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We Have a Ghost

  • 2023
  • PG-13
  • 2h 6m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
26K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
789
75
We Have a Ghost (2023)
Finding a ghost named Ernest haunting their new home turns Kevin's family into overnight social media sensations. But when Kevin and Ernest investigate the mystery of Ernest's past, they become a target of the CIA.
Play trailer2:21
2 Videos
99+ Photos
AdventureComedyFamily

Finding a ghost named Ernest haunting their new home turns Kevin's family into overnight social media sensations. But when Kevin and Ernest investigate the mystery of Ernest's past, they bec... Read allFinding a ghost named Ernest haunting their new home turns Kevin's family into overnight social media sensations. But when Kevin and Ernest investigate the mystery of Ernest's past, they become a target of the CIA.Finding a ghost named Ernest haunting their new home turns Kevin's family into overnight social media sensations. But when Kevin and Ernest investigate the mystery of Ernest's past, they become a target of the CIA.

  • Director
    • Christopher Landon
  • Writers
    • Christopher Landon
    • Geoff Manaugh
  • Stars
    • Jahi Di'Allo Winston
    • David Harbour
    • Anthony Mackie
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.1/10
    26K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    789
    75
    • Director
      • Christopher Landon
    • Writers
      • Christopher Landon
      • Geoff Manaugh
    • Stars
      • Jahi Di'Allo Winston
      • David Harbour
      • Anthony Mackie
    • 204User reviews
    • 85Critic reviews
    • 53Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:21
    Watch Official Trailer
    Netflix 2022 Movie Preview
    Promo 2:58
    Watch Netflix 2022 Movie Preview

    Photos112

    Jennifer Coolidge in We Have a Ghost (2023)
    Anthony Mackie, Erica Ash, Niles Fitch, and Jahi Di'Allo Winston in We Have a Ghost (2023)
    Jennifer Coolidge and Anthony Mackie in We Have a Ghost (2023)
    David Harbour, Jahi Di'Allo Winston, and Isabella Russo in We Have a Ghost (2023)
    David Harbour, Anthony Mackie, and Jahi Di'Allo Winston in We Have a Ghost (2023)
    David Harbour and Erica Ash in We Have a Ghost (2023)
    David Harbour, Jahi Di'Allo Winston, and Isabella Russo in We Have a Ghost (2023)
    David Harbour and Anthony Mackie in We Have a Ghost (2023)
    Steve Coulter at an event for We Have a Ghost (2023)
    Brandon Rogers at an event for We Have a Ghost (2023)
    Jessica Rothe at an event for We Have a Ghost (2023)
    Julian Bass at an event for We Have a Ghost (2023)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jahi Di'Allo Winston
    Jahi Di'Allo Winston
    • Kevin Presley
    • (as Jahi Winston)
    David Harbour
    David Harbour
    • Ernest
    Anthony Mackie
    Anthony Mackie
    • Frank Presley
    Erica Ash
    Erica Ash
    • Melanie Presley
    Niles Fitch
    Niles Fitch
    • Fulton Presley
    Isabella Russo
    Isabella Russo
    • Joy Yoshino
    Tig Notaro
    Tig Notaro
    • Dr. Leslie Monroe
    Tom Bower
    Tom Bower
    • Ernest Scheller
    Sean Boyd
    Sean Boyd
    • Young Ernest Scheller
    Nicholas X. Parsons
    Nicholas X. Parsons
    • Fake Jesus
    Steve Coulter
    Steve Coulter
    • Deputy Director Arnold Schipley
    Scott A. Martin
    Scott A. Martin
    • Sheriff Brown
    • (as Scott Martin)
    Jennifer Coolidge
    Jennifer Coolidge
    • Judy Romano
    Peggy Walton-Walker
    Peggy Walton-Walker
    • Ramona Scheller
    • (as Peggy Walton Walker)
    Sherri Eakin
    Sherri Eakin
    • Young Ramona
    • (as Sherri Eakin)
    Faith Ford
    Faith Ford
    • Barbara Mangold
    Morgan Henard
    Morgan Henard
    • Boom Operator
    Kyler Porche
    Kyler Porche
    • Deputy Sheriff
    • Director
      • Christopher Landon
    • Writers
      • Christopher Landon
      • Geoff Manaugh
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In Nov. 2017, Legendary won an auction for screen rights to Ernest, a short story by Geoff Manaugh published on Vice.com. Christopher Landon, Happy Death Day (2017), will both adapt the short story into a feature and direct the film.
    • Goofs
      The size of the interior and the exterior of the haunted do not match at all. The interior shots show a grand double staircase, three rooms abreast on the ground floor and an attic that you could play football in.
    • Quotes

      Joy Yoshino: Will they let us off if we pull over?

