10 Best Ghost Movies in 2022 (Tim Burton, Ivan Reitman, and More)
Looking for something spooky? We are getting closer to Halloween, and there's still a lot of uncertainty regarding what this holiday is going to look like. There's a chance that big parties are not going to happen this year. Fortunately, there are many other fun and safe things that you can do at home! Watching ghost movies is a classic Halloween activity.
Choosing a good movie that your friends or all your family will like can be a difficult task. Or, perhaps you're having your own personal ghost movie marathon and need some suggestions! We've found ten great films that have been loved by Americans throughout the years. Beetlejuice is our number one choice because it has something for everyone - fantasy, some comedy, and quite a few ghosts! Keep reading to learn about nine other awesome ghost movies, and check out our buying guide for tips on choosing a movie that you'll love.
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How to Choose Ghost Movies
Curating a movie night can be a challenging task! You need to pick something that's appropiate and fun to watch for everyone involved. In order to do so, it is important to take into consideration the genre, themes, and rating.
Find a Movie That Everyone Can Watch
We know that not everyone is a fan of horror. Fortunately, ghost movies come in a varied range of genres like comedy, suspense, and romance. Mixing and matching is a great idea! You can choose a funny move as a palate cleanse after an intense horror session.
Pick a Horror Movie Only if Everyone Can Handle It
A lot of children and adults can get too scared or disturbed when they watch horror films. If you're watching a movie with others, you don't want to choose between leaving them out of the fun or making them have a bad time. If there’s a person in your party that is not ok with this kind of movie, the best idea is to go in another direction.
But, if you and your buddies are fans of horror, we’re not going to blame you! There are so many good movies that will give you the chills you’re looking to get this Halloween. A good ghost horror flick can give you a fun adrenaline rush!
Consider Age-Appropriate Horror for Kids
Ghost horror movies are not all the same, so learning about the differences can help you pick something appropriate.
As a rule of thumb, horror movies are not recommended for children younger than seven years old. They can’t quite tell between fiction and reality, so a horror movie can generate anxiety during and after watching it.
Children eight to ten years old can tolerate getting scared for longer periods of time, and they may get a kick out of feeling spooked. Movies with jumpscares and ghosts are also more tolerable if the film has a happy resolution. However, if your child is scared of the dark, for example, a ghost horror movie might be a poor choice.
Violence and gore can be traumatizing, even for teenagers, so many choose to leave these genres for adults only.
Go for a Comedy or Children’s Drama for Lighthearted Fun
Halloween can also be a funny and sweet night with only a hint of spooky! There are many ghost movies for all audiences that are fun, and they may even have an important message for kids. These are also a great option if you’re looking to watch a movie to relax at the end of a hectic Halloween.
It may go without saying but check the movie rating. Some films that may seem family-friendly can still have some violence or supernatural action that may turn out to be too scary for younger children.
Try a Suspense Movie for an Enjoyable Level of Supernatural Scares
Suspense movies are a great choice for teenagers or people who aren't into horror films. If you want to get scared enough to feel the Halloween spirit but avoid having nightmares for the next couple of days, a suspense movie is the way to go.
These movies usually feature scary ghosts, but most of the time they are not a life-and-death threat to the characters. Sometimes these movies are about figuring out whether ghosts are real, so they are not usually over-the-top scary. Instead, they may have a more intellectual or mysterious tone!
Find a Romantic or Dramatic Movie to Watch With Your Partner
Find Out What Experts and Non-Experts Think
There’s nothing worse than being excited about a movie only to find out that it's underwhelming at its best! Taking a look at what the critics said about a movie is a great way to find out the quality of the film.
We suggest reading press outlets that are known for publishing prestigious reviews, like The Hollywood Reporter, The New York Times, LA Times, or Vanity Fair. Of course, you know your own taste - maybe you're in the mood campy Halloween movie!
Another way to go about it is by reading reviews from the general public. (Just be wary of spoilers!) Go to websites like Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic to find out what film enthusiasts have to say about pretty much every movie out there!
