The spirits are lively in these must-watch supernatural series.

The 20 best supernatural shows to stream, from groundbreaking classics to modern marvels

The spirits are lively in these must-watch supernatural series.

By James Mercadante,

Kevin Jacobsen,

and Ilana Gordon

Ilana Gordon is an entertainment, culture, and comedy writer originally from Connecticut. She currently lives in Los Angeles.

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April 19, 2026 8:00 a.m. ET

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Lee Pace as Ned on 'Pushing Daisies'; Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams on 'Wednesday'; Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers on 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'. Credit:

ABC/Craig Sjodin; Vlad Cioplea/Netflix; Getty

Whether locked in time loops, stuck in the Upside Down, or trying to integrate into everyday human life, the witches, wizards, vampires, and vampire hunters on this list have a lot going on — and you can watch the madness unfold. From bingeable one-season dramas to long-running series like *Stranger Things* or *Ghosts*, the spirits might not always be friendly, but they're always watching.

Read on for EW's list of the 20 best supernatural shows streaming.**

American Horror Story (2011–present)

Sarah Paulson as both Bette and Dot Tattler in 'American Horror Story: Freak Show'.

Frank Ockenfels/FX

Ryan Murphy helped revive the limited/anthology series as a genre with this FX drama. *American Horror Story* tells a single horror-based narrative each season, with plotlines about a haunted house, a mental asylum, a coven of witches, a freak show, and more. Not every story is a winner, but the show's gothic/campy aesthetic and all-star cast keep us coming back. We recommend the first four seasons, a.k.a. the Jessica Lange years, but there are presently 12 seasons of horror to explore. —*Kevin Jacobsen*

Where to watch* American Horror Story*: Hulu

**Cast:** Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Lily Rabe, Frances Conroy

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003)

Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers on 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'. Everett Collection

Sixteen-year-old cool girl Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) was chosen by fate to live life as a Slayer, destined to rid the world of all supernatural evil. But, sometimes, she just wants to live a normal life with her friends in Sunnydale, Calif. With the guidance of her Watcher, Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), Buffy eventually eases into her new identity and the mystical powers that come with it — managing to save the world and looking fabulous while doing it!

Created by Joss Whedon, the two-time Emmy-winning series might lean into some clichés, but it was also a watershed moment for the vampire TV genre, becoming a classic revered for its campy charm, snappy one-liners, emotional depth, and well-developed story arcs. —*James Mercadante*

Where to watch *Buffy the Vampire Slayer*: Hulu

**EW grade:** A–

**Cast:** Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Charisma Carpenter, Anthony Stewart Head

Charmed (1998–2006)

Holly Marie Combs as Piper Halliwell, Shannen Doherty as Prue Halliwell, and Alyssa Milano as Phoebe Halliwell on 'Charmed'.

Everett Collection

The Halliwell sisters — psychic Phoebe (Alyssa Milano), telekinetic Prue (Shannen Doherty), time-freezing Piper (Holly Marie Combs), and (later) healing Paige (Rose McGowan) — accede to their fates as the Charmed Ones, the most powerful good witches who must beat dark forces one spell at a time. In between saving the world, they're busy juggling their love lives, dodging skeptical FBI agents, and maintaining normalcy. With plenty of drama both on and off screen, it's nearly impossible to recapture the lightning-in-a-bottle magic of *Charmed* (though the CW reboot gave it a shot with a four-season run). —*J.M.*

Where to watch *Charmed*: Peacock

**Cast: **Shannen Doherty, Holly Marie Combs, Alyssa Milano, Rose McGowan, T. W. King

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018–2020)

Kiernan Shipka as Sabrina Spellman on 'Chilling Adventures of Sabrina'.

For those used to the quirky '90s sitcom starring Melissa Joan Hart, *Chilling Adventures of Sabrina* may be quite jarring at first glance: The stakes are higher and the content is much darker, as this Sabrina Spellman (Kiernan Shipka) draws her powers from Satan and must devote herself to him.

Canonically, witches attend a school dedicated to learning witchcraft, but — unlike *The Magicians *or *Harry Potter* — religion plays a heavy role in every aspect of a witch’s life. This shift completely changes learning methods and traditions and, because of it, the series succeeds in being completely unpredictable. —*Cori Chapman*

Where to watch *Chilling Adventures of Sabrina*: Netflix

**Cast:** Kiernan Shipka, Ross Lynch, Lucy Davis, Miranda Otto, Chance Perdomo

Dead Boy Detectives (2024)

George Rexstrew as Edwin Payne and Jayden Revri as Charles Rowland on 'Dead Boy Detectives'.

David Bukach/Netflix

Two best friend ghosts, Edwin Payne (George Rexstrew) and Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri), aren't ready to cross over just yet — not when there are mysteries left to be solved. Alongside their clairvoyant sidekick, Crystal Palace (Kassius Nelson), these titular sleuths help other spirits with cases that have gone as cold as their bodies underground.

