Movies Like The People Under the Stairs (1991)

The People Under the Stairs is a 1991 comedy, horror, mystery, thriller film from Wes Craven with a MovieMagicScore of 6.5/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with The Iceman and Offseason.

Comedy Horror Mystery Thriller

The Iceman

2012

The true story of Richard Kuklinski, the notorious contract killer and family man.

6.6

MagicScore

Offseason

2022

Upon receiving a mysterious letter that her mother's grave has been vandalized, Marie travels to the desolate island town where she's buried. Just as she arrives, the island closes for the season, leaving Marie trapped in a nightmare.

5.3

MagicScore

Deranged

1974

A man living in rural Wisconsin takes care of his bed-ridden mother, who is very domineering and teaches him that all women are evil. After she dies, he misses her, and a year later digs her up and takes her home. He learns about taxidermy and begins robbing graves to get materials to patch her up, and inevitably begins looking for fresher sources of materials. Based loosely on the true story of Ed Gein.

5.8

MagicScore

Please Don't Feed the Children

2025

After a viral outbreak ravaged the country’s adult population, a group of orphans heads south in search of a new life, only to find themselves at the mercy of a deranged woman harboring a dangerous secret.

6.2

MagicScore

On the Line

2022

A provocative and edgy radio host must play a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a mysterious caller who's kidnapped his family and is threatening to blow up the whole station.

6.1

MagicScore

Fresh

2022

Frustrated by scrolling dating apps only to end up on lame, tedious dates, Noa takes a chance by giving her number to the awkwardly charming Steve after a produce-section meet-cute at the grocery store.

7.0

MagicScore

Father Mother Sister Brother

2025

Estranged siblings reunite after years apart, forced to confront unresolved tensions and reevaluate their strained relationships with their emotionally distant parents.

6.4

MagicScore

Julien Donkey-Boy

1999

Undiagnosed, untreated and generally untethered schizophrenic Julien lives with his pregnant younger sister Pearl, anorexic would-be wrestler brother Chris, sympathetic grandmother, and severely depressed German father.

7.0

MagicScore

Is God Is

2026

Two sisters embark on an epic quest for revenge, confronting a charged family history that pushes them to extraordinary lengths.

5.6

MagicScore

#10

Eddington

2025

In May of 2020, a standoff between a small-town sheriff and mayor sparks a powder keg as neighbor is pitted against neighbor in Eddington, New Mexico.

6.4

MagicScore

#11

Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker

1981

Rejected by her lover, the only man left in Cheryl's life is the orphaned nephew she has raised as her own son. She'll stop at nothing to keep Billy with her. When her plans misfire, she is swept up into an insane frenzy that means death to anyone who comes between her and her obsession. But the investigating detective is convinced that Billy is the real killer - and determined to prove it. Madness and fanaticism work together to drag all concerned into a terrifying vortex of blood-letting that adds a nightmarish twist to the classic Oedipus story.

6.6

MagicScore

#12

The 'Burbs

1989

When secretive new neighbors move in next door, suburbanite Ray Peterson and his friends let their paranoia get the best of them as they start to suspect the newcomers of evildoings and commence an investigation. But it's hardly how Ray, who much prefers drinking beer, reading his newspaper and watching a ball game on the tube expected to spend his vacation.

6.8

MagicScore

#13

Climax

2018

When a dance troupe is lured to an empty school, a bowl of drug-laced sangria causes their jubilant rehearsal to descend into a dark and explosive nightmare as they try to survive the night—and find who's responsible—before it's too late.

7.0

MagicScore

#14

Black Swan

2010

The story of a ballerina in a New York City ballet company whose life is completely consumed with dance. Nina lives with her retired ballerina mother who zealously supports her daughter's professional ambition. When the artistic director decides to replace the prima ballerina for the opening production of their new season, Nina is his first choice.

7.7

MagicScore

#15

Black '47

2018

In 1847, when Ireland is in the grip of the Great Famine that has ravaged the country for two long years, Feeney, a hardened Irish Ranger who has been fighting for the British Army abroad, returns home to reunite with his estranged family, only to discover the cruelest reality, a black land where death reigns.

6.6

MagicScore

#16

I Saw the Devil

2010

Kyung-chul is a dangerous psychopath who kills for pleasure. Soo-hyeon, a top-secret agent, decides to track down the murderer himself. He promises himself that he will do everything in his power to take vengeance against the killer, even if it means that he must become a monster himself.

7.8

MagicScore

#17

Bone Lake

2025

A couple’s romantic vacation at a secluded lakeside estate is upended when they are forced to share the mansion with a mysterious and attractive couple. In this darkly hilarious and seductive horror story, a dream getaway spirals into a nightmarish maze of sex, lies, and manipulation, bringing terrifying secrets to light and triggering a bloody battle for survival.

5.9

MagicScore

#18

The House of Yes

1997

Jackie-O is anxiously awaiting the visit of her brother home for Thanksgiving, but isn't expecting him to bring a friend — and she's even more shocked to learn that this friend is his fiance. It soon becomes clear that her obsession with Jackie Kennedy is nothing compared to her obsession with her brother, and she isn't the only member of the family with problems.

6.1

MagicScore

#19

Don't Breathe

2016

A group of teens break into a blind man's home thinking they'll get away with the perfect crime. They're wrong.

7.0

MagicScore

#20

A Good Marriage

2014

After 25 years of a good marriage, what will Darcy do once she discovers her husband's sinister secret?

5.4

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like The People Under the Stairs?

The top films similar to The People Under the Stairs by MovieMagicScore are The Iceman (6.6), Offseason (5.3), Deranged (5.8). Each shares comedy/horror/mystery/thriller themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is The People Under the Stairs worth watching?

The People Under the Stairs holds a MovieMagicScore of 6.5/10 from 712 viewer ratings.

What kind of movie is The People Under the Stairs?

The People Under the Stairs (1991) is a comedy, horror, mystery, thriller film directed by Wes Craven, starring Brandon Quintin Adams, Everett McGill, Wendy Robie.

Where can I find more recommendations like The People Under the Stairs?

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

Keep exploring

Movies like The Iceman Movies like Offseason Movies like Deranged Movies like Please Don't Feed the Children Movies like On the Line Movies like Fresh

About movies like The People Under the Stairs

This ranked list pairs The People Under the Stairs (1991), a comedy and horror and mystery and thriller film from Wes Craven, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Brandon Quintin Adams 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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