25 Movies like Midsommar

Ari Aster’s 2019 folk horror Midsommar is more than just your average horror movie. Firstly, it forms part of daylight horror, meaning almost all the scares happen in daylight instead of in the dark.

Secondly, it forms part of a hybrid of genres amongst folk horror – drama, mystery, thriller, and slasher. Thirdly, it is also more than just that.

The writer and director of the film, Ari Aster, has cemented himself as the creator of genre-bending slow-burn horror films that deal with real-life issues and not just scares. In the case of Midsommar, it uses horror to elevate its message of coping with grief and heartbreak.

The film follows Dani, a young grieving American woman who lost her family through her sister’s suicide who is also in a deteriorating relationship with her boyfriend Christian.

He offers her little emotional support through the ordeal. During these events, Dani and Christian accompany their friends to a remote Swedish community Hårga for their sacred midsummer celebration, in the hope of having a holiday away.

Events slowly take a turn for the worst as the community is revealed to be a cult with ulterior motives for the American tourist.

Florence Pugh was praised for her performance as Dani

Like Ari Aster’s previous horror film, Hereditary that dealt with grief, Midsommar too puts the deteriorating relationship between Dani and Christian in the forefront. It then uses folk horror to elevate their inevitable breaking up.

Films like The Wicker Man (1973), Hereditary, and The Witch are films like Midsommar.

Theis films used horror to elevate real-life issues or innovated folk horror along with the other genres that belong to them.

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1. The Wicker Man (1973)

The Wicker Man is a 1973 folk horror film directed by Robin Hardy and written by Anthony Shaffer. Upon release, the film won Best Horror at the Saturn Awards.

The film follows Sergeant Howie, a conservative policeman who goes to Summerisle, a small Scottish island, to find a missing girl reported to be seen there.

He finds the island run by a pagan cult led by Lord Summerisle, whose strange practices bring him closer to finding the girl.

Christoper Lee, who plays Lord Summerisle, agreed to do it for free and considered it one of his most significant roles.

The film is like Midsommar, as both movies’ horror sources come from a cult’s strange and violent practices that put the protagonists’ lives in danger.

2. Hereditary

Hereditary is a 2018 supernatural horror film with elements of mystery and drama written and directed by Ari Aster. It is Ari Aster, who directed and wrote Midsommar, debut film.

The film was a success at the box office, bringing in $81,263,489 worldwide over its budget of $10,000,000.

The film follows the Graham family, who gets affected by their mysterious and darkly secretive matriarch’s way of life after she passes away.

The movie stars Toni Collette as Annie Graham.

Hereditary received great critical acclaim, Ari Aster won the Legion M Breakout Director at the Saturn Awards.

Like Midsommar, Hereditary is a slow-burn horror that uses the genre to enhance its message of dealing with grief and mental health.

3. The Witch

The Witch is a 2015 supernatural horror film with elements of a period drama, written and directed by Roger Eggers. His horror films are very much like Ari Aster’s, which are also slow-burn and where horror is used to elevate real-world issues.

It was incredibly successful upon release, earning $40,423,945 worldwide over its budget of $4,000,000.

The film is set in 1630 New England and follows Thomasin, the eldest daughter of a puritan family, who gets blamed for her siblings’ supernatural disappearances and death.

The Witch stars Anya Taylor-Joy as Thomasin.

It was critically acclaimed upon release. Rogge Eggers won the Dramatic Directing Reward for his work on The Witch at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival.

The movie, like Midsommar, is a slow-burn horror that uses its scares to elevate pride, paranoia, and distrust amongst the family.

4. The Lighthouse

The Lighthouse is a 2019 psychological horror drama film that was directed and co-written by Roger Eggers. The film earned $18,333,211 worldwide over its budget of $4,000,000.

The movie, set in New England in the 1890s, follows two lighthouse keepers, Thomas Howard, and Thomas Wake, who struggle to stay sane amongst the burden of living in isolation on a mysterious remote island.

The film stars Robert Pattinson and Willem Defoe as Thomas Howard and Thomas Blake, respectively.

The Lighthouse was a hit with critics. It even earned an Oscar nomination for Best Achievement in Cinematography.

Like Midsommar, it is a slow-burn horror that plays with the character’s hallucinations, resultant of substance abuse, to bring forth many of its scares.

5. Get Out

Get Out is a 2017 horror film with mystery, comedy, and thriller genre elements, written and directed by Jordan Peele. It was a massive commercial success, earning $255,407,969 worldwide over its budget of $4,500,000.

The film follows Chriss, an African American man, who goes with Rose, his Caucasian girlfriend, to meet her family at their homestead.

