"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.
111424Devil's Pass
Renny HarlinActors: Gemma Atkinson, Richard Ried, Matt Stokoe, Aleksey Nesterov, Aleksey Kink
Released: 2013
Devil's Pass is a 2013 UK-Russian science fiction horror film directed by Renny Harlin, written by Vikram Weet, and starring Holly Goss, Matt Stokoe, Luke Albright, Ryan Hawley, and Gemma Atkinson as... more
27017Afflicted
Derek Lee, Clif ProwseActors: Zach Gray, Michel Gill, Greg Ng, Clif Prowse, Derek Lee
Released: 2013
Afflicted is a 2013 Canadian found footage film that was written and directed by Derek Lee and Clif Prowse, and is their feature film directorial debut. It had its world premiere on September 9, 2013... more![]()
38345The Taking of Deborah Logan
Adam RobitelActors: Jill Larson, Anne Ramsay, Michelle Ang, Brett Gentile
Released: 2014
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44312Inner Demons
Seth GrossmanActors: William Thomas Jones, Sewell Whitney, Brian Flaherty, Kate Whitney, Susan Ateh
Released: 2013
Inner Demons is a 2014 horror film written by Glenn Gers and directed by Seth Grossman.... more- 5322
Hell House LLC
Stephen CognettiActors: Kristin Michelle Taylor, Theodore Bouloukos, Natalie Gee, Jeb Kreager
Released: 2015
Hell House LLC is a 2015 American found footage horror film written and directed by Stephen Cognetti.... more ![]()
63210Creep
Patrick Kack-BriceActors: Mark Duplass, Patrick Kack-Brice
Released: 2014
Creep is a 2014 comedy horror film directed by Patrick Brice, based on a script written by Brice and Mark Duplass. The movie, which is Brice's directorial debut, had its world premiere on March 8,... more![]()
73312Area 51
Oren PeliActors: Susan Lanier, Sandra Staggs, Roy Abramsohn, David Saucedo, Glenn Campbell
Released: 2014
Area 51 is an upcoming science-fiction horror film, written and directed by Oren Peli, the director of Paranormal Activity and starring Benjamin Rovner, Reid Warner and Darrin Bragg.... more![]()
83715Devil's Due
Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler GillettActors: Aimee Carrero, Allison Miller, Vanessa Ray, Sam Anderson, Zach Gilford
Released: 2014
Devil's Due is a 2014 American found footage supernatural horror film directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, and written by Lindsay Devlin. The film stars Allison Miller, Zach Gilford,... more![]()
9232The Visit
M. Night ShyamalanActors: Olivia DeJonge, Ed Oxenbould, Deanna Dunagan, Peter McRobbie, Kathryn Hahn
Released: 2015
The Visit is a 2015 American found footage horror film directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Two siblings become increasingly frightened by their grandparents' disturbing behavior while visiting them on... more![]()
10269Alien Outpost
Jabbar RaisaniActors: Adrian Paul, Rick Ravanello, Brandon Auret, Reiley McClendon
Released: 2015
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114940Paranormal Activity: the Marked Ones
Christopher B. LandonActors: Jorge Diaz, Andrew Jacobs, Gabrielle Walsh, Richard Cabral, Noemi Gonzalez
Released: January 3, 2014 (United States)
Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones is a 2014 American supernatural horror film written and directed by Christopher B. Landon. Released on January 3, 2014 in the United States, it is the first... more![]()
126966Project Almanac
Dean IsraeliteActors: Sofia Black D'Elia, Amy Landecker, Gary Grubbs, Virginia Gardner, Jonny Weston
Released: 2015
Project Almanac is a 2015 American found footage science fiction thriller film directed by Dean Israelite and written by Jason Harry Pagan and Andrew Deutschman. Filmed in 2013 and originally planned... more![]()
133729The Sacrament
Ti WestActors: Amy Seimetz, Joe Swanberg, A. J. Bowen, Donna Biscoe, Kate Lyn Sheil
