Thirty years ago this week, the supernatural comedy Casper hit movie theaters across the U.S. – and established itself as a fan favorite.
A history-making Hollywood hit
Based on the Harvey Comics cartoon Casper the Friendly Ghost, the movie blended a live-action cast with a host of CGI characters, spearheaded by the titular amiable apparition.
Indeed, Casper is credited as the first ever Hollywood film to feature a fully CGI main character.
Released on May 26, 1995, the movie starred Christina Ricci as Kat Harvey, a 13-year-old girl who befriends Casper – voiced by Malachi Pearson – after moving into a haunted mansion.
Kat lives at the house with her father, Dr. James Harvey, a paranormal therapist played by Bill Pullman.
Big money at the box office
While the picture received a lukewarm response from critics – on the review-aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, it has a meagre 53% ‘tomatometer’ rating – Casper proved a commercial smash.
It was one of six movies that year to break nine figures at the American box office, earning just over $100.5 million. In addition, it pulled in just over $188 million outside of the U.S.
Casper – watch the trailer:
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Where are the stars of Casper now?
Christina Ricci
Ricci, now 45, was cast in Casper after delivering a breakout performance as Wednesday Addams in 1991’s The Addams Family.
Over the past three and a half decades, Ricci has gone on to amass some 80 credits across TV and film. These include Golden Globe-nominated turns in the 1999 movie The Opposite of Sex and the ongoing Showtime series Yellowjackets.
Speaking in 2022, Ricci revealed that she doesn’t relish re-watching Casper; in fact, she describes herself as “embarrassed” by her display.
“If you actually watch Casper, I’m terrible,” Ricci told the WTF podcast in 2022. “People get so upset when I say that. And I’m like, ‘No, it’s a wonderful movie. It’s a childhood treasure. But I am terrible in it.’”
Malachi Pearson
Pearson’s first film role, Casper did not herald the beginning of a long Hollywood career for the California native, who turns 44 next month.
Indeed, Pearson appears to have walked away from acting altogether. He last appeared on screen in a 2000 episode of the TV comedy Malcolm in the Middle, per his IMDb profile.
People magazine notes that Pearson has since embarked on a career in music. At present, he is part of a DJ duo known as Motel Club.
Devon Sawa
While ghost-Casper was voiced by Pearson, the character’s human form was portrayed by Devon Sawa, who again shared a cast with Ricci the following year, in the coming-of-age dramedy Now and Then.
In 2000, Sawa then had a notable starring role in the supernatural horror film Final Destination.
Also in 2000, the Canadian featured alongside the British singer Dido in the music video for rapper Eminem’s hit song “Stan”, playing the titular role.
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Now 46, Sawa has remained a regular presence on both the big and small screen. His most recent role came in the 2025 slasher romantic comedy Heart Eyes.
Bill Pullman
Pullman (pictured in this article’s lead photo), has accumulated over 100 film and TV credits throughout his 40-year screen career. As a stage actor, meanwhile, the New Yorker has accrued a number of appearances on Broadway.
Since appearing in Casper, Pullman has played the U.S. president on multiple occasions: in the 1996 blockbuster Independence Day and its 2016 sequel, and in the 2012-2013 TV sitcom 1600 Penn.
In recent years, Pullman has enjoyed particular success in The Sinner as Detective Harry Ambrose, who featured in all four seasons of USA Network’s hit anthology crime series.
While he has not appeared in film since 2020’s The High Note, the 71-year-old is due to feature in two upcoming feature-length thrillers: alongside Zac Efron in Famous, and opposite Guy Pearce in Killing Faith.
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