is casper the friendly ghost scary

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Common sense media reviewers.

Haunted house tale not as mild as the cartoons.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Some messages on acceptance.

Despite the 1990s-style post-modern self-awareness

Much fighting and three deaths of characters who a

Some innuendo, much of which will go over kids'

Occasional profanity, which could be surprising fo

One of Casper's uncles kicks Casper with a Nik

Adult ghosts drink and act drunk. These same ghost

Parents need to know that Casper is a 1995 adaptation of the well-known cartoon series chronicling the adventures of the titular "friendly ghost." The cartoon Casper and other Casper movies are much milder than this one. There are deaths here and much talk about the spirit world and…

Positive Messages

Positive role models.

Despite the 1990s-style post-modern self-awareness going on throughout the movie, Casper is basically as friendly as he ever was in cartoons.

Violence & Scariness

Much fighting and three deaths of characters who are then shown as ghosts. Some characters willingly pass into the spirit world, thinking they can come back with the help of an invention. One of the characters falls off a cliff to her death. Pratfalls and cartoonish violence from Casper's three cruel ghost uncles. Casper talks about how he died when he was a little boy. Ghosts vomit on a priest and turn his head 180 degrees. A woman tries to run over her lawyer with a Range Rover. Casper's uncles bully him verbally and physically.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Some innuendo, much of which will go over kids' heads, such as when Casper's mean uncles drop Dr. Harvey's pants, and one comments, "You're no Marky Mark." Tween kissing.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Occasional profanity, which could be surprising for those expecting something more in line with the more wholesome original cartoon series: "bitch," "damn," "hell," "Jesus," "for Christ's sake." A tween girl says "piss off."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

One of Casper's uncles kicks Casper with a Nike tennis shoe, the only time any ghost is shown wearing footwear of any kind.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Adult ghosts drink and act drunk. These same ghosts also smoke cigars. Cigarette smoking from the lead female antagonist. One of the lead characters is shown getting drunk and singing karaoke, encouraged by adult ghosts.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Casper is a 1995 adaptation of the well-known cartoon series chronicling the adventures of the titular "friendly ghost." The cartoon Casper and other Casper movies are much milder than this one. There are deaths here and much talk about the spirit world and grieving the loss of parents. The main character, Kat, sees one parent as a ghost, and another parent dies and comes back with the help of an invention. Kat also has a crush on Casper, who died as a tween boy. Casper's ghost uncles can be crude and mischievous and they take Kat's father out drinking at a bar. There is some bullying -- Kat is verbally teased by the popular kids as the "new kid" in school, and Casper's uncles bully him too. There is some profanity: "bitch," "damn," "hell," "Jesus," "for Christ's sake." A tween girl says "piss off." There's also some sexual innuendo: In one scene, Kat's father's pants are removed by Casper's mischievous uncles, and one of the ghosts says that "he is no Marky Mark." Parents expecting a wholesome movie version of the cartoon series will be surprised by the language and violence. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

• Parents say (26)
• Kids say (22)

Based on 26 parent reviews

90s trash not fit for kids

Perfect halloween film, what's the story.

In CASPER, motherless Kat Harvey ( Christina Ricci ) and her father ( Bill Pullman ), a psychologist who helps spirits complete their journey onto death, move into Whipstaff Manor. The nasty Carrigan Crittenden has hired the doctor to rid her recently inherited property of its ghosts so she can hunt for the treasure hidden somewhere within its walls. One of the ghosts, Casper, develops a crush on Kat, while his rowdy ghost uncles make life comically difficult for everyone. When the Harveys throw a Halloween party, Kat and Casper discover a "resurrection machine" built by Casper's father, as well as the "treasure." Carrigan wants the machine for her wicked plans, and eventually there's a mad chase about the house and in and out of spirit worlds. In the end, Casper faces a tough choice: his life or Dr. Harvey's?

Is It Any Good?

Great special effects and fine acting should entertain older tweens, who may also like the mild romance between Casper and Kat, but teens will find the scares too mild and the tone too sentimental. Viewers on the younger side should find the haunted house in Casper pretty cool, although they may be frightened at times. Parents will not appreciate the unexpected profanity and violence.

That said, the relationship between Kat and her father is genuinely sweet. Cathy Moriarty as Carrigan is enjoyably Cruella de Vil-ish, and sidekick Dibs ( Monty Python 's Eric Idle ) has funny moments. Cameos by Don Novello as the exorcist, Father Guido Sarducci, and Dan Aykroyd as Ghostbusters ' Dr. Ray Stantz are good in-jokes. The Victorian Gothic set -- with a nifty revolving panel and roller coaster ride to the basement -- is indeed cool.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about fantasies and ghost stories like Casper . What is appealing about ghost stories? Why do you think Casper is friendly while his uncles are looking to cause trouble?

How is this movie darker than the original cartoon series?

How is violence shown in the movie? Does it seem appropriate to the story, or does it seem gratuitous?

Why do you think so many ghost stories take place in mansions?

Movie Details

• In theaters : May 26, 1995
• On DVD or streaming : September 23, 2003
• Cast : Ben Stein , Bill Pullman , Christina Ricci
• Director : Brad Silberling
• Inclusion Information : Female actors
• Studio : Universal Pictures
• Genre : Family and Kids
• Topics : Magic and Fantasy , Friendship , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
• Run time : 100 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG
• MPAA explanation : mild language and thematic elements.
• Last updated : September 30, 2023

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What if Casper Was an Elevated Horror Film?

Filmmaker jared pelletier took the tamest horror icon out there and made him terrifying..

When you think “Casper” you think friendly . You think animation. Maybe you even think of Devon Sawa and Christina Ricci . What you don’t think of is actually being scared, but maybe that’ll change after you watch this trailer.

Toronto-based filmmaker Jared Pelletier has created a proof-of-concept trailer that imagines Casper, the friendly ghost, as the being at the center of an A24-type horror movie. Talk to Me , Hereditary , Midsommar , imagine that kind of vibe, but with Casper. The idea is to take a familiar IP and give it a modern spin, one that Pelletier even hopes could become a feature at some point. Here’s the trailer.

We’ve seen weirder things, right? Daniel Kaluuya making a Barney movie ? Eli Roth turning his joke trailer for Thanksgiving   into a real feature ? Or what about when a movie about a popular doll from the 1950s went on to become one of the most popular movies in recent memory? If all those are possible, why not a known property like Casper breaking out of its norms and becoming something more?

