Disney’s Haunted Mansion continues the exciting tradition of adapting the magic of nostalgic Disney rides into films that can be enjoyed any time, from the comfort of home. Of course, many Disney fans will recall that it was not all that long ago that we first visited the haunted halls of Gracey Manor on the big screen. Twenty years ago, to be exact.
It was in 2003 that we first peeked behind the foreboding gates of The Haunted Mansion in a supernatural horror family comedy. Now, Haunted Mansion invites audiences to return. As you can imagine, both films have a great deal in common. They both present a family-friendly spooky romp through the Mansion’s haunted halls. They both enchant fans with a heavy dose of nostalgia for the iconic dark ride. Even so, each film carries a distinctive flavor that will be sure to polarize fans on the question of “Who did it better?”
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Disney’s Haunted Mansion (2023) vs The Haunted Mansion (2003)
We’ll begin with the basics, starting with 2003’s The Haunted Mansion. The Haunted Mansion, directed by Rob Minkoff (The Lion King, 1994) arrived in theaters on November 26, 2003. The film starred Eddie Murphy, Marsha Thomason, Terence Stamp, and Jennifer Tilly, with performances from Wallace Shawn and Nathaniel Parker.
In The Haunted Mansion, realtor Jim Evers (Eddie Murphy) finds himself at odds with his wife and children as he consistently prioritizes work over family time. His workaholic tendencies will be their downfall when the Evers family is summoned to the Gracey Manor with the promise of a huge opportunity. Shortly following their arrival, the Evers find themselves pulled into a devil’s curse. The Manor is plagued by ghosts and the tragedy of heartbreak and death. In a race against supernatural forces, in search of the truth, Jim Evers must rescue his family and help the spirits of the manor to rest.
The 2023 reboot, Disney’s Haunted Mansion, premiered at the titular mansion itself in Disneyland on July 15, 2023. Justin Simien directs Haunted Mansion and boasts an all-star cast including LaKeith Stanfield, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Tiffany Haddish, and Rosario Dawson, with Jamie Lee Curtis as Madame Leota and Jared Leto lending his voice to the Hatbox Ghost.
Haunted Mansion tells the story of a single mother and her son, looking to begin a new life in the recently-purchased mansion, and their fight to survive the ghosts haunting the house. In their desperation, they attempt to flee – only to learn that the spirits of the house will follow all who enter and drive them back to the ominous residence. With no other options, the family assembles a ghost-hunting dream team of a priest, a psychic, an expert on old houses, and a former scientist-turned-paranormal tour guide to uncover the cause of the haunting. They stumble on an evil so fearsome that even the deadbolt in terror.
Grim Grinning Ghosts and Foolish Mortals: The Ensembles
Both Haunted Mansion films rest equally on the foundation of fun ensembles and fantastical sets and effects. That being said, the distinctive features of each cast are a huge part of what makes the films different and capable of reaching totally different audiences. The Haunted Mansion of 2003 is a traditional family comedy told from the perspective of the entire Evers family – husband, wife, and two young children.
In the typical family film model, each family member brings unique fears and strengths to the story that highlight the family unit (and all the wholesome goodness that entails). The Haunted Mansion also makes the calculated choice to humanize many of the ghostly residents of Gracey Manor. Multiple ghost characters initially conceal their supernatural nature and take a very active role in the adventure and in aiding the family.
Eddie Murphy’s comedic stylings – whether it’s your bag or not is a question of taste – are all over The Haunted Mansion, with notable performances by the supporting characters and the child actors. Nathaniel Parker, Marsha Thompson, and Terence Stamp manage to carve out the genuine heartbreaking drama in their personal parlor drama of tragic lovers and murderous betrayal. On the one hand, their side story is almost too good for The Haunted Mansion, but it’s essential to grounding the film.
The cast of the 2023 reboot is infinitely more exciting, dripping with talent. However, it doesn’t make every choice a winner. Distinct from its predecessor, Haunted Mansion holds its ghostly residents at arm’s length – keeping them firmly shrouded in the otherworldly and the supernatural. The choice allows the core ensemble of ghost hunters to shine and the wide array of archetypes and performances is certainly entertaining. Not all characters stick the landing, but the more playful nature of the overall film allows it to work.
Who does it better? It’s a toss-up! The leading ensemble of the reboot is easily the most likable and impressive of the two, but the ghosts of The Haunted Mansion 2003 offer such intrigue.
Jennifer Tilly’s Madame Leota wins every time in an entirely separate category.
Generational Curses (and a Hefty Dose of Disney Magic)
With a twenty-year gap between the two films, it is safe to say that Haunted Mansion is a take for a new generation. Trends and tropes may fade over time, but nostalgia is forever, and nostalgia is the lifeblood that Disney runs on. Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion has been terrifying (and delighting) park-goers since 1969 and 1971 for the Magic Kingdom’s version with the highlights of the ride have become instantly recognizable icons.
Both The Haunted Mansion (2003) and Disney’s Haunted Mansion lean heavily on references to the iconic manors of both rides, transporting viewers to the spookiest corners of the Happiest Place on Earth. The latest version of Haunted Mansion pays homage to both the Antebellum appeal of the original mansion and the gothic architecture of the Magic Kingdom’s version in the form of two separate houses entwined in the mystery. The 2003 version instead pulls elements from both sets to create a spectacle of a set piece, totally unique to the film.
Of course, both films are populated by familiar callbacks to the spirits guests encounter on the ride, but this is also where the two diverge. Again, 2003’s The Haunted Mansion grounds its ghost story in a quasi-dramatic realism. It allows the ghosts to be more human. In some instances, references to popular ghosts, like the Black Widow Bride and the Ghost Host, are merely alluded to while the character itself is reshaped into a newly imagined version better suited to the unique telling. 2023’s answer, in contrast, chooses to depict the ghosts of the mansion in strikingly close resemblance to how they appear and feature on the ride.
Who does it better? It depends on what you want. Diehard fans of the Mansion will find comfortable familiarity in every beat of Haunted Mansion 2023, as it is the most loyal to the bones of the ride. The Haunted Mansion of 2003 is less inclined to treat the ride as a blueprint so much as a sandbox, with more room for interpretation and subtler nods.
Crypt Doors Creak and Tombstones Quake: Tone and Messaging
The Haunted Mansion (2003), and Disney’s Haunted Mansion reboot vary drastically in terms of their overall tone and approach. The first Haunted Mansion film works surprisingly well as a piece of gothic horror and leans heavily on its setting and tragic story elements to convey the macabre. While it wraps on an overall note of prioritizing family and cherishing our loved ones, there are genuine horror elements at play in the film. An actual interpretation of a Hell demon appears in the film, violent death and murder are shown, and sequences of the film utilize truly terrifying effects. The Haunted Mansion is still firmly rooted as a family film, but it skews towards older children.
In contrast, the new Disney’s Haunted Mansion reads without question as a family-focused adventure. From the colorfully designed haunts to the zaniness of the characters, the 2023 reboot is comfortably targeted at very young audiences and takes the “fear factor” down to almost zero. It can easily be called an introduction to horror suitable for any age. The tone of Haunted Mansion is light and playful, if not a little silly (in a good way), with a sincere meditation on grief and moving on, tying the film together nicely.
Happy haunts may materialize from both Disney’s Haunted Mansion and The Haunted Mansion. Both offer so much to new fans and old audiences of all ages. The spooky season may still be a couple of months away, but families can look forward to both films for a spooky good time.
The Haunted Mansion (2003) and Disney’s Haunted Mansion is streaming on Disney+.
