Ghost Town (2008)
88%RT Audience Score: 85%
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 2 nominations
Ricky Gervais’ consistently sharp performance and beautifully dry execution transform this otherwise mainstream comedy into an endearing, funny, and altogether snappy romantic comedy. With ghosts
If you’re looking for a rom-com with a supernatural twist, Ghost Town might just be the movie for you. Critics are divided on whether Ricky Gervais’ performance is a hit or miss, but one thing is for sure: Tea Leoni is undeniably charming. The plot may be predictable, but the film’s retro vibe and quirky characters make it a fun watch. Plus, who doesn’t love a good ghost story? Give Ghost Town a chance and you might just find yourself rooting for the living and the dead to find love.
Production Company(ies)
Perfect Day Films,
Distributor
Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks SKG
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for some strong language, sexual humor and drug references
Year of Release
2008
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital DTSS DDS
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 43m
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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): Sep 19, 2008 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 28, 2008
Genre(s)
Comedy/Fantasy
Keyword(s)
starring Ricky Gervais, Téa Leoni, Greg Kinnear, Bill Campbell, Kristen Wiig, Dana Ivey, directed by David Koepp, written by David Koepp, John Kamps, comedy, fantasy, romance, PG-13, box office, budget, reviewed by Deborah Ross, Nell Minow, Ben Kenigsberg, Christine Champ, Paul Byrnes, Jake Wilson, Cole Smithey, Mike Massie, Kathi Maio, Eileen Jones, Megan Basham, James Vance, ghosts, dentist, afterlife, near-death experience, misanthropic, spirits, widow, colonoscopy, talking to the dead, Frank Herlihy, Mrs Pickthall, Gavin Polone, produced by Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks SKG
Worldwide gross: $27,090,159
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $37,315,659
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,465
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 4,069,319
US/Canada gross: $13,367,624
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $18,413,391
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,436
US/Canada opening weekend: $5,012,315
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $6,904,272
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,040
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $20,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $27,549,236
Production budget ranking: 1,196
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $14,835,263
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$5,068,840
ROI to date (est.): -12%
ROI ranking: 1,460
Téa Leoni – Gwen
Greg Kinnear – Frank Herlihy
Bill Campbell – Richard
Kristen Wiig – Surgeon
Dana Ivey – Mrs. Pickthall
Director(s)
David Koepp
Writer(s)
David Koepp, John Kamps
Producer(s)
Gavin Polone
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 2 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (187) | Top Critics (57) | Fresh (159) | Rotten (28)
I like Gervais but now realise there is only so much I can take at the one sitting.
August 23, 2018
Deborah Ross
The Spectator
TOP CRITIC
February 18, 2012 | Rating: B
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
November 17, 2011 | Rating: 2/5
Ben Kenigsberg
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
May 6, 2011 | Rating: B-
Christine Champ
Film.com
TOP CRITIC
Ghost Town is both a surprise and a departure: it’s genuinely funny and quietly original. It also shows what Gervais can do in the right role.
February 20, 2009 | Rating: 4/5
Paul Byrnes
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
Writer-director David Koepp is almost too careful a craftsman for his own good, but Gervais and Leoni share a talent for throwing the audience off-balance…
February 13, 2009 | Rating: 3/5
Jake Wilson
The Age (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
David Koepp’s 1998 New York City romcom could improve your amorous relationship, even if it’s a first date.
December 18, 2020 | Rating: A-
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
Although it utilizes a fairly run-of-the-mill romantic comedy plot, Ricky Gervais and Tea Leoni are undeniably charming.
November 28, 2020 | Rating: 7/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
If you are the type who actually enjoys watching (or rewatching, for the umpteenth time) old movies like A Christmas Carol and Topper, you will likely heartily enjoy David Koepp’s mild-mannered retro comedy…
March 4, 2020
Kathi Maio
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
The ending’s like The Simpsons’ version of a Disneyland parade, with the shouted slogan, “Hurray for Everything!!” And these days, nobody needs that kind of aggravation.
October 31, 2018
Eileen Jones
The eXile
Kinnear plays smarmy well enough and the rest of the cast turn in serviceable performances, but it is Gervais and Leoni who take a patchwork quilt of a romance and make it a comedy worth seeing.
October 10, 2018
Megan Basham
WORLD
Based on the ad campaign, it would be easy to pigeonhole “Ghost Town” as another romantic comedy with a twist, but it’s much more and much better than that.
February 6, 2018 | Rating: 3/4
James Vance
Tulsa World…
Plot
Bertram Pincus is a man whose people skills leave much to be desired. When Pincus dies unexpectedly, but is miraculously revived after seven minutes, he wakes up to discover that he now has the annoying ability to see ghosts. Even worse, they all want something from him, particularly Frank Herlihy who pesters him into breaking up the impending marriage of his widow Gwen. That puts Pincus squarely in the middle of a triangle with spirited result.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Ricky Gervais’ performance is consistently sharp and beautifully dry, transforming this mainstream comedy into an endearing, funny, and altogether snappy romantic comedy. With ghosts.
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