The Frighteners

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The Frighteners

R

1996

1h 49m

Fantasy

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

65%

Tomatometer

43 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Once an architect, Frank Bannister (Michael J. Fox) now passes himself off as an exorcist of evil spirits. To bolster his facade, he claims his "special" gift is the result of a car accident that killed his wife. But what he does not count on is more people dying in the small town where he lives. As he tries to piece together the supernatural mystery of these killings, he falls in love with the wife (Trini Alvarado) of one of the victims and deals with a crazy FBI agent (Jeffrey Combs).

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Critics Consensus

Boasting top-notch special effects and exuberant direction from Peter Jackson, The Frighteners is visually striking but tonally uneven.

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

Aug 23, 2017

2/4

[Michael J.] Fox seems to be trying to get hip in the movies, and he's lost his way here.

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Todd McCarthy

Variety

Mar 26, 2009

Story was originally conceived as an episode of "Tales From the Crypt," and that is perhaps what it should have remained, as the thinness of the conceit shows throughout, painfully so in the first half.

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Nigel Floyd

Time Out

Jan 26, 2006

At times the relentless special effects and tangled plotting veer towards visual and narrative overkill, but the final tonal swerve is shocking and effective.

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Oct 13, 2024

2/5

Like a scatter gun hitting everything in sight, the movie has a maddening pace and is all over the place.

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Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

Sep 22, 2023

4/5

The rare horror-comedy that is both funny and creepy, thanks to the charming cast and the inventive direction.

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James Croot

The Post NZ

Oct 27, 2021

3.5/5

Twenty-five years on and what's striking about The Frighteners is how well the effects and Jackson's tension-building have held up.

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Albert R

Oct 10, 2021

Starts as a comedy, but turns into a true horror movie. I've of Michael J Fox's best.

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Freja A

@FrejaGaan 5 days ago

The Frighteners is a fun, spooky ride that perfectly blends horror, comedy, and supernatural mystery. The quirky characters, creative effects, and playful tone make it entertaining from start to finish. Michael J. Fox is fantastic in the lead, bringing plenty of charm and humor to the role. It’s a unique and underrated ghost story with just the right mix of scares and laughs.

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Cecilia S

@Cecilia2 Aug 21, 2026

The Frighteners is a horror-comedy that looks like a haunted house got hit by a lightning bolt and decided to become a crime movie. Michael J. Fox is perfectly twitchy and charming, the ghosts are gloriously weird, and the whole thing dances between slapstick and genuine darkness. Messy, macabre, and oddly poignant. The dead have never been this much fun.

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Don V

@bondo150 Aug 4, 2026

Michael J. Fox is perfectly cast as Frank Bannister, bringing charm, nervous energy, and just enough desperation to make a questionable ghost-hunting entrepreneur surprisingly easy to root for. He gives the character a human center beneath all the sarcasm and panic. Jeffrey Combs delivers a wonderfully intense performance, embracing every strange corner of his character with fearless commitment, while Jake Busey brings an unsettling unpredictability that makes every scene feel like it could explode. The entire ensemble understands that this world runs on controlled chaos. Peter Jackson's direction gives the film its unique identity, balancing horror, comedy, and genuine emotion without letting any one element overpower the others. The visuals are inventive, the pacing is energetic, and the movie constantly finds new ways to turn the familiar into something wonderfully bizarre.

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Les N

@Vegas628 Jul 26, 2026

The Blue Oyster Cult. Brilliant.

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Randall F

@Randalltex Jul 16, 2026

"The Frighteners" does have a zesty pace and some cool effects, and those unfamiliar with Jackson's work may find something to love.

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Peter Jackson

Director

Michael J. Fox

Frank Bannister

Trini Alvarado

Dr. Lucy Lynskey

Peter Dobson

Ray Lynskey

John Astin

The Judge

Jeffrey Combs

Milton Dammers

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Synopsis

Once an architect, Frank Bannister (Michael J. Fox) now passes himself off as an exorcist of evil spirits. To bolster his facade, he claims his "special" gift is the result of a car accident that killed his wife. But what he does not count on is more people dying in the small town where he lives. As he tries to piece together the supernatural mystery of these killings, he falls in love with the wife (Trini Alvarado) of one of the victims and deals with a crazy FBI agent (Jeffrey Combs).

Director: Peter Jackson
Producer: Jamie Selkirk, Peter Jackson
Screenwriter: Fran Walsh, Peter Jackson
Distributor: MCA/Universal Pictures [us]
Production Co: WingNut Films, Universal Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Fantasy, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 19, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 8, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $16.5M
Runtime: 1h 49m
Sound Mix: Stereo, DTS, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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