[Top 25] Best Horror Movies About Haunted Houses (That Are Fun to Watch)

Top Best Haunted House Horror Movies, Haunted House Horror Movies, Horror Movies About Haunted Houses, Best Haunted House Horror Movies

Updated:

24 Jun 2022

And if you’re seeking for horrifying haunted house films that will take you on a suspenseful ride, then these Top 25 films might just be for you.

25. We Are Still Here (2015)

Every thirty years, a lonely old home in the cold, wintery fields of New England awakens and demands a sacrifice.

We Are Still Here is a refreshing take on the traditional haunted house formula. The movie feels like a love letter to the genre, with its well-earned scares and a dash of humor to keep the audiences entertained.

What the film may lack in budget in comparison to the others on the list, it more than makes up for in entertainment value. The movie is clearly made with passion, and it shows, so if you want a creepy but fun haunted house film then this might be what you're looking for.

24. Thir13en Ghosts (2001)

Arthur and his two children, Kathy and Bobby, inherit his Uncle Cyrus's house made of glass but after moving in, they quickly discover that they are not the only ones living within its walls.

Thir13en Ghosts is a fan favorite horror flick that’s full of cheesy scares and tons of creative ghosts with great designs that will creep you out on your seat. The movie’s setting is also an alluring location that feels like a character in and of itself.

Whilst the 1960 original may be a classic in its own right, this early 2000s remake is definitely the film that you should watch if you’re looking for a fun time.

23. House on Haunted Hill (1959)

Fredrick Loren (Vincent Price), an eccentric millionaire, offers $10,000 to five strangers who agree to spend the night with him and his wife in a large, eerie rented house.

The House on Haunted Hill is a timeless classic that never fails to freak you out. It may be considered cheesy by today's standards, but its plot twist is truly unique and will change the way you view the film. It also stars Vincent Price as the mysterious Frederick Loren, making this classic well worth your time. While the remake does not live up to the original, it is still a fun cheesy watch.

22. The Amityville Horror (1979)

From one haunted house classic to another, The Amityville Horror follows the Lutz family as they purchased a new home where a mass murder occurred the previous year. Now, it appears that the victims of the past are now haunting the house.

While the franchise's name may have been tarnished by dozens of unofficial sequels, the original Amityville Horror remains an underappreciated classic that provides many unsettling subtle scares. It's a movie drenched in atmosphere, and the fact that it's based on a true story further adds to the suspense factor.

Definitely check this one out if you’re looking for a slow-burner classic.

21. Paranormal Activity (2009)

Paranormal Activity centers on a young couple (Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat) who are haunted by a mysterious presence in their home. They then set up a camera to document what is haunting them.

Here’s the film that brought the found footage sub-genre to where it is today by providing an uncomfortable viewing experience that feels authentic at times. In contrast to its many sequels and prequels, the first Paranormal Activity film is filled with tension and subtlety, as well as a more straightforward story, making it refreshing and unique.

It also has a shocking ending that will surely make you jump, so if you want a chilling supernatural found footage film then Paranormal Activity might just be what you need.

20. The Innocents (1961)

A young governess for two children in Victorian England becomes persuaded that the house and grounds are haunted.

Who knew that even movies from the 60s could still be this eerie and effective today? The Innocents is a bold haunted house film with a vast cast of creepy children that will send shivers down your spine. If you're looking for a haunting film from the old days, The Innocents is well worth your time.

19. Housebound (2014)

Let’s take a break from disturbingly horrific films and look at a more light-hearted one like Housebound which centers on a young lady who is forced to return to her childhood home after being placed under house arrest, where she suspects that something evil may be lurking.

What seemed to be just another standard haunted house affair turned into an unexpectedly humorous film with an intriguing mystery. It takes a long time to build up so many red herrings, which it then completely subverts towards the conclusion, leaving you laughing and stunned in your seat.

18. Ghostwatch (1992)

A BBC camera crew investigates Britain's most haunted house, only to uncover something unexpected.

Ghostwatch is a clever mockumentary film with an inventive premise that will terrify you to death. It's a film that will completely immerse you thanks largely to its commitment to authenticity, which involves real-life news actors in the tale. And many of the scares in the film are subtle yet terrifying.

17. The Conjuring (2013)

Ed and Lorraine Warren, paranormal investigators, work with a family who is being tormented by a dark presence in their farmhouse.

