There is nothing more enjoyable than lounging under a blanket late at night, immersed in a scary ghost movie.

Even the most dedicated moviegoer may not know that the presence of ghosts in film goes back almost as far as the beginnings of cinema itself. In the late 19th century, when cinema was in its infancy, pioneer Georges Méliès first brought ghosts to life in 1896's "The Devil's House," and in the 127 years since, hundreds of ghost stories have chilled audiences worldwide.

From sinister entities haunting homes to tales of vengeful spirits seeking justice and even heartwarming horror-comedies, there are plenty of ghost movies for audiences looking to take an otherworldly journey with those from the afterlife. But which are the best of the best ghost movies? Which is that best of the best ghost movie?

Before Peter Jackson shot to fame with the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, he directed the horror comedy "The Frighteners." In this film, Michael J. Fox's last role before retiring, he plays the role of con man Frank Bannister. But things get serious when mysterious figures begin to appear just before the living die.

The film begins on a lighthearted note, but takes a very serious turn in the third act, with a shocking finale in which multiple mysteries add twists and turns. The film attracted mostly positive reviews when it was released in 1996, but failed to impress at the box office. Since then, however, the film has become a cult hit and is considered by many to be one of the most representative films in Jackson's entire catalog.

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Directed by Alejandro Amenábar, the 2001 film "The Others" is a moody, gothic ghost story set in 1945, just after World War II, in which Nicole Kidman plays Grace Stewart, a widow who lives in eternal darkness with her two light-sensitive young children, Anne and Nicholas. When Grace and her children begin to hear voices and have vivid hallucinations, Grace becomes convinced that the house is haunted and takes drastic measures to protect herself and her children.

The film takes some time to unravel its central mystery, but patient viewers are rewarded with Kidman's truly compelling performance and one of the most shocking developments in film history.

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Guillermo del Toro often cites "The Devil's Backbone" as his authentic first film, but fans of the director can definitely sense what would later become his signature style from his earlier work This Spanish-language film is a film about the Spanish Civil War. Set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War, this Spanish-language film follows Carlos, a young boy who loses his father in the war and is left in an isolated orphanage.

Carlos is haunted by visions of Santi, a boy who disappeared the night an unexploded bomb fell. Santi warns him of a great calamity that will strike the orphanage and take the lives of many of its residents. Carlos is initially afraid of the spirit, but realizes that he must work with the ghost not only to save as many lives as possible in the orphanage, but also to bring justice to the person responsible for Santi's fate.

The film seamlessly blends horror, fantasy, and historical drama, exploring themes of revenge, betrayal, and the effects of war on children.

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When released in 2013, James Wan's The Conjuring, a retelling of the true story of Ed and Lorraine Warren's investigation of the Perron family curse in Harrisville, Rhode Island Expectations for the film were average.

But thanks to Wan's sharp direction, honed in 2004's "Saw" and 2010's "Insidious," "The Conjuring" is more than a run-of-the-mill haunted house movie, with suspenseful atmosphere, effective jump scares, and compelling storytelling The Conjuring thrilled audiences and critics alike with its suspenseful atmosphere, effective jump scares, and compelling storytelling, and defied box office expectations. Correspondingly, the entire world of The Conjuring consists of eight films as of 2023, including two direct sequels and spin-offs of Annabelle and The Nun. But for many, no film has surpassed the film that started it all.

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When it comes to 21st century ghost stories, none is more eerie than 2002's "The Ring," directed by "Pirates of the Caribbean" director Gore Verbinski. The film is a stunning remake of the 1998 Japanese film "The Ring," which revolves around a cursed videotape.

The disturbing film follows Rachel Keller, an investigative journalist played by Naomi Watts, as she attempts to unravel the secrets of a cursed videotape after her niece dies a week after viewing it. Its gruesome images, stunning use of color, and shocking ending have made it a critics' favorite and a horror fan's favorite.

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Stanley Kubrick's 1980 film The Shining has stood the test of time thanks to Kubrick's mesmerizing images, haunting atmosphere, and Jack Nicholson's career-defining performance.

Loosely based on Stephen King's novel of the same name, the film follows Jack Torrance, an aspiring writer and recovering alcoholic, as he takes a job as an off-season caretaker at the isolated Overlook Hotel in the Colorado Rockies. As Torrance and his family spend their lonely hours at the desolate hotel, some terrifying events occur as a result of a malevolent spirit that is revealed to reside within the hotel.

The film relies heavily on ambiguity and symbolism (have you ever noticed what happens every time Jack is near a mirror?), and fans still debate exactly what they think happened at the Overlook Hotel more than 40 years after its release.

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If you're looking for a truly terrifying ghost movie, look no further than Poltergeist. Directed by Tobe Hooper and produced and written by Steven Spielberg, this 1982 film follows the Freeling family whose young daughter Carol Ann communicates with evil spirits through the family's television.

Initially, the phenomenon seems harmless, but escalates and the spirits abduct Carol Ann to another dimension, where she is held hostage by a malevolent entity known as "The Beast."

Despite its PG rating, "Poltergeist" is known for its intense and frightening scenes and its clever use of practical effects to create truly disturbing visuals. The film was a critical and commercial success when it was released and remains one of the scariest ghost-related films of all time.

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