In this article, we introduce the found footage movie technique and found footage movies, which we come across in many genres, from cult horror movies to original science fiction productions.
Found footage movies, also known as found footage movies, are fictional productions presented to the audience as real footage that has been lost and later discovered. Feature movies, short movies, or web series designed to reflect the look and feel of real-life events captured on camera can be categorized as found footage. For a movie to be considered found footage, all cameras used to shoot the footage must be part of the editing, meaning all cameras must be effectively integrated into the movie. Unlike traditional feature movies, the found footage technique deliberately lacks the finely detailed choreography, post-production processes, and in-depth dialogues that are typically present in most feature movies. The found footage technique generally appeals to the horror, thriller, or science fiction genres.
It is important to note that there are different cinematic approaches among found footage filmmakers, and thus found footage movies can be classified into sub-genres. These are as follows:
- First Person Point of View – Movies shot from the perspective of the main character who is experiencing the action while holding the camera.
- Mockumentary – Movies constructed from interviews and reports of people investigating the events on which the movie is based.
- Found news style – Movies shot with footage from a professional news crew investigating the incident.
- Found-footage style – Movies shot using footage from a fixed camera that automatically records the event.
So, what are the features that make found footage movies unique? What are the most outstanding elements of this genre?ing examples of this film genre? Let’s examine them together?
1.V/H/S

This 2012 found footage movie, which was nominated for Best Horror Movie of the Year, Best Editing, and Best Trailer, is a horror anthology that tells six different stories connected by a single main story.
A gang of young criminals is assigned to do a “job.” They are supposed to break into a house and steal a V/H/S tape with writing on it, but they are not told what is on the tape. They find multiple tapes in the house, so they grab as many as they can and start watching them while they are still inside. However, what they see on these tapes is more than they can handle, and the contents are hard to believe. Will this visit cost them more than they bargained for?
Information about V/H/S (2012):
- Directors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, David Bruckner, Ti West, Glenn McQuaid, Joe Swanberg, Adam Wingard
- Cast: Calvin Reeder, Lane Hughes, Adam Wingard, Hannah Fierman
- Release Year: 2012
- Duration: 116 minutes
- Country: United States
- Genre: Horror, Thriller
- Language: English
- Age Rating: R
- Available Platforms: Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube (Rental)
- IMDb Rating: 5.8/10
- Similar Movies: The ABCs of Death (2012), Southbound (2015)
- Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
- IMDb Link: V/H/S on IMDb
2.Creep

The movie, which won a number of awards and nominations, including the Sitges and Chicago International Film Festivals, is a co-production of Patrick Brice and Mark Duplass. Directed by Patrick Brice, the movie’s script was written by Emmy Award-winning actor Mark Duplass, who also stars in it. The movie premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival in 2014.
A cameraman accepts a one-day job in a remote mountain town to record a dying man’s last messages and memories on video. At first, everything seems normal, but as time goes on, the cameraman begins to witness his client’s strange requests and dark sides, and the job becomes increasingly bizarre. Despite all the oddities, the cameraman continues and finishes his job. However, when the time finally comes to leave the mountain house, he cannot find his car keys and receives a strange phone call, which makes him realize that his client is not who he initially seemed.
Information about Creep (2014):
- Director: Patrick Brice
- Cast: Mark Duplass, Patrick Brice
- Release Year: 2014
- Duration: 77 minutes
- Country: United States
- Genre: Horror, Thriller
- Language: English
- Age Rating: R
- Available Platforms: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube (Rental)
- IMDb Rating: 6.3/10
- Similar Movies: Creep 2 (2017), The Invitation (2015)
- Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
- IMDb Link: Creep on IMDb
3.Lake Mungo

Lake Mungo, nominated for Best Horror Movie at the Fright Meter Awards, is a 2008 found footage horror movie. Premiering at the Sydney Film Festival and later at the South by Southwest Festival, like the previous movie on our found footage list, Lake Mungo has earned a distinguished place among found footage movies, with Joel Anderson’s direction and the successful acting of Talia Zucker, Rosie Traynor, and David Plagner.
Sixteen-year-old Alice Palmer drowns while swimming in a local dam. When her body is found, autopsied, and her death is ruled accidental, her grieving family buries her. However, the family begins to experience a series of strange and inexplicable events in and around their home. Deeply disturbed, the Palmers seek the help of psychic and parapsychologist Ray Kemeny.
Information about Lake Mungo (2008):
- Director: Joel Anderson
- Cast: Rosie Traynor, David Pledger, Martin Sharpe, Talia Zucker
- Release Year: 2008
- Duration: 89 minutes
- Country: Australia
- Genre: Horror, Mystery, Drama
- Language: English
- Age Rating: Not Rated (NR)
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Shudder, YouTube (Rental)
- IMDb Rating: 6.3/10
- Similar Movies: The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007), The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014)
- Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
- IMDb Link: Lake Mungo on IMDb
4.Paranormal Activity