James Wan's The Conjuring is a modern classic of the subgenre, as it takes every trope and turns it into something fresh. Its numerous scares are packed with tension, making its reveal all the more surprising. It also features a cast of charming characters that you'll want to root for, all of whom are based on real persons who allegedly experienced the event.

The Conjuring might be for you if you enjoy a dark haunted house thriller based on true events.

16. Crimson Peak (2015)

An ambitious author is torn between love for a childhood friend and the seduction of a strange outsider in the aftermath of a family tragedy. She is swept away to a house that breathes, bleeds, and remembers as she tries to flee the ghosts of her past.

Crimson Peak has to be one of the most visually stunning films on the list, thanks to its gorgeous art direction, which wonderfully depicts the gothic era aesthetic. The haunted mansion is a colorfully hypnotizing and claustrophobic location. And several of the scares in the film are such thrilling moments that you won't soon forget.

Guillermo del Toro's Crimson Peak is highly recommended for fans of gothic atmosphere and beautiful ghost stories.

15. House (1985)

When a Vietnam veteran turned horror novelist comes home, he discovers that it has been overrun by ghosts and ghouls.

House is the film to watch if you're seeking for something humorous and thrilling to keep you entertained. The movie is very reminiscent of Evil Dead 2 despite being released before it and is loaded with comical insanity from minute to minute.

But of course, the film isn't just about comedy; it manages to strike a remarkable balance between comedy and horror. It also has some truly incredible practical effects for its time, which will no doubt please horror fans.

14. The Innkeepers (2011)

When two employees at a New England hotel decide to investigate stories of hauntings and ghosts, their curiosity wakens an unwanted presence.

With modern masterpieces like X, The House of the Devil, and You're Next, director Ti West has established himself as one of the most underrated horror directors of all time, and The Innkeepers is no exception. It has one of the creepiest ghost designs I've ever seen, which is heightened by the film's eerie atmosphere.

The film is a slow-burn journey into madness, as is every Ti West film, yet even slow moments are kept interesting by the film's character dynamics.

13. Hell House LLC (2016)

In this found-footage horror film, the story follows a group of Halloween haunted house creators as they prepare for the 2009 opening of their popular haunted attraction, Hell House. But on launch night, tragedy strikes as fifteen tour-goers and employees are killed by an unexplained "malfunction."

Watching Hell House LLC felt like being dragged inside one of the most horrifying haunted house rides, and the film's found-footage format adds to the immersion. It contains various intimate scares that are always unsettling owing to the film's perspective.

And the film's third act is one of the most insane and thrilling you'll ever witness in a horror movie. Definitely take a look at this one!

12. The Changeling (1980)

A music professor staying at a long-vacant Seattle home gets lured into a decades-old mystery by an unexplainable presence in the mansion's attic after the death of his wife and children in a car accident.

The Changeling may not break any genre conventions, but it more than makes up for it with its spectacular presentation. It's drenched in a bleak atmosphere, making it uncomfortable to watch alone. It also contains some bizarre scares that will leave an impression on you. If you're looking for a classic take on the haunted house genre, The Changeling should be at the top of your list right now!

11. 1408 (2007)

Mike Enslin (John Cusack) is a successful author who enjoys worldwide acclaim denying supernatural events, but it all soon changes after he checks into the Dolphin Hotel. He spends the night in a supposedly haunted room, where he discovers the true meaning of terror.

A film chock-full of psychological scares that you'll hardly be able to stomach. Rather than relying on cheap scares, the film is packed with subtlety and atmosphere that will make you and Mike Enslin question reality. But if the intriguing premise isn't enough to entice you, the outstanding acting performances by John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson will.

10. Lake Mungo (2008)

After Alice drowns while swimming, her family begins to experience strange occurrences in their home. The family hires a parapsychologist, who discovers Alice's hidden second life and leads them all to Lake Mungo.

Lake Mungo is one of the most terrifying found-footage horror films you'll ever see, thanks largely to its suspenseful and dramatic atmosphere, which is heightened by a surprisingly good performance for a found footage film.

Lake Mungo isn't just frightening; it's a depressing film that will make you sympathize with its characters and story, making you to tear up in the process.

9. The Others (2001)

Grade Stewart (Nicole Kidman) and her two photosensitive children live in a gloomy old family home and become convinced that it is haunted.

The Others is a modern classic with a creepy atmosphere and some truly terrifying thrills. It has an outstanding cast, particularly Nicole Kidman, who gives an excellent performance. The film also has a startlingly unexpected plot twist that you won't see coming, making it a thrilling and unique watch from other haunted house movies.

