Casper (1995)
60%RT Audience Score: 49%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins & 5 nominations
A meandering, mindless family movie that frequently resorts to special effects and transparent sappiness
Casper is the perfect movie for anyone who wants to feel like a kid again, or for anyone who wants to introduce their own kids to a classic. Sure, some critics might say it’s saccharine or lacking in wonder, but those people are just grumps who don’t know how to have fun. With its charming characters, impressive effects, and heartwarming story, Casper is a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and believe in ghosts. Plus, who doesn’t love a friendly ghost who just wants to make friends? So grab some popcorn, snuggle up on the couch, and get ready for a spooky adventure that’s sure to leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside.
Production Company(ies)
Animal Kingdom, Traction Media,
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Rockport, Maine, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for mild language and thematic elements
Year of Release
1995
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:DTSDTS-Stereo
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 40m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 26, 1995 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 23, 2003
Genre(s)
Fantasy
Keyword(s)
starring Bill Pullman, Christina Ricci, Cathy Moriarty, Eric Idle, Malachi Pearson, Joe Nipote, Joe Alaskey, Brad Garrett, directed by Brad Silberling, written by Sherri Stoner, Deanna Oliver, produced by Colin Wilson, fantasy, PG, box office gross $100.3M, reviewed by Anne Cohen, Jane Howdle, Owen Gleiberman, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Brian Lowry, Wally Hammond, James Croot, David Nusair, Avaryl Halley, Andrew Galdi, Drew Dietsch, starring Malachi Pearson as Casper, Christina Ricci as Kathleen ‘Kat’ Harvey, Bill Pullman as Dr James Harvey, Cathy Moriarty as Carrigan Crittenden, Eric Idle as Paul ‘Dibbs’ Plutzker, Malachi Pearson as Casper (McFadden), Joe Nipote as Stretch, Joe Alaskey as Stinky, Brad Garrett as Fatso, Colin Wilson as producer, Sherri Stoner as writer, Deanna Oliver as writer, Universal Pictures as distributor, surround sound, stereo
Worldwide gross: $287,928,194
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $566,170,440
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 246
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 61,741,597
US/Canada gross: $100,328,194
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $197,281,332
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 357
US/Canada opening weekend: $16,840,385
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $33,114,257
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 399
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $55,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $108,149,792
Production budget ranking: 361
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $58,238,663
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $399,781,986
ROI to date (est.): 240%
ROI ranking: 548
Bill Pullman – Dr. James Harvey
Cathy Moriarty – Carrigan Crittenden
Eric Idle – Paul ‘Dibbs’ Plutzker
Malachi Pearson – Casper (McFadden) Voice
Joe Nipote – Stretch Voice
Brad Garrett – Fatso Voice
Joe Alaskey – Stinky Voice
Colin Wilson – Producer
Sherri Stoner – Writer
Deanna Oliver – Writer
Brad Silberling – Director
Director(s)
Writer(s)
Sherri Stoner, Deanna Oliver
Producer(s)
Colin Wilson
Film Festivals
Berlin
Awards & Nominations
4 wins & 5 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (41) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (21) | Rotten (20)
It’s a funny and often poignant film that’s worth reexamining today.
August 29, 2019
Anne Cohen
Refinery29
TOP CRITIC
t’s aimed squarely at the tinies, but there is charm enough here to make it bearable for adults too.
July 16, 2010 | Rating: 3/5
Jane Howdle
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
A fairy tale with the soul of a rerun.
July 6, 2010 | Rating: C
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
It’s not clear why Steven Spielberg’s Amblin decided to make a live-action entertainment starring the least interesting and most saccharine of all 50s cartoon characters.
April 18, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Once the audience has become inured to the wide-eyed protagonist and impressive digitized effects, there’s little sense of wonder or awe to be found.
April 18, 2007
Brian Lowry
Variety
TOP CRITIC
The set design, however, merely disguises what is in fact an intimate and likeable picture.
June 24, 2006
Wally Hammond
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
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.
January 6, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
James Croot
Stuff.co.nz
…an erratic but generally passable adaptation that could’ve easily been much, much worse.
October 1, 2020 | Rating: 2.5/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
This movie was so important to me
August 12, 2020 | Rating: 10
Avaryl Halley
Movie Bitches
It’s a perfect kids movie
August 12, 2020 | Rating: 10
Andrew Galdi
Movie Bitches
All these years later, Casper has managed to stick around thanks to it offering a pleasant blend of what audiences expect from a kids movie and some weightier thematic fare.
May 24, 2020
Drew Dietsch
Giant Freakin Robot
Never cloying or abundant with cutesy dialogue…
October 18, 2012 | Rating: 3/4
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed…
Plot
Furious that her late father only willed her his gloomy-looking mansion rather than his millions, Carrigan Crittenden (Cathy Moriarty) is ready to burn the place to the ground when she discovers a map to a treasure hidden in the house. But when she enters the rickety mansion to seek her claim, she is frightened away by a wicked wave of ghosts. Determined to get her hands on this hidden fortune, she hires afterlife therapist Dr. James Harvey (Bill Pullman) to exorcise the ghosts from the mansion. Harvey and his daughter Kat (Christina Ricci) move in, and soon Kat meets Casper (Malachi Pearson), the ghost of a young boy who’s “the friendliest ghost you know”. But not so friendly are Casper’s uncles,- Stretch (Joe Nipote), Fatso (Brad Garrett), and Stinkie (Joe Alaskey) – who are determined to drive all “fleshies” away. Ultimately, it is up to James and Kat to help the ghosts cross over to the other side.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The ghostly trio, Stretch, Stinky, and Fatso, steal the show with their entertaining and funny performances.
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