8 Movies Like Midsommar to Watch in 2026

Some horror movies frighten us with monsters, ghosts, or creatures hiding in the darkness. Midsommar does something far more unsettling: it makes the brightest possible setting feel terrifying. Ari Aster’s 2019 folk-horror film takes grief, relationships, isolation, and ancient rituals and places them beneath endless Scandinavian sunshine. The result is a disturbing experience that stays with us long after the credits roll.

Below is a list of 8 movies like Midsommar to watch in 2026.

1. Apostle (2018)

Apostle combines cult horror, historical drama, supernatural mythology, and graphic violence. Set in the early 20th century, the story follows Thomas Richardson as he travels to an isolated island to rescue his kidnapped sister. The community he discovers follows strange religious beliefs and hides disturbing secrets. Like Midsommar, the film focuses on an outsider entering a closed society governed by rituals and unfamiliar rules. However, Apostle is more action-oriented and violent, making it a good choice when we want something more intense. Its mysterious setting, cult atmosphere, supernatural elements, and escalating brutality make it an entertaining recommendation for fans of folk and ritualistic horror.

2. Hereditary (2018)

Hereditary is another essential choice for fans of Midsommar, especially because both films were directed by Ari Aster. The story follows a family dealing with a devastating loss while increasingly disturbing events begin affecting their lives. Like Midsommar, the film explores grief, trauma, family relationships, psychological breakdown, and supernatural horror. Toni Collette delivers an exceptionally intense performance that makes the family's emotional suffering feel painfully real. Unlike Midsommar, which uses bright outdoor settings, Hereditary creates claustrophobic dread inside dark homes and confined spaces. If you appreciated Aster's ability to turn personal tragedy into psychological horror, this is essential viewing.

3. The Ritual (2017)

The Ritual combines folk horror, psychological trauma, mythology, and survival horror in a story about four friends hiking through a remote Scandinavian forest. After taking a dangerous shortcut, the group encounters disturbing symbols and evidence of something unnatural hiding among the trees. Its Scandinavian setting immediately makes it appealing to Midsommar fans, although the atmosphere is much darker and more threatening. The movie also explores guilt and grief, showing how emotional wounds can become as frightening as external dangers. If you enjoyed the unsettling traditions, isolation, and Scandinavian atmosphere of Midsommar, The Ritual offers a darker and more traditional horror experience.

4. The Witch (2015)

Robert Eggers' The Witch is a beautifully atmospheric example of slow-burn folk horror. Set in 17th-century New England, the movie follows a deeply religious family living in isolation near a mysterious forest. When their youngest child disappears, fear and suspicion begin destroying the family's relationships. Like Midsommar, the film explores the conflict between unfamiliar traditions, religious beliefs, and individual identity. Its deliberately slow pacing allows tension to build gradually rather than relying on constant jump scares. The detailed historical setting also makes the movie feel immersive and authentic. For fans of rituals, isolation, superstition, and psychological horror, The Witch is an excellent choice.

5. The Invitation (2015)

The Invitation takes the idea of an unsettling community and places it in a much more ordinary setting: a dinner party. Will attends an evening hosted by his former wife, but strange conversations and suspicious behavior gradually convince him that something isn't right. The film's greatest strength is its psychological tension. Instead of immediately revealing the threat, it makes us question whether Will is genuinely in danger or simply struggling with his own trauma. This uncertainty creates an atmosphere similar to Midsommar, where social interactions become increasingly uncomfortable. If you enjoy movies involving manipulation, grief, mysterious groups, and slow-building tension, this is worth watching.

6. Suspiria (2018)

Luca Guadagnino's Suspiria is an ambitious psychological horror film centered on a prestigious dance academy in 1970s Berlin. When an American dancer arrives at the school, she gradually discovers that disturbing secrets are hidden beneath its artistic exterior. The movie shares several qualities with Midsommar, particularly its emphasis on ritual, community, femininity, transformation, disturbing imagery, and psychological manipulation. Both films use art, movement, music, and carefully constructed environments to create an unsettling atmosphere. Suspiria is considerably more surreal and visually intense, but that makes it particularly rewarding for viewers who appreciated the artistic side of Midsommar and want something equally unconventional.

7. The Lodge (2019)

The Lodge is a chilling psychological horror movie centered on isolation, grief, religion, and family trauma. The story follows a woman who becomes trapped with two children in a remote winter cabin, where increasingly disturbing events make everyone question what is real. Although the snowy environment looks completely different from the sunny landscapes of Midsommar, the movies share important themes. Both explore psychological vulnerability, manipulation, belief, grief, and emotional trauma. The isolation also creates a powerful feeling of helplessness because the characters have nowhere obvious to escape. If you enjoyed the psychological side of Midsommar more than its cult elements, The Lodge is a strong recommendation.

8. Saint Maud (2019)

Saint Maud is a deeply psychological horror film about faith, loneliness, obsession, and the desire to find meaning. Maud is a hospice nurse who becomes increasingly devoted to saving the soul of her terminally ill patient. As her religious beliefs become more extreme, the line between spiritual experience and psychological instability becomes increasingly difficult to understand. This ambiguity makes the film especially appealing to fans of Midsommar. Both movies examine how belief can reshape a person's perception of reality. Saint Maud is quieter and more intimate, but its final moments deliver an unforgettable emotional impact. For intelligent, character-driven horror, this is an excellent choice.

Conclusion

The most memorable horror movies don't necessarily frighten us by showing us a monster. Sometimes they frighten us by making us question what is normal.