Poltergeist is a celebrated classic in the horror genre praised for its terrifying special effects and entwining of a haunted house tale with the touching story of a close-knit family. In 2023, Amazon MGM Studios announced it was developing a new Poltergeist series, marking the first return to the franchise in nearly a decade. Viewers wishing to get acquainted with the franchise before the new series can use our guide to find out how to watch the Poltergeist films and TV series in order.
The 1982 original movie was developed from a story by Steven Spielberg, who also co-wrote the script. It follows the Freelings, a Californian family who are perplexed when their youngest daughter, Carol Ann (Heather O’Rourke), begins inexplicably communicating with the TV static and ominously informs her family, “They’re here.” Her parents, Steven (Craig T. Nelson) and Diana (JoBeth Williams), and sisters soon find themselves terrorized by poltergeists who seek to kidnap Carol Anne.
Poltergeist was a critical and commercial success. Critics praised O’Rourke’s incredible performance, the movie’s frightening premise and effects, and the ambitious story of a family forced to prove their love when faced with malevolent poltergeists. To this day, it’s considered one of the greatest horror movies ever made.
In 1986, a direct sequel, Poltergeist II: The Other Side, premiered. Set one year after the first film's events, the sequel sees the return of the Freeling family and further explores the main antagonist, The Beast, establishing he is the vengeful spirit of a former preacher and cult leader, Henry Kane, who seeks to claim Carol Anne. Desperate to save their daughter, the family turns to an Indigenous shaman, Taylor (Will Sampson), for help. While the sequel received praise for O’Rourke’s performance, iconic “They’re baa-ack” line, and the visual effects, critics panned its story as far-fetched and unnecessary.
Nonetheless, a third movie, Poltergeist III, was greenlit and premiered in 1988. O’Rourke was the only member of the Freeling family to return, and the film follows her placement with her aunt and uncle, Pat (Nancy Allen) and Bruce (Tom Skerritt). Struggling with feeling rejected by family, Carol Anne becomes vulnerable to Kane’s attacks again. Like the sequel, Poltergeist III struggled to prove the necessity of its storyline and was the lowest-grossing film in the franchise.
Poltergeist wouldn’t return to the big screen for another 27 years. Finally, in 2015, director Gil Kenan rebooted the franchise with Poltergeist (2015). It follows Eric (Sam Rockwell) and Amy Bowen (Rosemarie DeWitt), who are terrorized by poltergeists after the spirits connect with their daughter Maddy (Kennedi Clements). Although the film effectively paid homage to the original and was praised for its jump scares, it failed to recapture the magic of the first movie.
How to watch the Poltergeist franchise in order
Watching the Poltergeist franchise in order is quite simple, as the original series has the same chronological and release date order. It’s recommended to start with the original series before watching the reboot. Meanwhile, there is also a Poltergeist TV show, Poltergeist: The Legacy, which ran from 1996 - 1999. It’s not connected to the films; instead, it follows a secret society that fights paranormal forces. Since it’s also unrelated to the original films, the show can be watched at any point along with the remake. The best order to watch the franchise is:
- Poltergeist
- Poltergeist II: The Other Side
- Poltergeist III
- Poltergeist (2015)
- Poltergeist: The Legacy
Where to watch the Poltergeist movies and TV series streaming online
Check out our list below to find out where to stream the Poltergeist movies and TV series in the U.S.!
