Saagar Kote
Paramount+’s ‘School Spirits’ is a horror-drama series that centers on the shocking disappearance of Maddie Nears (Peyton List), a student of Split River High School. However, Maddie now exists as a ghost and finds out that she was probably murdered. She is stuck in the school campus in her spectral form and befriends other spirits who roam the campus. Maddie is not able to communicate with the living students of the school despite her best efforts. As she delves deeper into the mystery of her death, she comes across shocking revelations and hidden motives.
While the living students believe that she is just missing, Maddie learns that she cannot leave the premises of the institution. Stuck between the perspectives and secrets of two dimensions, she must learn the truth before time runs out. Created by Megan Trinrud and Nate Trinrud, the series is based on their eponymous graphic novel, co-written with Maria Nguyen. If you are looking for shows similar to ‘School Spirits,’ this list will be of interest to you.
10. Locke & Key (2020-2022)
Netflix’s ‘Locke & Key’ narrates the experiences of Nina Locke (Darby Stanchfield) and her kids. The Locke family members grapple with the tragic and shocking murder of Nina’s husband, Rendell Locke (Bill Heck), following which they move into their ancestral home. Here, Nina and her children discover the house contains magical keys, which they believe might hold the solution to Rendell’s case. As the case gets increasingly mysterious and a demonic presence lurks in the house, the family members find themselves in unpredictable situations. Created by Carlton Cuse, Meredith Averill, and Aron Eli Coleite, the mystery drama series is an adaptation of the book of the same name by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez. Like ‘School Spirits,’ it is a deep and haunting navigation of spirits, supernatural elements, and a complex case.
9. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018-2020)
‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,’ a Netflix mystery drama show, follows Sabrina Spellman (Kiernan Shipka), a girl living in the town of Greendale. She grapples with her dual identity as a witch and a human, while also using her skills to explore the supernatural and confront evil. This modern-day reimagining of ‘Sabrina the Teenage Witch’ depicts her epic journey as she fights against the dangerous forces that seek to destroy her world and her loved ones. Based on the series creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s eponymous Archie comic book, co-written with Robert Hack, the show is a poignant take on human curiosity. Sabrina’s angst and teenage insecurities while grappling with supernatural realities reflect Maddie’s life in ‘School Spirits.
8. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (2024-)
Created by Poppy Cogan, ‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ deals with the trials and tribulations of Pippa “Pip” Fitz-Amobi (Emma Myers), a high-school student, who grows obsessed with the murder case of a local girl named Andie Bell five years ago. In the small town that Pip lives in, the case exists as a haunting memory. Despite the supposed perpetrator and former lover of the victim killing himself, Pip believes that there are more angles to cover in the case. As Pip investigates the case alone, she comes across various challenges and hidden motivations that threaten to derail her quest for the truth. Based on Holly Jackson’s eponymous novel, the British mystery thriller series is a riveting story of obsession, truth, and shadows. It complements ‘School Spirits’ through its depiction of the teenage psyche, the enigma of murder, and the cost of the truth.
7. Wednesday (2022-)
Netflix’s ‘Wednesday,’ created by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, centers on a girl named Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega). The horror drama series follows her journey as she navigates life at Nevermore Academy, a school designed for people with supernatural and psychic abilities. While there, she works to uncover the various secrets and conspiracies surrounding the institution, all while encountering monsters, werewolves, and other threats. As she handles these dangers at school, she must also maintain a healthy relationship with her family members, who are known for their fascination with the macabre. Based on the characters created by Charles Addams, the show captures the essence of ‘School Spirits’ as it focuses on supernatural mysteries in a school setting, the insecurities of teenagers, and layered friendships.
6. One of Us Is Lying (2021-2022)
‘One of Us Is Lying’ is a mystery drama show that follows Simon Kelleher (Mark McKenna), Adelaide “Addy” Prentiss, Bronwyn Rojas, Cooper Clay, and Nate Macauley. The five of them are put in detention by the school authorities for violating certain rules. What begins as a detention session soon descends into chaos. Simon, who runs a gossip website, dies due to an allergic reaction. When it comes to light that the other four students serving detention had strong reasons to kill Simon, they become suspects in the case as the survivors of the detention room deal with their own secrets, their lives, and their destinies grow increasingly uncertain.