8. Dark Water (2002)

Yoshimi Matsubara (Hitomi Kuroki) is going through a difficult divorce and fighting for custody of her little daughter, Ikuko (Rio Kanno). And strange incidents in the building gradually begin as well.

Dark Water is a bleak and tragic horror film in the same vein as Ringu. It has a lot of creepy moments, but what sets it apart from the others on the list is that it focuses on the personal drama and themes of the film, making each viewing extremely emotional.

It received an American remake back in 2005 though it largely abandoned the dramatic themes, making the original vastly superior as a result.

7. Ju-On: The Grudge (2002)

In this Japanese classic horror film, a mysterious and vengeful spirit marks and pursues anybody who dares enter the house in which it resides.

This iconic Japanese horror film might just be what you're looking for if you're seeking for a terrifying haunted home film. This third installment to the Ju-On franchise offers many memorable scary moments that will leave a scar on you, like the apartment scene and the staircase scene.

It also has a unique approach to narrative. Instead of focusing on a focal character, the film presents the story of the curse's victims in a non-chronological order, making watching the film a puzzle in and of itself.

6. Ju-On: The Grudge 2 (2003)

In this sequel to one of the most terrifying Japanese horror films of all time, Kyôko Harase along with a television crew is cursed after visiting the infamous Saeki house where Kayako was brutally murdered by her husband years ago.

The first Grudge film was an amazing film filled with tension and disturbing imagery, but its sequel is far superior because it takes every single great element of the first and amps it up to eleven. The story is now more focused and coherent, with far more horrific scares.

The film already knew that audiences would come here to see the iconic ghost duo Kayako and Toshio, and it delivers on that promise, as the film never lets you go from start to finish.

5. The Shining (1980)

A family travels to an isolated hotel for the winter, where a menacing presence drives Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) to madness, while his psychic kid Danny (Danny Llyod) sees terrifying visions from the past and future.

Okay, so we may be cheating a little by including The Shining on the list because it isn't set in a house, but then again, we did include the terrific Dark Water. We all know that The Shining is a fantastic film with many memorable sequences that will make your hair stand up on your back.

The Shining proves to be brilliant at everything it does, whether it's trying to hypnotize you with psychological scares or making you uncomfortable with its slasher segment. This is a must-see film for every horror fan.

4. Hausu (1977)

In this Japanese cult classic, a group of six friends travels to her aunt's remote house, which secretly holds many bizarre powers.

Arguably one of the strangest films on the list, Hausu is the type of film that will quickly make you fall in love due to its numerous odd stylistic choices that come off as amusing. It features a cast of charming individuals in a variety of quirky situations that won’t be leaving your mind any time soon.

The house in Hausu may not be haunted by ghosts like the others on the list, but its uniqueness alone makes it worthwhile to watch.

3. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)

Two loving sisters return home to their father and cruel stepmother after spending time in a mental facility. But their family isn't the only one there coming back to as their past and supernatural creatures come to haunt them.

This Korean film will haunt you with its alluring visuals and horrific thrills that will stay with you for a long time. A Tale of Two Sisters is one of the strangest films you'll ever see, with a surprising amount of plot twists that frequently change your perspective of the film, making it such an exciting watch.

This is a thought-provoking film that you should definitely watch, whether you like movies with subtitles or not.

2. Poltergeist (1982)

A family's home is overrun by demonic ghosts, who kidnap their youngest daughter. The family must now try to bring her back safely while avoiding the supernatural ghosts who roam their land.

Prepare to have a spooky good time with Poltergeist. This is a classic haunted house film that helped shape the subgenre and set the way for the rest on the list. There are many unforgettable set pieces, including the infamous face-peeling scene, which will send shivers down your spine.

It also has a likable cast of characters played by fantastic actors, which makes watching the horrific film much more enjoyable. Due to these reasons, Poltergeist is considered one of the best in the genre.

1. The Haunting (1963)

Dr. Markway investigates Hill House with three other people to prove the existence of ghosts. A house is known due to its gruesome history of terrible death and insanity.

Despite its age, The Haunting remains the best haunted house horror film of all time because of its many qualities that have stood the test of time. It has a cast of diverse and likable characters who are played by great actors, particularly Julie Harris' Elleanor, who plays a delicate woman who may or may not be insane.

It may not offer many scares, but its beautiful Victorian-era atmosphere will undoubtedly draw you in. And its atmosphere is made even better by its now-dated yet stylistic black and white presentation.