I’ve always been a sucker for supernatural horror films. If a film features haunted houses and people, possession, psychic phenomena, witches or anything along those lines, you can bet I’ll set aside time to watch it.

The advent of online streaming platforms has put thousands of titles at our fingertips, but it can become time-consuming trying to track them all down so I’ve done some of the work for you.

Below you’ll find some of the best classic as well as newer supernatural horror films (in my opinion) you can stream today!

Author’s Note: There’s no way I’m going to be able to list even all of my favorites. Please feel free to leave any of your favorites that I might have missed in the comments!

1. Carrie (1976)

Cast: Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Amy Irving, etc.

Director: Brian de Palma

Why You Should Watch: To remind yourself why this film is a classic. Spacek was perfect casting for the quiet, timid Carrie with a power growing inside her that she barely understood. Add in a brilliant supporting cast and top notch direction and you have a film that is often imitated but never duplicated.

Where to Watch: Amazon, Hulu, Vudu, etc.

2. The Conjuring

Cast: Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Lili Taylor, Ron Livingston, etc.

Director: James Wan

Why You Should Watch: Culled from the real-life case files of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, The Conjuring is a terrifying glimpse into the lives of the Perron family as they confront the evil spirits who were waiting on them to move into their new home. With a spectacular soundtrack, gorgeous score, and thrilling special effects, this is one terrifying tale of haunting and possession that never gets old.

Where to Watch: Netflix, Vudu, Fandango Now, Amazon, etc.

3. Dead Awake

Cast: Jocelin Donahue, Jesse Bradford, Lori Petty

Director: Phillip Guzman

Why You Should Watch: Written by Jeffrey Reddick, the man who gave us Final Destination, Dead Awake dives deep into the phenomena of sleep paralysis and some of the dark lore associated with these attacks. When a young woman’s sister dies, she begins to investigate what had been going on in her only to begin suffering from the same sleep paralysis symptoms as her sibling. Things get very dark in the film, and it’s definitely one to watch at night with all the lights off.

Where to Watch: Netflix, Amazon, Vudu, etc.

4. Don’t Look Now

Cast: Julie Christie, Donald Sutherland

Director: Nicholas Roeg

Why You Should Watch: The better question is why haven’t you already? This is, simply put, one of the best films of its kind I’ve ever seen. Enigmatic with a sweeping score, the film follows John and Laura Baxter (Sutherland, Christie) who are attempting to deal with the drowning death of their daughter. John takes a job in Italy and the two travel there together thinking that a change of scenery might do them good. Unfortunately, things don’t go as planned. They meet a psychic who says she can communicate with their daughter but also warns of danger to come. It all leads to one of the most shocking endings ever put on film.

Where to Watch: Amazon, Vudu

5. The Fog (1980)

Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Janet Leigh, Adrenne Barbeau, Tom Atkins, Hal Holbrook, etc.

Director: John Carpenter

Why you should watch: If you read that cast list and you don’t know already, I’m not sure what to say. This Carpenter classic surrounds the prosperous little town of Antonio Bay, CA. The citizens of the seaside village have no idea, however, that its prosperity is built on theft, lies, and the murder of innocent people. As it prepares to celebrate its 100 year anniversary,however, the vengeful spirits of those long dead victims rise to reclaim what is theirs. This movie is a classic for a reason. The tension is real; the score is brilliant, and the cast is one of the best ensembles in horror history.

Where to watch: Amazon, Shudder, Vudu

6. The Fury

Cast: Amy Irving, Kirk Douglas, Andrew Stevens

Director: Brian de Palma

Why You Should Watch: Just two years after he had a hit with Carrie, Brian de Palma returned with another film about a psychic girl (Irving). This time, however, that girl was facing off with another equally powerful psychic male (Stevens). It’s one hell of a movie with action, murder, government conspiracies, etc. This is one film not to be missed.

Where to Watch: Amazon, Vudu, Fandango Now, etc.

