Best Ghost Movies: Top 5

With a focus on the current decade (2000-Present) to keep it manageable, this list of ghost movies includes five great ghost films, in honor of the upcoming “Reaper Awards” (best scary movies). In order to be considered among the best movies about ghosts, each film features ghosts or a prominent ghost in movies.

Other criteria for the best ghost movies list for those films that pass the basic qualifications includes that the films have a high level of entertainment value, they must be appealing to a broad audience looking to be frightened. The film must have a memorable plot, story, or characters.

Here are five great movies with ghosts from the decade (in no particular order) that pass the test:

1. The Haunting in Connecticut (2009) – One of the best ghost movies in the last few years and a 2009 Reaper Awards nominee, this ghost thriller is about a family forced to relocate for their son’s health, that begins experiencing supernatural behavior in their new home, which turns out to be a former mortuary. This one certainly has the creepiness and the “jump factor”.

2. Mirrors (2008) - Another Reaper Awards nominee, this Kiefer Sutherland film is about an ex-cop and his family that becomes the target of an evil force that is using mirrors as a gateway into their home. What separates this film from other great ghost movies is that it offers one of the most shocking and disturbing kill scenes ever, as well as a shocking twist at the end.

3. What Lies Beneath (2000) – This combination murder mystery and ghost story has a very eerie and sensual feel to it. Michelle Pfeiffer stars as a woman who begins to think her house is haunted by the ghost of her next door neighbor. She attempts to uncover the truth through investigation into the supernatural. This is also among the best Harrison Ford movies.

4. The Orphanage (2007) – One of the most unsung ghost story movies in recent memory, this Spanish ghost film tells of a woman who returns to live in the orphanage she lived in as a girl. She soon begins to suspect the orphanage is haunted and she begins to investigate the troubling history of the orphanage, which leads her to begin seeing ghosts of young children. The story also adds another element when her son goes missing, leading to a frantic search. This is truly one of the most gut-wrenching and emotionally memorable ghost movies ever!

5. The Ring (2002) – Often Hollywood remakes of very successful Asian horror movies flop, or get lost in translation. However, this most suspenseful and riveting of ghost story movies stars Naomi Watts and keeps you connected until the intensely powerful end.

While happy with the quality of this list of ghost movies, there is no question there are other great ghost movies that could have been included. If you have other favorite ghost films, simply add a comment and share your thoughts. Let us know the name of the movie, why you liked it, and a little bit about it! While this best ghost movies list includes films from 2000-Present, you are welcome to include other films before 2000.

Best Ghost Movies feature article written by Neil of Movie Room Reviews

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