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My Best Friend's Exorcism (2022) movie poster

Spoiler-Free Summary

My Best Friend's Exorcism (2022) Spoiler-Free Summary – What It's About

Release, runtime and language
2022 · 97 min · English
Echo score 30
JustWatch #18,192 5
Directed by
Damon Thomas
Starring
Elsie Fisher, Cathy Ang, Nathan Anderson, Erin Ownbey, Amiah Miller, Chris Lowell

In 1988, the close friendship of Abby and Gretchen is challenged when Gretchen begins to exhibit disturbing behavior. As they grapple with the complexities of teenage life, love, and the trends of the era, Abby discovers a demonic force has taken hold of her best friend. Determined to save Gretchen, Abby seeks help from an unusual exorcist, embarking on a desperate fight against evil and struggling to maintain their bond amidst the escalating supernatural threat.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What it is about
  3. 3 Is it worth watching?
  4. 4 After you watch
  5. 5 The book behind the movie
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like My Best Friend's Exorcism
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch My Best Friend's Exorcism (2022)

Where can you watch My Best Friend's Exorcism? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime Video Free: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Spoiler-free summary · safe to read

What Is My Best Friend's Exorcism About? (No Spoilers)

The plot of My Best Friend's Exorcism (2022) without spoilers: what it is about, who it follows and where it takes place, told without the twists or the ending. Enough to decide whether it is your next watch, not enough to ruin it.

In the summer of 1988, a time of mixtapes, roller rinks and the glow of neon, a handful of teenagers navigate the ordinary rhythms of high school while the world around them hums with the restless energy of a decade on the brink of change. The film captures that nostalgic backdrop with a palette of pastel sweaters, cassette tapes and late‑night drive‑ins, allowing the everyday to feel both familiar and slightly off‑kilter, as if an unseen current is waiting to ripple beneath the surface.

At the heart of this world is Abby Rivers, a fiercely loyal best friend whose life revolves around her close bond with Gretchen Lang. Their friendship, forged in shared secrets and whispered confidences, feels as solid as the denim jackets they wear. As the two girls drift through the awkward rites of adolescence—first crushes, cliques, and the pressure to fit in—their connection becomes a quiet anchor amid the swirling trends and teenage turbulence.

Orbiting them are a colorful cast of peers: the thoughtful Margaret Chisholm, the outspoken Glee Tanaka, the charismatic yet enigmatic Wallace Stoney, and the oddly sincere fitness influencer Christian Lemon. Even the well‑meaning guidance of Sister Kathleen and Brother Morgan adds a layer of adult perspective to the teenage swirl. Their interactions are laced with the humor, jealousy and camaraderie that define any close‑knit group, hinting at deeper undercurrents without spilling their secrets.

When Gretchen begins to exhibit unsettling changes, the tone shifts from light‑hearted teen drama to a pulse‑quickening mystery. Abby senses that something far more sinister than typical high‑school drama has taken hold—a vague, malevolent presence that whispers through the halls of their suburban world. Determined to protect her friend, she turns to an unconventional source of help, an unusual exorcist whose methods are as unconventional as the era’s fashion. The film balances the tender intimacy of friendship with an eerie, growing dread, inviting viewers to wonder how far a bond can stretch when faced with an unseen, escalating supernatural threat.

Last updated: August 09, 2025 at 21:14

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What to expect

Is My Best Friend's Exorcism Worth Watching? What It Feels Like

Is it dark, sad, slow, intense or confusing? The mood of My Best Friend's Exorcism (2022) in a few tags, without a word about how it ends. Each tag opens a list of movies that feel the same.

After you watch

Seen My Best Friend's Exorcism? Read the Ending Explained

Once you have watched My Best Friend's Exorcism (2022), come back for the full story: the plot summary with spoilers, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and what happens at the end, explained.

Movie threads

More Movies Like My Best Friend's Exorcism, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes My Best Friend's Exorcism tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about friendship battling evil like My Best Friend's Exorcism

Stories where the bond between friends is a weapon against a terrifying force. If you liked seeing Abby fight for Gretchen in My Best Friend's Exorcism, you'll find similar stories here. These movies feature loyal friends facing down demons, monsters, or supernatural threats, where the emotional core is the survival of their bond amidst the horror.

  • desperate
  • tense
  • loyal
  • frantic
  • anxious
  • traumatic
  • Tone: dark, desperate
  • Pacing: fast, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically begin with a strong, established friendship that is shattered by an external, often supernatural, incursion. The plot follows the protagonist's desperate journey to save their friend, encountering skepticism and danger, culminating in a high-stakes confrontation where love and loyalty are the ultimate weapons.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here because they share a specific emotional core: the theme of unconditional friendship as a source of strength in the face of overwhelming horror. They blend heavy emotional weight with high-intensity thrills, focusing on the characters' emotional journey as much as the supernatural plot.

Fast-paced 80s-style horror movies like My Best Friend's Exorcism

Fast-paced horror stories steeped in nostalgic settings but driven by relentless dread. Fans of the frantic, nostalgic horror in My Best Friend's Exorcism will enjoy this selection. These are high-tension thrillers and horror films that evoke a specific retro era, often the 80s, combining coming-of-age elements with a fast, desperate pace and disturbing themes.

  • frantic
  • anxious
  • nostalgic
  • disturbing
  • tense
  • gritty
  • Tone: dark, gritty, nostalgic
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a quick descent from normalcy into chaos, with little time for characters or the audience to breathe. The period setting provides a layer of recognizability and comfort that is systematically dismantled by a sudden, violent supernatural or psychological threat that accelerates towards a brutal climax.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their unique blend of a distinct nostalgic aesthetic and a consistently fast, high-anxiety pacing. They deliver a specific viewing experience: a comforting sense of familiarity quickly overwritten by frantic, gritty, and disturbing horror action.

If you liked this

Movies Like My Best Friend's Exorcism

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Every angle

My Best Friend's Exorcism (2022) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about My Best Friend's Exorcism in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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