Her family struggles to accept their interracial relationship and seems to have terrible horrors at work for him.

Get Out stars Daniel Kaluuya as Chriss Washington.

The movie was an incredible critical success, going so far as to win the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

Get Out is like Midsommar, as both movies are slow-burn horrors that feature murderous cults and use the genre to elevate real-life issues.

6. The Blair Witch Project

The Blair Witch Project is a 1999 found-footage supernatural horror film directed and written by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez. It was a unanimous success at the box office. It earned $248,639,099 over its budget of $60,000.

The film follows three film students who go to a small town to document the legend of the Blair Witch, a legendary murder. Things go array when they go to film in the woods where the Blair Witch supposedly operated.

The Blair Witch Project stars Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, and Michael C. Williams as the film students.

The movie was a hit with critics. It even received a full star review from Roger Ebert, one of the best film critics.

Like Midsommar, the film revolves around students who go to a foreign place that puts their lives in danger.

7. Us

Us is a 2019 horror film with elements of mystery and thriller, written and directed by Jordan Peele. It earned $255,184,580 against its budget of $20,000,000.

The film follows a family who goes on a beach holiday and finds themselves being terrorized by doppelgangers.

Us stars Lupita Nyong’o as Adelaide and her character’s doppelganger Red.

The movie went on to win the Saturn Award for Best Horror.

Like Midsommar, the horrors originate from a cult-like group, which in this case is the doppelgangers.

8. Pan’s Labyrinth

Pan’s Labyrinth is a 2006 Spanish and Mexican dark fantasy drama film with elements of the horror genre, written and directed by Guillermo del Toro. It grossed $83,850,267 worldwide against a budget of $19,000,000.

The film, set in Spain in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War in 1944, follows Ofelia, a bookish young girl, who hopes to escape to a fantasy world that she has contacted to cope with the trauma of living with her sadistic stepfather and his violent, war-torn world.

Pan’s Labyrinth stars Ivana Baquero as Ofelia.

The movie went so far as to win Best Film Not in the English Language at the BAFTAs.

Like Midsommar, the film’s fantastical elements, which borderlines a lot on horror, reflect the violent, war-torn world that Ofelia lives in and thus elevates her struggle in the real world.

9. Let the Right One In

Let the Right One In is a Swedish 2008 Drama Horror film, with elements of mystery, coming-of-age, and romance, directed by Tomas Alfredson and written by John Ajvide Lindqvist. It grossed $11,227,336 worldwide.

The movie, set in the early 1980s in Stockholm, follows Oskar, a lonely, bullied 12-yeard-old boy, who befriends and develops a deep relationship with a mysterious girl Eli, of a similar age, who holds a dark secret related to the recent murders in his town.

The film received great critical acclaim, including being nominated for Best Film Not in the English Language at the BAFTAs.

Let the Right One In stars Kåre Hedebrant and Lina Leandersson as Oskar and Eli, respectively.

Like Midsommar, the film is set in Sweden and uses its horror, in this case, vampirism, to elevate its coming-of-age themes.

10. Coraline

Coraline is a 2009 stop-motion animation dark fantasy horror film written and directed by Henry Selick.

Coraline made $124,596,837 at the worldwide box office.

The movie follows Coraline, a lonely and neglected young girl who finds a mysterious, fantastical world within a small door in her apartment that at first appears livelier and beautiful in comparison to her dull life in the real world.

Unfortunately, that world soon shows its darker, sinister side.

The film stars Dakota Fanning as Coraline.

Upon release, it was nominated for the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year.

Like Midsommar, its protagonist feels alienated and neglected from her peers and seeks comfort in a strange place with a sinister dark secret.

11. Green Room

Green Room is a 2015 horror film with elements of thriller and slasher, written and directed by Jeremy Saulnier.

The movie follows a punk-rock band who are forced to fight for their survival while trapped in a neo-Nazi skinhead bar after witnessing a brutal murder while performing.

The film stars the late Anton Yelchin as Pat, a member of the band.

Green Room was a hit with the critics, taking a spot on the National Board of Review’s The Top Ten Independent Films of 2016.

Like Midsommar, the movie borrows aspects of the slasher genre. The film also follows a group of young individuals who a brutal cult-like group slowly tries to kill off in their fight for survival. Few survive the ordeal.

12. Cabin in the Woods

Cabin in the Woods is a 2011 comedy horror film with elements of the slasher genre, directed and co-written by Drew Goddard. It earned $69,935,600 at the worldwide box office.

The movie follows five college friends who go on vacation to a remote cabin in the forest but find themselves being secretly toyed with by two scientists, for reasons of their own, who unleashes ghoulish monsters amongst them that attempt to take them out one by one.

