Poltergeist

If you want a drama that takes its characters as seriously as its plot, Poltergeist is available in the US on YouTube TV, and in the UK on HBO Max Amazon Channel right now. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. 3,369 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. JoBeth Williams sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. Available now on YouTube TV — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Poltergeist is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. The writing in Poltergeist treats its characters as people first, plot devices second. The Freelings' suburban home becomes the center of paranormal activity that opens a portal to the 'other side'. With help, they must cross over to get their daughter back. JoBeth Williams and Craig T. Nelson lead a cast doing genuinely serious work here. It was released in 1982. What elevates Poltergeist is a refusal to let any character off the hook too easily. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Poltergeist is what you recommend to people who say they do not really watch much. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. JoBeth Williams is the centre of it, and it is one of their strongest performances on record. The patience it asks of you early on is paid back with interest.