In 2023, Paramount+ released its hit series,School Spirits,and those who enjoyed this compelling ghost story are sure to love these similar movies, which include teenage slashers and dark dramas.School Spiritscenters on a young woman named Maddie who wakes up in the basement of her high school, and realizes that she is a ghost. With no concept of who killed her or why,Maddie tries to unravel her own murder mystery, all while developing relationships with the other spirits haunting her school.School Spiritsseason 2began airing at the end of January 2025.
There is a lot to love aboutSchool Spirits,which is why its 83% Rotten Tomatoes score comes as no surprise. The series has a fantastic cast of young actors, from Peyton List to Milo Manheim. Plus,School Spiritsshowcases one of the most captivating mysteries on television at the moment. Audiences are never quite sure what will happen next, and they certainly don’t know who to trust. Ultimately,viewers who lovedSchool Spiritsare bound to love movies with ghosts, determined teenagers, shocking reveals, and a little bit of murder.
School Spiritsis not technically a horror series, but it definitely has its moments of terror. Those who don’t mind an extra helping of scares should definitely check outTheBlack Phone.This 2021 horror movie followsFinney, a 13-year-old boy who is kidnapped by a haunting figurein a devilish mask. With the help ofThe Grabber’s previous victim, who speaks to Finney through a phone, Finney attempts to escape his attacker’s clutches. Notably, the movie is adapted from a story of the same name by Joe Hill.
TheBlack Phone’smain character is slightly younger than Maddie inSchool Spirits,but that does not take away any of his heroic qualities or determination. Finney may be young, but he is not going to give up his life without a fight. This makes his story all the more moving, and aligns it with the themes ofSchool Spirits.TheBlack Phonemay be scarier, but it brings out many of the same ideas of death, spirits, and agency in young, vulnerable people.
On the other end of the spectrum, a teen drama that deals with death in a non-supernatural way isThe Fallout.Jenna Ortega playsVada, a high schooler who is traumatized after she experiences a school shooting.In the aftermath, Vada reevaluates her life and who she wants to be. In the process, she grows closer to a girl named Mia, and the two learn to cope with what the tragedy they faced together. The film has a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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The Falloutmay lack the paranormal elements ofSchool Spirits,but the projects are deeply connected through trauma. Maddie is horrified to learn that she is dead, and even worse, that there may not be any way for her to come back to life. In a different way, Vada faces the same uncomfortable truth. After facing something truly horrific,Vada and Maddie both try to heal in good and bad ways.Ultimately,The Falloutis perfect for those who enjoy darker yet realistic themes.
InTragedy Girls,the teenage protagonists are not the victims, like inSchool Spirits,but become the actual killers. The 2017 movie revolves around McKayla and Sadie, two best friends who are obsessed with true crime and social media fame. To gain more followers, they attempt to capture a local serial killer. Yet,once they have him held captive, they realize that they could commit even more murders themselvesand blame it on him for increased media attention. The film stars Alexandra Shipp and Brianna Hildebrand.
WhereSchool Spiritsis concerned with the murders and deaths of teenagers,Tragedy Girlsflips the script, making the young girls the ruthless killers.
Arguably,Tragedy GirlsandSchool Spiritsare two sides of the same coin. WhereSchool Spiritsis concerned with the murders and deaths of teenagers,Tragedy Girlsflips the script, making the young girls the ruthless killers. In this way,Tragedy Girlsis a bit more edgy and campy, but is just as entertaining.It certainly helps that the movie boasts massive stars like Josh Hutcherson, Craig Robinson, and Jack Quaid. All in all,Tragedy Girlsis a wild and bloody good time.
One of the most unique elements ofSchool Spiritsis its ghostly characters, and audiences can get more of that in the 2022 film,Darby and the Dead.This movie centers on the titular character, Darby, who can see ghosts after a near-death experience as a child. For the most part, Darby’s ability has made her reclusive and socially anxious, yetwhen her former best friend dies and appears to her as a ghost, Darby must reevaluate her own powers- and her priorities in life. The film stars Riele Downs, Auliʻi Cravalho, and Asher Angel.
Clearly,Darby and the DeadandSchool Spiritshave some striking similarities. Although Darby isn’t dead herself, she is just like Maddie in that she exists somewhere between life and death. This depresses her, and rightly so, but it also forces her into action when she realizes that she may have more power than she thinks. In some ways,Darby and the Deadpulls on more typical high school archetypes, but at the end of the day, it is a touching and compelling story that deserves more attention.
Another horror movie that perfectly replicatesSchool Spirits’unique atmosphere of darkness and humor isBodies Bodies Bodies.In this movie, a group of 20-somethings travel to a mansion for a weekend of fun. However, when a storm rolls in and strands them there, things turn violent.When one of the friends is found dead, the others must figure out who is the killerbefore their lives are taken as well.Bodies Bodies Bodiesfeatures Rachel Sennott, Pete Davidson, and Amandla Stenberg.
