The Exorcism Genre in the 2020s: Why Hollywood Keeps Returning to Possession Stories

Introduction — The Return of Possession Narratives

For decades the exorcism story has been a staple of popular horror: from canonical mid‑20th‑century novels and films to periodic revivals. In the 2020s, Hollywood and international filmmakers renewed their interest in possession narratives, producing works that range from blockbuster franchise revivals to quiet, art‑house examinations of belief and trauma. This article explores why exorcism stories keep resurfacing, what distinguishes the 2020s wave, and how cultural and industry forces have reshaped the genre.

The following analysis is organized into three parts: thematic drivers (why audiences respond to possession tales now), industry mechanics (how studios and platforms encourage the trend), and likely trajectories for the genre going forward.

Thematic Drivers: Why Possession Resonates Now

Possession stories operate on multiple registers at once: religious, psychological, social, and cinematic. In the 2020s several intersecting cultural conditions have increased their resonance:

• Collective anxiety and uncertainty. Periods of social instability—economic insecurity, public health crises, political polarization—amplify stories about invisible threats and involuntary loss of control. Possession becomes an allegory for fears that feel both intimate and systemic.
• Psychological realism and trauma narratives. Contemporary filmmakers often blend supernatural and psychological explanations, using possession as a way to dramatize trauma, dissociation, and prolonged stress while leaving interpretation deliberately ambiguous.
• Return to ritual and authority questions. Stories about exorcism probe institutional power—religious, medical, and legal—inviting audiences to reassess who gets to define normality and who holds the authority to intervene.
• Global folklore and transnational exchange. Greater attention to non‑Western spiritualities and folkloric practices has diversified possession narratives: filmmakers draw on a wider range of mythologies, creating fresh visual and narrative vocabularies for the genre.

Together these drivers make possession stories flexible metaphors for both personal and societal disruption, which helps explain their continuing appeal.

Industry Mechanics: Why Studios and Platforms Back Exorcism Films

Beyond themes, concrete industry forces help explain the exorcism genre's persistence:

• Economics of horror. Horror generally offers strong returns on modest budgets; films with familiar tropes such as exorcism are marketable internationally and can deliver high profit margins.
• Streaming platforms and catalog demand. Services and distributors seek content that sparks conversation and subscription viewings. Possession films—with compelling imagery, strong hooks like "based on true events," and franchise potential—fit that need.
• Auteur and prestige positioning. The 2020s saw directors approach possession stories with auteurial ambitions, elevating the material through craft, performance, and bold formal choices. That crossover into festival and critical attention helps legitimize further investment.
• Marketing and transmedia hooks. Producers frequently use immersive marketing—viral clips, faux‑documentary packaging, and ties to real‑world rituals—to heighten audience engagement and blur reality with fiction.

These mechanics make exorcism films both a safe financial bet and a fertile creative space for filmmakers aiming to reach wide and niche audiences simultaneously.

What this means in practice: Expect more hybrid works that combine faith, folklore, and psychodrama; studio tentpoles that mine franchise recognition; and international titles that bring diverse spiritual frameworks to mainstream attention.

Conclusions and What to Expect Next

Exorcism stories endure because they are adaptable: they can be literal supernatural thrillers, allegories for social anxieties, or intimate psychological portraits. In the 2020s the genre's revival reflects both cultural conditions—where questions of control, belief, and institutional power are prominent—and pragmatic industry incentives.

Looking ahead, several tendencies are likely to shape future possession films:

• Greater cultural specificity. Filmmakers will draw more explicitly on regional ritual practices and local beliefs, demanding more cultural expertise and sensitivity.
• Psychological complexity. Audiences increasingly expect nuance; future films will continue to complicate the line between illness, trauma, and the supernatural.
• Cross‑platform storytelling. As marketing and distribution evolve, exorcism tales will likely expand into series, limited runs, and immersive experiences that let creators unpack longer arcs.

Whether the trend continues indefinitely is uncertain—audience tastes shift and fresh horror subgenres emerge—but because exorcism narratives address perennial human concerns in malleable cinematic forms, they are likely to remain part of the cultural conversation for years to come.

For readers interested in related topics, see our sections on contemporary investigations and the practice of exorcism for deeper historical and doctrinal context.