Based on the popular comic series by *Coraline* author Neil Gaiman, *Dead Boy Detectives* follows a case-of-the-week format that covers everything from serial killers to sea monsters. With breakout performances from Rexstrew and Revri, this show adds a charming and surreal layer to Netflix's *Sandman* universe, while dissecting themes such as grief, trauma, and identity. *—J.M.*

Where to watch *Dead Boy Detectives*: Netflix

**Cast:** George Rexstrew, Jayden Revri, Kassius Nelson, Briana Cuoco, Ruth Connell

Evil (2019–2024)

Fedor Steer as the Stick Demon and Michael Emerson as Leland Townsend on 'Evil'.

Hired by the Catholic Church to explore paranormal phenomena, atheist forensic psychologist Dr. Kristen Bouchard (Katja Herbers), seminarian-in-training David Acosta (Mike Colter), and tech expert Ben Shakir (Aasif Mandvi) are pulled into New York City's darkest religious-based horrors, using science and skepticism to discern superstition from true evil.

Silly yet terrifying, *Evil* — which jumped from CBS to Paramount+ after its first season, airing for three more — delivers unpredictable thrills for its *X-Files*-style investigations, all while possessing standout performances from its lead trio and some of TV's most impressive makeup effects. —*J.M.*

Where to watch *Evil*: Paramount+

**EW grade:** A

**Cast:** Katja Herbers, Mike Colter, Aasif Mandvi, Kurt Fuller, Marti Matulis

Ghosts (2021–present)

Devan Chandler Long as Thorfinn and Sheila Carrasco as Flower on 'Ghosts'.

Living with housemates is hard enough, but life gets a little more complicated when they're ghosts. A CBS series adapted from a British sitcom, *Ghosts* follows Sam (Rose McIver) and Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar), a married couple whose dreams of homeownership are granted when a relative dies and leaves them her house, then dashed when they learn the property comes with the ghosts of eight previous residents.

Sam and Jay’s new roommates include, among others, a Viking, a hippie, and a lounge singer from the 1920s. After Sam briefly dies, she finds she can interact with the ghosts, but Jay can only communicate with them using her as an intermediary. With a premise this fun — and already stress-tested — you really can’t go wrong. —*Ilana Gordon*

Where to watch *Ghosts*: Paramount+

**Cast: **Rose McIver, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Brandon Scott Jones, Danielle Pinnock, Richie Moriarty

The Haunting of Hill House (2018)

(From left to right): Mckenna Grace as Theo, Lulu Wilson as Shirley, Paxton Singleton as Steven, Violet McGraw as Nell, Julian Hillard as Luke, and Henry Thomas as Hugh in 'The Haunting of Hill House'. Steve Dietl/Netflix

In 1992, Hugh and Olivia Crain move their five kids into the shambly Hill House, a somewhat promising fixer-upper that comes with a cost: It's a spirit-infected trap that tears their family apart forever. Fast-forward 26 years, and the now-estranged Crains have to confront both the horrors of their past and the cracks in their relationships when tragedy pulls them back together.

Yes, *The Haunting of Hill House* is a ghost story that'll make you bend to its ever-increasing tension and Mike Flanagan's super intentional directing (we are still in awe of that one 17-minute-long shot), but, at its core, it's a story about a family grappling with grief, mental health, addiction, and the unknown — all heightened by a perfectly casted ensemble. —*J.M.*

Where to watch *The Haunting of Hill House*: Netflix

**Cast:** Michiel Huisman, Carla Gugino, Timothy Hutton, Henry Thomas, Elizabeth Reaser

The Magicians (2015–2020)

Hale Appleman as Eliot Waugh on 'The Magicians'.

Eike Schroter/Syfy

Twentysomething hero Quentin Coldwater (Jason Ralph) discovers that magic — and the fantastical world from the *Fillory and Further *book series — is real. Though Quentin's life seems to improve as he learns the trade and becomes part of a faithful friend group, his new routines don't erase his everyday experiences with depression.

While the series tackles serious issues such as mental health, it also has its fair share of ridiculousness (we're talking anthropomorphic bunnies and sexually transmitted lycanthropy), with each episode mixing the absurd with the poignant. —*C.C.*

Where to watch *The Magicians*: Amazon Prime Video

**EW grade:** B

**Cast:** Jason Ralph, Stella Maeve, Olivia Taylor Dudley, Hale Appleman, Arjun Gupta

Pushing Daisies (2007–2009)

Lee Pace as Ned and Anna Friel as Charlotte 'Chuck' Charles on 'Pushing Daisies'.