“The primary purpose here was to put together a ‘ripomatic’ of stock footage and publish as a general gauge of sentiment. Hoping that some social proof around this is a helpful piece when we’re pitching,” Pelletier told io9 via email. “Beyond that, I’m just a massive fan of the genre and this Halloween season we’re entering, so it’s really just something that was fun to put together and I’m hoping it gets other spooky-season enthusiasts in the mood.”

And, as it’s now officially that spooky season of October, we thought you all might enjoy it. For more on Pelletier visit his company’s site here or his Instagram .

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel , Star Wars , and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV , and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who .

Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors.

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It's easy to see why Casper the Friendly Ghost has such an appeal for small children. They have so much in common with him, since they, too, feel invisible and misunderstood and remember little of their earlier lives. He is reassuring; in a universe of scary ghosts, it's nice to know there's one on your side. The Casper comics did not survive into the current age of megadoom superheroes, but their memory did, and now here is "Casper," a high-tech special-effects extravaganza starring His Friendliness.

There's been a lot of speculation about the coming age of computerized performances in the movies, when we will see whole characters made up of bits and bytes. Jessica Rabbit was such a creation, and now Casper and his uncles - Stretch, Stinkie and Fatso - dominate a movie that essentially stars computer programming.

Ghosts offer, to be sure, certain advantages to the programmers, since their bodies are soft and changeable, but their faces display a full range of emotion, and they are as real as the human characters in the film - which is, I suppose, a two-edged compliment.

As the movie opens, a rich man's daughter named Carrigan ( Cathy Moriarty ) learns that her father has left her nothing in his will, except for crumbling Whipstaff Manor in Maine. She's enraged, until her assistant, Dibs ( Eric Idle ), discovers a secret message suggesting that a vast treasure may be hidden there. They leave immediately for Maine - where, of course, it turns out that Whipstaff Manor is haunted.

She determines to get rid of the ghosts, and the movie has a lot of fun with scenes involving an exorcist ( Don Novello as Father Guido Sarducci) and a ghostbuster ( Dan Aykroyd ). Nothing works. Meanwhile, Casper, the resident ghost, pulls himself away from watching "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" long enough to learn, on the news, about a ghost psychiatrist who specializes in helping spirits come to peace with themselves, so they won't need to haunt any longer.

Casper draws the program to Carrigan's attention in an insistent if ghostly way, and soon the psychiatrist ( Bill Pullman , from " While You Were Sleeping ") is on the case, along with his daughter Kat ( Christina Ricci , from " The Addams Family "). Kat and Casper soon become fast friends, and Casper is telling her what it's like to be a ghost: "You know that tingling feeling when your foot falls asleep? I think I'm made of that." Unfortunately, the presence of flesh and blood in Whipstaff Manor draws Casper's uncles from an ectoplasm, and things get exciting.

There are funny lines in the movie, as when the politically correct ghost psychiatrist observes, "You can call them ghosts or, as I prefer, the living impaired." The uncles could be a vaudeville team. And Moriarty makes a ferocious antagonist, clicking around Whipstaff in her high heels and trying to claim it as her own.

But the real stars of the movie are the special effects and animation artists. The story is more or less what you'd expect, and there is only so much you can do with a relationship between a little girl and a ghost. But Whipstaff comes alive with amazing achievements in art direction, set design, and gizmos like a chair that will brush your teeth while hurtling you down a rail at terrifying speeds. The use of special effects also allows sight gags that couldn't be done any other way, as when a car squeals to a stop on the edge of a towering cliff, just in the nick of time, and then a relieved character opens the door and steps out into nothingness.

Like " The Flintstones " and "The Addams Family," "Casper" is an attempt to bring cartoons to life while incorporating them with real actors and sets. As a technical achievement, it's impressive, and entertaining. And there is even a little winsome philosophy, as when Casper sadly tells Kat, "I guess when you're a ghost, life just doesn't matter that much anymore."

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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Film credits.

Casper (1995)

Christina Ricci as Kat

Cathy Moriarty as Carrigan

Bill Pullman as Dr. Harvey

Eric Idle as Dibs

• Deanna Oliver
• Sherri Stoner

Directed by

• Brad Silberling

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Completely Chaotic Posts About 'Casper' That Prove It Is An Underrated Yet Unhinged Kids' Movie

Vote up the posts about the Friendly Ghost that you like most. 

Many look back with nostalgia at 1995's Casper starring Christina Ricci, but it is a strange little movie , especially considering it's a children's film. Featuring deaths aplenty, emotional abuse, resurrection of the deceased, stalker tendencies in the main characters, and massive plot holes, Casper has fans and critics who have taken to social media to offer their takes on the pic. Here are a few posts about Casper that caught our attention.   

'The Simpsons' Offers A Dark Theory About Poor Casper

The Simpsons already suggested the only Casper the Friendly Ghost origin story worth exploring. https://t.co/GIEjUG3L3L pic.twitter.com/YrvcEpgvDD — Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais) April 11, 2022

Remember: 'Casper' Is Part Of The 'Ghostbusters' Universe

'The Milli Vanilli Of Child Actors'

Does Casper Live In Constant Pain?

Prequel Idea

Hey, Wait...

How History Was Made

Iconic Villain Alert

Iconic movie villain that you routed for as a young gay boy? Mine is Carrigan from Casper. 🚬 pic.twitter.com/kj8J0Z0RFV — Iósua (@XCatXDaddy) February 16, 2023

So Underrated

Name a more iconic duo, I'll wait pic.twitter.com/9xHiM1Czes — 🪦Fifi's Evil Autism Era🪦 (@wildratman) May 9, 2022

Why Is It So Deep?

As A Society, We Don't Talk About Casper Enough

As a society, we do not talk about CASPER enough. And that needs to 100% change... I am gonna say it, this movie should always be in conversation with HOCUS POCUS, NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, etc. when it comes to child-friendly horror! pic.twitter.com/BdIU8ZcXHL — Prince Jackson (@theheadknight) October 27, 2021

The Celeb Cameos Are WILD

He's In The Zone

Ricci's Sweater Game Was On Point

The Pullman Effect

unfortunately realized that bill pullman as the dad in casper might’ve been foundational to my sexuality — Sydney Battle (@SydneyBattle) October 30, 2022

The Conundrum Of Casper

I wrote a whole piece about the conundrum of whether or not Bill Pullman’s body is still at the bottom of the manhole in CASPER and whether or not Devon Sawa could have visited his own grave if his dad made the machine work in time. https://t.co/gzIyYeDRjL https://t.co/cKfMkQn69g — BJ ColanGIALLO (@bjcolangelo) July 16, 2023

This Is A Movie For Children, Right?

