15 best films about ghosts: from horror to comedy and melodrama.

Classic “Poltergeist” and “The Shining”, modern “The Conjuring” and “Insidious”, and, of course, the funny “Ghostbusters”.

1. Shine

The Shining

• USA, UK, 1980.
• Horror, thriller, drama.
• Duration: 144 minutes.
• IMDb: 8.4.

The film adaptation of the famous Stephen King novel tells about the writer Jack Torrance. He gets a job as a caretaker at the Overlook Hotel, which is closed for the winter, and moves there with his family. Jack plans to use this time to write a new novel. But soon eerie phenomena begin to occur in the hotel.

Stanley Kubrick's film, which later became a cult classic, was not immediately accepted - even King himself criticized it . But it’s simply impossible not to appreciate how frightening the director made the evil spirits living in the hotel. And the scene with the creepy twin girls ended up becoming one of the most recognizable in cinema.

2. Sixth sense

The Sixth Sense

• USA, 1999.
• Thriller, drama, detective.
• Duration: 107 minutes.
• IMDb: 8.1.

Child psychiatrist Malcolm Crowe encounters an unusual boy, Cole, who can see the ghosts of people who are unaware of their death. At first, Crowe thinks the child is just hallucinating, but he soon realizes that this is really a way to contact the other world.

M. Night Shyamalan's film starring Bruce Willis interestingly combines a mystical plot about communicating with ghosts and drama. There are almost no horror elements here, but the images of the dead are shown very vividly.

3. Innocent

The Innocents

• Great Britain, 1961.
• Horror.
• Duration: 100 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.8.

A nobleman from London hires Miss Giddens as a governess. She must settle in Bly Manor and watch over his nephews - orphans Miles and Flora. Miss Giddens meets charming children, but soon begins to notice the ghost of her deceased predecessor in the estate.

This film adaptation of Henry James's classic book The Turn of the Screw marked the beginning of films where fear is pumped up by the atmosphere and psychologism itself, and not by individual jump scares . By the way, the second season of The Haunting of Hill House will be based on this same work.

4. Ghostbusters

Ghostbusters

• USA, 1984.
• Comedy, fantasy.
• Duration: 105 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.8.

Residents of New York are increasingly encountering ghosts, and only four scientists who have assembled a team of ghost hunters can resist the supernatural threat.

This picture once became the first real “summer blockbuster” - an expensive but light film that audiences go to just relax and have fun. Needless to say, there is nothing to be afraid of here, but there are plenty of comedic scenes.

5. Others

The Others

• Spain, USA, France, Italy, 2001.
• Horror, thriller, detective.
• Duration: 101 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.6.

Grace Stewart lives with her sun-intolerant children in a large house on the outskirts. Suddenly, all the family's servants disappear, and then a strange trio comes to the door, having allegedly read in the newspaper about hiring workers. Soon all the inhabitants of the house begin to hear frightening sounds and notice ghosts.

"The Others" is one of the few films that can compete with "The Sixth Sense" in terms of a strong plot resolution. And everything is complemented by the wonderful acting performance of Nicole Kidman.

6. Spell

The Conjuring

• USA, 2013.
• Horror, thriller, detective.
• Duration: 112 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.5.

Spouses Ed and Lorraine Warren make money by driving ghosts out of houses and also giving lectures on exorcism. But one day they have to face the most dangerous evil of their lives.

The main characters of this film are real. And James Wan's film is based on the memoirs of Lorraine Warren herself. And if you don’t believe in the veracity of such stories, then the film has enough excellent jump scares and a well-twisted plot.

7. Devil's Den

The Haunting

• USA, UK, 1963.
• Horror, thriller.
• Duration: 112 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.5.

A paranormal investigator invites three people to a secluded house on a hill. According to rumors, the ghosts of deceased former owners live there. Soon, strange relationships begin between the guests, and the inhabitants of the house begin a creepy game with them.

And another film that, along with The Innocents, marked the beginning of metaphysical horror and quickly became a real legend. But the remake of the 1999 film failed: even Liam Neeson and Catherine Zeta-Jones in the leading roles could not save it.

8. Beetlejuice

Beetle Juice

• USA, 1988.
• Comedy, fantasy.
• Duration: 92 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.5.