    • Connections
      Features Bewitched (1964)
    • Soundtracks
      No More Mr. Nice Guy
      Written by Alice Cooper and Michael Bruce

      Performed by Alice Cooper

      Courtesy of Warner Records

      By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

    User reviews204

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    A well made fantasy horror comedy featuring a great physical performance by David Harbour and genuine heart.
    Set in a house in the Chicago area, one year after the previously family fled without explanation, the house is now occupied by the Presley family consisting of father Frank (Anthony Mackie), mother Melanie "Mel" (Erica Ash), and Fulton (Niles Fitch) and Kevin (Jahi Winston) the older and younger sons respectively. Kevin is none too thrilled at the prospect of having moved yet again as Frank has made a habit of going for ill-advised business ventures that necessitate their moving from place to place. While exploring the attic Kevin encounters a ghost of a man in a bowling shirt with the name "Ernest" (David Harbour) stitched on the breast who tries in vain to scare Kevin who records the apparition on his phone. As Kevin tries to communicate with Ernest in the hopes of getting to know him better, the two strike up a friendship. However Kevin's brother and father soon find the video on his phone and posting the video on the internet turns Ernest into a social media sensation much to Kevin's annoyance. As Ernest can't remember anything from when he was alive, Kevin works with his next door neighbor Joy Yoshino (Isabella Russo) to track down clues to Ernest's identity as Dr. Leslie Monroe (Tig Notaro), an agent of the CIA paranormal program "Wizard Clip" attempts to get Ernest into CIA custody.

    We Have a Ghost is the latest film from writer director Christopher Landon who had previously made a name for himself with the two Happy Death Day films as well as the body switch slasher Freaky. Based on the short story Ernest by Geoff Manaugh, Landon taps into more high concept territory as he takes the familiar premise of comic haunted house movies (such as 95's Casper and especially Burton's Beetlejuice) and puts his own spin on it for the modern age. Like Landon's previous efforts, he takes a well trodden formula and makes it feel fresh thanks to a smart script, strong direction, and good performances from the ensemble.

    At the center of the film is undeniably David Harbour as the titular ghost and it's a fantastic performance from Harbour in spite of the fact he can't speak. Harbour was hesitant to take on the role as it would be challenging to create a compelling character without words, but Harbour shows just how versatile and charismatic of a presence he is not only scoring big laughs from his physicality and the pantomime nature of his performance, but also eliciting some strong emotional resonance and a sense of sadness and tragedy that makes you really care about him. Outside of Harbour, the movie is supported by a terrific ensemble. Jahi Winston is very good as the co-lead and he makes a solid audience proxy whom we enjoy seeing go through the supernatural shenanigans. Winston does a good job of making his interactions with Ernest and his neighbor and love interest Joy played by Isabella Russo very endearing and when the three of them are together in the movie they play off nicely against each other. Anthony Mackie, Erica Ash, and Niles Fitch get some good mileage playing Kevin's family and their varying reactions to how the ghost affects their lives with Frank booking TV appearances, Fulton using it for popularity and Mel at her wits end with the crowds of Ernest fans and TikTokers camped outside their house leads to some fantastic comic set pieces. Tig Notaro is also very good as Dr. Leslie Monroe who serves as our primary antagonist and serves as a more nuanced take on the role Walter Peck played in Ghostbusters. Tig brings a lot of humanity to the role and does well playing a driven and quirky CIA agent.

    At it's core the movie is essentially a mash-up of Beetlejuice by way of Starman or E. T. (particularly in the second half). While the stuff around centered around the house is very good with the satire of internet fame and haunted house trappings, Landon takes the action on the road in a creative way as Kevin, Joy and Ernest search for more clues to Ernest's identity and we get some really creative and humorous sequences that often had me giving solid belly laughs. We Have a Ghost runs strongly for a good 75% of the runtime, but around the last 25% I started to notice some things began to drag. I personally think the movie runs a little long at two hours, and while it does stay funny there is a "flabbiness" in the structure that made the comic rhythm stumble a bit. I also felt like the movie had two different ideas of how it wanted to end because they introduce a secondary antagonist towards the end of the second act and it feels like it deviates a bit too far from the established pieces in my opinion and it probably could've been tied up better by having a singular antagonistic force.

    We Have a Ghost is a strong high concept comedy that features a great comedic performance by Harbour and a likable ensemble strongly directed by Landon. Landon's script remains funny for a good chunk of the running time, but does feel like it loses some integrity around the 90 minute mark and feels like the third act could've done with a bit of tweaking. A solid recommendation especially if you've an affinity for the likes of Beetlejuice, Ghostbusters, or Starman.
    helpful•76
    34
    • IonicBreezeMachine
    • Feb 24, 2023

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 24, 2023 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Netflix
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Nhà Ta Có Một Con Ma
    • Filming locations
      • Donaldsonville, Louisiana, USA
    • Production companies
      • Henry Halstead Productions
      • Legendary Entertainment
      • Temple Hill Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 6 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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