The facts were these: The 2007/2008 Writers Guild strike was responsible for many television deaths, but one of the saddest was the cancellation of *Pushing Daisies*, an hour-long comedy-drama that aired on ABC for only two seasons, in spite of its seven Emmy wins. The show follows professional pie maker Ned (Lee Pace), who possesses a supernatural, albeit slightly inconvenient, gift: He can bring anyone back to life with just one touch, but if he touches the person more than once, they'll die again.

This proves to be something of a catch-22 when Ned brings his childhood crush, Chuck (Anna Friel), back to life. *Pushing Daisies *offers a whimsical plot and the kind of beautiful production design that would have inspired many a Pinterest board — if Pinterest had been around back in 2007. —*I.G.*

Where to watch *Pushing Daisies*: Amazon Prime Video (to buy)

**EW grade: **A–

**Cast: **Lee Pace, Anna Friel, Chi McBride, Field Cate, Kristin Chenoweth

Russian Doll (2019–2022)

Natasha Lyonne as Nadia Vulvokov and Greta Lee as Maxine on 'Russian Doll'. Netflix

*Russian Doll*'s *Groundhog Day*-like premise takes a very different turn than the '90s classic. On the three-time Emmy-winning series, Nadia Vulvokov (Natasha Lyonne) finds herself continuously respawning death after death, always ending up back in the bathroom at her 36th birthday party. And she's not alone: Another individual, Alan Zaveri (Charlie Barnett), is in the same time loop prison. Their shared experience forces these two to face their traumas head-on without any supernatural forces, and as time begins to tumble, their intertwining timelines help them heal. —*C.C.*

Where to watch *Russian Doll*: Netflix

**Cast: **Natasha Lyonne, Greta Lee, Yul Vazquez, Elizabeth Ashley, Charlie Barnett

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Sense8 (2015–2018)

Bae Doona as Sun Baek on 'Sense8'. Murray Close/Netflix

*Sense8** *introduces a unique species called sensates, eight strangers from across the globe who form a "cluster" and become physically and mentally linked through a sensate "birth." As they use their shared abilities to help each other through personal struggles and external threats, they must also avoid powerful governments that deem them as security risks.

Blending action and emotion with serious topics like race and queer identity, the series features a diverse cast and is filmed in multiple countries to authentically represent various cultures. —*C.C.*

Where to watch *Sense8*: Netflix

**Cast:** Aml Ameen, Bae Doona, Jamie Clayton, Tina Desai, Tuppence Middleton

Servant (2019–2023)

Nell Tiger Free as Leanne Grayson and Lauren Ambrose as Dorothy Turner on 'Servant'. Apple TV+

M. Night Shyamalan tries his hand at television with *Servant**, *blending the natural and the supernatural. After losing her infant son, Dorothy (Lauren Ambrose) copes by caring for a disturbingly lifelike doll and even hires a live-in nanny to care for it. When the au pair, Leanne (Nell Tiger Free), arrives, things seem routine — until a baby's cry is heard over the monitor.

Shyamalan's signature twists take over from there, turning the series into a mind-bending puzzle that keeps viewers guessing and perpetually unsettled. As EW's critic states, *Servant* "[delivers] the kind of giddy thrills you want from horror." —*C.C.*

Where to watch *Servant*: Apple TV

**EW grade:** B+

**Cast: **Lauren Ambrose, Toby Kebbell, Nell Tiger Free, Rupert Grint

Shining Girls (2022)

Jamie Bell as Harper Curtis on 'Shining Girls'.

Produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, *Shining Girls *stars Elisabeth Moss in a tour de force performance as Kirby Mazrachi, a *Chicago-Sun Times *journalist who investigates a series of murders that align with her recent attack. Though she survived, Kirby realizes her assailant can time travel and rewrite the lives of his victims, as her own reality starts to shift.

The show keeps viewers on their toes, with subtle changes in the background that challenge Kirby and audiences alike while she hunts down the serial killer. —*C.C.*

Where to watch *Shining Girls*: Apple TV

**Cast: **Elisabeth Moss, Wagner Moura, Phillipa Soo, Chris Chalk, Amy Brenneman

Stranger Things (2016–2025)

Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson, Joe Keery as Steve Harrington, Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield, and Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley on 'Stranger Things'. Netflix

Set during the 1980s, *Stranger Things* follows a group of Hawkins, Ind., kids swept up in a covert battle for control of the Upside Down — an alternate dimension filled with monsters — between the Soviet Union and the United States. As they protect a telekinetic girl (Millie Bobby Brown) and face the Upside Down's sinister forces, the gang must piece together the extraordinary events around them and learn how to fight back.

