Ghost Ship
Performance & Direction: Ghost Ship Review
Last updated: February 16, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Ghost Ship (2002) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 6.0/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Horror.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Horror is often anchored by its ensemble, and Ghost Ship features a noteworthy lineup led by Gabriel Byrne . Supported by the likes of Julianna Margulies and Desmond Harrington , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: Ghost Ship
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 2002, Ghost Ship is a Horror, Mystery, Thriller film directed by Steve Beck. The narrative crafts an atmosphere of dread and suspense, using psychological terror and visual scares. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Gabriel Byrne.
Story Breakdown
The horror unfolds through carefully crafted atmosphere and escalating dread. After discovering a passenger ship missing since 1962 floating adrift on the Bering Sea, salvagers claim the vessel as their own. Once they begin towing the ghost ship towards harbor, a series of bizarre occurrences happen and the group becomes trapped inside the ship, which they soon learn is inhabited by a demonic creature. Director Steve Beck uses both psychological terror and visceral scares, building tension through what's unseen as much as what's shown. The pacing allows for breathing room between scares, making each frightening moment more effective.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: An unsettling prologue sets the ominous tone, hinting at the terror to come while establishing the rules of this world.
- Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. Gabriel Byrne's arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The final act escalates the terror to its peak, forcing characters to confront the source of horror directly.
Ending Explained: Ghost Ship
Ending Breakdown: Directed by Steve Beck, Ghost Ship concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to horror resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes involving Gabriel Byrne, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the horror themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Ghost Ship reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Ghost Ship?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Horror films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of Gabriel Byrne or the director
- Want a few scares and creepy atmosphere
Box Office Collection: Ghost Ship
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $35.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $71.1M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
Ghost Ship Budget
The estimated production budget for Ghost Ship is $35.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Ghost Ship
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Where to Watch Ghost Ship Online?
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Fandango At HomeGhost Ship Parents Guide & Age Rating
2002 AdvisoryWondering about Ghost Ship age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Ghost Ship is 91 minutes (1h 31m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.0/10, and global performance metrics, Ghost Ship is classified as a ABOVE AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 2002 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ghost Ship worth watching?
Ghost Ship is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Horror movies. It has a verified rating of 6/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Ghost Ship parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Ghost Ship identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Ghost Ship?
The total duration of Ghost Ship is 91 minutes, which is approximately 1h 31m long.
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Critic Reviews for Ghost Ship
Wetter than a fishes bathing costume. It’s a pretty unadventurous title that matches the content of the film. Directed by Steve Beck and starring Gabriel Byrne, Desmond Harrington, Ron Eldard and Julianna Margulies, plot finds a salvage crew discovering a long lost passenger liner out in the remote Bering Sea. With the laws of the sea stating that they can keep what they find, they are delighted to find gold on board. But it’s not long before strange things start to happen. It starts of real well with a bloody and gruesome prelude, the production design is super and everything is in place for a chiller out there in the foggy waters. Unfortunately what we actually get is a predictable series of clichés cribbed from better movies of the past, none of which capable of eliciting a genuine scare. The makers think that having a bombastic techno score accompanying the dramatic moments will make them appear more shocking. It doesn’t, while the cast are ill served by direction and writing. Horror 101 for beginners. 3/10
I remember thinking this was good as a child... I was wrong. _Final rating:★½: - Boring/disappointing. Avoid if possible._
Ghostly happenings on a decades-lost lost ocean liner RELEASED IN 2002 and directed by Steve Beck, "Ghost Ship" revolves around salvagers finding a mysterious ship in the Bering Sea that's been lost for four decades and they intend to claim it, but things go from strange to worse as they board the eerie vessel and try to tow it to harbor. The cast is strong, headed by Gabriel Byrne. Emily Brown appears as a 12 year-old girl. Julianna Margulies looks fine but they don't do enough with her. Francesca Rettondini is also on hand. Let's just say the low-budget "Ghost Voyage" (2008) is better in the area of women. Still, the ship sets are excellent and it certainly seems like they shot the film on a real vessel. Interestingly, the Antonia Graza of the movie is a replica of the Andrea Doria. Other positives include: The refreshing score with “Not Falling” by Mudvayne thrown in for good measure; a nice haunting atmosphere at sea with one creepy scene reminiscent of the excellent “Dead Calm” (1989); potent visuals of the formidable vessel looming over the tugboat; plus some good thrills, notably one of the greatest horror scenes in the history of cinema in the prologue, no kidding. There's also a decent revelation thrown in at the end. If you like this one be sure to check out the aforementioned "Ghost Voyage," which is a TV movie. "Ghost Ship" was released to theaters and obviously had a bigger budget, but that doesn't mean it's better, just that it's more polished. THE FILM RUNS 91 minutes. WRITERS: Mark Hanlon and John Pogue. GRADE: B
Another second viewing flick, wasn't a big fan the first time and basically thought the same now. There are some fun cheesy moments here and there but kind of like Thirteen Ghosts (same director), has some interesting ideas that don't amount to much. Course, I'm also not much of a fan of supernatural horror movies as they play fast and loose with the rules. **2.5/5**
Besides **THAT** epic death scene, this movie is mildly entertaining. It has flaws and a terrible story, which I admit the reveal was amusing. If you like terror on the seas but amusingly bad to riff on, this’ll be the movie. That opening scene is memorable for a reason though and basically overshadowed the rest of the movie.
The beginning and the end of this movie is really the only good thing about the movie. Everything else is just a crew chasing around a ghost girl trying to figure out what happened to her. Pretty boring.
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