Despite the best efforts of Casper and Ghostbusters, ghosts and horror will forever go hand-in-hand. The movie industry has yet to find a house, mental asylum, or ship that could not be improved with a couple of spirits, and these entities come in many shapes, sizes, and age groups. That said, compared to monsters like vampires and zombies, ghosts seem to go through frequent unpopular phases, although it only takes a smash hit like Paranormal Activity to reopen the floodgates.
If someone is looking for a good ghostly scare, they have hundreds of flicks at their disposal. That begs the question, which are the best ghost horror movies? This article seeks to answer that question while highlighting both mainstream and lesser-known productions.
To avoid too much overlap with this Best Haunted House Horror Movies article, films such as The Shining , House on Haunted Hill , The Conjuring , The Haunting , The Innocents , Ghostwatch , and House will not be included. That said, they are all fantastic.
Kuroneko (1968)
Director | Kaneto Shindo |
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Rotten Tomatoes Score | 96% |
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Kaneto Shindo was a legendary Japanese filmmaker, and the director knew how to create a haunting story. Kuroneko builds on the themes of 1964's Onibaba while also going full horror courtesy of two ghosts. The story revolves around a mother and daughter who seek revenge from beyond the grave on the soldiers who killed them.
While not necessarily terrifying, Kuroneko is unsettling and atmospheric. Bolstered by strong acting and brilliant cinematography, this ghost movie is a classic.
The Changeling (1980)
Director | Peter Medak |
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Rotten Tomatoes Score | 83% |
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The Changeling is a masterful haunted house flick that does not sacrifice logic in favor of thrills. George C. Scott's John Russell moves into a mansion that appears to have a ghost problem, and it does not take long for things to get spooky.
Rather than run away, John decides to investigate the house's history to figure out what might be happening. The Changeling expertly crafts a sense of mystery around its central setting and poltergeist activity.
Candyman (1992)
Director | Bernard Rose |
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Rotten Tomatoes Score | 79% |
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Ghost movies rarely step into slasher territory, however, there are a couple of exceptions. Set in an urban climate, Candyman is a unique project for the horror genre, and the film has aged well since its 1992 release. The eponymous ghost can be summoned by repeating his name, a mistake a few graduates commit.
Candyman should satisfy both slasher fans looking for violent kills and people yearning for a more cerebral horror experience. The sequels are all over the place in terms of quality, but the 2021 film is a solid watch.
Lake Mungo (2008)
Director | Joel Anderson |
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Rotten Tomatoes Score | 96% |
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An Australian production, Lake Mungo uses a mockumentary style to tell a story about grief, depression, and loneliness. Following the drowning of sixteen-year-old Alice Palmer, her family begins to notice strange things around the house that suggest a supernatural presence. Matthew, Alice's brother, is the primary witness of these events, and the Palmers call in a specialist.
While not bereft of scares, Lake Mungo is far more concerned with exploring the family's attempts to cope with this tragedy. The film also presents snapshots of Alice's life, suggesting the girl felt a hopelessness that she could not articulate or share with anyone.
Poltergeist (1982)
Director | Tobe Hooper |
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Rotten Tomatoes Score | 87% |
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Arguably the most famous ghost horror movie of all time, Poltergeist is timeless. The Freelings live in a picturesque house, although that begins to change once the family's youngest child starts to chat with the TV. Before long, the residence becomes a hub of paranormal activity that range from the spooky but harmless to the deadly.
Poltergeist's special effects are just as impressive today as they were in the early 1980s, and this element is hardly the only thing that holds up about the movie. As the characters are well-written and reasonably grounded, the audience feels invested once the scares get going.
The Babadook (2014)
Director | Jennifer Kent |
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Rotten Tomatoes Score | 98% |
Where to Stream | Amazon Prime Video + AMC+, DirecTV, Kanopy, PlutoTV, Shudder |
Nowadays, Blumhouse and A24 release a critically acclaimed horror flick every couple of months; however, for the longest while, the film industry appeared incapable of mustering more than one or two memorable fright fests per year. 2014's winner was The Babadook, a psychological horror film about a single mother struggling to take care of her six-year-old son.
Sam comes to think that the monster of a book called "Mister Babadook" is real, a belief that strains his relationship with his mother, Amelia. The latter has not fully produced the loss of her husband, and this manifests through the film's supernatural elements.
The Fog (1980)
Director | John Carpenter |
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Rotten Tomatoes Score | 75% |
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John Carpenter's The Fog tends to be overshadowed since it is surrounded by, frankly, better films. Halloween and The Thing are two of the greatest horror movies of all time, while Escape from New York and Assault on Precinct 13 are fantastic takes on the action genre. Compared to those masterpieces, The Fog falls somewhat flat; however, Carpenter's talent nevertheless shines through in this ghost story.
A disconcerting fog sweeps through a coastal town, bringing ghastly sailors along with it. Visually, The Fog makes smart use of its titular threat to craft a sense of danger and mystery.
Ringu (1998)
Director | Hideo Nakata |
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Rotten Tomatoes Score | 98% |
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As fun as 2002's The Ring is, the American adaptation cannot hold a candle to the Japanese original. Ringu follows a journalist, Reiko, investigating a supposedly cursed tape that kills viewers seven days after they watch it, a fate confirmed through a phone call. Reiko watches the tape for herself, and her son does the same thing; now, they only have a week to break the curse.
Ringu is bone-chillingly scary. Sadako has become an iconic ghost, and overexposure has done nothing to dull her scenes. The film is also a slow burn that grants its characters room to breathe as the tension builds towards an unforgettable final act.