The Best Found Footage Movies

"Found footage" movies are films shot in POV, presented as being created accidentally, by people using video cameras in "real life" situations. These first-person films are fictional, but attempt to simulate reality, either in a "mockumentary" style or directly implying that the movie has been "discovered" somewhere and then distributed to viewers. The first-person gimmick is most often used in horror movies, as the heightened realism of watching "amateur"-shot footage can enhance the tension and suspense in a found footage movie.

The best found footage movies manage to offer thrills, some chills and certainly suspense as their storylines unfold. Typically, found footage films are horror films, but not always. This list includes some excellent films from the found footage movie genre, so be sure to vote for the ones you like the most (and vote down any that you didn't think worked too well). You can also re-rank this list in any order you choose.

Some movies that are generally considered to be found footage films combine elements of the POV footage and a larger narrative, so essentially they are a combination film. This list includes a few of those movies, and if you don't agree they should be on here, vote them down. Many of these spooky movies could be considered among the greatest horror films ever made, too.

What's the scariest found footage movie ever? Certainly, some of the major contenders include the original 'Paranormal Activity' movie (released in 2007), 'REC' (also 2007) and 1999's 'The Blair Witch Project' (perhaps the first found footage movie to gain mainstream appeal at the theaters). Do these movies scare you out of your wits? If so, you're probably a big found footage fan - one who spends endless hours perusing the best horror movies on Netflix instant to get some new thrills.

Some excellent found footage movies that aren't necessarily in the horror movie genre include 2012's science fiction/thriller 'Chronicle' and the cop drama 'End of Watch.' The comedy 'Project X,' also released in 2012, could certainly be considered among the best found footage movies, even though it is most definitely *not* a horror film. It's actually an excellent teen movie.