Released: 2013
The Sacrament is a 2013 horror thriller film written and directed by Ti West.... more![]()
144033The Dinosaur Project
Sid BennettActors: Richard Dillane, Peter Brooke, Matthew Kane, Natasha Loring, Stephen Jennings
Released: 10 August 2012 (United Kingdom)
The Dinosaur Project is a 2012 British adventure science-fiction film written and directed by Sid Bennett.... more![]()
152213Digging Up the Marrow
Adam GreenActors: Ray Wise, Adam Green, Will Barratt
Released: 2013
Digging Up the Marrow is a 2013 documentary film written and directed by Adam Green. Adam Green being his documentary featuring monsters and is surprised when William Dekker (Ray Wise), a retired... more![]()
164238The Den
Zachary DonohueActors: Melanie Papalia, David Schlachtenhaufen, Matt Riedy
Released: December 23, 2013 (Russia), March 14, 2014 (United States)
The Den is a 2013 found footage film by Zachary Donohue and his feature film directorial debut. The film was first released in Russia on December 23, 2013, and was given a simultaneous limited... more- 17144
Creep 2
Patrick BriceActors: Mark Duplass, Desiree Akhavan, Karan Soni
Released: 2017
Creep 2 is a 2017 American found footage horror film directed by Patrick Brice. A video artist (Desiree Akhavan) looking for work drives to a remote house in the forest to meet a man (Mark Duplass)... more 
18179The Dark Tapes
Vincent J. Guastini, Michael McQuownActors: Brittany Underwood, Emilia Ares Zoryan, David Hull, David Rountree
TheDarkTapes.com
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194038The Conspiracy
Christopher MacBrideActors: Aaron Poole, James Gilbert
Released: September 20, 2012
The Conspiracy is a 2012 Canadian conspiracy thriller film written and directed by Christopher MacBride and features actors Aaron Poole, James Gilbert, Alan C. Peterson, and Julian Richings. It tells... more![]()
205153Europa Report
Sebastián CorderoActors: Sharlto Copley, Embeth Davidtz, Christian Camargo, Daniel Wu, Dan Fogler
Released: 2013
Europa Report is a 2013 science fiction film directed by Sebastián Cordero, and starring Christian Camargo, Anamaria Marinca, Michael Nyqvist, Daniel Wu, Karolina Wydra, and Sharlto Copley. A found... more- 2190
Phoenix Forgotten
Justin BarberActors: Chelsea Lopez, Florence Hartigan, Justin Matthews, Luke Spencer Roberts
Released: 2017
Phoenix Forgotten is a 2017 American found footage science-fiction supernatural psychological horror film directed by Justin Barber. 20 years after three teenagers disappeared in the wake of... more ![]()
222824Unfriended
Levan GabriadzeActors: Shelley Hennig, Moses Jacob Storm, Renee Olstead, Will Peltz, Jacob Wysocki
Released: 2014
Unfriended is a 2014 American supernatural horror film directed by Levan Gabriadze. A group of online chat room friends find themselves haunted by a mysterious, supernatural force using the account... more![]()
233939Greystone Park
Sean StoneActors: Oliver Stone, Bruce Payne, Alexander Wraith, Pete Antico, Sean Stone
Released: 2012
Greystone Park is a found footage horror film written by Sean Stone and Alexander Wraith, directed by Sean Stone and starring Sean Stone, Alexander Wraith, Antonella Lentini, Oliver Stone and Bruce... more![]()
244547Megan is Missing
Michael GoiActors: April Stewart, Tammy Klein, Jennifer DiBella, Amber Perkins, Peter Renaud
Released: 2011
Megan Is Missing is a 2011 American drama horror movie written and directed by Michael Goi. The movie is presented by way of "found footage" and follows two teenage girls that go online to find... more![]()
25158The Black Water Vampire
Evan TramelActors: Danielle Lozeau, Andrea Monier, Anthony Fanelli, Robin Steffen
Released: 2014
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