A Little Creepy

Watching Casper (1995) again for… no particular reason… I know “can I keep you” is upsetting but I forgot how much of a clingy creep he is in every other scene. Ricci’s character is asked out and then he spends the next scene bugging her about it then kidnaps her — Traveling Salesman (@OpenMothersMale) October 10, 2023

Dear Merriam-Webster...

Do we have a word for when people believe that a reboot/rehash/new adaptation from their childhood is the original version of that character/franchise? I spoke to someone who was VERY shocked to learn Casper existed before the Christina Ricci live action film. — Landon Kenobi (@obiknoke) October 6, 2023

• Casper (1995)
• Entertainment
• Social Media & Texts
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How Did Casper Become a Friendly Ghost?

Casper the Friendly Ghost is best known for his ghostly adventures. But what isn't known is exactly how the boy became a ghost.

Since his days in publication with Harvey Comics, Casper the Friendly Ghost has always been viewed as a ghostly child who loves to make friends with humans. However, as the years progressed, fans began to wonder precisely how Casper became a ghost in the first place. While everyone knows that spirits are what occasionally come after a person passes, hints to Casper's death are never explained . Instead, the cartoons and comics focus more on his adventures and dealings with his strange uncles , the Ghostly Trio. That being said, there are some answers to Casper's origin.

Because Casper is just a boy, many had believed that the cartoon ghost died sometime when he was a child. From that idea, even more theories to the circumstances of his death began to emerge. The notion that he died as a child was born from an episode of his cartoon, " There's Good Boos To-Night ," in which Casper befriends a fox that later passes. However, rather than crossing over, the fox returned as a ghost to continue spending time with Casper. To detract from the morbidity of the idea, Harvey Comics came up with its own view that changed the lore forever.

RELATED:  Is Casper's Ghostly Trio Actually His Uncles In The 1995 Film?

According to the company, Casper was born a ghost to two ghost parents. Along with the change came an update to Casper's design that gave him a slimmer figure and feet. This avoided the notion that he was a deceased child and established ghosts as something separate from the afterlife. Casper was now looked at more like a creature akin to a goblin or other spectral beings thanks to the updated origin. While this idea worked for a few decades, his first live-action film resurrected the age-old theory of how he died -- and gave fans a different answer.

In the family film   Casper , the friendly ghost is portrayed as the same fun-loving character that audiences have grown to adore. However, rather than his parents being ghosts, the film kept his origin grounded and explained that he was once a living child. The story of his death explains that when Casper was 12, he was out sledding too late one night and caught pneumonia. Eventually, he succumbed to his illness, and he chose to remain a ghost to be with his grieving father. The explanation is clearly more somber than what came before but helped to ground the character and the story.

RELATED:  Night Of The Animated Dead Filmmaker Breathes New Life Into The Romero Classic

While this explanation confirms that at least one version of Casper came to be through natural causes, none of his other films ever brought it back up. As a result, Casper has since remained in a purgatory of his own where he was either born a ghost or became one after passing away at a young age. Fortunately, neither situation has negatively affected his cheery disposition.

Even though Casper's film origin is more realistic and sad, his story hasn't been updated or retconned. So now, fans have the option to believe either the classic origin or the more recent one. No matter the version, Casper will always be a beloved Harvey Comics character. He also shows that positivity can always shine through whether a person gets their start from a happy or sad situation.

KEEP READING:  Night Of The Animated Dead: Katee Sackoff Leans Into Horror For The Zombie Flick

Watch: Proof-of-Concept Trailer for Actually Scary 'Casper' Horror Film

by Alex Billington September 18, 2023 Source: YouTube

"You just want a friend…" 👻 What if someone made Casper the Friendly Ghost into an actually scary horror film? That's what Canadian filmmaker Jared Pelletier is pitching as a proof-of-concept trailer to send to studios. He describes this project as "a reimagining of Casper as an elevated horror film." The 60-second trailer is out to watch online, and if you're curious, you just have to take a look. It is made entirely from existing footage, and there isn't really a shot of the ghost boy in it. Casper was originally created by the Famous Studios for a theatrical animated cartoon series of the same name, playing from the 1940s to 1950s in theaters. However, most know Casper from that 1995 movie with Christina Ricci. Casper and his wicked uncles, the Ghostly Trio, were rendered via computer animation, which initially created the first CGI lead character in a film. There have been a few sequels and other projects, but nothing as chilling as this… Enjoy.

Here's the promo trailer for Jared Pelletier's Casper the Friendly Ghost , direct from YouTube :

In this Proof of Concept trailer, Casper is treated with a contemporary, A24-esque horror overhaul. Casper the Friendly Ghost is a trailer creation by Canadian filmmaker Jared Pelletier based in Toronto. He has directed many other short films, and directed the series "Omega" and "Inhuman Condition", along with work for Studio Canal, NBC-Universal, and development work for Lionsgate. The idea is being pitched to studios to be developed into a feature. Follow Pelletier for more updates on IG @jaredpelletier . "Pelletier developed and edited the trailer, also known as a ripomatic, using only stock footage." Michael Chwastiak (follow him on IG @michael.chwastiak ), who performed the Casper voiceover and co-wrote with Pelletier, is a Toronto-based producer / actor whose most notable screen role was in Guillermo Del Toro's The Strain series. Stay tuned for news on this take on Casper. What do you think? Would you actually want to watch?

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The Cast of Casper : Where Are They Now?

Check in with the stars of the supernatural classic 28 years after the film premiered in 1995

Universal Pictures/ Everett

It's been nearly three decades since a young Christina Ricci stole hearts as Kat Harvey in the supernatural coming-of-age comedy Casper . Produced by Steven Spielberg , the 1995 film featured young up-and-comers and familiar faces, like Bill Pullman and Amy Brenneman .

The friendly ghost's story continues to live on as fans rewatch the spooky classic year after year. Check back in with the cast members of Casper and see what they're up to today.

Christina Ricci as Kat Harvey

Universal/ Everett; Gilbert Flores/WWD via Getty

Playing Kat Harvey proved to be the perfect spooky follow-up to Ricci 's famed role as the eerie, pigtailed Addams family daughter, Wednesday. The Casper alumna then made a name for herself as a grown-up actress, starring in films like Buffalo '66 and The Opposite of Sex in 1998.

Her career continued flourishing with big- and small-screen roles in the aughts and 2010s. She also debuted on the Broadway stage with Laura Linney in Time Stands Still in 2010. Then in 2021, Ricci won critical acclaim and an Emmy nomination for her role as Misty Quigley in Yellowjackets .

