Ghost World

Name: Ghost World
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: July 20, 2001
Duration: 111 min
Rating: 90
Cast: Steve Buscemi, Thora Birch

2001

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 31 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 183 Ratings

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8.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 183 Ratings

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Ghost World

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Movie Details & Credits

United Artists | Release Date: July 20, 2001 | R

Starring: Steve Buscemi, Thora Birch

Summary: Based on the well-known comic, Ghost World tells the story of neo-cool Enid (Thora Birch) and Rebecca (Scarlett Johansson) who, faced with high school graduation take a hard look at the world they wryly observe and decide what they really want. [MGM / UA]

Director: Terry Zwigoff

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 111 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Andrew O'Hehir

Offers an exquisite tour of the twilight zone between high school and the so-called real world, as well as between bohemian subculture and the even stranger culture of America at large. Read full review

100

Dana Stevens

It's surely the best depiction of teenage eccentricity since "Rushmore," and its incisive satire of the boredom and conformity that rule our thrill-seeking, individualistic land, and also its question-mark ending, reminded me of "The Graduate." Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

A buoyant, funny, and disarmingly humane comedy of beautiful losers in revolt. Read full review

Peter Travers

Let the unsettling secrets of this outrageously funny and steadily engrossing meditation on the life of two high school misfits after graduation catch you by surprise. It's that good. Read full review

Steven Rea

There's a loneliness at the heart of this world, and Ghost World, that's really touching -- and a bit scary, too. Read full review

Lou Lumenick

As hip, funny and truthful a sleeper as has ever flown under Tinseltown's radar. Read full review

Michael Wilmington

What I did like unreservedly was the acting. Enid, as enacted by the sometimes astonishing Birch, is one of the more convincing, no-nonsense teens in recent movies. Read full review

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User Reviews

ElectroNick

Apr 20, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This film perfectly encapsulates the "smart Cinema" sub-genre and uses it to it's advantage t o tell a story with interesting social commentary and a compelling protagonist. The film has a unique laid-back tone like "The Big Lebowski" with a protagonist who doesn't care what people think of them. However this films seems to have a more cynical view of the world than the Coen's comedic masterpiece does. It pokes fun at today's Post Modern culture and how shallow everything has become. The title of the film is significant because it captures the meaning of the film about how materialism and the post-modern culture is really nothing more than a shell to hide truth but instead enforce people to pursue mindless escapism. Enid (played by Thora Birch) also acts a ghost since she feels that she doesn't belong in that post-modern world. Her sarcastic sense of humor leads to a lot of subtle humor that might go over the heads of the average movie going audience but it doesn't detract from the importance of what she is saying. She even realizes that her future love interest Seymour (played by Steve Buschemi) is also a ghost in the modern world since he fails to connect to the modern world and prefers to surround himself in antiaques. Another major theme is post-modern societies inability to accept the harshness of their present and past states. For example, Enid tells many potential costumers about the film they are going to watch as a shallow experience (in her usual sarcastic manner) which causes her boss to fire her. The consumers give a static and uncaring look when she warns about the picture since they have been conditioned to accept whatever has been thrown at them without questioning. Enid's questioning is damaging to the post-modern culture because it takes the empty copying of a formula to ridicule. Another interesting piece of post-modern culture that the film takes into ridicule is the in ability to accept the reality of history which is where the infamous "coon-skin" poster comes in. The poster has a picture of a character from a mistral show which caused a lot of people at the art show to take umbrage with it. It contrasts with the fifties diner that played modern rap music as a way to hide the actual state of racial relations at the time period the diner was supposedly paying homage to. The poster is an actual artifact from that time-period which many people choose to ignore since it causes people to question how things have actually improved from those days. The ending in particular captures that attitude of the "Smart Cinema" movement since Edith goes on a bus at the end of the film and her fate is left unstated. This allows the audience to determine what happens to her and to come to their own conclusions as opposed to being blindly told what had happened. This film is an excellent comedy with timeless satire that wont go into the state of irrelevance anytime soon.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ryancarroll88

Aug 27, 2010

Much like Zwigoff's "Crumb," this movie exists wholly in a field of its own, and its constant eccentricities give it all the more power to captivate the viewer. Aside from being perfectly casted, the scripting/editing really give the movie its edge, as many of the characters are defined byMuch like Zwigoff's "Crumb," this movie exists wholly in a field of its own, and its constant eccentricities give it all the more power to captivate the viewer. Aside from being perfectly casted, the scripting/editing really give the movie its edge, as many of the characters are defined by one-liners and quick shots.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Farwell3d

Feb 27, 2011

Hands down, the best movie of the 00's thus far. One of the greatest films ever made, a masterpiece. The career best performances for Thora Birch, Scarlett Johansson, and Steve Buscemi. Funny, touching, moving, and just enough of a mean streak to elevate it, without enough to hurt it.Hands down, the best movie of the 00's thus far. One of the greatest films ever made, a masterpiece. The career best performances for Thora Birch, Scarlett Johansson, and Steve Buscemi. Funny, touching, moving, and just enough of a mean streak to elevate it, without enough to hurt it. One of the best films ever to measure whether or not someone is a film fan, or just looking for mindless entertainment. The former will love this, the latter should go watch trash like Transformers 2.… Expand

5 of 5 users found this helpful50

EpicLadySponge

Apr 18, 2016

Ghost World is a perfect example of how can you make something look epic just by looking at it. I love how they make it look completely detailed by the way I look at it.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

zizoou91

Jun 26, 2015

i just saw a new movie with a definitely a new story, you may never see a movie like this one. and very nice act from Steve Buscemi, Thora Birch and Scarlett Johansson. now it will be come one of my favorite movie.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Onlyclassicvg1

Oct 4, 2022

The Little Mermaid is one of my top 5 favorite princess movies, one of my top 10 favorite romance movies, one of my favorite Disney and animated movies, one of my favorite musical movies, and one of my favorite movies of all time. The soundtrack is stupendous especially the songs Pa

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JamesL.

Jul 27, 2006

I can't believe Birch was nominated for a Golden Globe for this. I saw Ghost World in the theater, and I wasn't the only one laughing at scenes that were supposed to be touching. Poorly acted, poorly directed, and far less imaginative than it thinks it is. A big disappointment I can't believe Birch was nominated for a Golden Globe for this. I saw Ghost World in the theater, and I wasn't the only one laughing at scenes that were supposed to be touching. Poorly acted, poorly directed, and far less imaginative than it thinks it is. A big disappointment from Zwigoff; an even bigger letdown that the critics seem blind to the movie's myriad flaws.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful

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6	#6 Best Movie of 2001
46	#46 Most Discussed Movie of 2001
61	#61 Most Shared Movie of 2001