As long as horror movies continue to exist, there will behaunted houses. The basic premise is just too enticing to resist: confine a group of people in a rickety old building, move some furniture, and let the supernatural terror run amok. Typically removed from reality, haunted houses give filmmakers the freedom to go wild as any logical consistency is largely dependent on the creators. There is no limit.
Since the days of 1925’sThe Monsterand 1927’sThe Cat and the Canary, people have been stepping into spooky buildings and scaring millions of viewers in the process. These films are often exciting, terrifying, and creative, and here are the most entertaining orscariest haunted house moviesever.
Updated July 31, 2025 by Mark Sammut:As Halloween is right around the corner, this is the ideal time to visit some haunted houses. Luckily, the movie industry loves a good old Gothic mansion, and quite a few of these flicks are readily available on streaming platforms. In celebration of the spooky season, this article has been expanded to include a few more of thebest haunted house movies.
78%
Where to Stream
Amazon Prime Video,DirectTV,Hoopla,Kanopy,TheRokuChannel,Shudder,TubiTV,Vudu
William Castle’sHouse on Haunted Hillis aquintessential B-movie. The film takes audiences on a rollercoaster ride of thrills, misdirection, and cheesy but charming special effects.
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The story finds five people summoned to a house by its quirky owner who challenges them to spend the night. Unsurprisingly, the host has more planned than just a social experiment with a price.House on Haunted Hillis not particularly scary, but it is a lot of fun and quite rewatchable.
75%
Amazon Prime Video + Freevee,Hulu,TheRokuChannel
Animated horror movies are in short supply, but the 2000s did produce a few standout releases.Monster Housedelivers exactly what its title advertises, and it is far better than some people might assume. It is not only that the visuals are fittingly creepy, butMonster Housealso doesn’t fall flat in the character department.
Witty, endearing, and constantly entertaining,Monster Houseis a great movie for the entire family and a rare example of ahaunted house film that children can also enjoy.
95%
N/A
One of Hollywood’s earliest haunted house movies,The Uninvitedholds up surprisingly well considering its age. The film follows two siblings who purchase a house and come to realize that maybe they have an unwanted guest. Nowadays, this story could not be any more basic, butThe Uninvitedstands out as its focus is primarily on the mystery driving the supernatural element rather than the scares.
That’s not to say the film is completely lacking in creepy moments, but they are subtle rather than overt. Thebest haunted house filmsemphasize the unknown, andThe Uninvitedexcels in this department.
66%
FuboTV,Peacock
Slightly overshadowed byThe Conjuringmovies,Insidiousis arguably the most terrifying series created by James Wan, with the first two entries being especially strong. The 2010 release’s story will sound familiar to any horror fan, as a family moves to a new house where they begin to experience strange events that predominantly center around their son.
RELATED:Best Horror Movies On Tubi
Insidiousis intense and unpredictable, and the movie features chilling designs for its villains. For those seeking a modern haunted house movie that is genuinely scary rather than just fun,Insidiousis a fantastic pick.
30%
Amazon Prime Video + Starz,DirectTV,Starz
Somehow, the phenomenon surrounding the Amityville house has spawned a ridiculous number of horror movies. Most of these films are not worth seeking out, but 1979’sThe Amityville Horrorhas the distinction of being the first to tackle the Lutz family’s reported haunting.
Although quite dated by today’s standards and inconsistently acted even for its time,The Amityville Horrorgets by on mystique, cheap thrills, and a few flashes of horror brilliance. Removed from itsreal-life inspiration,The Amityville Horroris an enjoyable, stereotypical haunted house movie.
87%
Kanopy
A Spanish production that is likely to conjure images of 2001’sThe Others,The Orphanageis an expertly-paced thriller that appreciates the power of letting suspense simmer. Rather than rely on frequent bursts of terror, the story lets the tension build as viewers wait for the other foot to drop.
With her husband and son, Laura returns to the orphanage she grew up in so that she can open it to a new generation. Initially, Laura has a fond recollection of her time in the household, but ugly flashes of fragmented memories begin to challenge this perspective. When her son starts to talk with an imaginary friend who feels oddly familiar to Laura, things take a turn for the horrifying.
86%
HBO Max
The first in alargely consistent series, James Wan’sThe Conjuringtakes influence from Ed and Lorraine Warren’s paranormal investigations, which includes the Amityville Horror. 2013’s movie focuses on the Perron family’s experiences at a Rhode Island farmhouse, andThe Conjuring’s power rests on its adherence to classic horror tropes. This is a film that could have realistically been produced at any time over the last 40 years.
A master of horror, Wan takes his time in setting upThe Conjuring’s characters and story, sprinkling in nuggets of frights en route to an exhilarating and nightmare-inducing final act.
84%
Featuring a strong performance by Nicole Kidman,The Othersleaves behind special effects in favor of atmosphere, mystery, and suspense. Grace and her two children live in a country house along with a few attendees, each of who begins to witness strange incidents that indicate another family is haunting the residence.
RELATED:The Best Horror Movies On Hulu
The Othersmoves at quite a meticulous pace and rejects conventional narrative tools such as jump scares, opting to allow the characters to carry the narrative. It works.
Showmanship is essential when it comes to horror films, or really any genre. BBC’sGhostwatchmight be the greatest example of a project’s presentation heightening its impact. Shot like a documentary and broadcast on Halloween as a live screening,Ghostwatchfollows three BBC reporters as they look into a supposedly haunted house.
Initially, the reporters believe this case is a hoax, an assumption that weakens as the broadcast continues. Realistically shot, inventive, and terrifying when the horror really gets going,Ghostwatchis a work of art.
DirectTV,TCM
Not to be confused with the inferior 1999 remake,The Hauntingis a classic psychological horror movie set in a contender for the genre’s greatest haunted house. Hugh Crain’s Hill House is aGothic masterpiece; a sprawling mansion defined by off-kilter furniture and unnatural architecture. Every room of this building has a tragic story to tell, and the film does an admirable job of making Hill House feel like a living entity.
Thematically,The Hauntingtackles depression, guilt, and latent sexuality, all risky topics considering when the film came out.
