Possession
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In cinemas now — in 3 states · 6 screenings at 6 cinemas on our showtimes page
Where to watch: Not on major US streamers — check digital rental.
How it scared people
The vibe
A divorce filmed as an exorcism, or possibly the reverse. Adjani's subway scene is the most harrowing performance in horror history — she won Cannes for it — and Żuławski keeps the entire film pitched at that frequency. Doppelgängers, creatures, Cold War Berlin: nothing else is like it.
Possession (1981) Parents Guide
| MPA rating | Rated R |
|---|---|
| Runtime | 124 minutes |
| Jump scares | 3/5 — moderately scary, with a handful of strong sequences |
| Gore | 3/5 — a moderate amount of blood and violence |
| Dread | 5/5 — the kind of film that follows you around for days |
| Themes | psychological distress; graphic bodily transformation; a cult or sect |
Possession is rated R by the MPA. We score it 3/5 for jump scares, 3/5 for gore and 5/5 for lingering dread, over 124 minutes. Older teens and adults — less for what it shows than for how long it stays with you.
We rate what the film does — scares, gore, dread — not scene-level content like language or nudity, which we don't track.
Before you press play
- How scary is Possession?
- On our intensity scale, Possession rates 6/10 for jump scares and 10/10 for dread. It is moderately scary, with a handful of strong sequences. Expect little in the way of jump scares, but a sense of dread that builds steadily and lingers after the credits.
- How gory is Possession?
- Possession rates 6/10 for gore — expect a moderate amount of blood and violence.
- How long is Possession?
- Possession runs 124 minutes (2h 4m).
- What is Possession rated?
- Possession is rated R by the MPA. On our own scale it rates 6/10 for jump scares, 6/10 for gore and 10/10 for dread — the R tells you what it was certified, those tell you what it will do to you.
- Where to watch Possession (1981)?
- Possession is playing in 3 states right now — 6 screenings across 6 cinemas on our showtimes page. It is not on a major US subscription streamer yet.
