A Ghost Story
Performance & Direction: A Ghost Story Review
Last updated: January 25, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is A Ghost Story (2017) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 7.1/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Drama.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Drama is often anchored by its ensemble, and A Ghost Story features a noteworthy lineup led by Casey Affleck . Supported by the likes of Rooney Mara and McColm Cephas Jr. , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of A Ghost Story (2017) is generally positive. With an audience rating of 7.1/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Story & Plot Summary: A Ghost Story
Quick Plot Summary: A Ghost Story is a Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance film that explores complex human emotions and relationships through detailed character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
This character-driven narrative explores the internal and external conflicts that define the human experience. Recently deceased, a white-sheeted ghost returns to his suburban home to console his bereft wife, only to find that in his spectral state he has become unstuck in time, forced to watch passively as the life he knew and the woman he loves slowly slip away. The screenplay takes time to develop its characters, allowing audiences to connect emotionally with their struggles and triumphs. Each scene builds upon the last, creating a cumulative emotional impact.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: We meet the main character in their ordinary world, establishing the emotional baseline before the inciting incident disrupts their life.
- Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. The arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The emotional climax brings character arcs to their natural conclusion, providing catharsis while staying true to the story's core themes.
Thematic Depth
The film delves into universal human experiences including love, loss, identity, and belonging. It holds up a mirror to society, asking difficult questions about morality, choice, and consequence.
What Works & What Doesn't
✅ Strengths
- Solid execution of genre conventions
- Engaging moments that showcase the filmmakers' vision
- Competent performances from the cast
⚠️ Weaknesses
- Some narrative choices that feel predictable
- Occasional pacing lulls in the middle act
Ending Explained: A Ghost Story
Ending Breakdown: A Ghost Story resolves its central conflict while maintaining thematic consistency. The finale has been praised for its approach to drama resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes with clear resolution of its central conflicts, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Main characters complete meaningful transformations, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the drama themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of A Ghost Story reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch A Ghost Story?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Drama films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want a character-driven story with emotional moments
Box Office Collection: A Ghost Story
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $100.0K |
| Worldwide Gross | $1.9M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
A Ghost Story Budget
The estimated production budget for A Ghost Story is $100.0K. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: A Ghost Story
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Where to Watch A Ghost Story Online?
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Fandango At HomeA Ghost Story Parents Guide & Age Rating
2017 AdvisoryWondering about A Ghost Story age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of A Ghost Story is 93 minutes (1h 33m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 7.1/10, and global performance metrics, A Ghost Story is classified as a HIT. It remains an essential part of the 2017 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is A Ghost Story worth watching?
A Ghost Story is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Drama movies. It has a verified rating of 7.1/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find A Ghost Story parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for A Ghost Story identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of A Ghost Story?
The total duration of A Ghost Story is 93 minutes, which is approximately 1h 33m long.
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How A Ghost Story Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for A Ghost Story
If a movie is boring on purpose, is it still boring? Well, as it turns out: Yes. But props for trying something different. _Final rating:★★ - Had some things that appeal to me, but a poor finished product._
**A love story from another dimension!** I did not think what the title says was literal. I assumed some person with social-shy, wore a white cloth like a mask to confront it. Totally surprised by what I saw. Frankly, I did not like at the first. It was a boring start. I could not overcome that pie eating scene. It was damn too long for nothing. That kinds are the source of boredom. But the actress did good on that. Then what followed were amazing. I truly was not expected that. So at the end, I thought it was an average, then thought a decent and finally realised its something unique and awesome. The lesson is, the more time you give between watching the film and your opinion, the result would only get better. Well the story was so simple. A couple with their average life get affected when one of them dies in a car accident. Soon the ghost resides the house looking for a reason to stay. It is kind of a love story from another dimension. As the time passes on, things change and complicates the quest. But there's always a way to fix it, even for a ghost, so how its been done and what it is was the remaining story. The cast was good, but most of the film it was about the ghost, which could have been anybody inside the sheet. So can't appreciate particularly anyone. As I have heard, Casey did all those parts as he should be. Even though that was not a praisable performance than a simple presence. It's his second collaboration with the director along with Rooney Mara. The one question that everybody who saw it needed to be answered is what was the note says. I googled and got the Q&A with the director that says, nobody knows, not even Mara remembers what she wrote. This is one of the best films. With or without reason the story happened. But that's not the matter, instead, how cleverly, such a concept was developed and made into a film makes the interesting fact. They even did not require a higher end graphics, except in small quantity. It will gain a cult status and as the years go by, it will be considered one of best 1,000 films. So recommend it, but be patient, at least in the initial stage and take a day to give an opinion on it. Maybe reading articles about the plot if you have a doubt is good. Really a creative film! _7/10_
_A Ghost Story_ is one of the saddest movies I think I have ever watched. I did not have many expectations headed into this film, but I think that was for the better. The entire film makes you feels so isolated and alone. Someone a man in bedsheet in order to draw such strong emotions out of the audience. The whole experience really makes you think about your life and what it truly means. Although, with how much praise I have for the film there are some minor complaints I have. David Lowery incorporates some incredibly long shots of nothingness. I understand what he was trying to do with these shots, and they worked to an extent. But it added a sense of slowness and drag to the movie that made the pacing off. Every time the movie was about to find its pacing, a scene like this occurred and pulled me out. Regardless, I still willing to give this 4.5 stars due to the uniqueness and the emotion that I felt throughout the runtime. **Score:** _86%_ | **Verdict:** _Excellent_
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This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.











