A Ghost Story (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
A Ghost Story is a 2017 fantasy drama directed by David Lowery, starring Casey Affleck, Rooney Mara and Barlow Jacobs. It runs 1 hour 32 minutes and earned $2 million worldwide on a $100,000 budget. Critics gave it 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and 84 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.8/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 32m (92 min)
- Director
- David Lowery
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- A24
- Budget
- $100K
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is A Ghost Story About?
The premise of A Ghost Story without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A gentle spirit, played by Casey Affleck, lingers in his home after his death, observing the grief of his wife, portrayed by Rooney Mara. Bound to the house, he watches as time passes and new inhabitants arrive, confronting the enduring power of memory and the complexities of loss. The film explores themes of existence, connection, and the passage of time through a poignant and contemplative narrative.
A Ghost Story Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- death of husband
- sitting on the floor and eating
- surrealism
- loneliness
- legacy
- ghost
- loss
- hiding notes in a house
- young widow
- invisibility
- hospital
- haunting
+38 more Show fewer
- looking out a window
- watching someone
- being watched
- subtitled scene
- smashing dishes
- memory
- voice over conversation
- poem
- rhyme
- book
- prologue
- implied nudity
- pajama bottoms
- kiss
- kissing someone's eyelids
- knocking on a door
- writing a note
- rain
- vomiting
- flash forward
- painting a door frame
- little girl
- toy train
- christmas tree
- toy laser beam gun
- card trick
- reference to ludwig van beethoven
- atheist
- existence of god
- humming
- construction site
- broken lightbulb
- despair
- building site
- business meeting
- office building
- skyscraper
- reflecton in a window
A Ghost Story Cast
Casey Affleck leads the cast, with Rooney Mara and Barlow Jacobs. Directed by David Lowery; 10 actors are credited in all.
-
Director David Lowery
Also Starring in A Ghost Story
· 6 moreMore from David Lowery
More films directed by David Lowery, best-rated first: Pete's Dragon, Ain't Them Bodies Saints, The Green Knight and Mother Mary.
A Ghost Story Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave A Ghost Story 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and 84 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 75/100, strongest in art & craft (80) and weakest in story & flow (65).
A Ghost Story Echo Score Breakdown
Overall, A Ghost Story delivers a reflective and unconventional cinematic experience that balances striking visual originality with measured pacing. Critics highlight its bold direction and haunting emotional resonance, while some viewers praise its intimate portrayal of loss and memory. Conversely, others find the extended static shots and slow tempo challenging or disengaging. The film’s unique tone and sustained atmosphere create a memorable meditation on love and time, producing a compelling yet polarizing impression.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 80
In terms of art and craft, A Ghost Story showcases a distinctive visual style through its 4:3 aspect ratio and extended static compositions. Critics commend the eerie framing and deliberate production design, while some viewers perceive the lengthy shots as overindulgent. This balanced approach yields a striking yet occasionally polarizing visual identity.
- Character & Emotion 75
When it comes to character and emotion, A Ghost Story offers a subdued yet affecting portrayal of grief and connection. The leading actors convey depth through minimalistic performance and nuanced facial cues, prompting praise for emotional resonance. However, some viewers feel the expressionless specter and sparse dialogue limit character warmth. Overall, the film achieves a quietly potent but occasionally detached emotional core.
- Story & Flow 65
In terms of story and flow, A Ghost Story emphasizes an original structure and deliberate pacing over conventional narrative momentum. Critics note its offbeat progression and rewarding final moments, while others criticize the extended static sequences for hindering engagement. The film’s measured tempo underscores its thematic meditation but can create an uneven experience that divides audience engagement.
- Sensory Experience 80
Regarding sensory experience, A Ghost Story crafts an immersive atmosphere through minimalist sound design and evocative musical cues. The ambient soundtrack and subtle diegetic sounds enhance the film’s haunted tone, as critics praise its moody resonance. Conversely, some viewers find the austere audio and visual restraint too sparse. Ultimately, the film’s sensory approach fosters a haunting and contemplative environment that may feel austere to some.
