Rachel Ulatowski

In 1979, Phantasm, an independent film, premiered as a decidedly strange and ambiguous horror movie with lesser-known actors. It would become a testament to the power of indie films as, four decades later, audiences still hail it as one of the best horror movies ever made. Viewers interested in the horror series can use our guide to find out how and where to watch every Phantasm movie in order.

Written and directed by Don Coscarelli, Phantasm centers on the Tall Man (Angus Scrimm), a superhuman mortician who begins shrinking, reanimating, and enslaving corpses. When a young boy, Mike Pearson (A. Michael Baldwin), catches on to what Tall Man is doing, he sets out to convince his brother, Jody (Bill Thornbury), of the conspiracy and defeat the mortician. 

Phantasm was eerie, over-the-top, and incredibly ambiguous, the perfect formula for attracting a cult following. It invokes nostalgia for childhood and capitalizes on a bizarre plot. However, its most considerable appeal was its ambiguity and the way that viewers across decades have watched and come to different interpretations of its meaning. 

After ending on a cliffhanger, Phantasm quickly received a sequel, Phantasm II. In this sequel, Mike (James LeGros) continues his mission to defeat the Tall Man. While most dismiss his claims as delusions, he finds allies in his brother’s friend, Reggie (Reggie Bannister), and Liz (Paula Irvine), a woman with whom he has a psychic connection. The sequel moved more towards conventional horror as it ramped up the gore and campiness, although it maintained its surreal, dream-like premise, earning mixed reviews from critics. 

Phantasm’s subsequent two sequels, Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead and Phantasm IV: Oblivion, were direct-to-video releases that brought back Baldwin as Mike. These movies delve more into sci-fi as Mike and Reggie probe the Tall Man’s dabbling in dimensions and even travel back in time to witness his origin story as Jebediah Morningside. 

After Phantasm IV: Oblivion, Coscarelli took an 18-year break from the Phantasm franchise. The final film, Phantasm: Ravager, premiered in 2016. While Coscarelli produced and co-wrote the movie, David Hartman took over as director. In the film, Reggie is now in a nursing home, though he continues to access different dimensions through his dreams of pursuing the Tall Man with Mike. While the film received some criticism for its convoluted plot and poor CGI, it served as a worthy conclusion as it continued probing its theme of death/grief while still leaving viewers questioning whether the story is reality or a dream. It also marked the final appearance of Scrimm as the legendary horror icon Tall Man before his passing in 2016.

Where to watch the Phantasm movies streaming online

Check out our list below to find out where to watch the Phantasm movies online in the U.S.! The films are listed in release date order, which is also the films’ chronological order.

In 1998, the Hideo Nakata-directed Ring premiered. The horror film would grow into a sprawling media franchise, mesmerizing American and Japanese audiences and bringing about a resurgence in Japanese horror. Viewers interested in the franchise can use our guide to learn how to watch all of The Ring movies in order.

The Ring franchise began in 1991 with Koji Suzuki’s Ring novel. It was first adapted to the screen in the TV film Ring (1995). The earliest adaptation is one of the most faithful to the source material, but its lower budget/quality led to the film receiving little fanfare. It was ultimately Ring (1998) that kickstarted the franchise. The horror film follows journalist Reiko Asakawa (Nanako Matsushima) as she investigates the death of her niece, Tomoko (Yuko Takeuchi), who allegedly died after watching a cursed videotape. She enlists the help of her ex-husband, Ryūji Takayama (Hiroyuki Sanada), to find the tape and get to the bottom of its curse.

At the time of Ring’s release, slasher horror films were the norm. Hence, Ring stood out for its unique premise of a cursed video tape, lack of jump scares, and the decision to have most deaths occur offscreen. The idea of an unseen killer and the use of tension and mystery for horror had a lasting impact on Western cinema while sparking a J-horror renaissance.