The former child star revisited the Addams family universe in Tim Burton's revival series Wednesday starring Jenna Ortega. Ricci — who previously worked with Burton in the 1999 horror Sleepy Hollow — played one of Wednesday's school teachers in the 2022 Netflix show.

While Ricci's performance in Casper is beloved by many, the former child isn't a fan of her early work in the ghostly classic.

"If you actually watch  Casper , I'm terrible," Ricci said during her 2022 appearance on Marc Maron's WTF podcast . "People get so upset when I say that. And I'm like, 'No, it's a wonderful movie. It's a childhood treasure. But I am terrible in it.'"

Malachi Pearson as Casper

Universal/Everett

Following his role in the 1995 flick, the voice behind the friendly ghost guest starred on shows like Full House and Baywatch . He even reprised the vocal role again in a Casper video game and the late-90s cartoon series The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper .

Pearson has since departed from screens and launched a music career. He's currently one-half of the DJ duo Motel Club with fellow artist Matt Cash.

Bill Pullman as James Harvey

Universal/ Everett; Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

Bill Pullman had an established career as a leading man before he played widowed dad and medium Dr. James Harvey in Casper . He starred in Spaceballs , Sleepless in Seattle and While You Were Sleeping across Sandra Bullock.

The actor appeared as the U.S. president in the 1996 sci-fi film Independence Day and in the same role for the 2016 sequel Independence Day: Resurgence . Pullman has also starred in several theatrical productions and he tapped his intergalactic acting experience to write his own play Expedition 6 in 2007.

On television, Pullman played the president once again in the comedy series 1600 Penn and most recently, he played convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh in a Lifetime docuseries about his crimes. Murdaugh Murders: The Movie is set to air Oct. 14.

Pullman's son, Lewis , has followed in his dad's Hollywood footsteps to become a big time star with credits in Top Gun: Maverick and the Hulu miniseries Catch-22 . Bill also shares daughter Maesa and another son, Jack, with his wife of over three decades, Tamara Hurwitz.

Cathy Moriarty as Carrigan Crittenden

Universal/ Everett; Kristina Bumphrey/Shutterstock

The actress behind bitter heiress Carrigan Crittenden also boasted an impressive resume before her antagonist role in Casper . Moriarty's 1980 film debut in Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull earned her nominations for an Oscar and a Golden Globe. She kicked off the '90s with major roles in Kindergarten Cop alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and Soapdish , which featured Sally Field, Robert Downey Jr., Kevin Kline, Carrie Fisher and Whoopi Goldberg in its A-list ensemble cast.

Moriarty returned to the friendly ghost franchise in 1998, when she played Hilary Duff's on-screen Aunt Gert in Casper Meets Wendy .

On TV, the Hollywood veteran has appeared on shows like Bless This House , This Is Us and The Assassination of Gianni Versace: An American Crime Story.

Joe Nipote as Stretch

Universal/ Everett; Tommaso Boddi/Getty 

Nipote voiced Stretch, the fiery leader of the Ghostly Trio in Casper , though he's best known for playing Frankie Waters in the TV show Viper from 1994 through 1999. Nipote voiced Strech again in The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper and went on to make guest appearances in shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Suite Life on Deck .

Joe Alaskey as Stinkie

Universal/ Everett; Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Joe Alaskey — who died at age 63 in 2016 — was best known for his voice acting, including his portrayal of Ghostly Trio member Stinkie in Casper . In the late '90s and early 2000s, Alaskey voiced several Looney Tunes characters, Grandpa Lou on Rugrats and Sylvester the Cat in The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries .

In the last few years of his life and career, the talented impersonator lent his voice to the Tom and Jerry and Garfield franchises.

Brad Garrett as Fatso

Universal/ Everett; Roy Rochlin/Getty

Brad Garrett soared to fame as the first comic winner of Star Search in 1984, nearly a decade before he voiced Fatso, a member of the Ghostly Trio in Casper . He went on to play several other animated characters, with roles in iconic Pixar movies like A Bug's Life , Finding Nemo and Ratatouille .

In 1996, Garrett nabbed a major TV gig playing Robert Barone in Everybody Loves Raymond , winning three Emmys in 2002, 2003 and 2005 for his performance. He went on to star in 'Til Death from 2006 to 2010, and he earned another Emmy nomination for his starring part as Jackie Gleason in the television film Gleason in 2002.

Garrett's maintained his stand-up comedy career throughout and still regularly performs at his own comedy club in Las Vegas.

Eric Idle as Dibs

Universal/ Everett; Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty

Eric Idle — who played Carrigan's attorney, Paul "Dibs" Plutzker — launched into fame doing sketch comedy in Monty Python films, TV series and stage productions. After Casper , Idle voiced characters in The Simpsons , Shrek the Third, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut and even narrated the 2004 comedy Ella Enchanted .

In 2004, the comic created the hit Monty Python play Spamalot , which won the coveted best musical Tony Award.

Idle beat the odds after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2019 and survived. He's since joined forces with Stand Up to Cancer to create  the Bright Side Fund in support of cancer research and the early detection that saved his life.

Devon Sawa as Human Casper

Universal Pictures; Paul Archuleta/Getty

Devon Sawa only made a brief appearance as human Casper at the end of the film, but he's still grateful for the role that launched his career. On the 25th anniversary of Casper in 2020, Sawa shouted out Christina Ricci as a reason for his industry success.

"Christina Ricci is a HUGE talent and played a big part in me getting the role and then went on to recommend me for Now And Then . I owe her the world." Sawa tweeted, referencing the next movie he and Ricci costarred in.

With another nod to director Brad Silberling, Sawa continued, "I was in Casper for 30 secs. Malachi Pearson did the hard work. When they decided last minute to bring Casper to life he was too young. so I landed the role. And I'm very fortunate @BSilberling chose me cause I'd be lying if I said it didn't start a 30 year job that I love. Thnx."

After Casper and Now And Then , Sawa starred in several films and TV shows, notably Wild America , Final Destination , and The CW's Nikita . He also played Eminem in the rapper's music video for his song "Stan" and currently stars in the Syfy horror series Chucky .

Amy Brenneman as Amelia Harvey

Universal Pictures; Kevin Winter/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty

Amy Brenneman followed her Emmy-nominated performance in NYPD Blue with a ghostly cameo playing Kat's deceased mom in Casper , which was directed by her husband Brad Silberling. She went on to star in Daylight, opposite Sylvester Stallone, in 1996 and then did another thriller, Fear , the same year.

As the century turned, Brenneman starred in her own series Judging Amy from 1999 to 2005. She could also be spotted as Violet Turner in the Grey's Anatomy spinoff Private Practice . In her most recent work, Brenneman costars with Jeff Bridges on the FX series The Old Man .

