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Casper

Play trailer Poster for Casper PG Released May 26, 1995 1h 40m Kids & Family Fantasy Play Trailer Watchlist
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53% Tomatometer 43 Reviews 50% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Casper (voiced by Malachi Pearson) is a kind young ghost who peacefully haunts a mansion in Maine. When specialist James Harvey (Bill Pullman) arrives to communicate with Casper and his fellow spirits, he brings along his teenage daughter, Kat (Christina Ricci). Casper quickly falls in love with Kat, but their budding relationship is complicated not only by his transparent state, but also by his troublemaking apparition uncles and their mischievous antics.
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Casper

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Critics Consensus

A meandering, mindless family movie that frequently resorts to special effects and transparent sappiness.

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Critics Reviews

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Anne Cohen Refinery29 It's a funny and often poignant film that's worth reexamining today. Aug 29, 2019 Full Review Jane Howdle Empire Magazine t's aimed squarely at the tinies, but there is charm enough here to make it bearable for adults too. Rated: 3/5 Jul 16, 2010 Full Review Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly A fairy tale with the soul of a rerun. Rated: C Jul 6, 2010 Full Review Cheryl Eddy io9.com Going cartoony not only keeps Casper and crew looking like their comic-book counterparts, it also keeps what passes for menace in this movie on the gentler side. May 23, 2025 Full Review Cassondra Feltus Black Girl Nerds Casper is a deeply tragic yet oddly wholesome coming-of-age tale about loneliness and grief. Though the film is essentially a meditation on death, it isn’t all doom and gloom. It still has its zany moments and mid-90s charm. Rated: 3/5 Oct 25, 2023 Full Review James Croot The Post NZ More like a Cinderella story than a gothic horror, this really was one of the most under-rated movies of the 1990s and should keep viewers of all ages engrossed on a slow summer holiday day. Rated: 4/5 Jan 6, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Denise This still aged well lol what a fun experience for the whole family! $1 movies was a great idea Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/29/22 Full Review Audience Member After 30 years this remains a huge part of my childhood growing up I find it odd some call it bad but it’s a harmless family movie A box office success that spawned several direct-to-video follow ups even a new cartoon series Executive producer Steven Speilberg and director Brad Siberling bring the iconic child specter from the 1940s cartoon to the silver screen in live action Starring Christina Ricci, Bill Pullman, Cathy Moriarty, and Billy Idol Casper is just a child ghost who only wants a friend but he’s at a disadvantage since humans scream and run away at the sight of him and his uncles Stretch, Stinky, and Fatso They also mistreat him frequently A greedy woman named Carrigan and her assistant Dibs are after a so-called treasure hidden in her late uncle’s house, Whipstaff Manor In comes Dr. James Harvey who specializes in communicating with the spirits of the deceased, people who have unfinished business before passing onto the afterlife He always travels across the country with his daughter Kat who isn’t fond of his methods plus the fact her mother died and thinks her father is determined to find her ghost too They both move into the mansion with Carrigan counting on them to get rid of the ghosts but Kat and Dr. Harvey end up befriending the mischievous spirits with Casper even creating a special bond with Kat Together they form a powerful friendship while also discovering Casper’s life before he died There’s still a lot to appreciate here; the special effects are kinda fun, the sets are really creative, and you can tell the filmmakers were trying to put actual effort into it A very touching score by the late James Horner adds some interesting emotional depth There’s also some hilarious cameo actors sprinkled throughout If you’re not opposed to ghostly puns then you’ll still have a good time It’s not awful but could’ve been worse considering the subject matter as it deals with death, loss, coping, letting go, loneliness, grief, and coming to terms with life after death not being all bad A coming of age tale blending family and supernatural having mid 90s charm while also having some winsome philosophy It doesn’t hurt it has weighty dramatic fare, funny and poignancy, and it’s not reliant on being too scary for kids with the menace being more gentle Casper is quite lovable with Ricci being one of the most adorable child actresses of the generation Even new audiences today are thankfully discovering the movie’s charm as well as nostalgic value Again this was one of my childhood favorites, I couldn’t believe how amazing the special effects were in the 90s but this movie also provides a lot of emotion and heart It’s another Speilberg classic to be remembered Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/27/25 Full Review Stephen C Rated PG for Mild Language Throughout!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1 hour and 40 minutes of what goes bump in the night!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/13/25 Full Review T D A classic, masterfully crafted film! Shame on anyone who would say otherwise. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/03/25 Full Review Matheus A Filme muito subestimado em seu lançamento que merece ser visto novamente. O enredo é nitidamente infantil mas tem um charme para entreter qualquer telespectador. 6/10 é uma nota bem colocada para o mesmo! Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/26/25 Full Review matthias s **Casper - 3.5 Stars** Rewatching *Casper* feels like stepping back into my childhood. This 90s gem is packed with nostalgia, featuring a stellar cast led by Christina Ricci (who I had a huge crush on back then) and unforgettable cameos that bring humor and charm. The set designs are fantastic, immersing you in a spooky but inviting world. Surprisingly, the effects still hold up, and the chemistry between Casper and Kat is incredibly touching, bringing an unexpectedly heartbreaking depth to the story. The film explores adult themes with humor and heart, making it enjoyable for all ages. The hauntingly beautiful soundtrack adds a layer of magic, especially in that emotional ending—which still leaves me with chills and teary eyes. *Casper* is a classic Halloween film that's as funny as it is moving, and every rewatch reminds me why it’s stood the test of time. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/31/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis Casper (voiced by Malachi Pearson) is a kind young ghost who peacefully haunts a mansion in Maine. When specialist James Harvey (Bill Pullman) arrives to communicate with Casper and his fellow spirits, he brings along his teenage daughter, Kat (Christina Ricci). Casper quickly falls in love with Kat, but their budding relationship is complicated not only by his transparent state, but also by his troublemaking apparition uncles and their mischievous antics.
Director
Brad Silberling
Producer
Colin Wilson
Screenwriter
Sherri Stoner, Deanna Oliver
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment
Rating
PG
Genre
Kids & Family, Fantasy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 26, 1995, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 2, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$100.3M
Runtime
1h 40m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo
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