10 Movies and TV Shows Similar to Abigail (2019)

Description: Both 'The Sixth Sense' and 'Abigail' feature children who can see and interact with spirits that adults cannot. They share themes of communication with the dead and the emotional impact of unresolved trauma. The films similarly build to shocking revelations about the nature of their supernatural elements.

Fact: Bruce Willis agreed to a lower salary in exchange for backend profits, earning over $100 million. The famous 'I see dead people' line was improvised by Haley Joel Osment. M. Night Shyamalan wrote the script specifically for Bruce Willis.

Description: Both 'The Others' and 'Abigail' feature gothic atmospheres and twist endings that redefine the entire story. They share themes of isolation, supernatural presence, and the blurred line between the living and the dead. The restrained, atmospheric horror style is similar.

Fact: Nicole Kidman's pale makeup took 3 hours daily to apply. The film was shot entirely in natural light to enhance authenticity. It was the most successful Spanish film ever made at the time of release.

Description: 'The Ring' and 'Abigail' both feature supernatural curses that target specific individuals. They share a similar atmospheric dread and focus on investigating supernatural phenomena. Both films use visual motifs (the video tape in 'The Ring', the doll in 'Abigail') as central horror elements.

Fact: The famous 'climbing out of the TV' scene took 7 days to film. Naomi Watts filmed her reaction to the video tape before actually seeing it. The film's success launched the J-horror remake trend in Hollywood.

Description: Like 'Abigail', 'The Orphanage' combines supernatural horror with deep emotional storytelling about motherhood and loss. Both films feature haunted locations with tragic histories and children who may be communicating with spirits. The melancholic tone and ghostly imagery are comparable.

Fact: Produced by Guillermo del Toro, who called it 'the best script I've ever read'. The child actor who played Simón didn't speak Spanish and learned his lines phonetically. The iconic sack-mask scene was inspired by a real Spanish folk tale.

Description: Like 'Abigail', 'Paranormal Activity' features a supernatural entity haunting a home, with the horror escalating over time. Both films use subtle, realistic scares rather than overt gore. They share themes of domestic spaces becoming terrifying and the inability to escape supernatural forces.

Fact: Made for just $15,000, it became one of the most profitable films ever. The entire film was shot in the director's own house. Many scenes were improvised, with the actors living in the house during filming.

Description: Like 'Abigail', 'The Conjuring' features a supernatural entity tormenting a family in their home. Both films use classic haunted house tropes while maintaining strong character development. The films share a similar balance of jump scares and psychological horror.

Fact: Based on real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren's case files. The film's success launched the Conjuring Universe, now one of the highest-grossing horror franchises. Director James Wan used practical effects whenever possible to enhance realism.

Description: 'Sinister' shares with 'Abigail' the theme of a family moving into a house with a dark history. Both films feature supernatural entities that target children, and both use found footage elements to enhance realism. The slow revelation of the haunting's true nature is similarly paced.

Fact: The creepy home movies were inspired by real snuff film urban legends. Ethan Hawke agreed to star after reading just 30 pages of the script. The film's demon Bughuul was based on Mesopotamian mythology.

Description: Like 'Abigail', 'The Babadook' uses supernatural elements to explore psychological trauma and grief. Both films feature a child in peril and a mother struggling with emotional demons. The monster serves as a metaphor for unresolved pain in both stories.

Fact: The Babadook book featured in the film was hand-made by the director. The film's sound design was created using only human voices. It became a cult LGBTQ+ icon years after release due to its themes of repression.

Description: Similar to 'Abigail' (2019), 'The Haunting of Hill House' blends supernatural horror with deep emotional storytelling. Both explore themes of family trauma and grief, using haunted settings as metaphors for unresolved emotional pain. The atmospheric tension and slow-burn horror style are also comparable.

Fact: The series is based on Shirley Jackson's 1959 novel of the same name. Many scenes feature hidden ghosts in the background that aren't immediately noticeable. The show's famous 'bent-neck lady' twist was kept secret from even the cast during filming.

Description: Both 'Hereditary' and 'Abigail' deal with family curses and supernatural inheritance. They share themes of grief, mental illness, and the breakdown of family relationships under supernatural pressure. The films similarly build dread through disturbing imagery rather than relying on cheap scares.

Fact: Toni Collette's scream of grief was recorded in one take and used unaltered. The miniature houses featured prominently were all built by hand. Director Ari Aster drew inspiration from classic family dramas as much as horror films.