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• Casper and the Angels Characters
• Good Characters
• Casper's Friends

Hairy Scary

• View history

Description: [ ]

The thousand-year-old ghost who has taken Casper under his wing. A Baloo-like character, Hairy is boisterous and funloving, but cares for Casper - and the Angels too, despite his mostly hate/hate relationship with Maxi. Like the Ghostly Trio, Hairy's greatest joy comes from scaring humans, but despite this; he is not nasty or mean. He is disappointed that Casper isn't interested in scaring people, and reminds the small ghost occasionally that scaring people is what ghosts do. But, afterlife goes on, and Hairy is content to laze about the Angels' apartment, scare the pants off of criminals, and keep an eye on Casper.

Personality. [ ]

Hairy Scary is a mischievous, and care-free ghost, that loves to scare humans. Often considered a trouble-maker by the officers, Hairy Scary is friends with Casper, who he tries to teach the ways of Scaring. He is deeply afraid of bats.

Hairy with Screech Ghost, Winifred Witch and her cat.

This character resembles Captain caveman from the show of the same name. He appeared in Casper's First Christmas and Casper's Halloween Special .

• 1 The Ghostly Trio
• 2 Friendship, Maine
• 3 Casper the Friendly Ghost

Fan-Made Trailer Imagines ‘Casper the Friendly Ghost’ as an Elevated A24 Horror Movie

In the wake of films like Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey  and The Mean One , it seems that no family-friendly kids property is truly safe from the icy cold grip of the horror genre. It’s always fun to imagine beloved non-horror franchises taking a sinister turn, and fan Jared Pelletier has just whipped up his own faux trailer that reimagines Casper in that vein.

“This is a reimagining of Casper the Friendly Ghost as an elevated horror film,” Pelletier tells Bloody Disgusting. “I put this together as part of a contest to showcase how this IP revival could be reimagined – but I’m really just doing this as a massive fan of horror, the Halloween season we’re entering, and as a creative outlet as we navigate the strikes in our business.”

The trailer runs just 60-seconds long but perfectly captures the intended A24 vibe, with a sinister line repetition and dark, mysterious visuals really driving that atmosphere home.

“You just want a friend.” Watch the faux Casper horror movie trailer below!

What’s really going on with the Casper property? Believe it or not, it was just one year ago that Peacock announced a new Casper series with a bit of a “darker interpretation.”

In other words, this faux trailer may not be too far off the mark!

Deadline reported in April 2022, “Casper the Friendly Ghost is coming back to television in a brand new incarnation reminiscent of Riverdale ‘s darker interpretation of the Archie comics. Peacock is developing  Casper,  a live-action, horror/adventure series, which reimagines the origin of Casper in a coming-of-age story that explores what it means to be alive.”

In the planned upcoming Peacock series…

“When a new family arrives in the small town of Eternal Falls, Casper finds himself entangled in a mystery uncovering dark secrets that have been buried for over 100 years.”

Stay tuned for more on Peacock’s new “Casper” series as we learn it.

Writer in the horror community since 2008. Editor in Chief of Bloody Disgusting. Owns Eli Roth's prop corpse from Piranha 3D. Has four awesome cats. Still plays with toys.

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‘Never Hike Alone 2’ – Watch the Feature Length Fan Film Right Now!

The sequel to one of the most acclaimed and respected fan films ever made, Never Hike Alone 2 was unleashed this past Friday the 13th weekend by Womp Stomp Films .

The hotly anticipated sequel essentially serves as an unofficial sequel to Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives , featuring the return of Thom Mathews as franchise hero Tommy Jarvis.

Watch Never Hike Alone 2 by clicking “play” on the video below!

Set as a direct sequel to Never Hike Alone  (2017) and  Never Hike in the Snow  (2020),  Never Hike Alone 2  picks up with Crystal Lake’s haunted son, TOMMY JARVIS ( Thom Mathews ), who has all but given up on his search for the long lost JASON VOORHEES ( Vincente DiSanti ).

However, when Tommy receives an emergency call to pick up injured hiker KYLE MCLEOD ( Andrew Leighty ), he will once again come face-to-face with the ghost of Crystal Lake, setting into motion a blood-soaked conclusion to their deadly rivalry.

Caught between the chaos is DR. DIANA HILL ( Anna Campbell ), still searching for answers to her son’s disappearance, and the ever stubborn SHERIFF RICK COLOGNE ( Vinny Guastaferro ), convinced Tommy is responsible for it all.

Never Hike Alone 2 is written and directed by Vincente DiSanti, and it’s a not-for-profit, fan-funded fan film project that is in no way affiliated with the actual Friday the 13th franchise.

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Screen Rant

This 1990s horror movie got away with so much 28 years ago (& wouldn't work today).

Although it has become iconic, this iconic ghost movie from 28 years ago got away with some things that modern movies couldn't pull off.

• The 1995 movie Casper changed the game by adapting a ghost character into a family-friendly film with impressive CGI for its time.
• Casper featured celebrity cameos from big-name actors and a mix of real-world celebrities, which added to its iconic status.
• While Casper may make a comeback with a live-action show, it can no longer rely on cameos and needs to do something truly original to stand out in today's film landscape.

Somehow, 1995's Casper movie managed to get away with so much when it released 28 years ago, but the iconic ghost movie wouldn't be able to pull off this trick today. Casper is the live-action adaptation of the classic cartoon character, with the friendly ghost making it big when the film released. Although the movie focuses on the elements of Casper that have made the franchise iconic, it pulls off some wild tricks that modern movies have failed to do.

While many ghost movies tend to lean towards the horror genre, Casper changed the game by adapting the character into a family-friendly film. The 1995 film featured jaw-dropping CGI for the time, with this new technology being used to bring Casper and his ghostly friends to life. Casper achieved a lot of milestones upon its release, but one of its most iconic tricks couldn't be pulled off today.

Related: 28-Year-Old Christina Ricci Halloween Classic Beat The Addams Family’s Box Office By $100 Million

Casper's Ghostbusters & Celebrity Cameos Are Still Impressive

One of the most memorable parts of Casper is its celebrity cameos, with the film pulling out some big-name actors for fairly small roles. Some incredibly famous fictional characters appear in the film in an attempt to exorcise the house, including Dan Aykroyd's Ghostbusters character Ray Stantz. Don Novello's Saturday Night Live character Father Guido Sarducci also appears, as well as John Kassir's Cryptkeeper from Tales from the Crypt .