Choose a Movie by Its Director
Directors are, of course, a big part of a movie. By knowing who directed a film, you will get a sense of the style and themes it contains.
Try Tim Burton for an Enthralling Experience
There’s not a single movie by this filmmaker that will not make you adore the characters from the beginning. Most of his movies are visually fascinating and extremely fun for teenagers and adults! Other ghost movies by this director include Sleepy Hollow and The Corpse Bride.
Consider Steven Spielberg for Guaranteed Quality
You know you can’t go wrong with the guy who has created one classic after another! His films are extremely well-made and always keep you at the edge of your seat.
He loves having children and teenagers in leading roles, which can be especially exciting for middle and high schoolers. Most of his movies are in the adventure and suspense spectrum but watch out for particularly scary scenes.
Choose a Stanley Kubrick Film for an Intense Night
Are sweet and funny movies not your cup of tea? If you’re looking to stay scared for this week and next one, Kubrick is your guy. Not only will he give you the creeps for hours, but his movies will keep you intrigued and will give you some food for thought after the movie is over.
This director of some of the most epic cult-favorite films is a great choice for those who look for something beyond entertainment!
10 Best Ghost Movies Ranking
| Products | Image | Click to purchase | Popularity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Beetlejuice Tim Burton |  | No.1 | |
2 | Ghostbusters Ivan Reitman |  | No.2 | |
3 | Casper Brad Silberling |  | No.3 | |
4 | Ghost Jerry Zucker |  | No.4 | |
5 | A Ghost Story David Lowery |  | No.5 | |
6 | Poltergeist Tobe Hooper |  | No.6 | |
7 | The Sixth Sense M Night Shayamalan |  | No.7 | |
8 | The Others Alejandro Amenabar |  | No.8 | |
9 | The Shining Stanley Kubrick |  | No.9 | |
10 | Devil's Backbone Guillermo del Toro |  | No.10 |
This Tim Burton classic about the veteran scaremeister who gets hired by two new ghosts to help them haunt their house is a great comedy for teenagers and adults. Micheal Keaton's charisma in the eccentric leading role makes this film both peculiar and fascinating.
There are a few scenes that can be too violent for little children. In general, the film has a lot of death and afterlife themes, a few curse words, and a not-so-nice guy as a protagonist. We would recommend this movie for children ten years old and up.
Some reviewers didn't like that the movie seems to have jokes about suicide; they mentioned that they wouldn't let their 12-year-old watch it. However, many have watched at different points in their lives, and they still love its originality and the gorgeous music by Danny Elfman. Plus, many enjoyed the film's unique sense of humor!
Who ya gonna call? For many, this is the first movie to come to mind when we talk about ghost movies! This acclaimed film about a quartet of parapsychology professors who set up a ghost removal service will never disappoint.
Though the movie is extremely funny and the special effects were a hit in the '80s, it does contain a few curse words and sexual implications. We wouldn't recommend this movie for children younger than 12 years old.
Some Amazon Video reviewers mentioned that they had issues with the 4K version. We recommend reliving the 80's experience by not paying for the HD version. A few reviewers also found it a touch dated. However, most raved about this film. They loved the comedy, acting, and 80's nostalgia that comes with it.
Who doesn't smile when it comes to talking about the one ghost who wants to befriend you rather than haunt you? This movie is about a friendly specter who relates more to humans than to those of his same kind. It's a great choice to get all the family together for a movie night!
Though the film is rated PG because of some mild language and death themes, we totally recommend it for children of all ages. Some reviewers claimed that the storyline is very cliche and thought that only kids would find it interesting.
Other reviewers said that this is their go-to Halloween film! They loved how this is a feel-good movie. They also mentioned that it has the perfect balance of mild fright and comedy.
If pure comedy and horror films are not your cup of tea, you can see the passionate side of ghosts in this 1990's classic. Starring Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze, and Whoopie Goldberg this movie is certain to keep you intrigued, and you may even shed a tear or two.
This two-Oscar winner is rated PG-13 because it contains violence, language, and adult situations. Children under 13 won't be too entertained by it anyway, so leave this just for older teenagers and adults. Some reviewers said that the movie hasn't aged well. However, these comments were very rare.
