the Pines is a found footage horror movie set in the legendary New Jersey Pine Barrens, one of the most mysterious and unsettling stretches of wilderness in America. Locals have whispered about strange sightings and disappearances for generations, but few people are willing to talk about what they’ve seen, and even fewer dare to go looking.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both horror & thriller
Dark Web: Unsearchable Horror Darkness Videos (2019)
A dark world that cannot be searched with a browser - that is the "dark web". The Internet that has become indispensable in modern society. However, did you know that there is a dark world that ordinary people cannot search or view? In this work, we will monitor the "dark web" and gather information, and deliver the "dark web" that cannot be seen by the world to the viewers.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both horror
The Houses October Built 2 (2017)
Recovering from the trauma of being kidnapped last Halloween by the Blue Skeleton - a group who take "extreme haunt" to another level - five friends decide they must face their fears in order to move on. Heading back out on the road to visit more haunted house attractions, signs of the Blue Skeleton start appearing again and a new terror begins.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both horror
SnoozefestMovies like thisCCTV (2026)
On November 2nd, 2019, a young woman vanished from a small Italian town, leaving no trace behind. These are the last moments captured by surveillance cameras.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both horror
Legends of Burkittsville: 3 Days Before Heather Left (2021)
Lonnie is a video store clerk desperately trying to make his way into the film business. His former collaborator, Heather Donahue, is Hell-bent on making her documentary about a local witch that haunts the Black Hills of Maryland. But before she heads out to film, she enlists Lonnie's help in tracking down the elusive map that details those very woods, promising him a future. What happens next is a spine-tingling addition to the Blair Witch saga.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both horror
Jaret's 2022 Halloween Special (2022)
In October of 2022, two student filmmakers and a viral YouTube and Tik Tok sensation disappeared in the woods near Harrisville RI. This footage was found at the scene.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both horror
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like The Lucifer Effect?
The closest matches to The Lucifer Effect are Killer Legends (2014), Unknown Dimension: The Story of Paranormal Activity (2021) and Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror (2019). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after The Lucifer Effect?
Start with Killer Legends (2014), the closest match to The Lucifer Effect.
What is the highest-rated movie like The Lucifer Effect?
Spree (2020), rated 6.4/10 by 594 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like The Lucifer Effect?
Creature of the Pines (2026) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like The Lucifer Effect?
Yes: Killer Legends (2014), Unknown Dimension: The Story of Paranormal Activity (2021) and Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror (2019).
How are movies similar to The Lucifer Effect chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside The Lucifer Effect, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.