The 2007 horror movie Paranormal Activity, which received nominations for Best Horror Movie at the Empire Awards and the MTV Movie Awards, grossed nearly $200 million worldwide despite being made with a main budget of only $15,000 and a post-production budget of $200,000. Directed by Ören Peli, the movie was released to worldwide audiences in 2009.
Katie and her boyfriend Micah have been together for three years, and one night, while they are sleeping, they are suddenly haunted by an entity. Katie explains to Micah that she has had paranormal experiences since she was eight years old. Micah, who is a skeptic, buys a camera to record the paranormal events that occur in their house during the night. They decide to meet with an expert on paranormal entities to help them escape their situation.
Information about Paranormal Activity (2007):
- Director: Oren Peli
- Cast: Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat, Mark Fredrichs, Amber Armstrong
- Release Year: 2007
- Duration: 86 minutes
- Country: United States
- Genre: Horror, Mystery
- Language: English
- Age Rating: R
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Paramount+, YouTube (Rental)
- IMDb Rating: 6.3/10
- Similar Movies: The Blair Witch Project (1999), Insidious (2010)
- Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
- IMDb Link: Paranormal Activity on IMDb
5.The Blair Witch Project

The Blair Witch Project, which was released with a very low budget of $35,000 and grossed approximately $250 million, is a cult movie made in 1999, directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez. The movie had a very successful promotional campaign and provided the first examples of some of the original aspects of found footage movies. So much so that they even issued a missing persons report for Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, and Michael C. Williams, who star in the movie, as part of the movie’s marketing tactic. Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival, Blair Witch has developed a huge cult following, spanning from comics to video games, and still has a dedicated fan base today.
Three film students set out into the Black Hills Forest to shoot a documentary about the legendary Blair Witch. Armed with a camera, a video camera, and a voice recorder, they attempt to capture every step, every word, and every sound. A year after the three young people disappeared in the forest, never to return from the Black Hills Forest and with no known fate, a bag full of film canisters, audio recordings, and a video tape is found.
Information about The Blair Witch Project (1999):
- Directors: Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez
- Cast: Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, Joshua Leonard
- Release Year: 1999
- Duration: 81 minutes
- Country: United States
- Genre: Horror, Mystery
- Language: English
- Age Rating: R
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, YouTube (Rental)
- IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
- Similar Movies: Paranormal Activity (2007), REC (2007)
- Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
- IMDb Link: The Blair Witch Project on IMDb
6.The Host

The newest addition to our list of found footage movies, Host, is a 2020 British horror movie. Released during the pandemic, Host was distributed by Shudder. Despite its low budget of just $35,000, the movie grossed close to half a million dollars and was nominated for Best Horror Movie of the Year by the Hollywood Critics Association. Inspired by a viral social media sketch, the movie is a 65-minute short with a total production process of 12 weeks.
Six friends hire a medium to hold a séance via Zoom during quarantine, but when things quickly go awry, they find themselves faced with a much darker reality than they bargained for. When an unknown entity begins invading their home, the only thing on their minds is whether they will make it through this cursed night.
Information about The Host (2020):
- Director: Rob Savage
- Cast: Haley Bishop, Jemma Moore, Emma Louise Webb, Radina Drandova
- Release Year: 2020
- Duration: 57 minutes
- Country: United Kingdom
- Genre: Horror, Thriller
- Language: English
- Age Rating: NR (Not Rated)
- Available Platforms: Shudder, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube (Rental)
- IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
- Similar Movies: Host (2020), Unfriended (2014)
- Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
- IMDb Link: The Host on IMDb
7.Troll Hunter