The movie stars Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, and Jesse Williams as the five college friends.

Cabin in the Woods was praised by critics, especially for its balance of both comedy and horror. It went on to win the Saturn Award for Best Horror film.

Like Midsommar, the film borrows heavily from the slasher genre, and its horrors are committed upon young adults trying to have a fun vacation.

13. Hour of the Wolf

Hour of the Wolf is a 1968 Swedish Drama Horror film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman.

The follows Johan Borg, a troubled artist who goes on vacation to a remote Scandinavian island and finds himself battling disturbing visions and delusions. He suspects this is the work of a neighboring cult.

The film stars Max von Sydow as Johan Borg.

Hour of the Wolf appeared on the BFI’s Directors’ 100 Greatest Films of All Time.

Like Midsommar, much of the horror comes from disturbing visions that are the work of a cult.

14. Mother!

Mother! is a 2017 psychological horror film written and directed by Darren Aronofsky. The movie earned $44,516,999 at the worldwide box office.

Mother! follows a young woman married to a poet who lives a tranquil and peaceful life together in their beautiful mansion.

The poet and woman’s peaceful lives are disturbed by the arrival of many uninvited guests welcomed by her husband but become a terror to her way of life.

The film stars Jenifer Lawrence as the unnamed young woman and Javier Bardem as the poet.

Mother! received a nomination for The Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.

Like Midsommar, the film uses horror to elevate the fragile relationship of a couple.

15. Suspiria (1977)

Suspiria is a 1977 Italian supernatural horror film co-written and directed by Dario Argento.

The follows Suzy, an American ballet dancer, traveling to Germany to attend a prestigious ballet school but soon realizes it is a front for something supernaturally sinister after a series of brutal murders occurs to some of its students.

Suspiria stars Jessica Harper as Suzy.

Although the film received mixed reviews upon release, critics and filmmakers realized Suspiria’s brilliance later. It even made it onto Empire magazine’s The 50 Best Horror Movies list.

Like Midsommar, the film centers on the murders of students at the hands of a cult-like group.

16. The Invitation (2015)

The Invitation is a 2015 horror film with folk horror and drama genre elements, directed by Karyn Kusama and written by Phill Hay and Matt Manfredi. Although only grossing $354,835 worldwide, the film was a hit with critics.

The movie follows Will, who accepts an invitation, along with his new girlfriend Kira, to a dinner party hosted by his ex-wife, Eden, and her new husband at Will’s old house, only to find that they seem to have ulterior motives for them in mind.

The film stars Logan Marshall-Green as David and Tammy Blanchard as Eden.

The Invitation was Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with 89%, which indicates an incredibly positive critical review.

Like Midsommar, the film uses its horror, instigated by a cult, to elevate the trauma of a broken relationship.

17. Hot Fuzz

Hot Fuzz is a 2007 British mystery-thriller comedy film, with elements of the slasher genre, directed by Edgar Wright and co-written by him with Simon Pegg. The latter also stars in it as Nicholas Angel. The movie earned $80,743,363 at the worldwide box office.

The film follows Nicholas Angel, a police constable, from London who is promoted to sergeant but unfortunately transferred against his will, for being too good at his job, to a small village which he founds out houses a terrible secret related to gruesome murders.

The movie was highly acclaimed upon release. Hot Fuzz even earned a spot on the Empire magazine’s The 100 Greatest Movies of the 21st Century.

Like Midsommar, the film borrows heavily from the slasher genre with grisly murders orchestrated by a mysterious cult.

18. The Children of the Corn (1984)

The Children of the Corn is a 1984 horror mystery film, with elements of the slasher genre, directed by Fritz Kiersch and based upon Stephen King’s famous short story of the same name.

The movie follows a couple, Burt, and Vicky, who come across a small town whose only population is made up of a cult of children who believe in killing everyone over 18-years-old for their deity.

The film stars Peter Horton as Burt and Linda Hamilton as Vicky.

Although not a hit with most critics, it has been praised by Stephen King fans. It is even on Rolling Stone’s list of Top 30 Stephen King Movies. The movie also grossed $14,568,989 worldwide on a budget of only about $800,000.

Like Midsommar, the film’s horror comes from a cult with strange practices. The main characters are Burt and Vicky, who are also a couple.

19. Jaws

Jaws is a 1975 horror film directed by Steven Spielberg and co-written by Peter Benchley. The latter wrote the book on which the film is based upon.

The movie was a huge financial and critical success. Jaws earned $471,411,300 worldwide on a budget $7,000,000.

The movie follows police chief Martin Brody, marine biologist Matt Hooper, and professional shark hunter Quint. They all go on a quest to hunt down a man-eating shark terrorizing a beach community.

