The Haunted Mansion (2003)

A realtor and his wife and children are summoned to a mansion, which they soon discover is haunted, and while they attempt to escape, he learns an important lesson about the family he has neglected.

Director:

Rob Minkoff

Writer:

David Berenbaum

Stars:

Eddie Murphy, Marsha Thomason, Jennifer Tilly

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Eddie Murphy	...	Jim Evers
Terence Stamp	...	Ramsley
Nathaniel Parker	...	Master Gracey
Marsha Thomason	...	Sara Evers
Jennifer Tilly	...	Madame Leota
Wallace Shawn	...	Ezra
Dina Spybey-Waters	...	Emma (as Dina Waters)
Marc John Jefferies	...	Michael
Aree Davis	...	Megan
Jim Doughan	...	Mr. Coleman
Rachael Harris	...	Mrs. Coleman (as Rachel Harris)
Steve Hytner	...	Mr. Silverman
Heather Juergensen	...	Mrs. Silverman
Jeremy Howard	...	Hitchhiking Ghost
Deep Roy	...	Hitchhiking Ghost

Storyline

Married realtors Jim and Sara with their children go to Gracey Manor and Mr. Gracey is enamored with Sara and they discover that Sara looks like Mr. Gracey's old girlfriend, Elizabeth, who died young and they think it was a suicide but discover something more sinister.

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Plot Keywords:

haunted house | ghost | thunderstorm | crystal ball | arachnophobia | 

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Taglines:

Check your pulse at the door... if you have one.

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Horror | Mystery

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for frightening images, thematic elements and language

Details

Official Sites:

Disney [Brazil] Disney [France]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 November 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Disney's The Haunted Mansion

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$90,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$24,278,410, 30 November 2003, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$75,847,266

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$182,290,266

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Pictures, Gunn Films, Doom Buggy Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Disney theme-park ride's theme song, "Grim Grinning Ghosts", makes a short appearance in the movie, but the all of the background music is some version of the song. Thurl Ravenscroft is the soloist for this song on the Disney ride, but he wasn't able to sing for the movie version of the song.

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Goofs

When Jim is thrown out of the mansion and lands on his car, all the the doors lock and all of the shutters on the windows close. However in the very next scene, the window shutters in the room are clearly open.

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Quotes

[Jim sees the Hitchhiking Ghosts peering into the carriage]
Jim: Hey! Hey, what are you doing?
Hitchhiking Ghost: Can they see us?
Hitchhiking Ghost: No, of course not!
Jim: Yes, I can see you. I'm looking at you right now in your stupid hat!
Hitchhiking Ghost: Don't listen to him! He's lying!
Jim: OK whatever. C'mon kids.
Hitchhiking Ghost: I could swear he was looking right at me.
Hitchhiking Ghost: He's psychic.

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Crazy Credits

Look for a "special" message from Madame Leota at the end of the credit roll. It sounds deadly familiar to the ending of the Disneyland ride.

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Connections

Spoofs A Christmas Carol (1951)

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Soundtracks

Somebody's Watching Me
Performed by Morris Day
Produced by John E. Rhone and Ontario Haynes

User Reviews

Not as bad as many lead you to believe.

This was a very poorly reviewed film, and it didn't deserve such flack. For me, it was a dumb, entertaining movie with some heart. For others, it was a terrible job of emulating the classic Disney ride and just another stupid Eddie Murphy comedy vehicle. Though I'd rather go on the ride as opposed to watching this, it still has it's charm. This movie is about a Realtor (Murphy) and his family traveling to a haunted mansion for a business deal. While in the house they learn some strange things and end up traveling through various rooms found in the ride (the bride, the ballroom, Madame Leota, the graveyard with the singing busts). In the end, this is a fun movie for kids, and amusing for adults, with fun references, and a fun performance by Murphy and the kids.

My rating: ** 1/2 out of ****. 85 mins. PG for mild language, violence