Secret societies hide in plain sight and control things from behind the curtains. Sometimes, they’re the guardians of ancient mysteries and hidden treasures, whereas sometimes, they exist with the sole purpose of controlling the world.
The only common ground between them is they don’t want anyone to know about them. With that being said, here are the ten best films about secret societies.
Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Eyes Wide Shut is a story of secrets and erotic desires. The film follows Bill Harford’s night of discovery as he stumbles upon a world of secrets and seduction. After his wife’s heartbreaking confession, Bill finds a hidden society where masks hide true intentions and the widest sexual fantasies come to life.
If we are to quote the genius Stanley Kubrick, this film is a hypnotic exploration of temptation and taboo, or in layman’s terms, a film that will leave you spellbound.
The Da Vinci Code (2006)
The Da Vinci Code respected author and symbologist Robert Langdon and cryptologist Sophie Neveu go on an exciting puzzle-solving adventure. When a curator is murdered, they find some clues and Fibonacci numbers pointing to a secret society that is guarding a secret about the lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
This Ron Howard film is known to be so successful that it even spawned multiple sequels, each better than the last. If you love history and mystery, The Da Vinci Code is a must-watch.
The Skulls (2000)
In The Skulls, we find out about a secret society, or should we say, a secret college fraternity of the same name. When Luke McNamara, a humble student, is offered a spot within the group, he immediately jumps in on the opportunity without asking questions.
Soon, the real truth about the society comes to light, forcing Luke to make a choice between staying loyal to the group or betraying its secret to the world. This Rob Cohen teaches us that ambition isn’t always a good thing; it can draw unwanted troubles, too.
The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
The Manchurian Candidate is an intertwined story of politics and manipulation. When war hero Raymond Shaw comes home, he’s caught in lies spun by a shadowy group. Brainwashed and controlled, he becomes a pawn in their deadly game, doing their bidding and functioning as he’s told.
If you like suspense and lies built upon lies, The Manchurian Candidate is a classic masterpiece that’ll leave you questioning everything, even why exactly you picked the film in the first place.
National Treasure (2004)
Benjamin Franklin Gates is a historian and treasure hunter who is thrown a curveball, which requires him to find a long-lost treasure hidden by the Knights Templar somewhere in America.
For context, Knights Templars was a secret society that was rumored to bring riches to America to make sure it didn’t fall into the wrong hands. To find it, Gates does all sorts of illegal things that he should’ve never including stealing the highly-prized Declaration of Independence and kidnapping the President of the United States of America.
Angels and Demons (2009)
Symbologist Robert Langdon is back again, and this time, he is in the Vatican investigating a series of cryptic clues and puzzles sent by a secret society after the pope’s passing.
The secret society at play here is the Illuminati, who has kidnapped a group of Preferati and is murdering them every hour and leaving their bodies in public for everyone to see.
Langdon and Vetra must outwit the villains, find the kidnapped cardinals, and prevent the Illuminati from laying waste to the Vatican. Angels & Demons is a pulse-pounding story of secrets, science, and faith, and certainly a gem.
Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
In Rosemary’s Baby, Rosemary and her husband move into a new NYC apartment and befriend their adorable neighbors, the Castevets. They have no idea that the Castevets aren’t as kind as they look but the members of a secret Satanist group who want to manipulate her pregnancy to bring forth the Antichrist.
They want to see the world in darkness, where no one worships god but his opposite, Satan. Rosemary eventually finds out her role in the diabolical plot, but it’s too late, or is it?
From Hell (2001)
Inspector Frederick Abberline probes the grisly crimes committed by Jack the Ripper in this 1888 London crime thriller. Abberline gets consumed with the mystery and investigates the murky underside of Victorian life, revealing a network of crime, corruption, and a secret society called the Freemasons.
They’re a hidden fraternity of the rich and mighty. Freemasons seem to control the city, especially law and administration. They may have planned the murders of Jack the Ripper and were involved in a cover-up to safeguard their own goals.
The Conspiracy (2012)
Aaron and Jim investigate Terrance G.’s Tarsus Club beliefs in “The Conspiracy.” They find disturbing evidence of the club’s existence, called Tarsus Club.
The affluent Tarsus Club secretly controls world events and dominates politics, money, media, and almost everything that can allow them to maintain a foothold in the world. In secret, they shape the globe in their favor. Aaron and Jim discover the dark extent of the Tarsus Club’s power and the dangers that await anybody who questions its covert objectives.
15 Till Midnight (2010)
Brandon Slagle plays the role of Darian In 15 Till Midnight, who wakes up every day at 11:45 p.m. only to find himself in a time loop. Darian finds that he can control time and uses this power to unearth a conspiracy involving the secret society, the Guild.
This secret group exploits time for their own benefit so they can direct major world events and, ultimately, the world, and now the job falls on Darian’s shoulders to stop them before it’s too late.
So, these were our top 10 picks for movies about secret societies. Did your favourite make the cut? Leave a comment below and let us know!
You’re absolutely right Merrick, although i must say that aim here was to talk about films that are usually underrated and not known by many. Midsommar and Wicker Man were very famous and critical success!!Thanks for reading out article, we’re glad you liked this list.
Great list, although I can’t help but feel like the 2019 film Midsommar would be a better choice than a few of them. That and The Wicker Man (1970s version) is an absolutely fantastic genre pick.