Ghost Dad (1990)

5% of critics liked it
(19 reviews)
38% of users liked it
(35,894 ratings)

Bill Cosby mugs so uncontrollably that it looks as if he may be the victim of a muscular disorder in the inane and unfunny Ghost Dad. Cosby plays Elliot, a workaholic widower with three children -- Danny (Salim Grant), Amanda (Brooke Fontainbe), and the teenage Diane (Kimberly Russell). Elliot is… More Bill Cosby mugs so uncontrollably that it looks as if he may be the victim of a muscular disorder in the inane and unfunny Ghost Dad. Cosby plays Elliot, a workaholic widower with three children -- Danny (Salim Grant), Amanda (Brooke Fontainbe), and the teenage Diane (Kimberly Russell). Elliot is hoping to close a big deal that will mean a promotion, more money, and lots of perks, but a cab ride with a freaked-out cab driver causes his untimely demise. Elliot discovers that he is now a ghost and has to learn to spend more time with his kids rather than worry about money and career. Otherwise, after three days, he'll be whisked away into the great beyond. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 24 min.
Directed By: Sidney Poitier
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Jun 29, 1990 Wide
On DVD: Feb 15, 2000
Studio: MCA Universal Home Video

Critic Reviews

Vincent Canby, New York Times
Unctuous, flat and phony, a farce that has the pace of a Broadway bus at rush hour.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
An earnest premise expounded in Cosby comic style, it goes no deeper than a half-hour of pixilated jollity. But it isn't bad for you.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The movie doesn't exhibit the slightest attempt to be consistent, logical or sensible in anything, and there are scenes so pointless and unmotivated that attentive audiences will ask what they're doing in the movie.
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com
Just depressing and incompetently assembled, reaching for a madcap mood of paranormal activity that results in one long headache. I now see why Poitier never directed again and Cosby refused another leading role in a feature film.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
On the big screen Cosby's heartfelt decency continues to come across as blandness.
Stefan Birgir Stefansson, sbs.is
Bill Cosby Sidney Poitier = Crap
KJB, IGN Movies
Should have been titled "Cosby's Ghost Film Career". And to think Poitier directed this thing. It's a TV comedy skit gone wrong.
James Sanford, James Sanford on Film
dismal... There's more preachiness here than in a hundred 'ABC Afterschool Specials,' and the special effects wouldn't pass muster on a local kiddie show.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Almost makes you forget how funny Bill Cosby can be.
Chris Hicks, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
All the characters are cardboard cutouts, the sentimental moments between pratfalls are very strained and even the special effects are sometimes gratuitous.

Read all 10 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

Probably Bill Cosby's best movie since the 70s, and that's not saying much. Anyway, it's a good family film, I saw it when I was a kid. It's good.
Wahida K

Great Comedy but easily forgetable. There was something lacking in Billy Cosby`s perfomance and cannt figure out what.
Jason S

Funny stuff but it might be a little out dated. I remember liking it as a kid and thinking it was good times.
Tim S

The last Bill Cosby anything that has any meaning, this movie IS comedic but it doesn't contain any value.
Curtis L

eh.
xGary X

Lame family comedy starring Bill Cosby. The title says it all, and anybody with half a brain can fill in the rest of the script without having to bother watching it. So don't.
danny d

good flick, who doesnt love bill cosby
Yinalí R

Cool movie.
Jim W

I've seen a lot of 1 star reviews when it first came out. It's not that bad though, there's some fun.
Patrick D

I loved this as a kid, but don't think I'd like it much now....fucking Bill Cosby.
Anthony V

If you don't know the meaning of cliché, this will teach you.

Read all 11 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Bill Cosby as Elliot Hopper

            Kimberly Russell as Diane Hopper

            Denise Nicholas as Joan

            Ian Bannen as Sir Edith Moser

            Christine Ebersole as Carol

            Salim Grant as Danny Hopper

            Barry Corbin as Mr. Collins

            Brooke Fontaine as Amanda Hopper

            Dana Ashbrook as Tony Ricker

            Omar Gooding as Stuart

            Donzaleigh Abernathy as E.R. Nurse

            Frank Biro as Executive

            Jonathan Brandis
            
            Robert Covarrubias as Man in Waiting Room

            Patrika Darbo as Nurse

            Bryant Edwards as Student #4

            Kenny Ford Jr.
            
            Raymond E. Foti as Executive #4

            George Ganz as Mr. Nero

            Austin Garrett as Buddy #3

            Meredith Gordon as Woman in Taxi

            Cindi Gossett as ER Doctor

            Joseph Hajduk
            
            Ted Hayden as Executive #3

            Amy Hill as Nurse #1

            Adam Jeffries as Buddy #2

            Douglas Allen Johnson as Lab Technician

            Becky Katzen as Student #3

            Kevin Lee as Student #2

            Dakin Matthews as Mr. Seymour

            James McIntire as Sheriff

            Norman Merrill
            
            Brian Mitchell as Teacher

            Jeanne Mori as I.C.U. Nurse #2

            Jizelle Morris as Screaming Girl

            Mary Munday as Executive #1

            Lisa Mene Nemacheck as Jonelle

            Pamela Poitier as Nurse Satler

            Robin Pearson Rose as Hospital Administrator

            Raynor Scheine as Cabbie

            Cedric Scott as Announcer

            Arnold Stang as Mr. Cohen

            Becky Sweet as Classmate

            Trenton Teigen as Student

            Rita Vassallo as I.C.U. Nurse #1

            Nathaniel Merrill as Executive #2

            Kaleena Kiff
            
            Nancy Nayor
            
            Eric Menyuk as Clinic Doctor
See full cast

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