Ghost World (2001) Creeps on the Criterion Collection
The Criterion Collection released Ghost World to Blu-ray on May 30, 2017. Terry Zwigoff directed the film starring Steve Buscemi, Thora Birch, and Scarlett Johansson.
‘Ghost World’ Criterion Synopsis
Terry Zwigoff’s first fiction film, adapted from a cult-classic comic by Daniel Clowes, is an idiosyncratic portrait of adolescent alienation that is at once bleakly funny and wholly endearing. Set during the malaise-filled months following high-school graduation, Ghost World follows the proud misfit Enid (Thora Birch), who confronts an uncertain future amid the cultural wasteland of consumerist America. As her cynicism becomes too much to bear even for her best friend, Rebecca (Scarlett Johansson), Enid finds herself drawn to an unlikely kindred spirit: a sad-sack record collector many years her senior (Steve Buscemi). With its parade of oddball characters, quotable, Oscar-nominated script, and eclectic soundtrack of vintage obscurities, Ghost World is one of the twenty-first century’s most fiercely beloved comedies.
Read the full summary, listen to our film review on 1/7/2021, and listen to our Criterion Critics review on 1/13/2021.
Director-Approved Special Edition Features
- New, restored 4K digital transfer, supervised by cowriter-director Terry Zwigoff, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray
- Audio commentary featuring Zwigoff, Ghost World comic creator and film cowriter Daniel Clowes, and producer Lianne Halfon
- New interviews with actors Thora Birch, Scarlett Johansson, and Illeana Douglas
- Extended excerpt from Gumnaam (1965) featuring the Bollywood number that appears in Ghost World’s opening title sequence, with commentary
- Deleted scenes
- Trailer
- English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- PLUS: An essay by critic Howard Hampton, a 2001 piece by Zwigoff on the film’s soundtrack, and reprinted excerpts from Clowes’s comic Ghost World
New cover by Daniel Clowes
Also available on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.
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United Artists released Ghost World on September 21, 2001. Terry Zwigoff directed the film starring Steve Buscemi, Thora Birch, and Scarlett Johansson.