7. Ghost House

Cast: Scout Taylor-Compton, James Landry Hebert, Mark Boone Junior

Director: Rich Ragsdale

Why You Should Watch: Set in Thailand, this is an unusual entry into the haunted/possessed woman story. It centers on Ghost Houses, a cultural tradition in which homes and business place small houses on their property to protect themselves from spirits. When a young woman (Taylor-Compton) disturbs one of these former houses, she becomes the target of a malicious spirit intent on destroying her and those she loves. The film is really scary and definitely something unusual.

Where to Watch: Netflix, Vudu, Amazon, etc.

8. Hell House LLC

Cast: Gore Abrams, Alice Bahlke, Theodore Bouloukos, etc.

Director: Stephen Cognetti

Why you should watch: This movie was in my queue forever before I finally hit play late one night. It centers on a group of friends intent on opening a Halloween haunt in a location where a similar group with that exact purpose died mysteriously years before. I was actually upset with myself that I hadn’t watched sooner. The scares are real here, readers. Without giving too much away there are creepy clowns, vengeful spirits, and genuine chills to be found in the 91 minute run-time.

Where to watch: Amazon, Shudder, Vudu

9. Incarnate

Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Carice Van Houton, David Mazouz, Catalina Sandino Moreno

Director: Brad Peyton

Why You Should Watch: In 2018, it feels like we’ve seen about every version of a priest standing over a person who is possessed reading the Roman Liturgy. What I love about Incarnate is it throws all of that out. Instead, it approaches the subject of possession from an entirely different angle. Dr. Ember (Eckhart) uses technology to enter the mind of the possessed and helps them force their demons out of their bodies. He’s met his match in his latest client, however. A boy named Cameron just might be possessed by the demon Ember has been searching for, but will he be strong enough to do what has to be done? This movie is intense, terrifying, and unique!

Where to Watch: HBO Now, Amazon, Vudu, Fandango Now, etc.

10. The Innkeepers

Cast: Pat Healy, Sara Paxton, Kelly McGillis

Director: Ti West

Why You Should Watch: Set on the closing weekend of the historic Yankee Pedlar Inn, the film concerns two employees who have been researching the haunted history of the hotel. As they settle in for the final 48 hours of access, they’re determined to get proof that there are indeed spirits present. Before long, they get their proof and then some. I love the style of this film and that they manage to convey so much without overblown special effects.

Where to Watch: Amazon, Vudu, etc.

11. The Insidious Franchise 

Cast: Lin Shaye, Leigh Whannell, Angus Sampson, etc.

Director: James Wan, Leigh Whannell, Adam Robitel

Why You Should Watch: It’s simply one of the best supernatural/paranormal franchises of the last 20 years. It all began with a little boy in a coma and the psychic medium (Shaye) that was brought in to help bring him back. The franchise has slowly shifted focus to Shaye’s character, Elise, with tentative ties back to the first film in every installment. The scares are real; the score is brilliant, and with talented writers and directors at the helm, the quality of the films has been maintained throughout each.

Where to Watch: Vudu, Amazon

12. The Lodgers

Cast: Charlotte Vega, Bill Milner, Eugene Simon, David Bradley, etc.

Director: Brian O’Malley

Why You Should Watch: This Irish tale surrounds a brother and sister locked away in a crumbling manor. They are tied to the property by an ancient curse whose bindings have begun to chafe. With nods to classic tales like The Turn of the Screw and The Fall of the House of Usher, this film has the feel of a much older film despite its 2017 release. It is beautifully filmed and filled with a tension that grows throughout as the siblings confront their unwanted fates.

Where to Watch: Amazon, Fandango Now

13. Nightbreed: The Director’s Cut

Cast: Craig Sheffer, David Cronenberg, Doug Bradley, etc.

Director: Clive Barker

Why you should watch: Written and directed by Clive Barker, who also wrote the novel Cabal on which the film is based, Nightbreed is an examination on the difference between Man and Monsters and the intersection between the two. The strange citizens of mythical Midian find themselves fighting for their lives after being discovered by a man named Aaron Boone (Sheffer) and Dr. Philip K. Decker, an all too terrifying killer in psychiatrist’s clothing. There’s a mystical quality to the entire film with Barker’s signature sensual-yet-terrifying storytelling. This director’s cut manages to take what was already a great film and amplify its best qualities. It’s a must see.

