Paranormal investigation TV shows are super popular these days, and it’s easy to see why. These fictional series take us on wild rides with fearless investigators who check out creepy, haunted places and even confront some of the spirits that plague them!
Armed with cool gadgets like EMF detectors, night vision cameras, and sometimes simply their wits, they come face-to-face with ghosts and solve all sorts of supernatural mysteries.
What makes these shows so addictive is the perfect mix of spooky vibes, heart-pounding encounters, and gripping storytelling that keeps you glued to the screen.
Whether you’re a skeptic or a total believer, there’s just something about watching these brave characters dive into the unknown that’s totally irresistible.
The Dead Boy Detectives, Netflix (2024 – present)
If you’re a fan of The Sandman, then The Dead Boy Detectives is a great show to add to your list as it occurs in the same universe. In fact, you’ll even see one very important character!
The series follows the adventures of two ghostly teenagers, Charles Rowland and Edwin Paine, who skip their afterlife to stay on Earth and become supernatural sleuths. Despite being dead, these two have a knack for solving mysteries, especially those involving the paranormal.
The show kicks off with the duo investigating strange happenings, spooky hauntings, and uncovering secrets that even the living can’t explain.
Along the way, they meet quirky characters, face off against sinister spirits, and navigate the challenges of being young detectives in a world that doesn’t believe in ghosts.
Lockwood & Co, Netflix (2023)
Lockwood & Co dives into the thrilling world of paranormal investigations with a group of teen ghost hunters in London.
The story centers around Anthony Lockwood, a charismatic young investigator, and his team—George, a research genius, and Lucy, who has a special psychic gift. Together, they tackle dangerous hauntings and supernatural threats that plague the city.
Unlike other agencies, Lockwood & Co. operates without adult supervision, making their missions even more intense and unpredictable.
The show is packed with spooky encounters, clever detective work, and the camaraderie of three friends facing eerie adventures. Unfortunately, Lockwood & Co was canceled after just one season!
SurrealEstate, CTV Sci-Fi Channel (2021 – present)
Having just been renewed for its third season, SurrealEstate is a great show on fictional paranormal investigations!
The series follows Luke Roman, a real estate agent with a unique niche—he deals with haunted houses and properties plagued by paranormal activity.
Luke and his team at The Roman Agency specialize in selling these spooky homes by first investigating and resolving their supernatural issues. From ghostly apparitions to poltergeists, the team handles it all with a mix of skepticism and expertise.
Each episode sees them facing new and bizarre cases, blending eerie investigations with the everyday hustle of real estate.
Evil, CBS/Paramount+ (2021 – 2024)
Evil centers on Dr. Kristen Bouchard, a skeptical forensic psychologist, who teams up with David Acosta, a priest-in-training, and Ben Shakir, a tech expert, as ordered by the Catholic Church to investigate paranormal occurrences.
Together, they delve into cases involving demonic possessions, miracles, and other supernatural phenomena, trying to determine whether there’s a scientific explanation or if something truly sinister is at play.
Each episode combines chilling horror with questions about the nature of evil, faith, and the unexplained, blending the eerie world of paranormal investigations with the complexities of belief and doubt.
The X-Files, Fox (1993 – 2002, 2016 – 2018)
Fox’s The X-Files has become such a cult classic that it prompted a revival 14 years after the original run ended!
It follows FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully as they tackle unsolved cases involving paranormal phenomena.
Mulder, a firm believer in the supernatural, and Scully, a skeptical scientist, make a dynamic duo as they delve into eerie, often spine-chilling incidents, all while uncovering a larger, sinister conspiracy that threatens humanity.
The blend of suspense, sci-fi, and horror, combined with Mulder and Scully’s compelling partnership and its iconic tagline “The truth is out there,” The X-Files remains a classic in the realm of paranormal investigation shows.
Supernatural, The CW (2006 – 2020)
The title almost speaks for itself with this one! Supernatural is a fantasy horror series that gained massive popularity for its introduction of supernatural beings from myths and legends all over the world.