Reviews for this film are overwhelmingly positive. Reviewers loved how this movie manages to have a little bit of everything: comedy, drama, mystery, and paranormal themes. They also liked how the violence and sex scenes are kept to a bare minimum and shot with excellent taste.
This movie stars Academy Award-winner Cassie Affleck and tells the story about a white sheet ghost who comes back to his home in order to console his wife. Little does he know, he has the ability to transcend the rules of time as a ghost. Under these circumstances, he is forced to see the past, present, and future of his wife's life.
Some reviewers say that this film is kind of slow. If you're looking for some action, this is definitely not the best choice. However, most reviewers really like how touching and thought-provoking this film is. They say it is a meditation on love, grief, and the uncertainty of existence.
If you're thinking of watching a horror movie but not everyone in your gang is over 17, Poltergeist is a great option. Written and produced by Steven Speilberg, this film will keep you intrigued and scared from beginning to end.
It was rated PG since PG-13 was not established when it was first released. It contains very intense horror scenes, so we recommend it for teenagers 13 years old and up. Some reviewers aren't delighted with the 4K transfer, however. They mention that they had some sound issues.
However, most reviewers are die-hard fans of this film! They say that the creators know exactly what will scare you. Viewers who revisited this film after first seeing it in the 80's say they were thrilled to see it again. The ones who saw it for the first time say that they feel like they've been missing out for decades!
This movie is perfect for those who are scared to venture into full horror but would like to get their feet wet. The excellent acting of Haley Joel Osment and Bruce Willis will touch your heart as you watch every minute attentively until the shocking plot twist.
Though there are very few scary shots in the film, the material is intense. If you're watching this with someone under 13 years old, we recommend checking in with them at different points of the movie to see if they want to keep watching.
Some reviewers say that this is not a movie that's fun to rewatch since you already know the surprise ending. Other reviewers adore how emotionally engaging the film is and how the horror aspect is light. They rave about the acting and say that they wanted to reach through the screen and hug the little kid.
Here's another option for those who are a little uncertain about horror films. Set in the 1940s, this beautifully-shot movie tells the story of a mother who is waiting for her husband to come back from the war. After the mother hires new servants for the house, paranormal events begin!
This movie is rated PG-13 because of thematic elements and frightening moments. However, it doesn't have a single scary or violent shot. All of the suspense is psychological, so teenagers below 13 years old may be okay with it if they don't get scared easily.
Some reviewers mentioned that the movie can get slow at times or that it feels a little claustrophobic. Other reviewers adored the victorian style of the movie and described it as "something that Edgar Allan Poe would have written."
Nicole Kidman's acting gets praised by absolutely everyone. Viewers also say that this is a movie they would watch with older children since it doesn't contain any scary visuals or adult situations.
Kubrick always has something to offer, and ghost movies are no exception. This adaptation of Stephen King's classic has a frightening performance by Jack Nicholson. This isn't only a horror movie - it's a deep, atmospheric film too.
This highly acclaimed film contains a lot of psychological and visual horror along with a couple of jumpscares. It is R-rated for good reason, so only watch this if every member of your party is an adult.
Some reviewers say that the video is glitchy. The color correction doesn't match what the director intended to do in 1980. But overall, most have been thrilled with this classic movie since it was released. A lot of them have seen it multiple times, and they say that it only gets better. They also mention that every time they watch it, they discover something new!
Before Hellboy and The Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro directed this lesser-known gem of a horror film. Set in the last days of the Spanish Civil War, it tells the story of an orphan who discovers the terrible connection between the orphanage's ghost and the people who run it.
Some reviewers feel like this movie stops being a horror movie after the first time you see it. Other viewers adored how touching and how engaging this film is. They say that the real horrors in this movie are the greed, poverty, and abandonment that war causes. Even buyers who prefer to avoid watching films with subtitles still say this is a must-see!
Are You Ready for Halloween?
If you want to be fully prepared for Halloween, you may want to look into other items to spook up your night! Check out these products to help you have an unforgettable Halloween.
The descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
