6 Creepy Mother Movies Like ’Other Mommy’
The first trailer for Other Mommy (2026) terrified audiences before they watched The Odyssey (2026) in theaters, and it has left audiences wondering what type of creature the Other Mommy even is. More than that, it also adds to a long line of films where maternal figures are more frightening than they let on.
From biographical retellings of poor parenthood to supernatural explorations of grief, there are multiple films about scary mothers that stick with the audience long after the credits roll. We have compiled some that are more than worth a watch before checking out Other Mommy on October 9th, 2026, when it hits theaters worldwide.
Goodnight Mommy (2015) is an Austrian film about a woman who returns home from surgery, when her twin boys begin to wonder if she is really their mother. From then on, the story takes a dark turn as the siblings try to solve the mystery.
Goodnight Mommy is an exercise in tension as each test to see if their mother is real gets more and more intense. But it's the climax of the film, when all the secrets are out, that we see the truth is far more terrifying than the story being told, and it makes for an unforgettable horror film.
Mama (2013) is a supernatural horror film where a couple finds their young nieces abandoned in a cabin. Upon taking them home, they learn that they've been cared for by a maternal spirit called Mama. What results is a story where a ghostly mother won't accept anyone else caring for her children.
The film is dark and twisted in every sense, but it's the character of Mama that's really its scariest element. Mama has some great jump scares and a tragic conclusion that makes this one of the best creepy mother movies out there.
The Babadook (2014) released during the elevated horror craze and explored grief between a mother and son when the father passes away in an accident. After reading a book about a creepy creature called the Babadook, strange things begin to happen in the house.
The Babadook is a very atmospheric film and is one that can stick with you for hours after the film ends, but it's Essie Davis who plays the mother, Amelia, who defines what a creepy mother can be in the 2010s.
Coraline (2009) is a stop-motion film by Laika Studios that tells the story of Coraline Jones after she moves to a new house in a gloomy town. Looking for some excitement, she encounters a realm ruled by a being who looks like her mother, but the truth is far scarier.
The Other Mother is very similar to Jessica Chastain's Other Mommy in looks, but the Other Mother in Coraline is far more intimidating because she's so good at seeming genuine. Coraline is a beautiful film with an amazing story and one of the scariest mother figures out there.
Based on Christina Crawford's tell-all book of the same name, Mommie Dearest (1981) recounts the abusive life of Joan Crawford's adoptive daughter. The film doesn't pull its punches and highlights many abusive moments that are described in the book.
When it comes to scary mother figures, the events in Mommie Dearest turn this drama into a borderline horror film. The acting is amazing across the board, but the film also covers some dark topics that make Other Mommy look like child's play.
Based on the Stephen King book, Carrie (1976) is about a young girl who is bullied at school and terrorized by her religious mother, all while harboring telekinetic powers. Carrie is a dark film, but it's her mother that makes the movie very scary.
Carrie's mother is a menace to her, and the life she makes her live is abysmal. She may not be a literal monster like in Other Mommy, but Carrie's mother is just as bad, and her fate reflects the pain she caused her daughter.