The show follows brothers Sam and Dean Winchester as they travel across America hunting all things paranormal. Raised as hunters by their father after their mother’s mysterious death, the Winchester brothers investigate eerie cases while dealing with personal struggles and their relationship as brothers.
Along the way, they uncover a larger battle between good and evil, involving angels, demons, and apocalyptic threats on a massive scale.
The Winchesters, The CW (2022 – 2023)
Like all classic TV shows, Supernatural spawned its own spin-off in The Winchesters, which was a kind of origin story for the famed Winchester brothers.
It dives into the untold story of how John and Mary Winchester, Sam and Dean’s parents, first met and embarked on their own journey into the world of paranormal investigations.
Set in the 1970s, the show follows young John as he returns from the Vietnam War and meets Mary, a skilled demon hunter determined to avenge her family’s mysterious deaths.
Together, they uncover hidden secrets, face off against dangerous supernatural creatures, and lay the groundwork for the legendary Winchester legacy.
Ghost Whisperer, CBS (2005 – 2010)
Paranormal investigations take a different perspective in Ghost Whisperer.
The series centers on Melinda Gordon, a woman with the unique ability to communicate with spirits.
Living in the small town of Grandview, Melinda helps earthbound ghosts resolve their unfinished business so they can peacefully cross over to the other side.
Each episode follows her as she investigates paranormal occurrences, uncovering the stories behind the hauntings and providing closure to both the living and the dead while balancing her gift with her everyday life and relationships.
Nancy Drew, The CW (2019 – 2023)
Nancy Drew follows the iconic teenage detective as she tackles mysteries in the small town of Horseshoe Bay.
After her mother’s death, Nancy puts her college plans on hold and finds herself drawn into a series of chilling investigations that go beyond the ordinary.
Alongside her friends, Nancy uncovers secrets about the town’s dark past, encounters ghostly apparitions, and faces supernatural forces that complicate her sleuthing.
The series blends classic whodunit elements with eerie paranormal twists, as Nancy uses her sharp intuition and detective skills to solve baffling cases.
Ghosted, Fox (2017 – 2018)
A comedic take on paranormal investigations, Fox’s Ghosted follows the unlikely partnership of Max Jennifer, a UFO enthusiast whose career fell when no one believed that his wife was abducted by aliens, and Leroy Wright, a skeptical former detective.
The duo is recruited by a secret government agency known as the Bureau Underground to investigate bizarre and unexplained phenomena in Los Angeles.
As they dive into cases involving ghosts, aliens, and other supernatural occurrences, Max’s belief in the paranormal clashes hilariously with Leroy’s no-nonsense approach.
Truth Seekers, Amazon Prime Video (2020)
Another supernatural comedy is Truth Seekers, a British series that investigates paranormal activity with Gus Roberts, a broadband installer by day and paranormal investigator by night.
Gus travels to haunted places throughout the UK with his new partner, Elton, to record ghost sightings and weird happenings for his YouTube channel.
What begins as a pastime quickly turns into a horrifying conspiracy that puts humanity in danger. As they investigate further, they come across a variety of paranormal occurrences, including possessed dolls and haunted hospitals.
Let’s Fight Ghost, tvN (2016)
The first foreign show on our list is the K-drama Let’s Fight, Ghost!
Adapted from the webtoon of the same name, the rom-com follows Park Bongpal, a college student who can see and fight ghosts, and Kim Hyunji, a high school girl who becomes a spirit after an accident.
Bongpal makes a living as a part-time exorcist, using his ability to handle hauntings. Together, they investigate paranormal cases, taking on vengeful spirits and helping lost souls find peace.
Along the way, romantic feelings emerge as they uncover the mysteries surrounding Hyun-ji’s death and Bong-pal’s troubled past.
Constantine, NBC (2014 – 2015)
DC fans may be familiar with the story of Constantine, as it follows the titular John Constantine as he battles dark forces threatening humanity.
The show sees him investigating paranormal occurrences, exorcising demons, and confronting supernatural beings, all while trying to redeem his cynical soul from eternal damnation.
Along the way, he uses his skills as a demon hunter and his deep knowledge of the occult to form alliances with other characters who possess unique abilities as they face off against rising evil.