Directed by André Øvredal, the movie has won 12 local and international film awards and received 13 award nominations. The movie, which heavily touches on Norwegian culture, was shot in the forests and mountains of western Norway. Starring veteran actors Otto Jespersen and Hans Morten Hansen, the movie has received generally positive reviews.
After hearing reports of dead bears being found in Norway, Thomas, Johanna, and Kalle from Volda University decide to investigate. Hoping to find an explanation for the murders, they track down Hans, a hunter in the area. Hans initially tries to avoid the young men but later agrees to let them film him in action, provided they follow his orders. The three students soon discover that Hans is not as ordinary as he seems.
Information about Troll Hunter (2010):
- Director: André Øvredal
- Cast: Otto Jespersen, Robert Stoltenberg, Knut Nærum, Johanna Mørck
- Release Year: 2010
- Duration: 103 minutes
- Country: Norway
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Horror
- Language: Norwegian
- Age Rating: PG-13
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, YouTube (Rental), Tubi
- IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
- Similar Movies: The Trolls (2022), The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
- Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
- IMDb Link: Troll Hunter on IMDb
8.Cloverfield

Produced by Paramount Pictures and directed by Matt Reeves, the famous director known for Planet of the Apes, Cloverfield has shown good box office success with a gross of around $170 million against a modest budget of close to $30 million. In 2021, it was announced that a new script was being prepared for a direct sequel to Cloverfield.
To celebrate Rob’s big promotion, his girlfriend Beth and her friends decide to throw a surprise farewell party as they are about to move to Japan. However, a deafening explosion and the arrival of a supernatural monster in the city cause pandemonium in New York and suddenly interrupt all the festivities. As the monster destroys Manhattan, Rob and his friends are determined to rescue Beth, and an adventure deep in the streets of New York begins. Where did this ruthless invader come from, and most importantly, do they have a chance to survive?
Information about Cloverfield (2008):
- Director: Matt Reeves
- Cast: Lizzy Caplan, Jessica Lucas, T.J. Miller, Michael Stahl-David
- Release Year: 2008
- Duration: 85 minutes
- Country: United States
- Genre: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller
- Language: English
- Age Rating: PG-13
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, YouTube (Rental)
- IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
- Similar Movies: 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016), The Blair Witch Project (1999)
- Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
- IMDb Link: Cloverfield on IMDb
9.Chronicle

Chronicle, a 2012 found footage movie that exemplifies science fiction, was chosen as the Best Science Fiction Movie of the year at the 39th Saturn Awards. The movie, which premiered at the Gérardmer Film Festival, earned almost 10 times its $12 million budget at the box office. In the summer of 2021, it was officially announced that a sequel to Chronicle would be released. The movie is directed by Josh Trank, who is also known for the 2015 Fantastic Four. Chronicle is Josh Trank’s first feature-length movie.
For young Andrew, life is nothing short of a nightmare: he has to cope with being an outcast from society, having an alcoholic, abusive father, and a terminally ill mother. As a form of therapy, he films his life with a video camera. Andrew, his best friend Steve, and his cousin Matt make an underground discovery that imbues them with superpowers. At first, everything seems fine, but Andrew decides to use his new abilities for darker purposes.
Information about Chronicle (2012):
- Director: Josh Trank
- Cast: Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell, Michael B. Jordan, Ashley Hinshaw
- Release Year: 2012
- Duration: 84 minutes
- Country: United States
- Genre: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
- Language: English
- Age Rating: PG-13
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, YouTube (Rental)
- IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
- Similar Movies: Project Almanac (2015), Akira (1988)
- Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
- IMDb Link: Chronicle on IMDb
10.[Rec]

Returning with 5 awards from the Sitges International Film Festival of Catalonia and receiving more than 15 local and international film awards, [Rec] is a very popular production among found footage movies in the horror genre. Having grossed $35 million at the box office despite its $2 million budget, [Rec] premiered at the Venice International Film Festival and is a production that appears on many best horror movie lists. Co-directed by the creators of the series, Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza, the movie received positive reviews from critics for the masterful performance of Manuela Velasco Díez in the lead role.
The movie follows the terrifying events unfolding in a building through the lens of Pablo, a cameraman, and Ángela Vidal, a reporter for a late-night television show. During a report on the events at a local fire station in Barcelona, the duo follows a fire crew who receive a call about a woman trapped in a nearby apartment building. When they arrive, the crew finds the residents gathered in the lobby and goes upstairs to find the woman. A night that neither of them will ever forget soon awaits them.
Information about [Rec] (2007):
- Directors: Jaume Balagueró, Paco Plaza
- Cast: Manuela Velasco, Ferran Terraza, Jorge Serrano, Togo Igawa
- Release Year: 2007
- Duration: 78 minutes
- Country: Spain
- Genre: Horror, Thriller
- Language: Spanish
- Age Rating: R
- Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Shudder, YouTube (Rental)
- IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
- Similar Movies: Quarantine (2008), [Rec] 2 (2009)
- Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
- IMDb Link: [Rec] on IMDb
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