Ring was filmed simultaneously with its sequel, Spiral, also released in 1998. After receiving criticism for a convoluted plot that contradicted the first movie, Spiral was initially forgotten. As a result, Nakata was brought back to direct an alternative sequel to Ring, Ring 2, which follows Mai (Miki Nakatani), a young woman determined to find and save Reiko and her son from the vengeful spirit Sadako (Rie Inō). Due to its financial success, Ring 2 was followed by a prequel, Ring 0: Birthday, which further explores the lore of Sadako (Yukie Nakama). Two decades later, Ring 2 finally received a sequel with Nakata’s Sadako. The film follows a young girl (Himeka Himejima) who is believed to be the reincarnation of Sadako.

Between Ring 0: Birthday and Sadako, the Spiral timeline was revived with the sequels Sadako 3D, Sadako 3D 2, and Sadako DX, as well as the crossover movie Sadako vs. Kayako. In addition, the American remake series began in 2002 with The Ring. 

In the remake, Naomi Watts and Martin Henderson play reporter Rachel Keller and her ex-husband Noah Clay, respectively, as they investigate a cursed videotape connected to the spirit of Samara Morgan (Daveigh Chase). The film paid tribute to the original’s use of psychological horror and suspense, earning the direct sequel The Ring Two and the second sequel, Rings, which takes place 15 years after The Ring.

Although no new Ring movies are currently in development, further sequels, remakes, or crossovers remain possible.

How to watch The Ring movies in order

The best way to watch The Ring movies is by series. We recommend that newcomers start with the original series before moving on to the remake, followed by the Spiral timeline. Here is how to watch The Ring movies in chronological order by series.

Hideo Nakata series

• Ring 0: Birthday
• Ring (1998)
• Ring 2
• Sadako

American remake series

• The Ring
• The Ring Two
• Rings

Spiral series

• Spiral
• Sadako 3D
• Sadako 3D 2
• Sadako DX

Where to watch every The Ring movie and series streaming online

Check out our list below to find out where to stream every movie and series in The Ring franchise in release date order online in the U.S.! This list also includes two standalone films, a crossover, and two TV series that don’t fit into the film series above.

Dario Argento’s Suspiria premiered in 1977. Thomas De Quincey’s Suspiria de Profundis essay collection loosely inspired this supernatural horror movie. It would attain cult status, spawning a film series that spanned three decades and influenced the horror genre for years to come. Viewers interested in the influential film series can use our guide to find out where and how to watch all Suspiria movies in order.

Suspiria is the first movie in Argento’s trilogy, The Three Mothers. The film follows Suzy (Jessica Harper), an American ballet student who moves to Germany to attend a prestigious dance school. As grisly deaths and supernatural phenomena plague the school, Suzy realizes powerful witchcraft is at play. Despite mixed initial views, critics now regard Suspiria as a cinematic masterpiece. It stood apart from other supernatural horror films with its genre-bending, excessive gore, vibrant colors, and extravagant set designs, as if transporting viewers into a truly garish nightmare. 

In 1980, Suspiria’s sequel, Inferno, premiered. The film observes Mark Elliot (Leigh McCloskey) as he travels to New York City to investigate the disappearance of his sister, Rose (Irene Miracle), who went missing after reading a book called The Three Mothers. Inferno capitalizes on Suspiria’s flashiness and grandeur and officially establishes the lore of the series, revealing that the witch in the first film was part of a triumvirate of powerful witches, The Three Mothers, who manipulated events around them to attain world domination.

After Inferno, Argento took a long break from The Three Mothers trilogy while working on other projects. The final film in the series, Mother of Tears, finally arrived in 2007. The last installment occurs in Rome, where museum worker Sarah (Asia Argento) accidentally unleashes the witch Mater Lachrymarum (Moran Atias). It was a bloody, exhilarating, and excessive conclusion to the trilogy. However, Suspiria’s legacy wouldn’t end there.

A remake of Suspiria was announced a year after Mother of Tears premiered. By 2015, Luca Guadagnino announced he would direct the movie. However, he would later classify Suspiria (2018) as a tribute to the original rather than a proper remake. The film follows Susie Bannon (Dakota Johnson), a ballet student who begins training at Helen Markos’ (Tilda Swinton) ballet academy. Shortly after her arrival, the school faces accusations of witchcraft.