The Dresden Files, Space/Sci Fi Channel (2007)
Harry Dresden, the protagonist of The Dresden Files, is a private eye with a special twist: he’s also a wizard.
Based in Chicago, he solves cases involving dark magic and supernatural creatures that the regular police are unable to handle.
Harry’s life is anything but typical—he must hunt down missing people, fight renegade sorcerers, and face evils from long ago.
While attempting to prevent his own past from catching up with him, Harry navigates the perilous world of the paranormal with the aid of his ghostly assistant, Bob, and skeptical police detective, Karrin Murphy.
The Exorcist, Fox (2016 – 2017)
The Exorcist joins the infamous horror franchise as the direct sequel to the famed 1973 movie of the same name.
It follows the two priests—Father Tomas Ortega and Father Marcus Keane—as they team up to battle a powerful demonic force terrorizing a Chicago family.
Father Tomas is a compassionate rising star in his parish, while Father Marcus is a rogue exorcist with a no-nonsense approach to fighting evil.
As they investigate the family’s case, they uncover a larger, sinister conspiracy linked to the Church and face off against terrifying supernatural forces.
The show dives deep into themes of faith, redemption, and the eternal battle between good and evil.
Bedlam, Sky Living (2011 – 2012)
The setting of Bedlam is an abandoned mental hospital that has been renovated into an apartment building. Here, weird and horrifying things start to happen.
The protagonist of the show is Jed Harper, a young man who has the gift of seeing ghosts and feeling the horrific deaths that have taken place inside the building.
Jed begins looking into the eerie, supernatural forces that are haunting the people of Bedlam Heights when he moves there.
He fights the vengeful spirits that threaten every resident of the building and learns about the horrifying past of the structure with the help of his friends Kate, Ryan, and Molly.
Missing: The Other Side, OCN/tvN (2020 – 2023)
Missing: The Other Side is a K-drama that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, funny and sad, but always keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The series, now three seasons in, follows Kim Wook, a con artist who stumbles upon a mysterious village inhabited by the souls of missing people who died under suspicious circumstances.
When Wook realizes he can see and communicate with these lost souls, he teams up with Jang Panseok, a secretive man with a personal connection to the village, to investigate the disappearances and uncover the truth behind each case.
Together, they delve into the dark and twisted stories of the missing, seeking justice for those who can no longer speak for themselves.
Yu Yu Hakusho, Netflix (2023)
Based on the manga of the same name, Yu Yu Hakusho was originally adapted into an anime in the early 1990s and has now become a live-action series.
In the series, Yusuke Urameshi, a tough teenage criminal who unexpectedly passes away while rescuing a child, is given a second chance at life and is assigned to the role of Spirit Detective.
Yusuke is tasked with looking into cases of supernatural activity in the human world. He takes on risky missions involving spirits, demons, and otherworldly threats.
Along with his friends Kuwabara, Hiei, and Kurama, Yusuke faces off against formidable foes, takes part in deathly competitions, and unearths sinister secrets pertaining to the spirit world.
Cracow Monsters, Netflix (2022)
Another foreign language series is the Polish Cracow Monsters on Netflix!
The dark fantasy series takes place in contemporary Poland and centers on Alex, a medical student, who becomes entangled in a covert paranormal investigation world.
She teams up with a mysterious professor and his students to take on a group of ancient Slavic demons and discover the paranormal forces endangering Cracow.
They encounter terrifying creatures, discover lost myths, and face their own haunted pasts as they explore the mysteries further.
Revenant, SBS TV (2023)
Last but not least is another Korean supernatural drama.
Revenant is not for the faint of heart but is definitely one for lovers of the dark and creepy supernatural!
The main character is Gu Sanyeong, a woman who, after inheriting a cursed item from her late father, is possessed by a demonic spirit. She joins forces with Yeom Haesang, a professor with the extraordinary ability to see spirits, who has been pursuing the very demon that haunts Sanyeong.
Together, they embark on enigmatic and gloomy paranormal investigations together, learning details about the spirit world and the curse that binds them.