Top 20 Scariest Paranormal Documentary Series
#20: “Ghost Mine” (2013)
Did you know that mines are haunted? Well, that’s the thesis of “Ghost Mine,” a Syfy show that ran for two seasons throughout 2013. The gist is simple - a team of miners go about their business while two paranormal investigators observe the mine for spooky activity. The team also investigates areas linked to the mine, including a bed and breakfast that once functioned as a hospital. “Ghost Mine” is a unique addition to the genre, and by setting its sights on one specific location, the show builds an engrossing mythology. Plus, who can deny those beautiful Oregon locations?
#19: “Haunted” (2018-)
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It was only a matter of time before Netflix started their own paranormal show. The result was “Haunted,” a series in which people share their personal experiences with the supernatural. Stories involve a woman hanging in a young boy’s closet, the ghosts of children in a well, and even a Demon of War in Afghanistan. It’s like a collection of short stories, each episode bringing a unique story with their own spooky scenarios. You don’t have to believe every story. Heck, maybe you won’t believe any of them. But each tale is entertaining in its own right, providing viewers with a healthy dose of creepy campfire tales.
#18: “My Ghost Story” (2010-13)
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This program shares much in common with “Haunted,” albeit with a few unique caveats. Like “Haunted,” each episode of “My Ghost Story” sees an individual recounting their experience with the paranormal. But that’s where the similarities end. The tales in “My Ghost Story” are often linked to famous haunted locations, and each episode comes equipped with its own little history lesson regarding the place and its lore. The show also contains visual evidence captured by the storyteller, usually a homemade video that backs up their outlandish claims. “My Ghost Story” is for anyone who loves, well, a good ghost story.
#17: “The Haunting of…” (2012-16)
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Beginning in 2012, “The Haunting of…” served as a spinoff of “Celebrity Ghost Stories,” which appears later in this video. It shares a very similar premise to its parent program. Celebrities tell tantalizing stories of their paranormal experiences, often with the talent of an audiobook narrator. But this show takes the concept, and the stories, one step further. “The Haunting Of” brings the celebrities back to the locations in question. While there, they attempt to find answers, or maybe even closure, regarding their paranormal experiences. It’s a fun twist on the concept, adding an extra dimension to the already-spooky stories.
#16: “Psychic Kids: Children of the Paranormal” (2008-10; 2019)
This show contains exactly what it says in the title - psychic kids. These children supposedly harbor supernatural powers, whether it be clairvoyance, the ability to speak with the dead, or any number of out-of-this-world abilities. The original show ran between 2008 and 2010, with a number of professional adults speaking with the children and helping them control and harness their supernatural abilities. A reboot aired in 2019, in which some children returned as adults and helped a new generation of psychic kids. The concept is original, and the kids often make for entertaining subjects. We mean, how can someone with clairvoyance not be entertaining?
#15: “Fear” (2000-02)
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Released during MTV’s heyday, “Fear” was a fascinating and endlessly entertaining show. The concept was inspired by Richard Matheson’s “Hell House” and its 1973 movie adaptation, in which a group of experts stay inside a haunted house and investigate its paranormal properties. Just like the story, “Fear” sees a group of strangers staying inside a haunted location for two nights. If they make it to the end without tapping out, they receive a cash prize. The show was a huge ratings hit, but it was too expensive for MTV to produce and they canceled it after just two seasons. It’s a shame, because “Fear” was an outstanding piece of television, equal parts entertaining and horrifying.
#14: “Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files” (2010-12)
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Most paranormal shows take the paranormal at face value - that is, they don’t often question the validity of the stories. Well, that’s where Syfy’s “Fact or Faked” comes in. In this one, a small team of experts watch a piece of paranormal footage and attempt to debunk it. Each expert has their own field of expertise, including photography, stunt work, and technology, allowing for all the potential bases to be covered. Furthermore, team leader Ben Hansen used to work for the FBI, and he brings his professional investigative techniques to the table. It’s basically a real life “X-Files,” mixing skepticism with belief and providing a ton of entertainment in the process.
