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Casper (1995)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 4.8/10
Reviews Counted: 35
Fresh: 15 | Rotten: 20

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

Average Rating: 4.5/10
Critic Reviews: 10
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 7

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

audience

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Average Rating: 3/5
User Ratings: 358,364

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Movie Info

Based on the popular cartoon character, this family-oriented "ghost story" is about a not-so-scary spirit who bonds with a little girl (Christina Ricci). The eternally irritable Ms. Carrigan (Cathy Moriarty) discovers that the only thing she's been left in her recently departed father's will is a rickety old house in New England. Naturally, the woman is furious about this, until her "close personal friend" and assistant, Dibbs (Eric Idle of Monty Python fame), discovers a secret message that a

PG, 1 hr. 40 min.

Drama, Kids & Family, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Directed By: Brad Silberling

In Theaters: May 26, 1995 Wide

On DVD: Sep 23, 2003

Universal Pictures

Casper Trailer & Photos

Cast

Christina Ricci
Kat Harvey
Bill Pullman
Dr. Harvey
Cathy Moriarty
Carrigan Crittenden
Eric Idle
Dibs
Malachi Pearson
Casper
Joe Nipote
Stretch
Joe Alaskey
Stinkie
J.J. Anderson
Student
Rodney Dangerfield
Himself (uncredited)
Brad Garrett
Fatso
Garette Ratliff Henson
Vic
John Kassir
Crypt Keeper
Chauncey Leopardi
Nicky
Ernestine Mercer
Woman Being Interviewed
Mister Rogers
Himself
Don Novello
Father Guido Sarducci
Mike Simmrin
Phantom
Ben Stein
Rugg
Dan Aykroyd
Doctor Raymond Stantz (...
Clint Eastwood
Himself (uncredited)
Mel Gibson
Himself (uncredited)
Wesley Thompson
Mr Curtis
Devon Sawa
Casper in Person
Jessica Wesson
Amber
Amy Brenneman
Amelia Harvey
Spencer Vrooman
Andreas

Critic Reviews for Casper

All Critics (35) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (15) | Rotten (20) | DVD (7)

A fairy tale with the soul of a rerun.

July 6, 2010 Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly

| Comment

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 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment

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 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Brian Lowry

Variety

Top Critic

Casper's movie is not the cleverest one around, but its hero may be the most lovable.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Caryn James

New York Times

Top Critic

This doesn't usually happen to me, but 15 minutes before the end of Casper I suddenly realized that if I didn't take a deep breath, I was going to start sobbing.

June 18, 2002 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle

| Comment

Mick LaSalle

San Francisco Chronicle

Top Critic

As a technical achievement, it's impressive, and entertaining. And there is even a little winsome philosophy.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times

| Comment

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

Haunted house tale not as mild as the cartoons.

January 2, 2011 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Polly M. Robertus

Common Sense Media

Only Ricci, strange gothic child that she is, gets close to shining next to the animation.

July 16, 2010 Full Review Source: Film4

| Comment

Film4

t's aimed squarely at the tinies, but there is charm enough here to make it bearable for adults too.

July 16, 2010 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine

| Comment

Jane Howdle

Empire Magazine

he's a friendly little guy ain't he

July 18, 2007 Comment

Stefan Birgir Stefansson

sbs.is

The high-tech animation is completely persuasive; nothing else is.

April 18, 2007 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

| Comment

TV Guide's Movie Guide

The set design, however, merely disguises what is in fact an intimate and likeable picture.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Wally Hammond

Time Out

Nice kid's story. Good efects. Who would say that this innocent girl will become a sensual actrees...

October 20, 2005 Comment

Luis Martinez

Cinenganos

A hollow and garish echo of the sweet little ghost.

April 3, 2005 Comment

Scott Weinberg

eFilmCritic.com

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Casper

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A kids film that made me more scared that happy. Not something you should show kids who believe in ghosts.

October 23, 2011

Sophie Burgess

Super Reviewer

An old fave from childhood, Casper is grown up enough to still be enjoyed. Although as an adult you pick up on themes a lot more than you do as a child, I think Casper has enough depth to keep me putting it in my DVD player for years to come, even if I do so under the pretense of my child wanting to watch it.

August 25, 2011