These Are the Greatest Ghost Movies of All Time

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At their worst, ghosts are just straight-up terrifying. At their best, however, ghosts are comical, friendly spirits! Their versatile nature is exactly the reason why ghost movies can either be considered horror movies, or in some cases, comedy flicks! It really depends on which ghost movie, obviously—but whatever the case is, most films about phantom spirits can end up on any Halloween movie list. If you're finding it hard to believe us, then let us show you: We rounded up the best ghost movies of all time.

Yes, some of these will absolutely elicit a scream (or two...or many). You can look to chillers like The Shining and Paranormal Activity for that. But those who crave a good romantic movie will be happy to find movies like Ghost and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past on our list. And if you're looking for a family-friendly flick that won't give anyone nightmares, movies like Casper and Soul will do the trick.

This collection of the best ghost movies is so diverse that it's sure to please just about anyone. So if you know any movie junkies who love a good ghost story, be sure to send them this list (and maybe get them one of these gifts for movie lovers, too!).

The Cabin in the Woods

Going on a mini-vacation with your college friends seems like a great time, sure. Just make sure that if you're planning a trip, that it's not at a cabin in a remote area with a history of otherworldly murders.

Just Like Heaven

Reese Witherspoon plays a ghost who is certain that she's not one. So, when someone tries moving into her alleged abandon apartment, she makes it a point to haunt him until he stops. She didn't plan to make him fall in love with her, but that might just help her find her way back to earth!

The Black Phone

You've never seen Ethan Hawke so eerie. He takes on the role of a serial killer who is taking out the young men in his community one by one, never being caught. When Finney ends up being kidnapped by him, he relies on the ghosts from past victims to help him escape his potential doomed future.

The Haunted Mansion

Jim (Eddie Murphy) is a real-estate agent who loves to work a little too much. So, it's easy to understand how he led his family to a literal haunted mansion, who has spirits inside that do not plan to let them go.

Ghost Town

Ricky Gervais plays a dentist with a bad attitude and a general dislike for people. He experiences a wakeup call when ghosts appear in his office, making him the liaison between humans and deceased souls.

High Spirits

Fibbing should be frowned upon, yes. But telling a little white lie is what helps Peter Plunkett save his castle-turned-hotel from turmoil. When he stretches the truth by claiming his hotel is haunted, it quite simply turns haunted!

Over Her Dead Body

Kate and Henry are madly in love, and everyone knows it. So when Kate dies, Henry is obviously devastated. He visits an attractive psychic who aids him into moving on from the situation, but he also ends up in love with her. Not sitting right with Kate, she haunts them to the best of her ability, making their lives a living nightmare.

The Fog

No one really likes fog, but this city has every reason to fear it. Spirits hide within the mist, taking the lives of anyone who is submerged by it.

The Sixth Sense

A child psychologist (Bruce Willis) is far from prepared to unpack a young boy's experiences with ghosts. We still get chills hearing the infamous line, "I see dead people."

Ghostbusters

Ran into a ghost? Not a problem: Just make sure you have New York City's biggest heroes on speed dial! Bill Murray takes the lead in this classic '80s movie.

Beetlejuice

This Tim Burton classic proves that ghost movies can be funny and scary at the same time. The story follows two ghosts who are content haunting their former home. But when two living (and annoying) souls rudely move in, the ghosts hire Beetlejuice to try and scare them off.

Spirited Away

This kid-friendly classic follows a young girl as she and her family discover what seems to be an empty village. After more exploration (and a sudden change in her parents' appearance), she realizes that they have accidentally entered a world of spirits. Now she must find a way to escape and break the curse cast on her family,

Ghost

Who said ghost movies can't also be romantic? When a young banker dies before his time, he seeks help from a psychic to communicate with the love he left behind.

Casper

Casper the friendly ghost is probably the only spirit you'd want to see in your home! This sweet family comedy is perfect for your next movie night.

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past

What's scarier than an ex (make that plural) who comes back to haunt you? Not much. Matthew McConaughey stars alongside Jennifer Garner in this rom-com about a womanizer who learns a lesson or two from his past girlfriends.

The Shining

If it was adapted from a Stephen King novel, then there's a good chance it's terrifying. Stanley Kubrick's take on The Shining is certainly no exception to that rule! This gruesome story follows a man who begins to see and become "inspired" by the ghosts that inhabit the isolated hotel he's looking after with his family.

Field of Dreams

Ree's celebrity crush, Kevin Costner, stars as a baseball coach who leads a team of—you guessed it—ghosts! This heartwarming film earned three Oscar nominations in 1990.

What Lies Beneath

When the wife of a university research scientist begins to see a ghost, she finds out her husband has a few skeletons in his closet.

Insidious

These parents will do anything to save their son from the spirit that possesses him. The first chapter (of four) was a blockbuster hit in 2010!

The Blair Witch Project

It's the movie that popularized the use of found footage in horror films. The Blair Witch Project follows the chilling disappearance of three film students who left behind video evidence of their fatal hike.

Soul

Jamie Foxx voices a musician whose soul becomes separated from his body in this uplifting and thought-provoking film. When he reaches "The Great Before," he gains a new perspective on life. But he must find a way to return to his body as soon as possible.

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir

Renting a beautiful house by the ocean seems like a perfect way to start fresh for this newly widowed mother. Things take a bit of a turn when she meets the ghost of a sea captain who haunts her new home. This lighthearted romance might have you longing for your own ghost love story!

Paranormal Activity

A young couple moves into a new suburban home. What could possibly go wrong?! Well, everything. The found-footage approach to this story makes it seem almost too believable.

The Frighteners

This horror-comedy follows a con man who has the sudden ability to communicate with ghosts after his wife's death.

Doctor Sleep

Fans of The Shining will be pleased to know that the story continues decades later. In a quest to unpack his childhood trauma, Dan Torrance (the son of Jack Torrance) meets a young girl who shares his "shining" abilities.

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