#13: “MonsterQuest” (2007-10)
No, this isn’t a video game from the ‘80s. “MonsterQuest” was a show that aired on the History Channel in which a group of people attempted to find cryptids and supernatural creatures. Bigfoot is here, of course, as is the Thunderbird and the Chupacabra, among others. As you can imagine, they never catch these monsters on camera - that would have been worldwide news! But as its title suggests, the fun lies in the quest, not the destination. The stories of these monsters are a blast, as are the spooky hunts to find them. The show also goes all across the world, providing a good dose of variety and adventure. What’s not to love?
#12: “Celebrity Ghost Stories” (2009-14; 2020)
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And now we get to the aforementioned “Celebrity Ghost Stories” for its own entry. As mentioned before, this is an anthology show in which big name celebrities like Marilyn Manson, Daniel Stern, and Michael Imperioli tell their stories of the supernatural. The stories in question are often chilling, and as many of these celebrities are professional actors, they make their tales as dramatic and engrossing as possible. There’s nothing quite like climbing under a blanket and listening to gifted storytellers weave incredible tales, and “Celebrity Ghost Stories” delivers that in spades. Plus, who wouldn’t like spending time with these enjoyable people?
#11: “Scariest Places on Earth” (2000-06)
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You can probably guess what this show is about. You’re right - the scariest places on Earth! The show explores some of the most notorious haunted locations in the world, complete with firsthand interviews, history lessons, and of course, an investigation. But what this show has that others don’t is star power. The series has its roots in paranormal cinema, as it’s hosted by Linda Blair and narrated by Zelda Rubinstein of “Poltergeist” fame. They bring a welcome degree of fan service to the program, and the locations that the show explores are often fascinating - not to mention downright horrifying. These are, indeed, the scariest places on Earth.
#10: “Haunted Collector” (2011-13)
In the over-saturated market that is ghost hunting, “Haunted Collector” takes an original approach to the genre. Like most ghost shows, “Haunted Collector” follows a demonologist, John Zaffis and his family, as they investigate supposed haunted locations. However, Zaffis takes it one step further by attempting to find and remove the location’s “trigger object,” the item that a spirit has attached itself to, and which in turn results in the haunting. Yes, the show is essentially a real-life “Ghostbusters.” Sure, it’s a little odd seeing Zaffis talking to a lamp or another inanimate object, but at least it puts a fresh twist on the tired ghost hunting formula.
#9: “Paranormal Lockdown” (2016-19)
“Paranormal Lockdown” is hosted by two veterans of the paranormal field – “Ghost Adventures”’ Nick Groff, and “Paranormal State”’s Katrina Weidman. Despite their somewhat awkward chemistry, their experience makes for an informed and professional dynamic, as they tend to take a more thoughtful approach to their evidence rather than freaking out at the slightest provocation. Rather than a single night, the two spend 72 hours confined to a location, and their lengthy confinement often results in numerous pieces of evidence, however slight or dramatic, and often in broad daylight. “Paranormal Lockdown” is a raw, realistic, and less flashy approach to ghost hunting television.
#8: “Paranormal State” (2007-11)
While most ghost shows follow professional paranormal investigators, “Paranormal State” centers around a university club called the Pennsylvania State University Paranormal Research Society. Since outlines of the episodes were made in advance, and the producers created story arcs for the students, naysayers may feel as if it’s over-produced, or even outright fake. However, regardless of your opinion on its authenticity and flair for the dramatic, there’s no denying that there are numerous entertaining scares to be found. Just don’t take it too seriously, and you may walk away a little unnerved.