The film stars Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss as Martin Brody, Quint and, Matt Hooper, respectively.

Jaws is considered by many as one of the greatest horror films of all time. It was also nominated for the Oscar for Best Picture.

Like Midsommar, all the film’s horror occurs in broad daylight, giving it a strange and terrifying tension compared to the horror set in the dark.

20. The Shining

The Shining is a 1980 psychological horror film with elements of the drama genre, directed and co-written by Stanley Kubrick.

Many, including the great Roger Ebert, consider The Shining one of the best films of all time. Upon release it grossed worldwide $46,998,772.

The Shining follows Jack Torrance, a writer who is a recovering alcoholic, his supportive wife Wendy, and their son Danny, who can see the dead.

The family agrees to look after the Overlook Hotel during the winter, where chaos soon emerges. Jack becomes inflicted with madness and murderous intentions as he returns to old and new murderous habits because of the hotel’s ghostly influence.

In contrast, Danny’s visions of the dead become increasingly disturbing.

The film stars Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance.

Like Midsommar, the horror in the film is used to elevate trauma and the broken relationship in a family.

21. The Thing (1982)

The Thing is a 1982 science-fiction horror film, with slasher and body horror genre elements, directed by John Carpenter and written by Bill Lancaster.

Although only grossing $19,632,053 upon release, The Thing is considered by many film critics and audiences alike as one of the greatest horror films of all time.

The movie follows R.J. MacReady, a helicopter pilot, and Doctor Blair, the camp doctor, who leads a research team against a beast that can take the shape of its victim before it kills them all off.

The film stars Kurt Russel as R.J. MacReady.

The Thing appeared on Empire magazine’s The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time list.

Like Midsommar, the film does not shy away from gore and uses horror to elevate paranoia felt in a group that may have seemed friendly at first glance, whether it’s a shapeshifting monster in The Thing or a cult in the latter.

22. Mandy

Mandy is a 2018 horror film with elements of the thriller and mystery genre, directed by Panos Cosmatos and co-written by Aaron Stewart-Ahn. Although only grossing $1,555,203 over its budget of $6,000,000, the film was a hit with critics.

The movie follows Red Miller, a logger with a controversial past who seeks revenge against a hippie cult and their biker henchman, who unpetted his peaceful and reclusive lifestyle after killing his girlfriend Mandy, a beautiful and kind woman whom he loved dearly.

Mandy stars Nicholas Cage as Red Miller.

Upon release, the film won Best Independent Film at the Saturn Awards.

Like Midsommar, the horror originates from an antagonistic murderous hippie-like cult.

23. A Cure for Wellness

A Cure for Wellness is a mystery horror film, with elements of the drama genre within, directed by Gore Verbinski and written by Justin Haythe. The film grossed $26,620,002 worldwide.

The film follows Lockhart, a Wallstreet stockbroker, sent to retrieve his company’s CEO at a mysterious wellness center in the Swiss Alps. Lockhart begins to suspect that the treatments done at the center are a front for something sinister.

The film stars Dane DeHaan as Lockhart.

A Cure for Wellness received mixed reviews upon release but was praised by some, like The New York Times, for its concept, performances, and cinematography.

Like Midsommar, the wellness center, like the cult, seems luxurious and intriguing at first, yet as the film unfolds, the wellness center, almost like a cult, exposes its sinister motives.

24. The Village

The Village is a 2004 drama mystery thriller film directed and written by M. Night Shyamalan. Although receiving mixed reviews upon release, it was a box office success. The film grossed $256,697,520 worldwide at against a budget of $60,000,000.

Later, the movie was recognized as an underrated masterpiece with a great ending by such entertainment publications as Vox.

The film follows a 19th-century isolated village that lives in fear of the monsters that lurks outside it, but a few starts to doubt the truth that the elders tell them of their circumstances.

The film stars Juaquin Phoenix as Lucius Hunt.

Like Midsommar, the village is cult-like in their strict traditions of not letting villagers travel outside of their isolated community by putting the fear of monsters, without too much evidence to prove their existence, on them.

25. Apostle

Apostle is a 2018 period folk horror film that was directed and written by Gareth Evans. The film was released to positive critical reception, with many publications, including Variety, calling it a homage to The Wicker Man (1973).

Apostle, set in 1905, follows Thomas, a drifter from London, who travels to an island that is home to a sinister cult to rescue his sister Jennifer who he has learned is being held ransom by them.

The film stars Dan Stevens as Thomas.

Like Midsommar, this movie is a slow-burn horror whose antagonists are a sinister cult.

(Note: The article received a 5% plagiarism score as of the film titles, budgets, awards, cast and crew, and box office financial information.)

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