10 Scariest Ghosts From Ghostbusters Franchise Ranked

The theme tune for “Ghostbusters” boasts, “I’m not afraid of no ghost!”, but let’s face it, if we encountered any of the franchise’s iconic ghosts in real life, we’d likely scream and run. Even Slimer, who seemed less frightening in the animated “Real Ghostbusters” series, was downright terrifying in his initial live-action appearance. For more than four decades, the “Ghostbusters” universe has brought to life a wide variety of spine-chilling specters, ghostly apparitions, and grotesque underworld creatures that equally delight and scare fans. However, just like any collection of strange beings and monsters, some of the “Ghostbusters'” ectoplasmic entities are scarier than others.

We delved into our well-used copy of Tobin’s Spirit Guide and summoned some of the nastiest poltergeists from the Ghostbusters universe. Although they may have had minimal screen time, their unsettling presence has left a lasting impact on viewers, causing many sleepless nights. Below is our selection of the 10 scariest ghosts from the Ghostbusters series, listed in ascending order of fear factor. Proceed with caution.

10) Mayhem

In 2016, the Ghostbusters movie sparked much debate within the series, but it did introduce some truly terrifying new spirits. Leading this pack is the malevolent entity known as Mayhem, a colossal green specter with a resemblance to Baphomet mixed with Gremlins. As one would expect, Mayhem was summoned during a concert by the metal band Beasts of Mayhem. At first, the band thought it was just a special effect, but the dreadful Mayhem soon proved his moniker true, causing both audience members and band members to flee in terror.

9) Washington Square Ghost

Similar to the original “Ghostbusters”, the less recognized “Ghostbusters II” includes a sequence towards the end where various ghosts create chaos across New York City. One such ghost is the Washington Square Ghost, colossal like a Kaiju. Although it’s briefly shown, for those running from Manhattan, the brief appearance of this fearsome creature with its many sharp teeth was more than enough to terrify anyone unfortunate enough to encounter it.

8) The Scoleri Brothers

In Ghostbusters II, the Scoleri Brothers make their debut as genuine ghostly entities, excluding the pink goo; they play a pivotal role in establishing the film’s atmosphere. Initially, these brothers manifest during the courtroom scene, shackled to the electric chairs in which they met their demise. In an instant, a burst of light causes the chairs to explode into a storm of sparks, enabling the Scoleri Brothers to haunt the court and ensure that young people across millennia will have trouble sleeping peacefully ever again.

7) Samhain

It’s evident that “The Real Ghostbusters” had the knack for creating ghosts as terrifying as those in the movies, with Samhain being a prime example. This spirit personifies Halloween and yearns to cast the world into an endless night by halting time and making October 31st last indefinitely. Furthermore, he’s not just a master of dark spells himself, but also commands a vast horde of Halloween specters, making him one of the most formidable ghostly adversaries that the Ghostbusters have encountered.

6) Miner Ghost

In a refreshing revival of the Ghostbusters series, Ghostbusters: Afterlife not only breathed new life into the franchise, but it also introduced innovative perspectives on familiar specters. The Miner Ghost, while bearing resemblance to another ghost further up the list, doesn’t diminish its eerie appeal. Essentially, the Miner Ghost is a revived corpse of an ancient mine worker, essentially a zombie minus the craving for human flesh.

I’m glad to say that the following list isn’t focused on originality but rather on sheer terror, and let me tell you, there aren’t many things more terrifying than a hulking mass of decaying flesh and bones lumbering towards you. (As a movie critic)

5) Bonesy

In just two short scenes in “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire”, the eerie character known as Bonesy manages to send a chill down your spine. Contrary to his name suggesting a bony figure, Bonesy is not overly skeletal; instead, the moniker harks back to an earlier design based on the Bad-To-The-Bone Ghost from “The Real Ghostbusters” toyline. Instead, we are given something potentially more terrifying: a pallid, sickly being with sunken eyes and the sharp teeth of an angler fish.

In his limited screen appearance, Bonesy mainly hovers about, giving off an intimidating vibe. It’s hoped that, when Sony eventually produces another Ghostbusters film, they’ll provide Bonesy with more substantial roles.

4) The Boogieman

In comparison to ordinary bogeymen, there’s something uniquely fearsome about the one from “The Real Ghostbusters”. Such a phantom strikes terror even into the hearts of the Ghostbusters themselves. This boogeyman resides in an intricate network of worlds hidden within every child’s closet across the globe. Each night, this creature infiltrates the lives of unsuspecting children, causing them unimaginable fear and delighting in every moment of it.

On a typical Saturday morning, a cartoon was supposed to bring joy, but with an unusually massive head resembling a melon and minuscule goat-like legs, the Boogeyman transformed it into a chilling spectacle instead.

3) Zombie Taxi Driver

In contrast to other Miner Ghosts, the Zombie Taxi Driver is a grotesque figure, a tattered heap of rotting flesh and skeletal remains. However, this decaying corpse stands out among its peers due to a unique factor. Unlike popular PG movies such as Star Wars and E.T., which didn’t prepare the ’80s kids for the frightening aspects of Ghostbusters, the Zombie Taxi Driver was the first on-screen zombie for an entire generation of young viewers, making it a memorable and terrifying introduction to the genre for them.

the chilling clown scene from “Poltergeist”, the nerve-wracking moment when a woman transforms into a computer in “Superman III”, and the spine-tingling Zombie Taxi Driver from “Ghostbusters”.

2) Terror Dogs

While it’s debatable whether Terror Dogs are true ghosts in the Ghostbusters universe, due to the flexible use of the term “ghost”, what truly matters is their frightening nature. The name “Terror Dog” might be misleading as these creatures are more akin to giant, bull-like monsters with glowing red eyes, sharp fangs, and spikes on their faces, rather than traditional dogs. Essentially, they’re the nightmarish vision of a hellhound that a twelve-year-old might sketch for a heavy metal album cover.

1) Library Ghost

It’s hard to believe that the first ghost in the original “Ghostbusters” movie would be the scariest of all, but surprisingly, The Library Ghost is just that. She initially appears as a kindly elderly librarian, albeit a floating and semi-transparent one, but transforms into one of the franchise’s most horrifying apparitions.

Instead of being frightening merely due to her appearance, it’s the transformative moment of the Library Ghost that makes her truly terrifying, standing out as an exceptional jump scare within the series and arguably among the best in cinematic history.