Movies Like The Bad Seed (1985)

The Bad Seed is a 1985 crime, drama, horror, tv movie, thriller film from Paul Wendkos with a MovieMagicScore of 6.1/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with The Bad Seed and The Bad Seed.

Crime Drama Horror TV Movie Thriller

The Bad Seed

1956

Air Force Colonel Kenneth Penmark and his wife, Christine, adore their daughter Rhoda, despite her secret tendency for selfishness. Christine keeps her knowledge of her daughter's darker side to herself, but when a schoolmate of Rhoda's dies mysteriously, her self-deception unravels.

7.1

MagicScore

The Bad Seed

2018

A widower suspects that his seemingly perfect adolescent daughter is a heartless killer.

7.0

MagicScore

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

2007

The infamous story of Benjamin Barker, a.k.a Sweeney Todd, who sets up a barber shop down in London which is the basis for a sinister partnership with his fellow tenant, Mrs. Lovett. Based on the hit Broadway musical.

7.2

MagicScore

Misericordia

2024

Jérémie returns to his hometown for the funeral of his former boss, the village baker. He decides to stay for a few days with Martine, the man's widow. A mysterious disappearance, a threatening neighbor and a priest with strange intentions make Jérémie's short stay in the village take an unexpected turn.

6.3

MagicScore

The Ring Two

2005

After the ordeal with Samara, Rachel and Aiden move to a rural town. But soon Rachel learns about the death of a girl in a similar fashion. To save Aiden, she must dig into Samara's past even further.

5.7

MagicScore

Léon Morin, Priest

1961

Barny, although a Marxist, is intrigued by the mysteries of religion. In confession, she teases a priest, Léon Morin, but he is a young and intelligent man and ready to discuss anything.

7.0

MagicScore

Village of the Damned

1960

In a small English village everyone suddenly falls unconscious. When they awake every woman of child bearing age is pregnant. The resulting children have the same strange blond hair, eyes and a strong connection to each other.

7.2

MagicScore

Insomnia

2002

Two Los Angeles homicide detectives are dispatched to a northern town where the sun doesn't set to investigate the methodical murder of a local teen.

7.0

MagicScore

The Postman Always Rings Twice

1981

The sensuous wife of a lunch wagon proprietor and a rootless drifter begin a sordidly steamy affair and conspire to murder her Greek husband.

6.5

MagicScore

#10

One Way or Another

1976

Set during a retreat of Christian Democrat politicians who practice spiritual exercises together, it is an allegory of corrupted power. Disturbing, claustrophobic settings are the background to a series of mysterious crimes.

7.6

MagicScore

#11

Come Out and Play

2012

A couple take a vacation to a remote island - their last holiday together before they become parents. Soon after their arrival, they notice that no adults seem to be present - an observation that quickly presents a nightmarish reality.

5.0

MagicScore

#12

House of Mortal Sin

1976

A troubled young girl goes to confession at the local church. Unfortunately, the sexually frustrated priest she confesses to becomes obsessed with her. At first, the priest stalks the girl, but later it is revealed that he will stop at nothing, including blackmail and murder, just to get close to her.

6.4

MagicScore

#13

Mother Küsters Goes to Heaven

1975

After a worker kills a superior and commits suicide, each of his family members attempts to forge a path forward in life.

7.6

MagicScore

#14

First Reformed

2018

A pastor of a small church in upstate New York starts to spiral out of control after a soul-shaking encounter with an unstable environmental activist and his pregnant wife.

7.0

MagicScore

#15

Antonia's Line

1995

After World War II, Antonia and her daughter, Danielle, go back to their Dutch hometown, where Antonia's late mother has bestowed a small farm upon her. There, Antonia settles down and joins a tightly-knit but unusual community. Those around her include quirky friend Crooked Finger, would-be suitor Bas and, eventually for Antonia, a granddaughter and great-granddaughter who help create a strong family of empowered women.

6.9

MagicScore

#16

Megalopolis

2024

In a futuristic New York known as New Rome, visionary architect Cesar Catilina dreams of building "Megalopolis," a utopian city that redefines society’s limits. Opposing him is the corrupt Mayor Franklyn Cicero, who clings to power and profit. Between them stands Julia, the mayor’s daughter, whose love for Cesar forces her to choose between loyalty, ambition, and the fate of humanity.

5.2

MagicScore

#17

The Rickshaw Man

1958

A poor rickshaw driver finds himself helping a young woman and her son after the woman's husband dies suddenly.

7.2

MagicScore

#18

Men Don't Leave

1990

A widowed mother and her two sons move to Baltimore and struggle to adjust to urban life, encountering numerous eccentric characters along the way.

6.5

MagicScore

#19

High Wall

1947

Steven Kenet, suffering from a recurring brain injury, appears to have strangled his wife. Having confessed, he's committed to an understaffed county asylum full of pathetic inmates. There, Dr. Ann Lorrison is initially skeptical about Kenet's story and reluctance to undergo treatment. But against her better judgement, she begins to doubt his guilt.

6.3

MagicScore

#20

Blood

2012

When police discover a young girl brutally murdered, brothers Joe Fairburns and Chrissie Fairburns join their supervisor Robert to investigate main suspect Jason Buliegh, a local sex offender and social outcast. Forced to release Jason from police custody, the Fairburns take matters into their own hands in an attempt to coerce a confession.

5.9

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like The Bad Seed?

The top films similar to The Bad Seed by MovieMagicScore are The Bad Seed (7.1), The Bad Seed (7.0), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (7.2). Each shares crime/drama/horror/tv movie/thriller themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is The Bad Seed worth watching?

The Bad Seed holds a MovieMagicScore of 6.1/10 from 27 viewer ratings.

What kind of movie is The Bad Seed?

The Bad Seed (1985) is a crime, drama, horror, tv movie, thriller film directed by Paul Wendkos, starring Blair Brown, Lynn Redgrave, David Carradine.

Where can I find more recommendations like The Bad Seed?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more crime recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like The Bad Seed Movies like The Bad Seed Movies like Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Movies like Misericordia Movies like The Ring Two Movies like Léon Morin, Priest

About movies like The Bad Seed

This ranked list pairs The Bad Seed (1985), a crime and drama and horror and tv movie and thriller film from Paul Wendkos, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Blair Brown take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

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