Movie Details:
| Based on | Casper the Friendly Ghost by Seymour Reit, Joe Oriolo, Vincent E. Valentine II |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genres | Comedy, Family, Fantasy |
| Release date | May 26, 1995 |
| Running time | 1hr 41min |
| Age rating | PG |
| Starring | Malachi Pearson Christina Ricci Bill Pullman Cathy Moriarty Eric Idle |
| Directed by | Brad Silberling |
| Written by | Sherri Stoner Deanna Oliver |
| Produced by | Colin Wilson |
| Cinematography by | Dean Cundey |
| Edited by | Michael Kahn |
| Music by | James Horner |
| Production Company | Amblin Entertainment The Harvey Entertainment Company |
| Distributor | Universal Pictures |
Cast & Characters:
- Malachi Pearson as the voice of Casper McFadden, a lonely ghost who was originally a 12-year-old boy who died of pneumonia. He spends most of his afterlife in Whipstaff Manor, dealing with his ghostly ghoulish uncles’ antics while hoping to find a friend. He finds one in Kat, while also developing a crush on her.
- Devon Sawa portrays Casper in his human form
- Christina Ricci as Kathleen “Kat” Harvey, Dr. Harvey’s 13-year-old daughter and Casper’s love interest who has lost her mother and wants to make a friend.
- Bill Pullman as Dr. James Harvey, Kat’s widowed father; a ghost therapist interacting with the ‘living impaired’, helping them to cross into the next dimension while hoping to find his deceased wife.
- Cathy Moriarty as Catherine “Carrigan” Crittenden, a glamorous, treacherous, and greedy woman upset about her late father only leaving Whipstaff Manor to her in his will. She discovers that the house contains a treasure, though unknown to her is only Casper’s baseball. She hires Dr. Harvey to exorcise the ghosts to get it. Carrigan ultimately dies and becomes a ghost, before being ejected into the afterlife for all eternity.
- Eric Idle as Paul “Dibs” Plutzker, Carrigan’s attorney.
- Joe Nipote is the voice of Stretch, the hot-tempered leader of the Ghostly Trio who bonds with Dr. Harvey. He is the eldest member of the trio.
- Brad Garrett as the voice of Fatso. He is usually the outlet for Stretch’s anger, and he is known for being obese.
- Joe Alaskey as the voice of Stinkie. The quietest of the three, he is known for his odor, particularly his halitosis.
- Garette Ratliff Henson as Vic DePhillippi, Kat’s crush and Amber’s friend.
- Jessica Wesson as Amber Whitmire, Kat’s rival and Vic’s friend.
- Amy Brenneman as Amelia Harvey, James’ deceased wife, and Kat’s mother.
- Ben Stein as Rugg, Carrigan’s lawyer.
- Chauncey Leopardi and Spencer Vrooman as Nicky and Andreas, two preteen boys who explore Whipstaff in the opening scene.
- Wesley Thompson as Mr. Curtis, Kat, Amber, and Vic’s form teacher.
- Michael McCarty as a bar drunk.
Cameos
- Don Novello as Father Guido Sarducci, is called in by Carrigan to attempt an exorcism.
- Dan Aykroyd as Ray Stantz, was called in by Carrigan to exterminate the Ghostly Trio.
- Fred Rogers (archive footage)
- Terry Murphy
- Clint Eastwood as himself
- Rodney Dangerfield as himself
- Mel Gibson as himself
- John Kassir as The Crypt Keeper (voice)
- Brock Winkless performed the puppetry for the Crypt Keeper in the film
- Jess Harnell as the voice of Casper’s Arnold Schwarzenegger impression
Storyline:
The story follows Casper, a friendly ghost who haunts Whipstaff Manor in Friendship, Maine. When Dr. James Harvey, a paranormal therapist, is hired to rid the mansion of its ghosts, he moves in with his daughter Kat. The film explores Casper’s desire for friendship and his tragic backstory, which reveals that he died as a young boy and has been haunting the manor ever since.
About Movie:
Casper is an American supernatural fantasy comedy film directed by Brad Silberling. It marks Silberling’s feature film directorial debut and is based on the Harvey Comics character Casper the Friendly Ghost, created by Seymour Reit and Joe Oriolo. The film features a cast that includes Christina Ricci as Kat Harvey, Bill Pullman as Dr. James Harvey, Cathy Moriarty as Carrigan Crittenden, and Eric Idle as Dibs. The voice of Casper is provided by Malachi Pearson, with additional voice talents from Joe Nipote, Joe Alaskey, and Brad Garrett.
Visual Effects
Casper was notable for its extensive use of computer-generated imagery (CGI), making it the first feature film to have a fully CGI character in the lead role. The film presents a darker interpretation of Casper compared to previous adaptations, incorporating themes of loss and friendship.
Reception
Released on May 26, 1995, Casper received mixed reviews from critics. While many praised its visual effects, music score, and the portrayal of the title character, some criticized its dark tone and humor. The film grossed approximately $288 million worldwide against a budget of $55 million.
Legacy
The success of Casper led to two direct-to-video prequels: Casper: A Spirited Beginning (1997) and Casper Meets Wendy (1998). It also inspired an animated television spin-off titled The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper. Despite mixed critical reception, Casper remains a nostalgic favorite for many viewers and is recognized for its emotional depth and innovative use of CGI in storytelling.
Budget & Box Office Collection:
| Budget | $55 million |
| Opening Day | $16,840,385 |
| Domestic Collection | $100,439,549 |
| International Collection | $187,600,000 |
| Worldwide Collection | $288,039,549 |
