--- title: "Ghost: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/ghost/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/ghost" critics_score: 71 critics_reviews: 14 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Ghost (1990): what the critics said Critics' score 71 from 14 reviews: 11 positive, 1 mixed, 2 negative. With only 3 reviews in so far, the consensus is positive: critics find Ghost’s romance affecting and its humour useful in keeping sentimentality in check. Praise centres on Whoopi Goldberg, whose comic energy balances the romantic yearning, while Jerry Zucker earns credit for handling both. Reservations concern credibility and polish. RogerEbert.com objects to the heroine’s repeated disbelief despite clear evidence, while the Los Angeles Times finds the scripting woolly, the production too prettified and Swayze unconvincing as a banker. These objections temper rather than overturn the three reviews’ enthusiasm. ## The Times — Kevin Maher Rating ★★★★★. 14 February 2020. This 30th-anniversary re-release review calls the film an irresistible supernatural tearjerker with a fabulously precise script that shifts between murder, betrayal and grief. It singles out Whoopi Goldberg’s Oscar-winning turn as the genius antidote to the syrup. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/ghost-1990-re-release-of-this-irresistible-supernatural-tearjerker-vl7gl20kc) ## Sight and Sound — Tom Milne Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). The critic praises the film's fresh approach to the afterlife and its artful script, calling it an auspicious solo debut for director Jerry Zucker. Whoopi Goldberg's performance is highlighted as adding emotional depth, humor, and balance to the romance. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/ghost-review-jerry-zucker-spins-gold-from-everlasting-romance-from-our-archive) ## Time Out — DW Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 15 February 2012. The review credits an excellent script by Bruce Joel Rubin and Jerry Zucker's surprisingly sure direction for turning the story into one of the most enjoyable movies of the year. Whoopi Goldberg is praised for hamming it up gloriously. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/ghost) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 3.5/4. 13 July 1990. The film mixes horror and humor effectively in scenes with Whoopi Goldberg and her sisters, and features a strong sequence where Swayze possesses Goldberg's body to embrace Moore. It contains nice ideas but relies on an idiot plot where the heroine repeatedly disbelieves clear evidence. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/ghost-1990) ## Empire — Phil Thomas Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The critic notes Ghost's massive UK box office success over Pretty Woman and credits its irresistible appeal to Zucker's deft comic touch avoiding sentimentality, Whoopi Goldberg's standout performance as Oda Mae Brown, and Demi Moore's emotive scenes. It is called one of the finest and weepiest love stories that touches even the hardest heart. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/ghost-review/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 14 February 2020. This re-release review calls Ghost a comfort-food weepie classic and lethally effective tragicomic fantasy with unselfconscious potency. The critic singles out Zucker’s direction for playing the story straight while delivering necessary comedy, and praises Whoopi Goldberg’s superb turn as the scam medium. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/feb/14/ghost-review-patrick-swayze) ## The Telegraph Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 26 June 2020. The piece argues Ghost gets you as an unapologetic tear-jerker despite its hokey elements. It singles out Whoopi Goldberg’s performance as the heaven-sent comic relief that makes the silliness embraceable for a huge audience. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/ghost-good-whoopi-goldberg-simple/) ## Los Angeles Times — Sheila Benson Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 13 July 1990. Zucker effectively packages the essence of romantic yearning, particularly in the sensual clay-pottery scene, and Goldberg provides needed vinegar and energy as the reluctant medium. The film has implausible casting for Swayze as a banker, woolly scripting, and overly prettified production values. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-07-13-ca-34-story.html) ## Radio Times — Tom Hutchinson Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds the blend of sentimental and supernatural elements touching, with special effects a real treat and a wonderfully schmaltzy ending. Whoopi Goldberg provides comic moments that lighten the potentially maudlin atmosphere. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-96v5ea/ghost/) ## The New York Times — Caryn James Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 29 July 1990. The piece presents 'Ghost' as an effective case study in flattering audiences into belief through its mix of romance, comedy and suspense. It singles out Whoopi Goldberg's performance as the charlatan medium who becomes a true believer for special praise. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1990/07/29/movies/film-view-ghosts-must-catch-the-spirit-of-the-time.html) ## Slant Magazine — Clayton Dillard Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 13 July 2015. The critic finds Ghost a manipulative crowd-pleaser with dim-witted afterlife explanations and racial stereotyping, yet praises its fluid narrative pacing and impeccable casting, especially Swayze and Moore. He highlights Zucker’s garish comedic sensibilities that blend pop forlorn with understated pathos and notes the film’s modest warning against class exploitation. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/summer-of-90-ghost/) ## The New Yorker — Terrence Rafferty Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 23 July 1990. The review calls 'Ghost' a shameless romantic fairy tale that pushes emotional buttons without wit or irony. It singles out the climactic scene of Molly dancing with Sam's spirit (via the psychic) as the prime example of its manipulative sentimentality. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1990/07/30/survivor-5) ## Variety — Variety Staff Rating **. 31 December 1989. Festival review. The film is an odd grab bag of styles that veers between arty somberness and wacky fun, delivering romantic fantasy elements for its target audience. It takes too long to introduce laughs via Goldberg and features mostly tearful work from Moore. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1989/film/reviews/ghost-2-1200428412/) ## Den of Geek — Joe George Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 8 August 2025. The critic praises Ghost for its sensual and immediate romance, contrasting it favorably with Spielberg's Always and highlighting the chemistry between Swayze and Moore plus the tactile pottery scene. Notes some flaws like length and effects but overall sees it as a classic that lingers with viewers. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-naked-gun-writer-outdid-steven-spielberg-drama/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/ghost.md