Ghost in the Shell (2017 film)

This article is about the 2017 live-action film. For the 1995 anime film, see Ghost in the Shell (1995 film). For other uses, see Ghost in the Shell (disambiguation).

Ghost in the Shell
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRupert Sanders
Screenplay by
Based onGhost in the Shell
by Masamune Shirow
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyJess Hall
Edited by
  • Neil Smith
  • Billy Rich
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed byParamount Pictures[2]
Release dates
Running time
107 minutes[5]
Countries
  • United States
  • Hong Kong
  • China[6]
Languages
  • English
  • Japanese
Budget$110 million[7]
Box office$169.8 million[8]

Ghost in the Shell is a 2017 science fiction action film[9] directed by Rupert Sanders and written by Jamie Moss, William Wheeler and Ehren Kruger, based on the Japanese manga of the same name by Masamune Shirow. It stars Scarlett Johansson, Takeshi Kitano, Michael Pitt, Pilou Asbæk, Chin Han and Juliette Binoche. Set in a near future when the line between humans and robots is blurring, the plot follows the Major (Johansson), a cyborg supersoldier who investigates her past.

Filming for Ghost in the Shell took place in New Zealand from February to June 2016, with additional filming in Hong Kong that June. The film premiered in Tokyo on March 16, 2017, and was released in the United States on March 31, 2017, in IMAX, 3D, IMAX 3D, and 4DX.[10] It received mixed reviews, with praise for its cast performances, visual style, action sequences, cinematography and musical score, but criticism for its plot and lack of character development. The casting of Caucasian actors (particularly Johansson) drew accusations of racism and whitewashing in the United States,[11][12][13][14] although it was the opinion of Mamoru Oshii, the director of the original anime, that there was no basis for this accusation.[15] It grossed $169.8 million worldwide against a production budget of $110 million[7][8] and lost at least $60 million with more than $100 million being a possibility due to a disputed budget.[16] The film did, however, debut at No. 2 on home media.[17]

  1. ^ Adam Chitwood (November 14, 2016). "Clint Mansell to Score 'Ghost in the Shell'". Collider. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Film releases". Variety Insight. Archived from the original on October 26, 2016.
  3. ^ "Traditional Māori welcome for Ghost in the Shell". Scoop. February 25, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  4. ^ "Ghost in the Shell (2017)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on December 26, 2017.
  5. ^ "Ghost in the Shell (2017)". AMC Theatres. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  6. ^ Stables, Kate (June 2017). "Ghost in the Shell". Sight & Sound. Vol. 27, no. 6. p. 64.
  7. ^ a b Lang, Brent (March 29, 2017). "Box Office: Can 'Boss Baby,' 'Ghost in the Shell' Top 'Beauty and the Beast'?". Variety. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
  8. ^ a b "The Ghost in the Shell (2017)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  9. ^ "Ghost in the Shell (2017) - Rupert Sanders". AllMovie. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  10. ^ "5 reasons why you need to experience Ghost in the Shell in mind-blowing 4DX". Cineworld.co.uk. March 17, 2017. Archived from the original on July 28, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  11. ^ Michael Goldberg (March 31, 2017). "'Ghost in the Shell' is Racist in Unexpected Ways". Collider. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  12. ^ Ahern, Sarah (March 15, 2017). "Asian American Media Group Accuses Scarlett Johansson of 'Lying' About 'Ghost in the Shell' Whitewashing Controversy". Variety. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  13. ^ David Ehrlich (April 2, 2017). "Will 'Ghost in the Shell' Be the Last Racially Insensitive Blockbuster? — Critics Survey". Indie Wire. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  14. ^ Annie Halliwell (April 5, 2017). "Ghost in the Shell Review: Post Racism an Excuse for Asian Erasure". IDS News. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  15. ^ Guardian staff (March 24, 2017). "Original Ghost in the Shell director: 'no basis' for whitewashing anger". The Guardian. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  16. ^ Anthony D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 5, 2017). "'Ghost In The Shell' Will Lose $60 Million-Plus: Here's Why". Deadline. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  17. ^ Arnold, Thomas K. (August 2, 2017). "'Boss Baby,' 'Ghost in the Shell' Take Two Top Spots on Disc Charts". Variety. Retrieved August 24, 2019.