Top Rated Horror Movies Based on True Stories That’ll Haunt You for Days
Let’s face it—some of the scariest horror movies hit harder when you realize they're not just make-believe. There's something deeply disturbing about knowing that what you're watching on screen actually happened to someone, somewhere, sometime.
Now, not every horror film claiming to be “based on true events” is completely accurate. Filmmakers like to spice things up for the big screen (and for our nightmares). But still—many of these stories have roots in real-life terror that’s honestly more bone-chilling than fiction.
So grab your popcorn (and maybe a friend to hide behind), because we’re diving into the top-rated horror movies based on true stories. And trust me, once you’re done reading, you might sleep with the lights on tonight.
👻 1. The Conjuring (2013)
- IMDb Rating: 7.5
- Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Netflix
- Real Story: The Perron family haunting in Rhode Island
James Wan's The Conjuring is more than just a brilliantly crafted horror film—it’s based on the real-life investigations of Ed and Lorraine Warren, the famous paranormal investigators. The Perron family moved into a farmhouse in the 1970s, only to experience unexplained events, creepy sounds, and physical attacks.
The filmmakers claim that over 90% of the movie is true, and if that’s the case… wow. Even the Warrens admitted it was one of the most intense hauntings they ever encountered.
🪞 2. The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)
- IMDb Rating: 6.7
- Where to Watch: Netflix, Hulu
- Real Story: The tragic case of Anneliese Michel
This one hits differently because it mixes courtroom drama with terrifying horror. It’s inspired by the 1976 real-life exorcism of Anneliese Michel, a German woman who died after enduring multiple exorcisms.
She suffered from epilepsy and mental illness, but her deeply religious parents believed she was possessed. The priests who performed the exorcisms were later put on trial for negligence.
The film doesn't take a side—it leaves you with a disturbing sense of ambiguity. Was it possession, or a medical condition? You decide.
🪑 3. The Amityville Horror (1979 / 2005)
- IMDb Rating: 6.0 (1979), 5.9 (2005)
- Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, YouTube Movies
- Real Story: Ronald DeFeo Jr.’s brutal family murders
The story of the Amityville house is infamous by now. In 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered six members of his family while they slept. A year later, the Lutz family moved in and claimed the house was haunted.
Their experiences included cold spots, strange voices, and terrifying apparitions. Paranormal investigators, including (again!) the Warrens, examined the house. Whether you believe them or not, the case sparked books, films, and a pop culture phenomenon.
🧒 4. The Haunting in Connecticut (2009)
- IMDb Rating: 5.8
- Where to Watch: Netflix, Tubi
- Real Story: The Snedeker family’s haunted funeral home
This one’s creepy even before the ghosts show up. The Snedeker family moved into a new home in Connecticut, only to find out it was once a funeral parlor. Yeah—not ideal.
They soon reported ghost sightings, violent encounters, and even demonic possession. The Warrens (yes, them again) investigated this case too. The movie takes some liberties, but the original story is enough to freak anyone out.
🩸 5. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
- IMDb Rating: 7.4
- Where to Watch: Peacock, Amazon Prime Video
- Real Story: Loosely inspired by Ed Gein
This cult classic isn’t entirely based on a true story, but the infamous killer Ed Gein definitely inspired elements of the film—especially Leatherface. Gein was a disturbed man who robbed graves and made trophies out of human skin.
He didn’t use a chainsaw or live in Texas, but his crimes were so gruesome that they influenced several horror legends, including Psycho and Silence of the Lambs.
🏚️ 6. Veronica (2017)
- IMDb Rating: 6.2
- Where to Watch: Netflix
- Real Story: Spanish police file from 1991
Veronica is one of those rare horror films from Spain that went global, thanks to Netflix. It’s based on a real case from Madrid in 1991, where a teenage girl died mysteriously after using a Ouija board during a solar eclipse.
What’s extra creepy is that the Spanish police actually documented the case in a report. They admitted to experiencing strange, unexplained activity in the girl’s home. Now that's haunting.
🧸 7. Annabelle (2014)
- IMDb Rating: 5.4
- Where to Watch: Amazon Prime, Max (HBO)
- Real Story: The haunted Raggedy Ann doll
Annabelle isn’t just Hollywood’s idea of a creepy doll—she’s real. Well, the real one doesn’t look like the porcelain monster in the movie. She’s actually a Raggedy Ann doll.
According to Ed and Lorraine Warren (who owned the doll), it was possessed by a demonic spirit and caused violent attacks and psychic trauma. The doll is now locked in a glass case in their occult museum.
Yeah… probably best not to visit.
🪞 8. Deliver Us from Evil (2014)
- IMDb Rating: 6.2
- Where to Watch: Amazon Prime, Apple TV
- Real Story: NYPD cop Ralph Sarchie’s encounters
This one’s wild because it mixes gritty crime drama with supernatural horror. It’s based on Ralph Sarchie, a real-life New York police officer who claimed to encounter demonic possessions while on duty.
He later teamed up with a priest to investigate such cases. Whether you believe his stories or not, the film pulls no punches when it comes to disturbing imagery and eerie atmosphere.
🕯️ 9. The Exorcist (1973)
- IMDb Rating: 8.1
- Where to Watch: Max, Amazon Prime
- Real Story: Exorcism of a boy known as “Roland Doe”
This classic is often called the scariest movie of all time—and it’s (loosely) based on a 1949 exorcism of a boy from Maryland. The boy, known by the alias “Roland Doe,” reportedly exhibited strange behavior: levitating, speaking in tongues, and reacting violently to religious objects.
Jesuit priests performed multiple exorcisms on him, and detailed diaries from those involved inspired William Peter Blatty to write The Exorcist. The film went on to terrify millions and is still terrifying today.
🌕 10. The Possession (2012)
- IMDb Rating: 5.9
- Where to Watch: Amazon Prime, Tubi
- Real Story: The Dybbuk Box
This film is based on a real-life item sold on eBay—yes, seriously. A wooden wine cabinet, believed to be cursed, started causing nightmares and unexplained illnesses to anyone who owned it.
The item, known as the Dybbuk Box, is rooted in Jewish folklore. It’s believed to be inhabited by a malicious spirit. The movie dramatizes it a lot, but the real story is weird enough on its own.
😱 Why True-Story Horror Hits Different
There’s something terrifying about the idea that evil isn’t just a fantasy created by Hollywood. When a horror movie opens with “Based on a true story,” your brain automatically leans in. You feel more vulnerable. You question what’s real and what’s just creative liberty.
Plus, let’s not forget: real-life horror doesn’t end when the credits roll.
🚫 A Quick Word of Caution
Some of these “true stories” have been criticized or debunked over the years. That doesn’t make them less scary—but it’s important to take some claims with a grain of salt.
Filmmakers often amplify the horror to make it more cinematic, which is fair. After all, they’re here to entertain (and scare the crap out of us), not run a documentary.
Still, many of these tales come from real people who believe what they saw. Whether it’s paranormal, psychological, or something else entirely—that’s up to you to decide.
🍿 Final Thoughts
Horror movies are scary. But horror movies based on true stories? That’s a whole other level. Whether you believe in ghosts, demons, or just human madness—these films prove that truth can be way scarier than fiction.
If you're a horror fan, these top-rated movies will definitely mess with your head... in the best way possible.
💬 What Do You Think?
Have you watched any of these horror movies based on true events? Which one messed with your head the most—or do you think it’s all just Hollywood hype? Let’s talk in the comments 👇
