From animated classics like The Lion King and Toy Story to live-action adventures like Home Alone and The Sandlot, the ‘90s were a golden age for kids’ movies. Decades after kids clamored around the TV and popped a VHS into the VCR, many of those films that defined ‘90s kids’ childhoods remain beloved movies today, enjoyed by generations old and new as they find streaming homes. With titles coming and going from streaming platforms every month, one of the most iconic ‘90s kids movies is now haunting the Netflix streaming library, and it’s the perfect viewing option this Halloween season.
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As of October 1st, Brad Silberling’s beloved 1995 classic Casper is available to stream on Netflix. The movie is based on the Harvey Comics cartoon character Casper the Friendly Ghost and centers around the titular character, voiced by Malachi Pearson, a young ghost who peacefully haunts Whipstaff Manor hoping to find a friend but only ever scaring people away. That all changes when a teenage girl named Kat and her paranormal therapist father move in. The movie, currently celebrating its 30th anniversary, stars Christina Ricci, Bill Pullman, Cathy Moriarty, and Eric Idle, with a voice cast featuring the talents of Joe Nipote, Joe Alaskey, and Brad Garrett.
Why You Should Watch Casper
Casper is the perfect family-friendly Halloween movie that audiences both old and new can enjoy, and October is the perfect season to revisit it. A lighthearted family film with surprisingly dark undertones, the movie presents all the scares of a spooky Halloween movie, including haunted houses and ghosts, all through a PG lens. But Casper is more than just a ghost story. The movie features a wholesome story about friendship and loss as Kat and her father navigate their grief and Casper deals with his spectral nature, tragic past, and longing for connection. His unique, heartwarming connection with Kat, which builds throughout the movie and is built on a foundation of shared loss, adds emotional depth to the film and remains a memorable part of the movie.
Casper is streaming on Netflix amid its 30th anniversary, and three decades after its release, the film has managed to withstand the test of time to become a beloved childhood classic and a 90s cultural touchstone. The film continues to charm with an endearing story and characters, and the pioneering visual effects used to bring Casper and the trio of ghosts to life were well-executed and still hold up today.
Other Family-Friendly Movies Now on Netflix
Casper is not the only family-friendly arrival to Netflix in October. Both Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax and The Goonies started streaming on the platform on October 1st, with other family-friendly titles set to arrive later this month, including Dr. Seuss’s Horton! on October 6th and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies on October 17th.
Netflix’s streaming library also boasts a great collection of spookier fare, including A Tale Dark & Grimm, Gnome Alone, A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting, and Nightbooks.
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Image courtesy of Wizards of the Coast
