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26.2k voters

The Best Paranormal Reality Shows

Originally by Ranker Community

Updated February 5, 2021 123.4k votes 26.2k voters 1.2m views46 items

List RulesWhether or not you believe in ghosts, vote up your favorite paranormal reality shows.

What is the greatest paranormal reality show of all time? That's up to your votes to decide! Paranormal reality TV shows are all the rage, and with so many different ghost hunting programs to choose from, how can viewers decide which one is truly the best? A great paranormal reality TV show draws everyone in with promises of frightful adventures and proof of activity in other realms or planes of existence, but not all of them can deliver. This list includes some of the most notable, greatest paranormal investigation shows ever - but it's not complete, so feel free to add your favorites if any are missing. And don't forget to vote!

Paranormal reality television shows often involve teams of investigators going "hunting" for ghosts. Viewers are taken to locations that are notoriously haunted and then shown footage of the teams spending spooky hours trying to capture images, or sounds of ghosts in the area. Some of the best examples of this kind of program include the Travel Channel's Ghost Adventures, Ghost Hunters on Syfy, and A&E's Paranormal State.

Many of today's biggest and greatest paranormal reality shows of all time owe their success to older, classic programs that paved the way. Shows like Unsolved Mysteries and Sightings offered viewers a look at the unexplained, including paranormal activity, ghosts, orbs, UFOs, and even aliens. And really, when Robert Stack is telling you something is creepy in his *crazy creepy* voice, who doesn't get a little spooked?

Love reality shows, but hate the paranormal angle? Check out these lists of the best cooking competition TV shows, reality competition shows and reality dramas, and medical shows.

And finally, if you love to be scared, check out this list of the 12 most convincing real-life ghost stories and this list of the best paranormal shows.

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1,611
Paranormal Witness
Daniel Cannis, Frances Stecyk
Premiered: 2011
Genres (Tv): Paranormal television, Live action, Mystery, Documentary, Reality television
2
9,159
3,689
Ghost Adventures
Zak Bagans, Aaron Goodwin
Premiered: 2008
Genres (Tv): Paranormal television, Live action, Documentary, Reality television
More Ghost Adventures
#94 of 129 The Best Shows Currently On The Air#25 of 71 The Most Exciting Reality Shows Ever Made
3
3,715
1,217
Paranormal Lockdown
Nick Groff, Katrina Weidman
Premiered: 2016
Genres (Tv): Reality
4
4,451
1,637
A Haunting
Anthony D. Call, Mark Joy
Premiered: 2002
Genres (Tv): Docudrama, Anthology series, Paranormal television, Documentary
More A Haunting
#228 of 265 The Best Television Shows of the 2000s#22 of 28 The Best Historical Mystery Series
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5,226
2,111
The Dead Files
Steve DiSchiavi, Matthew Anderson
Premiered: 2011
Genres (Tv): Television documentary, Paranormal television, Live action, Reality television
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3,339
1,318
Destination Truth
Josh Gates, Gabriel Copeland
Premiered: 2007
Genres (Tv): Paranormal television, Live action, Travel documentary, Documentary, Reality television
More Destination Truth
#401 of 538 TV Shows Canceled Before Their Time#18 of 28 The Best Current Shows About Aliens
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6,038
3,037
Ghost Hunters
Jason Hawes, Steve Gonsalves
Premiered: 2004
Genres (Tv): Docudrama, Paranormal television, Live action, Documentary, Reality television
More Ghost Hunters
'Ghost Hunters' Is More Fiction Than Fact, And Here's Why#60 of 82 The Best Syfy Original Shows
8
2,046
1,016
My Ghost Story: Caught on Camera
Tim Brazeal, Terrie Scott
Premiered: 2010
Genres (Tv): Documentary, Reality television
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779
196
Kindred Spirits
Amy Bruni, Adam Berry
Premiered: 2016
Genres (Tv): Paranormal, Reality, Documentary
More Kindred Spirits
#62 of 428 The Best Reality TV Shows Ever#157 of 200 The Best Reality Shows Currently on TV
10
2,520
1,351
Haunted Collector
John Zaffis, Chris Zaffis
Premiered: 2011
Genres (Tv): Paranormal television, Live action, Documentary, Reality television
11
2,041
1,030
Unsolved Mysteries
Robert Stack, Dennis Farina
Premiered: 1987
Genres (Tv): Crime Fiction, Drama, Mystery, Reality television
More Unsolved Mysteries
The Most Terrifying Paranormal Segments From 'Unsolved Mysteries'#132 of 508 The Best TV Theme Songs of All Time
12
1,542
718
The Haunted
Steven Ryans
Premiered: 2009
Genres (Tv): Anthology series, Paranormal television, Live action, Documentary, Reality television
13
3,037
1,730
Paranormal State
Ryan Buell, Chip Coffey
Premiered: 2007
Genres (Tv): Docudrama, Drama, Paranormal television, Live action, Reality television

14
2,607
1,797
Ghost Hunters International
Barry Fitzgerald, Robb Demarest
Premiered: 2008
Genres (Tv): Paranormal television, Documentary, Reality television
15
1,974
1,099
Ghost Asylum
Steven McDougal, Chasey Ray McKnight
Premiered: 2014
Genres (Tv): Reality-TV
16
1,891
1,035
Scariest Places on Earth
Linda Blair, Zelda Rubinstein
Premiered: 2000
Genres (Tv): Paranormal television, Live action, Documentary, Reality television
More Scariest Places on Earth
#38 of 281 The Best Documentary Series & TV Shows#68 of 164 The Best Docusoaps and Dramatic Reality Documentary Series
17
1,769
964
The Haunting Of...
Kim Ruso
Premiered: 2012
Genres (Tv): Documentary
18
2,147
1,492
Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files
Austin Porter, Jael De Pardo
Premiered: 2010
Genres (Tv): Paranormal television, Live action, Mystery, Documentary, Reality television
19
1,978
1,454
Ghost Mine
Stan Griffith, Edward Griffith
Premiered: 2013
Genres (Tv): Paranormal television, Reality television
20
1,158
704
My Haunted House
Cordelia Zawarski, Mark Laursen
Premiered: 2013
Genres (Tv): Horror
21
2,254
1,759
Celebrity Ghost Stories
Kim Russo
Premiered: 2009
Genres (Tv): Thriller, Fantasy, Reality television
More Celebrity Ghost Stories
#48 of 62 The Creepiest Shows In TV History#22 of 39 The Best TV Show Reboots & Returns Of 2020
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1,529
1,142
Haunted Highway
Dana Workman, Jack Osbourne
Premiered: 2012
Genres (Tv): Paranormal television, Live action, Mystery, Documentary, Reality television
23
297
127
Haunted Towns
Chris Smith, Steven "Doogie" McDougal
Premiered: 2017
Genres (Tv): Paranormal, Reality Tv

24
573
398
When Ghosts Attack
Diana Abrecht, Richard Adams
Premiered: 2013
Genres (Tv): Documentary
25
1,482
1,234
Psychic Kids
Chip Coffey, Edy Nathan
Premiered: 2008
Genres (Tv): Special Interest, Reality television
More Psychic Kids
#74 of 75 The Best TV Reboots & Revivals#14 of 19 The Best Current A&E Shows

Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files

Haunted Highway

Haunted Towns