Several real-world celebrities also play themselves in the film, with the stars being seen including Mel Gibson, Clint Eastwood, and Rodney Dangerfield. The level of star power that is present in Casper is absolutely immense, with the lineup still being impressive to this day. The mix of real celebrities and fictional characters constantly keeps the audience on their toes, even if many of them have nothing to do with the Casper franchise.

Related: How Did Casper The Ghost Die?

Why Casper Wouldn't Work In 2023

Although 1995's Casper is a lot of fun, the film simply wouldn't work in 2023. Tons of large IP films have resorted to pulling out old characters in an attempt to nostalgia-bait the audience into enjoying the movie, with the recent trend of multiverse films being a prime example of this. When Casper had random characters and actors appear in 1995, it was still novel. Now, however, it is a tired trend.

Although the Casper franchise may not be as big as it once was in 1995, the series is going to make another attempt at popularity soon. A live-action Casper show is in development for Peacock, meaning that the franchise will get another breath of fresh air. However, Casper can no longer rely on cameos, with the series having to do something truly original in order to stand out.

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Best Family-Friendly Scary Movies

If you're looking for a movie to watch this Halloween that won't scare everyone in the house, look no further than our list of family-friendly spooky films.

• Younger Kids
• Tweens and Teens

Welcome to spooky season! It’s time to carve the pumpkins, hang the spider webs, and cozy up with your family for movie night—costumes or spider PJs optional. Whether your kids are total Halloween newbies or fascinated by werewolves, witches, and everything in between, there are so many great scary movies to choose from. Throw it back to your childhood and introduce your kids to the ‘80s and ‘90s classics that just get better with age, or help younger kids conquer their fears and tiptoe into the underworld with age-appropriate content that will give them a thrill without the nightmares.

Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best family-friendly scary movies for kids and their parents to enjoy. Beware: you may just have an amazing time together! 

Best Family-Friendly Scary Movies for Younger Kids

It’s the great pumpkin, charlie brown (1966).

Linus is alone in his belief in the Great Pumpkin, but he’s not giving up just because his friends pooh-pooh the Halloween figure. He decides to stay up all night in the pumpkin patch to keep watch. Meanwhile, Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanuts crew are busy throwing a Halloween party and trick-or-treating. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is a total classic, one that many families revisit year after year.

Halloweentown (1998)

Rating : PG

The Disney Channel had a great run of Halloween-themed movies in the ‘90s, including the first installment in the Halloweentown series. Legendary actress Debbie Reynolds plays Grandma Aggie, a witch who helps her teenage granddaughter discover her true powers. Halloweentown has a handful of thrills and chills, but younger children will appreciate the adventure while older children will connect with the 13-year-old Marnie.

Casper (1995)

Casper isn’t a scary ghost—he’s a friendly one! This 1995 film based on the beloved cartoon character stars Christina Ricci as Kat, who falls in love with Casper despite the fact that he’s, well, a ghost. Casper is a kind and gentle ghost, making him a great entry point for younger children, and the romance plotline between Kat and Casper is perfect for starry-eyed tweens.

The Addams Family (animated) (2019)

If your kids prefer animated movies, introduce them to the iconic Addams Family with this 2019 movie about the mysterious and spooky crew. Though the Addams fam is decidedly a little creepy and kooky, the heart of the movie is about embracing who you are and celebrating your uniqueness—something all families can identify with. 

Paranorman (2012)

Norman is a normal kid with an extraordinary ability: he can talk to the dead. This comes in handy when a curse descends upon Norman’s town and he needs to search within himself to become the hero his friends and family need. As its title would suggest, Paranorman heavily features the paranormal—including ghosts and zombies—so if your kids are sensitive to those spooky creatures, you might want to skip this one. However, Paranorman can teach kids (and parents!) a thoughtful lesson about confidence and courage.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

You simply can’t have a Halloween-centric movie list without Jack Skellington! Tim Burton’s classic about the mayor of Halloweentown who discovers Christmas is a must for many families come October—and well into the holidays. Kids will love the stop motion style and fantastic soundtrack.

Coco (2017)

Pixar’s Coco isn’t a Halloween movie per se, but Miguel’s adventure into the Land of the Dead, where he meets his great-great-grandfather and discovers a long-buried family secret that could change everything on the other side, is a beautiful, touching family story. (Seriously, you will need tissues.) It’s also a wonderful way to introduce kids to the traditions of Dia de los Muertos, including family ofrendas and why remembering those who have passed on is so important.

Hotel Transylvania (2012)

Imagine if Dracula ditched his coffin and opened up a fancy hotel instead? That’s the premise of this 2012 animated movie, which spawned several sequels. Dracula, voiced by Adam Sandler, throws a party for his daughter Mavis (Selena Gomez), complete with the mummies, monsters, and other spooky creatures you’d expect from such a figure, but when Mavis falls in love with (gasp!) a regular human, what’s a vampire to do? Given that the movie stars Adam Sandler, you know you’re in for some LOLs—parents included.

Goosebumps (2015)

Parents who devoured the Goosebumps series as kids will love introducing their children to a new generation of scary stories. It’s a little self-referential, in a good way; Jack Black, a mainstay in kids’ movies, plays author R.L. Stine, who must help his daughter and her friend fight all of his most monstrous creations. Like the original books, the Goosebumps movie is definitely creepy, but not terrifying; kids who are fascinated by spooky, scary stuff will be all about it, and probably ask to read the series after seeing the movie. ( More reading = great for everyone!)

Monster House (2006)

Houses can be haunted, but can they be actual monsters? That’s the premise of this 2006 animated movie, where a run-down house in the neighborhood isn’t just an abandoned property; it’s an evil creature that must be defeated! Monster House may be a bit too scary for very little kids, but older children will enjoy the heroic teens who take on the house. 

Scooby-Doo (2002)

This 2000s remake of the iconic cartoon series has been having a resurgence lately, and parents who enjoyed it in their youth will have just as much fun seeing it through twenty- or thirty-something eyes. The Mystery Gang comes back together to solve a series of spooky happenings at a tropical resort. Kids who enjoy the cartoon series will have fun with a live-action retelling; just be prepared to explain the weed jokes. 

Monsters, Inc. (2001)

If your little ones are afraid of monsters in their closet, help them conquer those fears with Pixar’s beloved Monsters, Inc. It’s about Sully and Mike, two monsters working at a scare factory, who encounter a human girl on their side of the closet door. It turns out they’re afraid of her! In true Pixar fashion, Monsters, Inc. is packed with parent-friendly humor and a sweet, heartfelt message.

