Poltergeist has terrified audiences over the course of three films and a 2015 remake, and here's how the franchise ranks, worst to best. While there's long been controversy over who exactly directed 1982's original Poltergeist film (some involved say credited director Tobe Hooper, others insist it was producer Steven Spielberg), the end result still holds up as a masterpiece of horror filmmaking. It's also one of the rare horror classics from the 1980s to not carry an R-rating, or include graphic gore.

Poltergeist's immense success led to two sequels, Poltergeist 2: The Other Side in 1986, and Poltergeist 3 in 1988. These films featured new central antagonist Reverend Henry Kane, a preacher and end times cult leader who's said to be the personification of the first Poltergeist film's "beast." Neither sequel proved as popular as the original, but both have their fans. Finally in 2015, a Poltergeist remake was produced that retained the original premise but contained an entirely new cast of characters.

Related: Why Poltergeist's Ending Used Real Human Skeletons

It remains to be seen if another Poltergeist film will ever materialize from beyond, as the remake didn't perform that well at the box office, and fans proved ambivalent. For now, though, it's time to take a look at Poltergeists past, and rank the existing franchise from worst to best.

4. Poltergeist (2015)

Poltergeist 2015 - TV Ghosts

Some may be surprised to see Poltergeist's 2015 remake ranked below Poltergeist 3, which tends to be the most widely bashed entry in the franchise. That decision will be expanded on a bit more in the next entry, but most of the reason Poltergeist 2015 proves to be the least of the lot is just how unoriginal it is. Since the film contains all new characters, there was a real chance to try and reinvent the property, but instead director Gil Kenan and crew were mostly content to replay the greatest hits of the original, but with updated tech.

3. Poltergeist 3 (1988)

Poltergeist 3 - Mirror Trick

There's no question 1988's Poltergeist 3 is a flawed effort. The rest of the Freeling family is sorely missed, and the new actor replacing the late Julian Beck as Reverend Kane pales in comparison. It also gets way too slasher-like at times, and that's not what people watch Poltergeist movies for. That said, where Poltergeist 3 succeeds is by trying something new. This time out, Kane's evil is directly connected to mirrors and other reflective surfaces, leading to some great "blink and you'd miss it" scare gags where reflections don't match up, or it's revealed someone was actually their evil reflection the whole time. Poltergeist 3 isn't amazing, but it's better than its reputation suggests.

2. Poltergeist 2: The Other Side (1986)

Julian Beck Poltergeist 2

1986's Poltergeist 2: The Other Side is definitely several steps down from the original Poltergeist in quality, but then again, most ghost movies are. What makes Poltergeist 2 worth watching is the continued chemistry of the Freeling family, and the sinister, ghoulish presence of Julian Beck as Reverend Kane, who steals the show in every scene he appears in. Some rushed plotting, character retcons, and a disappointing ending hold Poltergeist 2 back from true greatness, but it's by no means hard to watch, and is a favorite of many horror fans.

1. Poltergeist (1982)

Poltergeist Carol Ann

A true classic of the haunted house genre, Poltergeist stands the test of time, despite now looking like an unintentional period piece about the early 1980s. The Freeling family unit is a realistic, easy to like group, who clearly love each other, and in the case of parents Steven and Diane, would go to the ends of the Earth and back to keep each other safe. The late Heather O'Rourke is also a treasure as Carol Anne, and it's easy to imagine why Poltergeist's spirits see her as a source of goodness and light. Add to that Zelda Rubinstein's iconic Tangina, some terrific visual effects, and extremely effective scares, and one has the recipe for Poltergeist, a truly excellent film.

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