Ghost World

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Ghost World

R

2001

1h 51m

Comedy

Drama

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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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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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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.

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David Denby

The New Yorker

Apr 12, 2013

See it for Birch's hostile stare and Johansson's devastating monotone.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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Robert P

@Superbad 6 days ago

Ghost World is a 4.5 star Movie!!!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Terry Zwigoff

Director

Thora Birch

Enid

Scarlett Johansson

Rebecca

Steve Buscemi

Seymour

Brad Renfro

Josh

Illeana Douglas

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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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