- Rewatch Factor 75
For rewatch factor, A Ghost Story’s thematic depth and distinctive tone offer rewards for viewers seeking reflection on love and time. Critics suggest the film’s contemplative structure reveals new insights upon multiple viewings, while some find the slow pacing reduces repeat engagement. The film therefore holds enduring appeal for those drawn to its meditative qualities but may deter viewers preferring dynamic narratives.
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IMDb 6.8 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 91% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 67%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 84 Metascore
User score 7.0
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 71% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.8 /5
7.3K ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.3 /5
See on Movie Insider
A Ghost Story Plot Summary
What happens in A Ghost Story from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
A musician resides with his wife in a quaint home located in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Despite her desire to relocate, he is firmly against the idea. One fateful night, an unexplained noise emanates from their piano, leaving them puzzled about its source. Tragedy strikes when the man meets his untimely end in a car accident.
Full summary
The whole story of A Ghost Story, scene by scene
A Ghost Story Box Office & Budget
A Ghost Story grossed $2 million worldwide on a $100,000 budget, 20 times what it cost. $1.6 million came from the US and Canada and $355,312 (18%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$2M
20× its budget
- US & Canada
- $1.6M
- International
- $355.3K
- Budget
- $100K
A Ghost Story Trailers & Videos
10 videos: 1 trailer, 3 clips and 6 featurettes.
- Clip "Ghost Chat" Official Clip
- Clip "Stay" Official Clip
- Clip "Universe" Official Clip
- Featurette Ghosting Casey Affleck - David Lowery
How Well Do You Know A Ghost Story?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What significant event disrupts the musician and his wife's harmonious life?
Cars in A Ghost Story
5 cars on screen, including the Caterpillar 963 C and the 2001 Hyundai Elantra.
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Caterpillar 963 C Minor role -
2001 Hyundai Elantra Minor role -
2000 Ford Focus Background role -
2001 Suzuki Grand Vitara Background role
A Ghost Story Also Known As
23 alternative titles, including “Una hitoria de fantasmas” and “A GHOST STORY ア・ゴースト・ストーリー:2017”.
- Also known as
-
- Una hitoria de fantasmas
- A GHOST STORY ア・ゴースト・ストーリー:2017
- A GHOST STORY ア・ゴースト・ストーリー
- Une histoire de fantôme
- История призрака
- Bir Hayalet Hikayesi
- Призрачна история
- 鬼魅浮生
- História de Um Fantasma
- סיפור רוחות רפאים
- Sombras da Vida
- Kísértettörténet
+11 more Show fewer
- Storia di un fantasma
- Прича о духу
- Історія примари
- Historia de fantasmas
- 고스트 스토리
- Přízrak
- 再見魅了緣
- Vaiduoklių byla
- Một Câu Chuyện Ma
- ผียังห่วง
- Kummituslugu
Seen A Ghost Story?
Movies Like A Ghost Story
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Ghost, Ghost Story and Manchester by the Sea.
A Ghost Story FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of A Ghost Story, each answered in a sentence.
How long is A Ghost Story?
A Ghost Story runs 1 hour 32 minutes (92 minutes).
When was A Ghost Story released?
A Ghost Story was released on July 7, 2017.
Who directed A Ghost Story?
A Ghost Story was directed by David Lowery.
More films by David Lowery Who is in the cast of A Ghost Story?
A Ghost Story stars Casey Affleck, Rooney Mara and Barlow Jacobs, among 10 credited actors.
How much did A Ghost Story make at the box office?
A Ghost Story grossed $2 million worldwide ($1.6 million domestic, $355,312 international) on a budget of $100,000.
How is A Ghost Story rated?
A Ghost Story has 6.8/10 on IMDb, 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, 84 on Metacritic and 71% on TMDB.
Does A Ghost Story have a post-credit scene?
No. A Ghost Story has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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