The 19 best supernatural shows to stream right now

American Horror Story (2011–present)

Ryan Murphy helped revive the limited/anthology series as a genre with this FX drama. American Horror Story tells a single horror-based story each year, with seasons about a haunted house, a mental asylum, a coven of witches, a freak show, and more. Not every season is a winner, but the show's gothic/campy aesthetic and all-star cast keep us coming back every year. We recommend the first four seasons, a.k.a. the Jessica Lange years, but there are now 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, Kathy Bates, Denis O'Hare, Angela Bassett

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003)

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 cult 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– (read the review)

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

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Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018–2020)

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. —C.C.

Where to watch Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: Netflix

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

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Dark Shadows (1966–1971)

Much like Stephenie Meyer's dream that inspired Twilight, Dan Curtis found his muse for Dark Shadows in a nighttime vision of a nameless woman on a train. This led to Victoria Winters (Alexandra Isles), a governess who arrives at the supernatural-riddled Collins mansion in Collinsport, Maine. While the show begins with ghosts and odd happenings, it takes on a new life when the family's long-lost cousin, fan-favorite Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid), swoops in from England around the 200-episode mark.

As one of the earliest shows to feature a vampire, this cult classic packs in creatures like witches, zombies, and werewolves — as well as enough melodrama and vintage dark aesthetics to keep viewers' thirst quenched throughout its 1,225 episodes. —J.M.

Where to watch Dark Shadows: Amazon Prime Video

Cast: Alexandra Isles, Joan Bennett, Louis Edmonds, Nancy Barrett, Denise Nickerson, Mitchell Ryan, Grayson Hall

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Dead Boy Detectives (2024)

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, Yuyu Kitamura

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Evil (2019–2024)

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.

EW grade: A (read the review)

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

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The Haunting of Hill House (2018)

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

Director: Mike Flanagan

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

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The Magicians (2015–2020)

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: Netflix

EW grade: B (read the review)

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

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Russian Doll (2019–2022)

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, Chloë Sevigny

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Sense8 (2015–2018)

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, Max Riemelt, Miguel Ángel Silvestre

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Servant (2019–2023)

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+ (read the review)

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

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Shining Girls (2022)

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, Jamie Bell

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Stranger Things (2016–present)

Taking place during the Cold War, 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 (read the review)

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

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Supernatural (2005–2020)

You didn't think we'd skip Supernatural on a list of supernatural shows, did you? The CW's long-running fantasy series follows two flannel-clad, Margiekugel-swigging brothers from Kansas, Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles), as they cruise around in their 1967 Chevrolet Impala hunting vampires, ghosts, demons, and every otherworldly creature they come across.

Fifteen seasons and one official spinoff later, Supernatural has built an immortal legacy in pop culture, thanks to its one-of-kind (and wildly experimental) storylines, irreverent humor, Padelecki and Ackles's sibling-like chemistry, and its timeless theme. " —J.M.

Where to watch Supernatural: Netflix

Cast: Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Misha Collins, Katie Cassidy, Lauren Cohan

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Teen Wolf (2011–2017)

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.

EW grade: N/A (read the review)

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

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True Blood (2008–2014)

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 — both debuting 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: Max

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

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

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The Vampire Diaries (2009–2017)

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: Max

EW grade: B+ (read the review)

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

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Wednesday (2022–present)

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 the first season, 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. That, folks, deserves a few finger snaps! —J.M.

Where to watch Wednesday: Netflix

Cast: Jenna Ortega, Gwendoline Christie, Riki Lindhome, Jamie McShane, Hunter Doohan, Percy Hynes White

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What We Do in the Shadows (2019–2024)

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, Kristen Schaal

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