Ghost Town

Bertram Pincus, a Manhattan dentist who treats people with sarcasm and skepticism, suddenly gains the ability to notice the dead. They appear at will, tugging him with requests that range from practical favors to moral reminders. One restless spirit named Frank Herlihy, a silver-tongued ghost, will not leave him alone and convinces him to pursue a plan involving Frank’s widow, Gwen. Bertram resists at first, but the afterlife intrudes into his sterile world of charts and drills, turning every appointment into a contest between the living and the departed. Boundaries blur as a stubborn clinician is drawn into a romantic farce that tests his cynicism and nudges him toward a surprising confession about what makes life worth living for him.

Directed by David Koepp, Ghost Town stems from an original screenplay by John Kamps. Released in 2008, the film blends humor with a supernatural premise, showcasing Koepp's knack for brisk, accessible storytelling and character-driven humor throughout that anchored its tone.

Worldwide, Ghost Town grossed about 27.1 million against a 20 million budget, marking a modest but steady performance that found its audience in theaters before moving to home viewing and occasional international releases, pleasing distributors and mid-size markets globally overall.

While not a cultural phenomenon, Ghost Town nudged the late 2000s genre of supernatural romances set in a city. It lingered for its dry wit, the clash of skepticism and sentiment, and a slightly offbeat ghostly presence that sparked casual chatter among fans in online reviews and enthusiastic discussions worldwide.

Critical response was mixed, with praise for Ricky Gervais's deadpan performance and the movie's offbeat premise, tempered by uneven tonal shifts. The film probes loneliness and desire while asking whether cynicism can yield real connection through unlikely circumstances for a broader audience and invites viewers to rethink cynicism's price today.