Disney/Pixar

The Haunted Mansion (2003)

Disneyworld’s iconic Haunted Mansion got the silver screen treatment in 2003. In the original movie, Eddie Murphy plays a realtor trying to sell a haunted mansion, but before he can offload it, he and his family get stuck inside. Thrills ensue, and he learns an important lesson about family. Disney recently remade the movie starring Rosario Dawson, Danny DeVito, and LaKeith Stanfield, so you could even do a double feature! 

Corpse Bride (2005)

When Victor accidentally finds himself married to the titular corpse bride Emily, he must help her seek closure and escape the underworld in time to marry his true love, Victoria. Corpse Bride, another Tim Burton fave, has a beautiful melancholy that kids and parents will find touching...and perhaps a little creepy too.

Wallace & Gromit’s The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)

The beloved British claymation series Wallace & Gromit gets the Halloween treatment. Something is eating all the vegetables in their neighborhood, and it’s not just a sweet little rabbit. It’s a were-rabbit! This G-rated movie is less scary and more silly, so it’s ideal for younger kids who want to get into the spirit but aren’t ready for ghosts and ghouls.

Best Family-Friendly Scary Movies for Tweens and Teens

Addams family and addams family values (live action) (1991, 1993).

Rating : PG-13

It’s not Halloween in my house without a rewatch of the beloved ‘90s live-action Addams Family movies starring Anjelica Huston as Morticia and Christina Ricci as Wednesday. These movies have more adult themes and outright thrills than the animated version, so they’re probably best for older kids and tweens. Parents will love the sly references and witty banter, and kids will love the swordfighting, Mamushka-dancing action of Gomez, Fester and the rest of the crew.

Gremlins (1984)

The furry little mogwai monsters are so adorable...or are they? This ‘80s classic has become a Halloween mainstay for a reason; it’s an essential part of pop culture and spawned a series of sequels. Just remember the rules: no bright lights, no water, and no food after midnight—or you may pay the price. Gremlins is probably best for tweens-plus, as younger kids may mistake their stuffed animals for the little monsters.

Warner Bros. Pictures/Amblin E/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images

The Witches (1990)

No one does creepy like Roald Dahl, and this ‘90s adaptation of his book The Witches is both kooky and spooky. A young boy must save the world from a convention of witches, and while they look glamorous on the surface, they’re not as benevolent as they seem. (Seriously, Anjelica Huston’s Grand High Witch is really scary under her makeup!) Do a double feature with the 1990 movie and the 2020 remake starring Anne Hathaway and Octavia Spencer.

Hocus Pocus (1993)

Rating : PG 

It’s not Halloween without the Sanderson sisters! Winnifred, Sarah, and Mary come back from the dead on Halloween to run amok in Salem and only Max, his sister Dani, and his crush Allison can stop them. For many families, Hocus Pocus is a spooky season rite of passage, though certain elements may be a little too intense for younger kids, including Winnifred’s zombie boyfriend Billy and the intro death scenes. Oh, and don’t forget the 2022 sequel!

Coraline (2009)

“Be careful what you wish for,” reads the tagline of this 2009 movie. When young Coraline finds a secret world in her new home, the alternate universe at first seems like everything she ever dreamed...but of course, there’s a dark side. Coraline isn’t just visually stunning; it’s also a thoughtful meditation on how getting what you think you want may not be such a blessing after all.

Beetlejuice (1988)

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice! When Adam and Barbara die in a tragic accident and hate the people who moved into their home, they hire the titular Beetlejuice to get rid of them. Things don’t go according to plan, of course. Beetlejuice is a longtime favorite for so many ‘80s and ‘90s kids, so parents will love revisiting it through grown-up eyes. 

Ghostbusters (1984)

The ‘80s was such a great time for scary movies, especially those that were half-comedy, half-horror. Case in point, the original Ghostbusters , which continues to be a favorite today. (Not to mention a really cute family costume idea.) Parents will love the jokes and kids will flip over the action and the Slimer, though some of the monsters may be too scary for younger children. 

Spirited Away (2001)

This beautifully drawn animated film from Japan is about a young girl who happens upon an abandoned theme park—one populated by spirits. Chihiro must save her parents, who have been turned into pigs, and save herself. Spirited Away is an Oscar-winning film cherished by adults and kids alike, and if your kids are interested in anime, they’ll fall in love with the heroic Chihiro and root for her as she navigates the spirit realm.

Return to Oz (1985)

Toto, we’re really not in Kansas anymore! This ‘80s movie, based on a handful of the original Oz books by L. Frank Baum, is a major departure from the 1930s classic film. Dorothy has returned from Oz and is now undergoing shock treatments. She escapes the hospital and ends up back in Oz with a new cast of characters, including the notably terrifying Wheelers, the Gnome King, and her pals Jack Pumpkinhead and Tik-Tok. Return to Oz is a much darker take on Oz, but a fun complement to the original.

Labyrinth (1986)

A young Jennifer Connelly plays Sarah, who must adventure into a labyrinth to rescue her younger brother from the evil Goblin King. This Jim Henson movie is beyond iconic, and not just because it also stars David Bowie as the aforementioned king. Henson’s Muppet creatures make the Labyrinth universe even more exciting, and the costumes are so ‘80s in the best way.

Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

Ariana Grande agrees that Little Shop of Horrors is required viewing come Halloween; the pop star dressed up like the human Audrey for Halloween a few years ago and counts it as one of her faves. The ‘80s musical is about Seymour, a florist whose flesh-eating (and singing!) plant Audrey II starts eating people. Kids who love theater will immediately click with Little Shop , and it may just bring out the musical side in parents too! 

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Hollywood loves a ghost movie. These are the best ones to watch this Halloween

A g-g-g- ghost!

That — spluttering and all — was the usual reaction to Casper, the Friendly Ghost. Ghosts scare people. Even if, like Casper in the old cartoons, they just want to be your friend.

Ghosts, as a matter of fact, often have more on their minds than just saying "boo!"

Sometimes, as in "Macbeth," "Julius Caesar," and "Hamlet," they come back to scold, warn, prod. Sometimes, as in "A Christmas Carol," they do interventions.

And sometimes — as in "Ghostbusters" — ghosts just wanna have fun.

At Halloween, our annual festival of fear, they'll always have a place of honor — if only because their costume is a gift to the lazy. White sheet, two holes, done. Coincidentally, ghosts are also among the simplest of Hollywood's special effects. Double exposure is as old as film itself.

Maybe that's why ghosts have haunted movie theaters for 120 years — ever since Georges Méliès made "The Apparition" in 1903. And Halloween is a great time to catch up with the best of them. Here are some of our favorites.