To find the killer, the group may have to go through difficult odds. Based on Karen M. McManus’ novel of the same name, the Erica Saleh creation reflects the essence of ‘School Spirits’ as it is about an obsessive investigation, teenage dynamics, and the consequences of hidden motives.
5. The Midnight Club (2022)
Based on Christopher Pike’s eponymous novel, ‘The Midnight Club’ centers on eight terminally ill patients who live in the same hospice. They are there to spend the final days of their lives peacefully. Upon discovering that each of them has a passion for horror, they gather every midnight to share scary stories. While they immerse themselves in these accounts, they also try to uncover the mysteries of other realms. However, they begin to realize that something sinister haunts the facility that they are in. Created by Mike Flanagan and Leah Fong, the Netflix horror drama series is a tale of deception and mystery. Like ‘School Spirits,’ it delves into themes of the supernatural and secrecy, while also exploring the profound concepts of death, life, and the layers of the spectral world.
4. Lockwood & Co. (2023)
Developed by Joe Cornish, Netflix’s ‘Lockwood & Co.’ revolves around Lucy (Ruby Stokes), a girl with psychic powers. She forms a connection with Anthony Lockwood (Cameron Chapman) and George Karim (Ali Hadji-Heshmati). The three teenagers become colleagues working at “Lockwood & Co.,” a hunting agency that deals with ghosts, spirits, and supernatural threats. The trio lives in a London where technological advancements have stopped, and ghosts run wild. They find themselves in a battle against the odds when they are tasked with defending the city against threats from evil and vengeful spirits. The thriller drama series, based on the eponymous book series by Jonathan Stroud, resembles ‘School Spirits’ through its portrayal of the spirit realm. Both shows delve into the investigative capabilities of teenagers and the complex relationship between the dead and the living.
3. Julie and the Phantoms (2020)
In ‘Julie and the Phantoms,’ high school musician Julie Molina (Madison Reyes) has a tough time making music following the death of her mother. Her life changes when she encounters three spirits named Luke Patterson, Alex Mercer, and Reggie Peters. They have been dead for more than two decades, but still have a passion for music. The spirits form a unique connection with Julie, after which she starts a band with them. Being the only one who can see them, she also hopes to help them achieve their dreams. As the band’s performances capture the viewers’ imagination, people begin to wonder how Julie is accomplishing all of this on her own.
As her relationship with her spectral friends is tested, Julie must overcome her own insecurities and doubts. Created by Dan Cross and David Hoge, the Netflix musical comedy-drama series is a harrowing tale of spirits and dreams. Based on the Brazilian television series ‘Julie e os Fantasmas,’ it shares similarities with ‘School Spirits’ due to its navigation of the special, supernatural, and layered connection between the living and the dead.
2. Dead Like Me (2003-2004)
‘Dead Like Me’ centers on a teenager named Georgia “George” Lass (Ellen Muth), who lives a dissatisfied life after dropping out of college. In a shocking and tragic twist, she dies after a toilet seat drops on her from a space station. As she assumes her spectral form, she is tasked with being one of the “grim reapers” who are responsible for the transport of the living to the realm of the dead. George struggles with her new job and constantly clashes with the other reapers of her team. Though she doesn’t like this job and prefers to enjoy her afterlife in peace, she discovers meaningful lessons in the journey. Created by Bryan Fuller, the comedy-drama series, akin to ‘School Spirits,’ navigates the spectral realm in all its complexities while also exploring themes of life, death, and fate. The visual, philosophical, and thematic similarities of the two shows connect them on a greater level.
1. Dead Boy Detectives (2024)
Created by Steve Yockey, ‘Dead Boy Detectives’ delves into the spectral duo of Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri) and Edwin Payne (George Rexstrew). These teenage ghost sleuths have a choice to enter the afterlife, but refuse the option. Their true passions lie in the investigation of supernatural enigmas on Earth. With the help of a girl possessing psychic powers, they plunge into the secrets of the unknown. Their detective work, however, exposes them to a dangerous witch determined to eradicate them. The Netflix horror drama series, based on the eponymous DC comic characters by Neil Gaiman and Matt Wagner, is a spooky tale of courage. Due to its focus on the actions of spirits, the rules of the realm of the dead, and its investigative flavor, it is connected to ‘School Spirits.’
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