When the BBC’s Ghosts ended in 2023, its six writer-performers said they had no intention of coming back. Happily, they changed their minds. Ghosts: The Possession of Button House picks up not long after the final episode, and it is every bit as warm, silly and comforting as the series.
The usual worry with a sitcom spin-off is that the jokes thin out once the story has to stretch to feature length. Not here. If anything, breaking free of the half-hour format seems to have given the team licence to be even more giddily daft.
Ghosts: The Possession of Button House is a big-screen haunting full of heart, mischief and non-stop laughs.
Movie at a Glance
- UK and Ireland cinemas: 23 October 2026 (wide release)
- US release: No US release announced
- UK certificate: PG
- Runtime: 1 hour 37 minutes
- Director: Simon Hynd
- Writers: Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond
- Starring: Charlotte Ritchie, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Lolly Adefope, Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond
- UK distributor: Lionsgate UK
- Genre: Supernatural family comedy
Viewer Match
- Best for: Fans of the series, families with children of about eight and up, and anyone who needs a good laugh this half-term.
- Maybe skip if: You have never seen the show: the film assumes you know who everyone is.
- Mood and pace: Breezy, giddy and warm-hearted, with gentle spooks and plenty of slapstick.
- Cinema or streaming? Cinema: it is a joy with a laughing audience, especially a family one.
- Spoiler level: Spoiler-free: only the opening premise.
Life After Alison and Mike
Some months have passed since Alison (Charlotte Ritchie) and Mike (Kiell Smith-Bynoe) sold Button House to a hotel chain. But the refurbishment has stalled, protesters have arrived, and the ghosts are pining for Alison, the one living person who could see and hear them. To reach their friends, they will have to find a new way to make contact with the world of the living.
Saying any more would spoil the fun. The title hints at what follows, and the results are gloriously silly.
The Gang’s All Here
The joy of Ghosts has always been its ensemble, and every ghost gets a moment. Simon Farnaby’s trouserless MP Julian is as shameless as ever, Jim Howick’s scoutmaster Pat is as relentlessly sincere, Lolly Adefope’s Kitty is a delight, and Laurence Rickard’s caveman Robin gets an unexpected romance of his own.
Martha Howe-Douglas, Mathew Baynton and Ben Willbond are on top form too, and the writing team clearly know these characters inside out. Ritchie and Smith-Bynoe slot back in as if they never left.
Bigger, Sillier and Still Sweet
Director Simon Hynd gives the film a little more scale and some mild action-comedy, but the heart remains the same: a group of mismatched people, centuries apart, who have become a family. Beneath the jokes there are surprisingly tender moments, and a dash of gentle satire for good measure.
Newcomers may feel a little lost, as the film makes few concessions to those who have not seen the series. And part of you may wish it had been saved for Christmas television. But in a cinema, with a laughing audience, it is a treat.
Spoiler-Free Verdict
Ghosts: The Possession of Button House is a warm, giddy and very funny big-screen outing that keeps the gags coming and gives every ghost a moment to shine. It leans heavily on knowledge of the series, but for fans it is an absolute delight.
- Performances: 8.5/10
- Direction: 7.5/10
- Screenplay: 8.5/10
- Score: 7/10
- Cinematography: 7/10
- Entertainment Value: 9/10
- Overall score: 8/10
Star rating: 4/5
Verdict badge: Worth Seeing
One-line verdict: A joyful, joke-packed return that proves Button House still has plenty of life in it.
Watch the Official Trailer
The official trailer may reveal more than this spoiler-free review.
Which Button House ghost is your favourite, and did they get enough screen time? Tell Movieversalfilm in the comments.