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There are many entertaining films out there that successfully blend dark comedy with horror tropes to produce something that can be silly and scary.
Bodies Bodies Bodieshas a slightly older cast thanSchool Spirits,and certainly more explicit content, but this may be perfect forSchool Spiritsfans who are older and seeking more of an edge. This movie is spooky, hilarious, and at times, completely ridiculous. As much as murder plays a role in the film, there is also interesting commentary on young people and the modern day. Overall,Bodies Bodies Bodiesis likeSchool Spiritswith a much bigger dash of comedy.
The scariest movie on this list that still has ties toSchool Spiritshas to beTalk to Me.Released in 2022, this A24 horror film follows Mia, a young woman who is grieving the loss of her mother. Yet,when she goes to a party and discovers a troubling game where teens let themselves be possessed by nearby ghosts, she sees it as an opportunity to reconnect with her mom. Of course, this leads to horrifying consequences.Talk to Meboasts a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Mia attempts to connect with the dead in the same way that Maddie is already part of them.
In many ways,Talk to Mefollows the same paths asSchool Spirits.Mia attempts to connect with the dead in the same way that Maddie is already part of them. Boththe movie and the show bring up the question of how close the dead actually are to the living, and whether it is possible to communicate with them. The only difference isMia’s fate ends upbeing far more terrifying than Maddie’s, and her experiences with the dead are something audiences will not forget for a long time.
A teenage slasher that plays with time and high school isTotally Killer.Kiernan Shipka stars as Jamie, a young woman whose town is characterized by a series of troubling murders that took place in the 1980s. Jamie’s mother was the one that escaped the bloodbath. However,when the killer returns in the present day to kill Jamie’s mom once and for all, Jamie figures out how to go back in timeso she can not only save her mother, but save her murdered friends as well. Julie Bowen and Olivia Holt also star in this film.
Totally KillerandSchool Spiritsfeel like spiritual successors in many ways. WhereSchool Spirits’paranormal activity comes from Maddie being a ghost,Totally Killer’scomes from time travel. Aside from these elements,both movies are similar in that they are focused on solving crimes and saving loved onesfrom terrible fates. Like other movies on this list,Totally Killeris a bit more campythanSchool Spirits,but either way, it tells a similarly exciting story with a lovable cast.
Peyton List’s performance as Maddie is a standout part ofSchool Spirits,and those who want to see her in a similar yet starkly different role should pick upGirl Haunts Boy.The movie follows a teenage boy who moves to a new home and struggles with the loss of his father. Yet,he soon realizes that the ghost of a teenage girl is haunting his house, and the two begin to bondover their pain. Soon enough, they realize that they may be able to do something to fix each of their problems. List stars as the ghost.
Peyton List got her start on Disney Channel, specifically in the seriesJessie.
Girl Haunts Boyis weirdly perfect forSchool Spiritslovers. List gets to play another ghostly character, but this time, she is the information holder rather than the one seeking answers. In fact,List’s role inGirl Haunts Boyis generally quite different from Maddie, as she died in the 1920s and isn’t nearly as rough around the edges. However,Girl Haunts Boyis still a great pick afterSchool Spiritsbecause of its teenage ghosts and themes of loss.
One movie that comes quite close to the plot ofSchool SpiritsisHappy Death Day.This 2017 movie centers on Tree, a self-absorbed college student who wakes up on her birthday and expects to have a normal day. Yet,she is suddenly attacked and killed, and the next time she wakes up, she is reliving the same dayover again. In this way, Tree must try and figure out how to avoid her death and escape the time loop, while at the same time, uncovering who her killer is.
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The latest photos of School Spirits season 2 preview Maddie’s antagonist, and introduces new ghosts, ahead of the show’s return in early 2025.
Happy Death Dayis probably the closest toSchool Spiritsbecause it focuses on a main character who is trying to solve and unravel her own death. WhileHappy Death Dayuses a time loop thatSchool Spiritsdoes not, the general storylines and themes are very much the same.Tree and Maddie are both put into horrible situations, and must work hard to figure out what’s going on, regardless of their feelings or priorities in life.Happy Death Dayis really perfect for those who are in love with the story ofSchool Spirits.
Finally, the best movie to watch afterSchool Spiritshas to be one of the best teenage slashers of all time,Scream.Released in 1996 and followed by several sequels,Screamis about teenagers in a small town who start to be stalked and killed by a knife-wielding,masked murderer, best known as Ghostface.TheScreamfranchise is long-running and filled with incredible stars, but arguably, nothing beats the original movie, which is the perfect blend of horror and ridiculous drama.
Scream’splot may not be super similar toSchool Spirits,but in many ways,the TV show would not have been able to happen withoutScream.The 1996 movie revitalized the horror genre, and showed that teenagers are the ideal protagonists of horror movies. They are silly, oblivious, and reckless, but they are also desperate to live and unwilling to give up on themselves or their friends. Ultimately, those who enjoyedSchool Spiritswill probably find something to love aboutScream.