Similar to the original Suspiria movie, Guadagnino’s tribute received mixed reactions. Some critics hailed it as a masterpiece for its complex themes and daring attempt to match the original's innovative cinematography, but others criticized the narrative. While Suspiria’s poor box office performance makes a sequel unlikely, the influence of the original and remake will likely continue impacting and inspiring the horror genre.

Where to watch the Suspiria movies streaming online

Check out our list below to find out where to stream the Suspiria movies in release date order online in the U.S.!

Filmmaker Robert Eggers recently remade one of the most influential films and Dracula reimaginings of all time with Nosferatu (2024). Paying homage to the original’s expressionist style and elevated by Lily-Rose Depp’s performance, Nosferatu has been hailed as a top-notch vampire film. However, it’s not the only indication that Dracula is making a comeback. The 2024 film Abigail is considered a refreshing reimagining of Dracula’s Daughter, while 2023 also brought Dracula to the forefront with The Last Voyage of the Demeter and the horror comedy Renfield, starring Nicholas Hoult and Nicolas Cage.

If all these unique takes inspired a deeper interest in Bram Stoker’s iconic vampire, Count Dracula, you can use our guide to find out where to watch every Dracula adaptation.

Stoker introduced Dracula to the world in 1897, and filmmakers were eager to capitalize on the archetypal vampire. Nosferatu (1922) was one of the earliest adaptations of Stoker’s book, but it was unauthorized. Hence, names were changed, including switching Count Dracula to Count Orlok (Max Schreck). Its gothic, expressionist style would significantly influence further horror and vampire films.

By 1931, Universal Pictures attained the rights to the novel and released Dracula, the first sound film adaptation of Stoker’s work. The film follows Dracula (Bela Lugosi) as he arrives in London, where he enslaves Renfield (Dwight Frye) and begins targeting Mina Seward (Helen Chandler) due to his insatiable thirst for blood. To this day, many audiences consider Lugosi’s charming and sinister Dracula the best iteration, while the film’s creepy atmosphere further established Dracula as a household name. Dracula received two sequels, Dracula’s Daughter and Son of Dracula.

British film studio Hammer Film Productions produced another early Dracula series. Dracula (1958) starred Christopher Lee as Dracula and Peter Cushing as vampire hunter Doctor Van Helsing. The film made further strides toward the modern interpretation of Dracula, as Lee played the character as more menacing than charming, with red bloodshot eyes and fangs. Hammer would produce eight more Dracula movies, including The Brides of Dracula.

Dracula enjoyed a resurgence in 1992 with Francis Ford Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The film moved away from the campy monster movies of the past, humanizing Dracula (Gary Oldman) as a lonely, immortal soul who falls for Jonathan Harker’s (Keanu Reeves) fiancée, Mina (Winona Ryder). It imbued the movie with a sense of eroticism, paying tribute to the perceived sexual metaphors of Stoker’s novel and paving the way for the 21st-century interpretations of Dracula.

The 21st century ushered in the most creative era of Dracula interpretations. The character has morphed from an overprotective father in Hotel Transylvania to a superhero villain in Blade: Trinity and then into a nightmare boss in Renfield. Additionally, some projects seek to expand the lore of Dracula beyond Stoker’s novel. The Last Voyage of the Demeter crafts an entire movie around a single chapter in Stoker’s book, while Steven Moffat and Matt Gatiss’ 2020 series Dracula seeks to carve out a new legend for the character. With another Dracula movie, Dracula: A Love Tale, confirmed for 2025, further Dracula interpretations are likely on the horizon.

Where to watch every Dracula movie and TV show streaming online

Check out our list below to find out where to watch every Dracula movie and TV show in release date order. The list includes movies and shows inspired by Dracula and projects where Dracula is one of the main stars.

The Night Agent is back for a second season on Netflix. After the show became one of the most-watched series on the streamer, Netflix opted to continue Peter Sutherland’s (Gabriel Basso) foray into the shadowy Night Action organization.

Season 1 saw Sutherland pulled into a high-stakes conspiracy when he was alerted to a possible mole in the White House. However, the stakes are even higher in season 2 as he must prove himself to the Night Action. Viewers looking for similar political/spy thrillers can use our guide to find 15 more shows like The Night Agent available to stream on platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and Peacock.

