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Ghost World

Play trailer Poster for Ghost World R 2001 1h 51m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
93% Tomatometer 162 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
The story of neo-cool Enid (Thora Birch) and Rebecca (Scarlett Johansson) who, faced with graduation from high school, take a hard look at the world they wryly observe and decide what they really want. When Enid takes an interest in the offbeat Seymour (Steve Buscemi) and Rebecca focuses her attention on their mutual romantic fixation Josh (Brad Renfro), the girls' friendship is forever changed.
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Ghost World

Ghost World

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Critics Consensus

With acerbic wit, Terry Zwigoff fashions Daniel Clowes' graphic novel into an intelligent, comedic trip through deadpan teen angst.

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Critics Reviews

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Joe Morgenstern Wall Street Journal Apr 12, 2013
The greatest distinction of "Ghost World" is its singular spirit. Here's a dark, deadpan comedy about alienated kids that manages to be smart, surpassingly odd, extremely funny and mysteriously endearing at the same time. Go to Full Review David Denby The New Yorker Apr 12, 2013
See it for Birch's hostile stare and Johansson's devastating monotone. Go to Full Review Scott Tobias AV Club Jul 14, 2010
Most of Ghost World is funny, but the laughs are inextricably tied to the painful alienation and self-loathing that comes with living on society's fringes. Go to Full Review Sarah Boslaugh TheArtsStl Sep 14, 2025
7/10
The changing point of view is probably the most interesting thing about Ghost World, although it offers many more immediate pleasures as well. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand May 6, 2023
[Director Terry Zwigoff] has a gift for understated moments of wry humor and a sensitivity to the ennui surrounding the lost Generation Y girls so busy sniping and skewering the “losers” around them to find any direction in their own floating lives Go to Full Review Wesley Lovell Cinema Sight Dec 20, 2022
3/4
This kind of subtle moral isn’t as readily available to most audiences, but should appeal to the younger generation who are strapped with the burden of carrying society into a new century filled with strife, misery and great opportunity. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Robert P @Superbad 4 days ago Ghost World is a 4.5 star Movie!!! See more Anderson O @Platinum2027 May 29, 2026 Ghost World is a Teenage Gen X adventure of personal discovery and what girls are looking for in a complicated and complex life after high school when there is limited vision and lack of planing. It’s small in scope and scale, with sass and spunk of bothering and persuading friend and strangers on activity based on perception to find people are more layered than son think. I fun uber, summer movie, of wit, heartbreak and what it means to find friendship or part ways. See more Tom F @RT55173143 Mar 16, 2026 I loved the comic and this is a great adaptation. A strong cast, including a teenage Scarlett Johansson before she went dead behind the eyes. See more Mark B. @Azoreskid Feb 6, 2026 A super cute, offbeat film with a good storyline brought off by excellent acting chops. Buscemi is amazing playing a role unlike anything he's done before. See more Mike A @333orion Feb 3, 2026 Steve Buscemi, Thora Birch, and Scarlett Johannson are great and the supporting actors round out the cast of this movie that I caught years ago on DISH. The young girls' view of the world and especially Thoras' disdain with the guys who she has been around brings her closer to this record store collector. I wondered the whole movie whether he was subconsciously pushing away the woman his age away because of Thoras' character being the one he really wants. Because of Thoras' age Buscemi could be swayed by societies view of them being together. Watching it again now because I don't remember what he and she resolve about their feelings for each other. See more Will G @Kingofthepixies Jan 30, 2026 Great offbeat original. It's criminal that Terry zwigoff has been unable to get more projects off the ground. See more Read all reviews
Ghost World

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Cast & Crew

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Terry Zwigoff

Director

Thora Birch

Enid

Scarlett Johansson

Rebecca

Steve Buscemi

Seymour

Brad Renfro

Josh

Illeana Douglas

Roberta

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Ghost World

Director TERRY ZWIGOFF (center) with THORA BIRCH and STEVE BUSCEMI on the set of United Artists Films' (and Granada Film in association with Jersey Shore and Advanced Medien) dark comedy GHOST WORLD. DP AFFONSO BEATO (left) and Director TERRY ZWIGOFF on the set of United Artists Films' (and Granada Film in association with Jersey Shore and Advanced Medien) dark comedy GHOST WORLD. THORA BIRCH and STEVE BUSCEMI star in United Artists Films' (and Granada Film in association with Jersey Shore and Advanced Medien) dark comedy GHOST WORLD. THORA BIRCH and ILLEANA DOUGLAS star in United Artists Films' (and Granada Film in association with Jersey Shore and Advanced Medien) dark comedy GHOST WORLD. BOB BALABAN and TERI GARR star in United Artists Films' (and Granada Film in association with Jersey Shore and Advanced Medien) dark comedy GHOST WORLD. (Left to right) BRAD RENFRO, DAVE SHERIDAN and THORA BIRCH star in United Artists Films' (and Granada Film in association with Jersey Shore and Advanced Medien) dark comedy GHOST WORLD. THORA BIRCH (right) and SCARLETT JOHANSSON star in United Artists Films' (and Granada Film in association with Jersey Shore and Advanced Medien) dark comedy GHOST WORLD. CHARLES C. STEVENSON JR. (sitting), THORA BIRCH (right) and SCARLETT JOHANSSON star in United Artists Films' (and Granada Film in association with Jersey Shore and Advanced Medien) GHOST WORLD. THORA BIRCH and STEVE BUSCEMI star in United Artists Films' (and Granada Film in association with Jersey Shore and Advanced Medien) dark comedy GHOST WORLD. STEVE BUSCEMI stars in United Artists Films' (and Granada Film in association with Jersey Shore and Advanced Medien) dark comedy GHOST WORLD. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis The story of neo-cool Enid (Thora Birch) and Rebecca (Scarlett Johansson) who, faced with graduation from high school, take a hard look at the world they wryly observe and decide what they really want. When Enid takes an interest in the offbeat Seymour (Steve Buscemi) and Rebecca focuses her attention on their mutual romantic fixation Josh (Brad Renfro), the girls' friendship is forever changed.
Director
Terry Zwigoff
Producer
Lianne Halfon, John Malkovich, Russell Smith
Screenwriter
Terry Zwigoff, Daniel Clowes, Daniel Clowes
Distributor
United Artists
Production Co
United Artists, Jersey Films
Rating
R (Strong Language|Some Sexual Content)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 16, 2001, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 25, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$6.2M
Runtime
1h 51m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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