“Can I keep you?”

Cue the collective sigh of every ‘90s tween who didn’t know whether to swoon or cringe.

Back in ’95, I was already deep in adulting—paying bills, juggling work, and side-eyeing anything labeled “family entertainment” like it was trying to sell me a Happy Meal. So when Casper hit theaters, I figured it was just another studio cash grab banking on boomer nostalgia. I remembered the cartoon, sure—mostly as filler between He-Man and Thundercats—but I wasn’t exactly lining up to watch a CGI ghost get all googly-eyed over Christina Ricci. And yet… Casper snuck up on me. It’s not just a kids’ flick. It’s this oddly tender, slightly morbid little story about grief, loneliness, and the weird emotional limbo of being dead but still catching feelings. Somehow, it worked.

The cast is doing solid work. Christina Ricci was in her spooky-girl prime, giving Kat just enough edge to make her relatable to every Gen X kid who grew up feeling like the weird one. Bill Pullman plays the sad dad with ghost baggage, and he’s surprisingly grounded for a guy who spends half the movie talking to floating cartoon characters. Casper himself is earnest and clingy in that “I’ve been alone for a century and just discovered hormones” kind of way. And then there’s the Ghostly Trio—Stretch, Stinkie, and Fatso—who feel like they were dropped in from a different movie entirely. They’re loud, chaotic, and obsessed with slapstick. If you’re into fart jokes and pancake violence, they’ve got you covered.

Visually, Casper was kind of a flex for its time. The CGI was cutting-edge in ’95, and the haunted mansion set design is pure Burton-lite—gothic, whimsical, and just creepy enough. Watching it now, the effects are a little rubbery, but they hold up better than most of the digital experiments from that era. Casper’s expressions are surprisingly emotive, and the film doesn’t shy away from giving him real emotional weight. It’s not Jurassic Park, but it’s definitely not Spawn either.

Where Casper really lands is in the emotional gut punches. Casper’s backstory—he died of pneumonia after sledding too long—is quietly devastating. And that one scene where he becomes human for a single dance? That’s pure Gen X heartbreak: beautiful, fleeting, and tinged with existential dread. The movie doesn’t hammer you with grief, but it doesn’t sugarcoat it either. It’s a kids’ film that says, “Yeah, sometimes things end. And sometimes you don’t get closure. But you still show up.”

So yeah, Casper is uneven. The tone shifts like a mood ring, the humor’s hit-or-miss, and the pacing drags in spots. But it’s got heart. It’s got style. And for those of us who were already paying bills and wondering what happened to Saturday morning cartoons, Casper was a reminder that even the friendliest ghost can haunt you—in the best way. Not perfect, but perfectly nostalgic.

The SteelBook itself is a vibe. That cover art? A moody shot of Whipstaff Manor bathed in moonlight, with Casper’s translucent grin hovering like a memory you forgot you had. It’s got that matte-meets-gloss finish that screams, “I’m not just a movie—I’m a collectible.” And for those of us who remember VHS clamshells and rewinding with a pencil, this feels like the grown-up version of owning something special.  It’s a shimmering slab of nostalgia wrapped in brushed metal and ghostly gloss—designed to make us pause mid-scroll and say, “Wait… do I need this?”

Spoiler: you kind of do.  Look, Casper isn’t perfect. It’s tonally all over the place, the humor’s hit-or-miss, and that ‘Can I keep you?’ line still makes me cringe and tear up at the same time. But this SteelBook? It’s a love letter to a weird little movie that dared to mix fart jokes with existential grief. If you were old enough to pay rent when this came out, you’re old enough to appreciate the comfort it still brings

30th Anniversary Edition | Limited Edition / 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital 4K SteelBook

Home Video Distributor: Universal Studios
Available on Blu-ray - August 12, 2025
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English SDH; French; Spanish
Video: HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10
Audio: English: Dolby Atmos; English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1; Spanish: DTS 5.1; French: DTS 5.1
Discs: 4K Ultra HD; Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set
Region Encoding: 4K region-free; blu-ray locked to Region A

Get ready for ghostly giggles and heartfelt haunts in Casper, the spirited family adventure where friendly meets phantasmic! When paranormal therapist Dr. Harvey and his daughter Kat move into a crumbling mansion, they discover it’s home to Casper—the world’s friendliest ghost—and his mischievous uncles. As Kat and Casper form an unlikely bond, secrets from the past surface, leading to a magical moment that proves even the afterlife has room for love, laughter, and second chances. Packed with dazzling effects, spooky fun, and emotional depth, Casper is a supernatural story with soul.

VIDEO

The 4K transfer? Surprisingly solid. The blacks are deep, the mansion’s gothic details pop, and Casper’s CGI—while still a little rubbery—has aged better than most mid-’90s digital ghosts. Bonus features are decent: you get some behind-the-scenes goodies, a trailer that feels like it was edited on a toaster, and enough nostalgia to make you forgive the Ghostly Trio’s relentless pancake abuse.

AUDIO

The Casper 30th Anniversary 4K SteelBook features upgraded audio specs that deliver a richer, more immersive experience than previous releases. It includes Dolby Atmos and Dolby TrueHD 7.1 for English, plus DTS 5.1 tracks for Spanish and French.  If you’re rocking a surround setup or soundbar with Atmos support, this release is a noticeable upgrade over older Blu-rays. The Ghostly Trio’s antics, the emotional beats, and even the ambient mansion sounds all benefit from the expanded audio field.

Supplements:

Commentary:

• The Casper 30th Anniversary 4K SteelBook commentary track—featuring director Brad Silberling—is a surprisingly heartfelt and insightful listen. Silberling doesn’t just walk us through the technical stuff (though he does geek out on the early CGI breakthroughs); he also dives deep into the emotional core of the film, sharing personal anecdotes about loss, casting choices, and why Casper was more than just a “kids’ movie” to him.It’s the kind of commentary that makes you appreciate the film more, especially if you were an adult when it came out. You hear the passion, the risk-taking, and the emotional intent behind the scenes.

Special Features:

Okay, fellow ‘90s survivors—this Casper SteelBook is pure haunted nostalgia in a slick metal shell. The cover art? Gorgeous. Whipstaff Manor never looked so moody. The disc? Solid transfer, decent extras, and yes, Casper still says ‘Can I keep you?’ like he’s the ghost of every awkward middle school crush. The Ghostly Trio are still loud, still gross, and still somehow endearing. It’s not high cinema, but it’s high comfort. If you grew up rewinding VHS tapes and crushing on Christina Ricci, this SteelBook’s basically a time machine with bonus features.

• Audio commentary by director Brad Silberling
• “Casper: A Spirited Beginning” featurette
• Deleted scenes with optional commentary
• Vintage Casper cartoons
• Theatrical trailer
• Production photo gallery

	Movie
	Video
	Audio
	Extras
Composite Blu-ray Grade

MPAA Rating: PG.
Runtime: 110 mins
Director: Brad Silberling
Writer: Joseph Oriolo; Sherri Stoner
Cast: Chauncey Leopardi; Spencer Vrooman; Malachi Pearson
Genre: Fantasy | Comedy
Tagline: Get an Afterlife.
Memorable Movie Quote: "I told you I was a good dancer. Can I keep you"
Theatrical Distributor: Universal Pictures
Official Site:
Release Date: May 26, 1995
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: August 12, 2025.
Synopsis: An afterlife therapist and his daughter meet a friendly young ghost when they move into a crumbling mansion in order to rid the premises of wicked spirits.