The hit series has something for everyone: historical fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, action, and horror, all wrapped in a thick layer of '80s nostalgia. But at its center is a coming-of-age tale that resonates with audiences of every generation. —*C.C.*

Where to watch *Stranger Things*: Netflix

**EW grade:** B

**Cast:** Winona Ryder, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin

Teen Wolf (2011–2017)

Colton Haynes as Jackson Whittemore, Tyler Posey as Scott McCall, and Dylan O'Brien as Styles Stilinski on 'Teen Wolf'.

When *Criminal Minds* creator Jeff Davis decided to reimagine the 1985 comedy *Teen Wolf* for TV, he wanted to recenter the focus from sports to the supernatural. The result was a charming, *Lost Boys*-meets-*Buffy *series where Scott McCall (Tyler Posey) goes from a regular teen to a full-fledged werewolf after one Alpha bite. Now, Scott's juggling high school hurdles like lacrosse, bullies, and puppy love with his new lupine identity — all while trying to protect his hometown from lurking threats.

With six seasons and a 2023 movie, *Teen Wolf** *taps into the zeitgeist of its era, and despite its cringey CGI, the show expertly melds comedy and melodrama in its well-written scripts, supported by performances from its then-rookie cast. —*J.M.*

Where to watch *Teen Wolf*: Hulu

**Cast:** Tyler Posey, Crystal Reed, Dylan O'Brien, Tyler Hoechlin, Holland Roden

True Blood (2008–2014)

Joe Manganiello as Alcide Herveaux on 'True Blood'.

John P. Johnson/HBO/Everett

In most cases, vampires work hard to keep their existence hidden from humans. However, on HBO's Emmy-winning series, the undead have stepped out of their coffins and into the open thanks to the synthetic blood substitute "Tru Blood." When telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin) falls for the 174-year-old bloodsucker Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer), she's drawn into his world and begins investigating a series of anti-vampire murders.

Unlike *Twilight* — which also debuted in 2008 — *True Blood* taps into old-school vampire lore with a heady mix of gore and fleshy pleasure, all while using its fantastical lens to address LGBTQ+ themes and civil rights issues. —*J.M.*

Where to watch *True Blood*: HBO Max

**EW grade:** B+

**Cast:** Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Alexander Skarsgård, Sam Trammell, Ryan Kwanten

The Vampire Diaries (2009–2017)

Ian Somerhalder as Damon and Paul Wesley as Stefan on 'The Vampire Diaries'.

Bob Mahoney/The CW

As if dealing with survivor's guilt isn't enough, orphaned teen Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) discovers her world is far stranger than she imagined: Her new boyfriend and his brother are 100-plus-year-old vampires; her best friend is a witch; werewolves are real; and the supernatural has seeped into every corner of Mystic Falls, Va. Oh, she also has an evil doppelgänger to worry about…

Based on L.J. Smith's book series, *The Vampire Diaries* offers some of the most richly layered and multifaceted characters the CW has ever seen (with a stellar cast bringing them to life). Its rapid-fire storytelling and plot twists kept viewers under compulsion for eight seasons, paving the way for several successful spinoffs. —*J.M.*

Where to watch *The Vampire Diaries*: HBO Max

**EW grade:** B+

**Cast:** Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder, Steven R. McQueen, Kat Graham

Wednesday (2022–present)

Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams on 'Wednesday'.

After getting expelled from her previous school, Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) is shipped off to her parents' alma mater, Nevermore Academy, a safe space for supernatural misfits. Her cold, aloof demeanor makes blending in an impossible feat, but she soon discovers her inherited psychic powers and uses them to crack a string of nearby murders.

With Tim Burton directing half of both the first and second seasons, *Wednesday* is a well-crafted, visually stunning delight. Yet the real marvel lies in Ortega donning those signature pigtails, as she fully commits to the role — rewriting certain lines; clocking hours of fencing and cello lessons; choreographing what would become a viral TikTok dance; and executing a masterclass in deadpan delivery. —*J.M.*

Where to watch *Wednesday*: Netflix

**Cast:** Jenna Ortega, Gwendoline Christie, Riki Lindhome, Jamie McShane, Hunter Doohan

What We Do in the Shadows (2019–2024)

Natasia Demetriou as Nadja, Matt Berry as Laszlo, and Kayvan Novak as Nandor on 'What We Do in the Shadows'. Russ Martin/FX

Following the vampire frenzy in the 2000s and early 2010s, *What We Do in the Shadows** *stakes its claim on the genre with a mockumentary twist. As even 20th-century-born folk have trouble navigating modern tech, imagine how centuries-old vampires fare in today's age. Short answer: They don't — instead, they delegate all their "adulting" to loyal human servants. Bloodsuckers aside, this Emmy-winning series skewers every supernatural being in sight, leaving no creature safe from its fang-sharp satire. —*C.C.*

Where to watch *What We Do in the Shadows*: Hulu

**Cast:** Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillén, Mark Proksch

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