What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Rite
Mikael Håfström · Film · 2011
If you loved The Rite, start with The Exorcist (Jeremy Slater, 2016) — a series on the same thread. Below: 3 books, 3 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Rite across media.
What hooked you in The Rite was the unsettling collision between rigorous religious tradition and the visceral, terrifying reality of demonic possession.
Books on the same thread
The Exorcist
William Peter Blatty · Book · 1971
Shares a thread with The Rite: Religious Horror.
The Rite shares this foundational exploration of faith under siege, and this seminal novel provides the ultimate blueprint for the intense spiritual warfare you witnessed on screen.
Pray For Him
Tyler Battaglia · Book · 2024
Shares 3 threads with The Rite: Possession, Faith vs. Doubt, Spiritual Warfare.
Like The Rite, this story centers on a priest whose personal faith is tested by the proximity of demonic forces, emphasizing the heavy psychological toll of acting as a spiritual protector.
Exorcist
Steven Piziks, William Wisher, Caleb Carr · Book · 2004
Shares 2 threads with The Rite: Crisis of faith, Supernatural Horror.
If you appreciated the historical weight and internal crisis of faith found in The Rite, you will find this narrative of an exorcist’s origins equally gripping and deeply grounded.
Series on the same thread
The Exorcist
Jeremy Slater · Series · 2016
Shares 3 threads with The Rite: Faith vs. Doubt, Spiritual Warfare, Supernatural Horror.
This series mirrors the central conflict of The Rite by pairing two distinct perspectives on faith to confront the same terrifying, supernatural reality of demonic possession in modern times.
Evil
Michelle King · Series · 2019
Explores: Skepticism vs. Faith, Good vs. Evil, The Nature of Belief.
The Rite explores the thin line between skepticism and belief, a tension this series masterfully sustains as characters investigate the scientific and spiritual explanations behind haunting, extraordinary occurrences.
Apparitions
Joe Ahearne · Series · 2008
Shares 3 threads with The Rite: Faith vs. Doubt, Spiritual Warfare, Religious Horror.
Much like the protagonist of The Rite, Father Jacob Myers navigates the complex intersection of institutional duty and the dangerous, hands-on reality of battling the forces of evil.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Ascension · Podcast · 2026
Explores: faith, spiritual growth, historical context.
If the theological exploration in The Rite sparked your interest, this podcast provides a deeper, structured dive into the ancient texts that form the basis of the faith depicted onscreen.
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, experimental storytelling, moral ambiguity.
The Rite relies on a cinematic, immersive atmosphere to build dread, and this anthology podcast offers a similar commitment to high-quality sound design and complex, morally ambiguous storytelling.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Rite based on a true story?
The Rite follows a seminary student named Michael Kovak who attends exorcism school at the Vatican. The film explores his experience meeting an unorthodox priest and encountering the darker side of faith while in Rome, ultimately uncovering the reach of the devil in holy places.
What is the primary setting of The Rite?
The Rite is primarily set in Rome. The story follows a seminary student who travels to the city to attend an exorcism school at the Vatican, where he meets an unorthodox priest and confronts the darker aspects of his faith.
Does The Rite feature an exorcism school?
Yes, The Rite centers on a seminary student named Michael Kovak who reluctantly attends an exorcism school located at the Vatican. His time at this institution leads him to meet an unorthodox priest and discover the devil's influence in one of the holiest places on Earth.
Who is the protagonist of The Rite?
The protagonist of The Rite is a seminary student named Michael Kovak. He travels to Rome to attend exorcism school at the Vatican, where he encounters an unorthodox priest who introduces him to the darker side of his faith and the reach of the devil.