#7: “Most Haunted” (2002-10; 2014-19)
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“Most Haunted” is undeniably one of the most popular, and certainly one of the longest-running paranormal shows on television. It follows a team of investigators, led by Yvette Fielding, as they explore various haunted locations throughout Europe. While “Most Haunted” has been the subject of various controversies and claims of fakery, it’s nevertheless a very spooky show, and its age alone can certainly attest to its popularity. The crew’s reactions may be on the melodramatic side, and it seems to be more of a ratings chaser than an authentic glimpse into the paranormal, but there’s no denying that it still makes for entertaining and creepy television.
#6: “A Haunting” (2002-07; 2012-22)
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“A Haunting” is unlike the other shows of its kind, as it’s more documentary than investigative. It tells the stories of various people who were seemingly afflicted by paranormal phenomenon, and has dramatic reenactments play over commentary from witnesses. Because the show is more cinematic than realistic, the paranormal stories go down far easier, and the show is more easily digestible as entertainment. The production is also far better than most shows that revolve around re-enactments, as the effects are generally believable, and it’s both well-shot and well-acted. Despite possible reservations regarding the stories, “A Haunting” is nevertheless a terrifying glimpse into the unknown.
#5: “Destination Truth” (2007-12)
“Destination Truth” followed paranormal researcher Josh Gates as he traveled to various locations around the world to try and document cryptozoological creatures. While there have been countless shows regarding the possibility of Bigfoot or another Monster of the Week, “Destination Truth” tackles the subject with humor and skepticism. Gates and his team are hilarious and scathing, oftentimes disbelieving the outrageous stories. That said, they do find some downright chilling things - even if they’re not mythological creatures - and the show makes for an informative look at various cultures’ superstitions. And let us tell you, some of them believe in some creepy things.
#4: “The Dead Files” (2011-)
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“The Dead Files” is a paranormal investigation show with a twist. A medium, Amy Allan, and a retired homicide detective, Steve DiSchiavi, team up to tackle the paranormal at a given location. Amy traverses through the setting while channeling and communicating with the ghosts, while Steve interviews witnesses and gathers historical evidence regarding the location. While it’s true that Amy’s psychic channeling may take some getting used to and will undoubtedly turn a lot of people off, “The Dead Files” is nevertheless one of the more credible and unsettling ghost shows concerning psychics. Is that an oxymoron? Maybe. But it sure is fun.
#3: “Paranormal Witness” (2011-13; 2015-16)
The concept here is incredibly generic – people tell their stories of unexplainable and possibly paranormal phenomenon. That’s about it. While the concept is nothing new, “Paranormal Witness” stands above the over-saturated crowd due to its production values and captivating stories. These stories are not only frightening and unsettling, but they can also be highly emotional, which makes for a sensitive viewing experience not found in other paranormal programs. These are scary ghost stories told with a keen directorial eye, and each segment feels like its own satisfying short film. If you’re out of good scary movies to watch, “Paranormal Witness” is certainly worth a gander.
#2: “Ghost Hunters” (2004-16; 2019-)
No discussion of paranormal investigations is complete without a mention of “Ghost Hunters.” It's undoubtedly one of the most popular ghost shows, and it provides over a decade’s worth of freaky entertainment and some of the most compelling evidence of paranormal activity ever captured on video. Sure, some people may criticize the show for its slow pace, but that’s what makes it even more authentic and believable – you need the slow episodes to further validate the paranormal occurrences. It, along with “Ghost Hunters International” are some of the most reputable ghost hunting shows, and its realism makes the unbelievable all the more terrifying.
#1: “Ghost Adventures” (2008-)
“Ghost Adventures” is arguably the best, and easily the scariest paranormal show on television, despite its rather eccentric hosts. Following several easily excitable men as they investigate haunted locations with high-end, scientific equipment like infrared and structured light sensor cameras, what results is some of the most incredible evidence ever captured on camera. While some may yearn for the old days when it was just three of them with video cameras, “Ghost Adventures” is still a highly entertaining show that features some of the most compelling proof of the paranormal. Even the skeptics have to admit that these guys have caught some truly incredible evidence.
