One spooky movie made a huge cultural impact when it was first released in 1995, and now, 30 years on, children can experience it in cinemas for the first time as adults reminisce. Whether you’re a fan of the film from your own childhood and want to see the magic of Casper on screen, or are looking to introduce it to an entirely new generation, you’re in luck.
The iconic American fantasy film is making a return to the big screen to celebrate 30 years since its release. Based on the famed cartoon character, Casper the Friendly Ghost, the 90s Halloween-esque film was directed by Brad Silberling in what was his directorial debut. It became the first-ever feature film to have an entirely CGI character as a lead role, that being Casper, voiced by Malachi Pearson.
Unlike other interpretations of the character, the 1995 film offers a much darker interpretation of Casper. It provides a harrowing backstory to the character’s death and what led him to being a ghost, as a 12-year-old boy who died of pneumonia.
One long-time fan of the film took to Rotten Tomatoes to say: “Loved this movie 30 years ago. Loved it just as much this time around. Took the family; we had a blast. The special effects still hold up.”
Another fan wrote: “Thirty years ago, critics didn’t like it — even I thought it was just so-so. But compared to today’s unimaginative and repetitive movies, it’s now a charming, wholesome, state-of-the-art (even to today’s standards) piece of entertainment with impressive special effects.
“Bill Pullman feels underused in the film, but Christina Ricci and Casper make a great duo. A great family movie.”
The film saw Christina Ricci as a child star, following her breakout role as Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family a few years prior. Her role as Kathleen Harvey sees her play a 13-year-old who’s falling for Casper after the loss of her mother and her desperation to make a friend.
After seeing the film recently, another viewer shared: “Seeing this classic movie 30 years later, after watching it in the theatres when I was seven, was very nostalgic. It’s a movie I always enjoy, and it’s a must-watch if you haven’t done so yet. During the Halloween season is even better!”
Casper is making a comeback to cinemas sporadically throughout the last week of this month, in ode to Halloween and its big anniversary. Cinemas screening the film once again include Odeon and Vue, as well as a range of independent cinemas, so it’s best to keep your eyes peeled.
Check your local cinema today to see if you can catch a screening of Casper in time for Halloween, before it’s too late. To watch the 1995 classic at home, you can stream the fantasy comedy now on Disney+.