We Have A Ghost – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

We Have A Ghost

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2023

74%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A ghost story for the TikTok era that trades jump scares for government conspiracies and a surprisingly heart-tugging David Harbour performance.

44%

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We Have A Ghost

movie

2023

74%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A ghost story for the TikTok era that trades jump scares for government conspiracies and a surprisingly heart-tugging David Harbour performance.

44%

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44%

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Screenwise Verdict

If you are looking for a 'family movie night' pick that won't make the adults want to scroll through their phones the whole time, this is a solid, if slightly overstuffed, choice. It is more of an adventure movie than a horror flick, so don't expect many actual scares.

It is a Netflix original through and through, meaning it has that polished, high-budget look but suffers from a script that could have used a 20-minute trim. Still, the central friendship between Kevin and Ernest is genuinely sweet and keeps the whole thing from floating away.

Age Fit

Best for the 10-14 crowd. It is a bit too long and talky for little kids, and the PG-13 edge (language and some mild violence) makes it feel like 'big kid' media without being genuinely scary.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

At its heart, it is a story about a kid trying to help a lost soul find peace, though the dad's initial drive to exploit the ghost for social media fame adds a layer of modern cynicism.

Imaginative

David Harbour manages to be incredibly expressive without a single line of dialogue, and the concept of a ghost becoming a viral TikTok sensation is a clever, if slightly dated, twist on the classic haunting.

Safe

It is a standard PG-13. There is some mild language (including one well-placed f-bomb), a bit of government-agent peril, and some 'scary' ghost effects that are more funny than haunting.

Enriching

It touches on grief and the ethics of digital privacy, but it is primarily a popcorn movie meant for a Friday night on the couch.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

David Harbour carries the movie with a completely silent performance that managed to make my kid actually care about a floating CGI man.
The Amblin-esque vibe feels like a throwback to movies like E.T. or The Goonies, where kids are the competent ones and adults are mostly in the way.
It tackles the viral fame machine in a way that is actually worth talking about with kids who think becoming a YouTuber is a viable career path.
Jennifer Coolidge shows up as a medium in a sequence that is easily the funniest part of the entire two-hour runtime.

⚠

What to Watch For

There is one very clear F-bomb used for comedic effect that might catch you off guard if you are watching with younger kids.
The runtime is the real villain here; at over two hours, it definitely starts to drag in the second half when the CIA subplot takes over.
The dad's behavior is pretty frustrating—he is more interested in monetizing a ghost than helping his son, which can be a bummer for more sensitive viewers.

Conversation Starters

"If you found a ghost in our house, would you want to keep it a secret or show the whole world?"
"Why do you think Kevin's dad was so obsessed with getting views, even when it put Kevin in danger?"
"Ernest couldn't talk, but we still knew how he felt. How does he show his emotions without words?"
"Do you think the CIA characters were actually 'bad guys,' or were they just scared of what they didn't understand?"

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