Subgenre guide · Ghosts and haunted houses
The 15 best ghost and haunted house movies
The best ghost movie of all time is The Innocents (1961), at 96% with critics (Rotten Tomatoes). For a modern haunting, His House (2020) holds a perfect 100% (Rotten Tomatoes), and Hokum is the best new one.
By the Horror Planet editors · Updated November 9, 2026
The Innocents (1961)
The finest ghost story on film. Deborah Kerr and a garden you won't forget.
The Haunting (1963)
Hill House, and the most frightening door in cinema.
The Shining (1980)
The Overlook's ghosts want you to stay forever.
The Conjuring (2013)
James Wan's modern classic. See the whole universe in order.
The Orphanage (2007)
A mother searches a seaside house for her missing son.
Poltergeist (1982)
The suburbs, the TV and the clown doll.
The Others (2001)
Nicole Kidman in a fog-bound manor. Streaming on Shudder.
Ringu (1998)
A ghost who climbs out of the TV.
Ju-On: The Grudge (2002)
A house where the curse never leaves.
Housebound (2014)
House arrest in a haunted home. Laugh, then jump.
Hausu (1977)
A house that eats schoolgirls. Psychedelic.
Insidious (2010)
The Further, and that jump scare. See the series in order.
His House (2020)
A refugee couple's haunting. A modern masterpiece.
Under the Shadow (2016)
A djinn in wartime Tehran.
Hokum (2026)
An Irish inn and a haunting that earns its reputation as 2026's scariest film.
How we picked
Scores from Rotten Tomatoes' haunted house ranking, Japanese horror guide and decade lists. The Others streaming info per iHorror. We left out possession films; see our top 50 for The Exorcist.
Next: Conjuring in order · Mike Flanagan ranked · best foreign horror.