6 Best Possessed Doll and Puppet Horror Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 7, 2026

The uncanny terror of a doll or puppet come murderously to life has powered some of horror cinema’s most enduringly creepy villains. In Child’s Play (1988): A single mother’s gift of a seemingly ordinary doll turns out to house the soul of a serial killer. Also notable is The Devil-Doll (1936): An escaped convict uses a scientist’s formula to shrink people into deadly living dolls for revenge.

Dead Silence (2007)

TMDB ★ 6.0

A widower returns to his hometown to investigate his wife's murder, linked to a vengeful ventriloquist's ghost.

Directed by James Wan · 1h 29m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Bloodstream · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Bloodstream · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Puppetmaster (1989)

TMDB ★ 6.0

A group of psychics investigating a mysterious death are stalked by a puppeteer's deadly living creations.

Directed by David Schmoeller · 1h 28m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Shudder Amazon Channel, Full Moon Amazon Channel, Shudder Apple TV channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Howdy Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Child's Play (1988)

TMDB ★ 6.9

A single mother's gift of a seemingly ordinary doll turns out to house the soul of a serial killer.

Directed by Tom Holland · 1h 27m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Dolls (1987)

TMDB ★ 6.4

Stranded travelers take shelter in a mansion filled with antique dolls harboring a murderous secret.

Directed by Stuart Gordon · 1h 17m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus · Rent or buy: Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Magic (1978)

TMDB ★ 6.6

A troubled ventriloquist's sinister dummy begins to take control of his fracturing sanity.

Directed by Richard Attenborough · 1h 47m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Philo, AMC+ Amazon Channel, Shudder, Night Flight Plus, Shudder Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Devil-Doll (1936)

TMDB ★ 6.8

An escaped convict uses a scientist's formula to shrink people into deadly living dolls for revenge.

Directed by Tod Browning · 1h 18m

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Possessed Doll and Puppet Horror Movies

Dead Silence (2007)

Puppetmaster (1989)

Child's Play (1988)

Dolls (1987)

Magic (1978)

The Devil-Doll (1936)

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