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Ghosts

Ghosts

Dead people are just like you and me, they still want things.

2021–Ongoing5 seasonsRenewedSeason 6 upcoming116 episodes~21 min/epTV-PGMidcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

Samantha and Jay throw caution to the wind when they convert their recently inherited country estate into a bed-and-breakfast. Call it mislaid plans. Not only is the place falling apart, but it’s also inhabited by spirits of previous residents -- whom only Samantha can see and hear.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Ghosts?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Ghosts streaming on Paramount+ and to rent or buy on Apple TV.

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Rent / Buy

Buy

Highlights

What stands out about Ghosts?

Ghosts earns 7 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Preferred by Over-30s.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Ghosts worth watching?

Ghosts' Midcredits score is the 86th percentile of all shows, from 56K ratings across 5 sources. 87% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

86th percentile

Better received than 86% of shows

84th percentile among Comedy89th percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)79th
Approval (how many liked it)88th

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

77 /100

79th percentile of all shows

80th percentile among Comedy82nd percentile among 2020s

Critics 73 · Audience 78

Critics and audiences broadly agree.

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

Approval

How many liked it

87% liked it

88th percentile of all shows

85th percentile among Comedy90th percentile among 2020s
87% rated it 7–1013% rated it 1–6

Critics 97% · Audience 87%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Reach

How many have seen it

94th percentile

56K ratings across platforms

90th percentile among Comedy95th percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 7% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the show is a light, easy-to-watch sitcom with a premise that is more charming than groundbreaking, with the ghosts being the highlight of the ensemble.

Fans praised

  • charming feel-good comedy with heart and wit
  • strong ensemble cast with distinct, memorable ghost characters
  • clever writing balancing humor and poignant moments

Detractors panned

  • pale, unfunny imitation of the UK original
  • dumbed-down, watered-down humor and forced comedy
  • weak lead couple with no chemistry

What stands out

ActingDivisive75

ensemble cast praised for chemistry and comedic timing, but critics and some detractors note the husband's performance is flat and miscast

Emotional impactDivisive75

surprising poignant moments touching on loss and connection; detractors see it as shallow

CharactersDivisive70

ghosts are distinct and memorable with unique backstories, but detractors see them as one-note caricatures compared to the original

HumorDivisive70

consistent laugh-out-loud moments from character-driven gags and sight gags; detractors find it cheesy and unfunny

DialogueDivisive70

witty, fast-paced banter with clever one-liners and historical references; detractors call it forced and cringey

PacingDivisive70

snappy 22-minute episodes make for easy bingeing; some find the pilot rushed and later seasons lose momentum

Plot and storyDivisive65

light, episodic storylines with a mix of original and adapted plots; some find it predictable or unfocused

OriginalityDivisive40

fans appreciate divergence from the UK original with new ghost characters, but detractors see a near-identical copy

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Women

Women scored it 11 points higher than men.

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Over-30s

Over-30s scored it 23 points higher than under-30s.

Critics vs users

Preferred by Users

Users scored it 21 points higher than critics.

US vs non-US

Preferred by US Viewers

US viewers scored it 15 points higher than non-US viewers.

Episodes

6 seasons

Season 5 · 2025 · 22 episodes · 6.3 average across 17 rated episodes

  • S5E1

    Soul Custody

    Oct 16, 202522 minTMDB rating 6.5
  • S5E2

    Viking Wedding

    Oct 23, 202522 minTMDB rating 6.3
  • S5E3

    Halloween 5: The Mummy

    Oct 30, 202522 minTMDB rating 6.3
  • S5E4

    Bring Your Daughter to Work Day

    Nov 6, 202522 minTMDB rating 6.5
  • S5E5

    T-Daddy

    Nov 13, 202522 minTMDB rating 6.2
  • S5E6

    Planes, Shanes, and Automobiles

    Nov 20, 202522 minTMDB rating 6.4

Watch experience

What is Ghosts like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, light and gentle — an even-paced watch that leaves you feeling good.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
JoyfulAbsurdBittersweet
Heaviest: throughout
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
PlayfulWarm
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Case of the week plus an arcNew arc each season
ToneThe show treats its premise of ghosts and B&B with warmth and affection, never taking itself too seriously.
The rideThe show maintains a lighthearted, absurdly funny atmosphere, though occasional ghost backstories add brief moments of melancholy.
StructureEpisodes follow a classic sitcom three-act structure: setup, complication, resolution.
Episode formatEach episode blends a self-contained comedic premise (often revolving around a ghost's backstory or a B&B guest) with ongoing character arcs and relationship development.
Season formatWhile the core cast and setting remain consistent, each season introduces new seasonal arcs or major developments (e.g., a ghost being 'sucked off') while maintaining the overall series continuity.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Feel-goodFun
Why it leaves you this wayThe series leaves viewers smiling and entertained, with a sense of warmth and lightheartedness.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Comedy
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12% (this title): Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% (this title) · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Comedy: Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony. · Comedy of errors: Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.

12% of shows fit this archetype

Why this archetypeThe typical episode finds Samantha navigating a problem caused by or involving the ghosts, often through misunderstandings or schemes, leading to comedic resolutions.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfFamilybonds
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31% (this title): Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% (this title) · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% (this title) · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% (this title) · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Family bondsCommunity: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Coming of age · 9% of shows
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe central thread is Sam and Jay building a found family of ghosts, learning to accept and support each other's quirks and histories as they run the B&B together.
StanceThe series celebrates the quirky found-family bond between the living couple and the ghosts, affirming the value of community across time.

The world

ContemporaryDomesticRuralStylized realism
Orchestral modernPopSupportive music · hybrid
SettingA sprawling, run-down country estate in upstate New York, converted into a bed-and-breakfast.
MusicThe opening theme is a jaunty, folk-inflected tune that sets a whimsical tone.

Content guide

Is Ghosts okay for kids?

TV-PG

Ghosts is rated TV-PG. As of October 5, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at mild (28/100), sexual content at mild (34/100), language at mild (19/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (31/100) and frightening material at mild (17/100). Overall it is heavier than 24% of TV-PG shows.

Ratings in 19 other countries
  • UK12
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany12
  • France12
  • Ireland12
  • South Korea15
  • Brazil12
  • Austria12
  • Denmark15
  • FinlandK12
  • Hungary12
  • LTNR
  • Norway12
  • Poland12
  • RO12
  • SingaporeR21
  • Spain13
  • SwedenFrån 15 år
  • Türkiye13+
Overall
Mild · all five categories
Heavier than 9% of all showsHeavier than 24% of TV-PG shows
Violence & Gore
Mild
typical for a TV-PG show
heavier than 35%
Sex & Nudity
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-PG show
heavier than 62%
Profanity
Mild
typical for a TV-PG show
heavier than 26%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
typical for a TV-PG show
heavier than 53%
Frightening / Intense
Mild
light for a TV-PG show
heavier than 25%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is sexual content, heavier than 62% of TV-PG shows.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Ghosts have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Ghosts?

Cast

Rose McIver
as Samantha
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Utkarsh Ambudkar
as Jay Arondekar
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Brandon Scott Jones
as Isaac Higgintoot
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Danielle Pinnock
as Alberta Haynes
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Richie Moriarty
as Pete Martino
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Asher Grodman
as Trevor Lefkowitz
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Rebecca Wisocky
as Hetty Woodstone
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Román Zaragoza
as Sasappis
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Devan Chandler Long
as Thorfinn
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Sheila Carrasco
as Flower
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

More like this

What are shows like Ghosts?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like Ghosts include Mork & Mindy (1978), The Mighty Boosh (2003) and House of Payne (2006).

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