Best shows like The Night Agent

Designated Survivor

Designated Survivor is a political thriller that follows Tom Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland), a cabinet member who never expects his title as designated survivor to go into effect. However, after an attack kills everyone in line to the presidency, Kirkman is sworn in as the new president, where he must prove his abilities to the American people and unravel the conspiracy behind the attack. Designated Survivor boasts a unique and suspenseful premise while paralleling The Night Agent’s story of conspiracies and an unlikely hero.

Homeland

Homeland centers on Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes), a former CIA agent involved in counterterrorism and intelligence, who begins to suspect former prisoner of war Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis) of terrorist ties. The series explores the strange, confusing, and sometimes morally ambiguous world of post-9/11. Homeland is just as exhilarating a thriller series as The Night Agent but sets itself apart with its fantastic female lead and nuanced exploration of the war on terror.

Secret Invasion

Secret Invasion is an excellent alternative for viewers who want the same thrills as The Night Agent but with an easier-to-follow plot. The Marvel series follows Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), who faces his most dangerous mission when he realizes that shape-shifting Skrulls have infiltrated the U.S., including the president’s inner circles. Secret Invasion is gritty and has a high-stakes political plot while offering some entertaining superhero action and sci-fi elements.

The Americans

The Americans is perfect for viewers who enjoyed the relationship aspect of The Night Agent. The series follows two KGB officers, Phillip (Matthew Rhys) and Paige Jennings (Holly Taylor). They are in an arranged marriage with two children and find it increasingly difficult to balance their spy duties with their growing relationship and parental responsibilities. The Americans is an intricate Cold War thriller elevated by the complex relationship at its center.

The Day of the Jackal

The Day of the Jackal centers on an elite assassin known only as The Jackal (Eddie Redmayne). While The Jackal is looking for a way out of the assassin business by taking out political targets, MI6 agent Bianca Pullman (Lashana Lynch) starts pursuing him across Europe in her quest to bring him to justice. The witty cat-and-mouse thriller with outstanding performances from Redmayne and Lynch is a must-see for fans of exhilarating political/spy thrillers.

The Diplomat

The Diplomat follows Kate Wyler (Keri Russell), a career diplomat pressured to become the U.S. ambassador to the UK amid growing international tensions. In her new role, she attempts to avert a global crisis while balancing her personal life, including her failing marriage. Like The Night Agent, The Diplomat finds the perfect balance between politics and drama while maintaining its fast pace and compelling character development.

The Night Manager

Like The Night Agent, The Night Manager follows the unexpected spy adventures of a man working a night shift. In the series, former military officer Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) works the night shift at a hotel in Cairo until he’s recruited by an intelligence operative who enlists him to take down a businessman involved in an arms trade conspiracy. While it boasts a similar premise to The Night Agent, The Night Manager goes deeper into the idea of a spy maintaining a double life and offers even more outlandish and entertaining twists and turns.

The Recruit

The Recruit offers another underdog tale with its story of Owen Hendricks (Noah Centineo), a rookie CIA lawyer who gets pulled into an international conflict. Despite his lack of experience, he’s sent to prevent an imprisoned asset from leaking the CIA’s secrets. Like The Night Agent, The Recruit shines due to its lovable, charming leading man and entertaining underdog spy premise.

The Terminal List

The Terminal List follows James Reece (Chris Pratt), who returns home as the sole survivor of an ambush on his Navy SEALs platoon. However, his nightmare isn’t over yet, as he realizes the ambush was part of a wider conspiracy with those involved now targeting him and his family. The Terminal List is a wildly entertaining thriller that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats with its twisty central conspiracy and top-notch action sequences.

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan

Both Jack Ryan and The Night Agent focus on men who are ripped away from their cozy office jobs and thrown into high-stakes conspiracies. In Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, the titular CIA analyst (John Krasinski) is forced to go on his first dangerous field mission after a series of bank transfers alert him to a potential terrorist threat. Like The Night Agent, Jack Ryan offers viewers an underdog hero while keeping them on the edge of their seats with an action-packed premise.

Where to watch more shows like The Night Agent streaming online

Check out our list below to find even more shows like The Night Agent that you can watch online in the U.S.!