Never fear! There are over 100 scary Halloween things to do, read and see in North Jersey

With this caveat: Hollywood's ghosts, like all ghosts, have mixed motives. Not every ghost movie is meant to scare you.

Some movie ghosts are wistful. Or romantic. Or funny. Or even thought provoking.

But others? BEWARRRRRE!!!!!!

'A Ghost Story' (2017)

There are sad ghosts, just like there are sad clowns. Casey Affleck, for instance — killed in a crash, who comes back to his old home to haunt his grieving wife, Rooney Mara. Ludicrously, wistfully, he looks exactly like a trick-or-treat ghost — the sheet with two eyes. This minimalist meditation on time, grief and memory, from writer-director David Lowery, is slow, unsettling. Haunting, in a word. Vudu, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google, Apple.

'The Others' (2001)

The other whats? Not humans, for sure, in this moody tale of a woman (Nicole Kidman), her photo-sensitive children, and her servants, in an isolated house in the Channel Islands where — it turns out — they are not quite so alone after all. Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu.

'Sixth Sense' (1999)

"I see dead people." And there's a reason for that, in M. Night Shyamalan's much-discussed thriller featuring a psychologist (Bruce Willis), a disturbed and disturbing child (Haley Joel Osment), and a famous "shock" ending that we won't spoil — though you probably know it already. Peacock, Apple TV, Vudu, Amazon Prime.

'Ghost' (1990)

The ghost: Patrick Swayze. The widow: Demi Moore. The medium: Whoopi Goldberg. The revelation: pottery. Who knew it was sexy? This iconic '90s film may or may not be a classic of supernatural love. But it's certainly Hollywood's greatest advertisement for ceramics class. Max, Roku, Spectrum TV, Prime Video, Vudu, Apple TV, Redbox.

'Beetlejuice' (1988)

Leave it to Tim Burton to tell a ghost story from the ghost's point of view. In this case, about a ghostly couple (Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis) who hire an ectoplasmic exterminator (Michael Keaton) to rid their house of its human pests. Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice! There, we've said it. Amazon Prime, Vudu, Apple TV.

'Ghostbusters' (1984)

Who could resist Slimer, Zuul, and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man? Apparently only Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd — which is why they had to be called in in the first place. This monster hit earned a place in comedy history, but — heretical opinion — we prefer "Ghostbusters II" (1989), with its demonic spirit Vigo (Norbert Grupe), a sort of ectoplasmic Vlad the Impaler, and his nutty enabler Dr Janosz Poha (Peter MacNicol, borrowing the Polish accent of his "Sophie's Choice" co-star, Meryl Streep) who warns the heroes that to Vigo "you are like the buzzing of flies!" USA Network, OXYGEN, SYFY, Bravo, E!, Prime Video, ROW8, Apple TV, Vudu.

'Poltergeist' (1982)

This Tobe Hooper/Steven Spielberg shocker goes a bit over the top in the last act. But the early scenes, involving a nice suburban daddy (Craig T. Nelson), his nice normal family, and his sweet little daughter (Heather O'Rourke), who gets sucked into the TV set, are notably creepy, and Zelda Rubenstein is unforgettable as the medium with the happy message: "All are welcome in the light!" Max, Philo, Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu or Redbox, or on TCM 12:30 a.m. Oct. 18.

'The Shining' (1980)

Just because you're dead, doesn't mean you don't have to earn a living. In "The Shining," Stanley Kubrick's epic rendering of the Stephen King novel, the ghosts include butler Grady (Philip Stone) and bartender Lloyd (Joe Turkel), who do their best to make homicidal Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) comfortable as he plots to murder his wife and child in an empty, snowbound hotel. Kubrick brought a new twist to ghost movies: all the scary stuff happens in broad daylight. Which makes it worse. Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, and Vudu.

'The Fog' (1980)

"It's not the fog. It's what's in the fog!" Carcinogens? No — it's the ghosts of an evil ship's crew lurking within the creepy mist that blankets Point Reyes, California. John Carpenter's flashlight-in-the-face ghost yarn, starring the inevitable Adrienne Barbeau and Jamie Lee Curtis, is good spooky fun. Prime Video, Apple TV or Vudu.

'The Haunting' (1963)

Even ghosts gotta live somewhere. Hence, the Haunted House — one of Hollywood's favorite pieces of real estate. This one is especially nasty, with its middle-of-the-night pounding, cold spots, and a memorably unstable spiral staircase. Naturally, the 1999 remake (both are based on Shirley Jackson's "The Haunting of Hill House") upped the shocks — and naturally, no one talks about it. Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, Apple TV, or on TCM 1:30 a.m. Oct. 21.

'Carnival of Souls' (1962)

This unique low-budget chiller, featuring a haunted amusement pier, has a twist that out-Shyamalans M. Night Shyamalan. Recommended. Amazon Video, Google Play, YouTube, Vudu, Microsoft Store, Apple TV.

'The Innocents' (1961)

Two sweet children. A spunky governess. But this isn't "The Sound of Music." Because these kids are haunted by evil spirits. Or else the governess is losing her mind. And either way, this gorgeously photographed, subtly spooky rendering of Henry James' "The Turn of the Screw" is probably the best ghost movie ever made. Deborah Kerr's performance is a tour de force. Netflix, Amazon, Vudu.

'The Ghost and Mrs. Muir' (1947)

Is a ghost your ideal mate? eHarmony might not think so. But Hollywood has occasionally thought otherwise. The best of all the otherworldly love stories is probably this one — about an independent-minded widow (Gene Tierney) circa 1900, who is romanced by the ghost of a cranky sea captain (Rex Harrison). It sounds trite — but the movie has a depth and melancholy that is hard to forget. A lot of it has to do with the seaside setting, and Bernard Herrmann's exquisite music. Prime Video, Apple TV or Vudu or TCM 8 p.m. Oct. 20.

'Dead of Night' (1945)

This omnibus film of the uncanny — a sort of dry run for "The Twilight Zone" — includes several ghost stories. Best of all is the convalescing patient, and the ghostly hearse driver who calls up to him: "Just room for one inside sir!" Guess who, a week later, is driving the bus to take him home from the hospital. iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Vudu.

'The Uninvited' (1944)

It sounds like a problem for Miss Manners. But it's actually a problem for Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey, whose lovely seaside house on the Cornwall coast is plagued by ghostly sobbing, inexplicable cold drafts, and the scent of Mimosa that was associated with the murderess who lived there years before. Hollywood's first attempt at a "serious" ghost movie — though mild by today's standards — still holds up pretty well. TCM 11:45 p.m. Oct. 20.

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Casper the Friendly Ghost - The Complete Collection (1950-59)

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