Where to watch: Amazon, Shudder

14. The Orphanage

Cast: Belen Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Mabel Rivera

Director: Juan Bayona

Why You Should Watch: Creepy and atmospheric, The Orphanage is a classic ghost story out of Spain directed by Juan Bayona and produced by Guillermo del Toro. Laura and her husband Carlos raise their adopted son Simon in a beautiful old home that was once an orphanage. Of course, the spirits of some of the children who died there still hang about and when Simon goes missing, Laura slowly becomes obsessed with the building’s history and the possibility that it and the spirits who reside their may have stolen Simon. If you haven’t seen this, put it in your queue right away. You’ll thank me later.

Where to Watch: Amazon, Vudu

15. Out of the Shadows

Cast: Lisa Chappell, Goran D. Kleut, Jake Ryan, Kendal Rae, Jim Robison, etc.

Director: Dee McLachlan

Why You Should Watch: This Australian-made haunted house film will give you goosebumps. A man and his pregnant wife watch as their dream home turns into a nightmare as the wife becomes convinced that an evil entity is trying to take their unborn child. The film turns its sub-genre upside down and keeps the audience guessing until the final act.

Where to Watch: Amazon

16. Paranormal Activity

Cast: Katie Featherston, Micah Stoat

Director: Oren Peli

Why You Should Watch: A lot of people poke fun at the franchise that followed 2007’s Paranormal Activity, but it is undeniable that the film and its sequels have become a part of film history. I’ll never forget the sheer terror the first inspired in me and if you haven’t seen it in a while, it’s totally worth revisiting to watch Katie and Micah attempt to explain the increasingly violent activity invading their home.

Where to Watch: Amazon, Hulu, Vudu, GooglePlay, etc.

17. The Ritual

Cast: Rafe Spall, Arsher Ali, Robert James-Collier, etc.

Director: David Bruckner

Why you should watch: This Netflix original is a terrifying journey into the woods. When four friends reunite after a tragedy to spread the ashes of their fallen friend, they discover they’re being stalked through the woods. As they find themselves trapped in a world of pagan rituals, human sacrifice, powers they cannot explain, and creatures more terrifying than their nightmares, they have to patch up their broken friendships if they want to survive. Watch this one with the lights out on a stormy night for the full effect!

Where to watch: Netflix

18. The St. Francisville Experiment

Cast: Madison Charap, Ryan Larson, P.J. Miller, Tim Baldini

Director: Ted Nicoloau

Why You Should Watch: Following hot on the heels of the success of The Blair Witch Project, 2000’s The St. Francisville Experiment takes four young people, puts them in one of the most haunted house in one of the most haunted towns in Louisiana with cameras, food, a Ouija board, candles, etc., and allows them to explore the possibility of the paranormal. The film never got as much attention as its predecessor, but it’s a seriously fun movie that lures you into a false sense of security before ripping the rug right out from under you. If you haven’t seen it, you really must.

Where to Watch: Amazon

19. Stir of Echoes

Cast: Kevin Bacon, Kathryn Erbe, Illeana Douglas, Jennifer Morrison

Director: David Koepp

Why you should watch: Based on a novel by Richard Matheson (I am Legend), Stir of Echoes centers on Tom (Bacon), a not so open-minded blue collar guy, whose world is turned upside down after being hypnotized by his sister-in-law (Douglas) at a party. Suddenly, he can see spirits, and one particular spirit (Morrison) is determined for him to solve her murder. The film is intense, well-written, and genuinely scary, but it will also hit you right in the feels as Tom slowly uncovers her story and realizes that some of the people he knows are not nearly as innocent as they seem.

Where to Watch: Amazon, Vudu, Shudder

20. Winchester

Cast: Helen Mirren, Jason Clarke

Director: Michael and Peter Spierig

Why You Should Watch: Okay, so a lot of this film throws out the actual history of the all too real Winchester Mansion and its inspired and enigmatic designer, Sarah Winchester, but it’s still an excellent story of ghosts and regret. Fans of the house and the mystery that has surrounded it since its inception, should definitely check it out.

Where to Watch: Amazon, Vudu, Fandango Now, etc.