A young ghost couple hires the “living exorcist” Beetlejuice to expel the intruders from their house. However, this talkative and rude specialist is more trouble than it's worth.

Tim Burton has always been distinguished by his love of dark humor and therefore decided to show the story of the confrontation between people and ghosts on behalf of the latter. Well, for Michael Keaton, the title role became a real breakthrough in his career. Soon he starred with Burton again, but in the guise of Batman.

9. Devil's Backbone

El espinazo del diablo

• Spain, Mexico, 2001.
• Horror, drama.
• Duration: 106 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.4.

After the death of his father, young Carlos ends up in the Santa Lucia boarding school. The director wants to help him, but the boy soon has to face a local bully, as well as a thief who is planning to steal gold from the orphanage safe. In addition, Carlos meets Santi, the ghost of a student who mysteriously died on the night of the bombing.

Famous director Guillermo del Toro considers this film his best work. He also often mentions that The Devil's Backbone is very close to his more famous film Pan's Labyrinth and they should be treated as one story.

10. Poltergeist

Poltergeist

• USA, 1982.
• Horror, thriller.
• Duration: 114 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.3.

Strange things begin to happen in the Freeling family home: objects move on their own, and equipment turns on. Then the tree outside the window tries to kidnap the Freelings' son, and while the parents are rescuing the child, their daughter disappears.

Behind the creation of this film are two legendary authors: Tobe Hooper, who invented The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Steven Spielberg . The combination of their talents made it possible to create a truly epoch-making horror film for all times. Anyone who has seen this movie probably remembers the creepy toy clown who tries to drag away the child.

11. Call

Ringu

• Japan, 1998.
• Horror, thriller, detective.
• Duration: 96 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.3.

There is a legend among teenagers about a creepy videotape. In the house of everyone who watches, a phone call is heard, and a week later the person dies. After the death of her niece, reporter Reiko Asakawa decides to understand the origin of this terrible recording.

Soon after the Japanese film gained mass popularity, it was remade in the United States, spawning a wave of sequels, imitations and parodies. But still, the scariest part remains the first part with the legendary ghost crawling out of the TV.

12. Defector

The Changeling

• USA, 1980.
• Horror.
• Duration: 107 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.2.

After the death of his wife and daughter, music professor John Russell moves to another city and settles into an empty house. But soon the man begins to feel someone's presence. It turns out that the ghost of a boy who died under mysterious circumstances many years ago still lives in the building.

Interestingly, Alejandro Amenabar, who directed The Others years later, called The Defector one of his favorite films. Indeed, the similarity of some scenes is simply obvious.

13. Scarecrows

The Frighteners

• New Zealand, USA, 1996.
• Horror, fantasy, comedy.
• Duration: 110 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.1.

Frank Bannister was once an architect. But after a car accident that claimed the life of his wife, he changed his profession. Frank is now exorcising ghosts. True, in fact, the hero makes an agreement in advance with his ghost friends, who organize pogroms in the houses. But one day he encounters a truly dangerous otherworldly creature.

The film from Lord of the Rings creator Peter Jackson mixes excellent dark humor on the theme of death and detective action. And the ghosts, who also constantly joke, only add to the ironic atmosphere.

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14. Ghost

Ghost

• USA, 1990.
• Fantasy, drama, melodrama.
• Duration: 127 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.0.

Sam died protecting his friend Molly from a robber. He becomes a ghost and soon learns that the girl is in mortal danger. To warn Molly, the hero needs to learn to contact the material world and find a medium through whom they can communicate.

It’s hard to believe that this picture, which literally became a hymn to eternal love, was directed by Jerry Zucker, the author of famous parodies like “Airplane” and “Top Secret.”

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15. Astral

Insidious

• USA, 2010.
• Horror.
• Duration: 103 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.8.

Josh and Renee's family moves to a new home. But literally from the first days, inexplicable phenomena begin to occur around them. And then their ten-year-old son Dalton falls into a coma. When the child, who never regained consciousness, is returned home, it turns out that he is connected with the other world.

The author of this film is James Wan, who later directed the famous “The Conjuring”. In this horror film, the director proved that you can scare the viewer even with the simplest techniques. For example, simply paint the film composer's face red.

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