In 1969, Disneyland's The Haunted Mansion officially opened to the public. Since its launch, the haunted house that takes visitors through an eerie estate has inspired not only two similarly themed attractions, but also two live-action feature films. Nineties kids might recall the 2003 version, which starred Eddie Murphy and followed real estate agents who end up trapped in a Haunted Mansion with their kids. The latest adaptation, which is now streaming, takes the tale in a different direction — and according to Mashable Film Editor Kristy Puchko, it's "sure to thrill kids who revel in campfire tales and creepy bedtime stories."
For anyone seeking a spooky, yet family-friendly film this season, Haunted Mansion is an ideal blend of kooky and creepy. Whether you're a fan of the ride, the 2003 film, or you're going in blindly, Haunted Mansion will keep you hooked — if not for the storyline, for the cast of characters.
What is Haunted Mansion about?
The family-friendly film with a star-studded cast follows a mother and son, Gabbie (Rosario Dawson) and Travis (Chase W. Dillon), as they embark on a new beginning in a New Orleans mansion. It doesn't take long to realize that they aren't the only ones living in their new abode. They hire a quirky crew of alleged spiritual experts to help them rid the place of ghosts, including Owen Wilson, LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, and Danny DeVito. The spirits they're up against? There's the terrifying Hatbox Ghost played by Jared Leto, long-dead psychic Madame Leota (played by Jamie Lee Curtis), whose head floats in a crystal ball, and more.
Get a sneak peek at the spooky story in the trailer below.
When is Haunted Mansion coming to Disney+?
Released in theaters July 28, Disney's Haunted Mansion is now officially available on streaming. At Destination D23 in Orlando, Disney made the announcement that the hit film inspired by the classic theme park attraction will not only begin streaming on Disney+ on Oct. 4, but it will also be available at digital retailers on the same date for those who wish to purchase or rent instead.
Already a Disney+ subscriber? The film crept its way onto your screen on Oct. 4. If you're not already a subscriber, here are the best Disney+ deals for you.
Best ways to watch Haunted Mansion at home
Best Disney+ deal for most people
You can secure a Disney+ subscription for the month of October only for just $7.99 — if you don't mind watching a few ads throughout the film. If ads aren't your thing, you'll pay $10.99 if you sign up before Oct. 12. At that time, prices for the Premium ad-free Disney+ subscription will increase to $13.99/month. Be sure to cancel before the month is up if you don't want to be automatically charged for the following month.
Best Disney+ bundle deal
If you already have a Hulu account, you can bundle it with Disney+ for just $9.99/month — that's 37% in savings compared to paying for each separately. Or, depending on how you look at it, that's like getting Disney+ for just $2/month. You'll have to deal with a couple of ads interrupting your viewing experience, but for only $9.99/month, it's not so bad. After all, ad breaks just give you built-in bathroom breaks.
Best Disney+ free trial
If you use Fios home internet, you can score either six or 12 free months of Disney+ Premium (the ad-free tier) depending on your plan. Those on the 2 Gig Streaming and 2 Gig Complete Package can secure an entire year of streaming for free, while those on the 1 Gig Streaming and 1 Gig Complete Package can get six months for free. Either way, that's plenty of time to watch Haunted Mansion as well as many other spooky Disney films ahead of Halloween. Check your plan and learn more about eligibility on the Verizon website.
Best Disney+ free trial runner-up
If you're not a Fios user, there's another option for an extended free trial. Verizon Wireless customers with eligible unlimited plans can also score a free six-month subscription to Disney+ Premium (the ad-free tier). Unfortunately, most of these plans are no longer available to add to your account, but you may have signed up for one of these plans previously without realizing your Disney+ eligibility. The following accounts can score the free six-month Disney+ promotion:
5G Do More
5G Start
Welcome Unlimited
One Unlimited for iPhone
Get More Unlimited
Do More Unlimited
Play More Unlimited
Those on the 5G Get More or 5G Play More plan are also eligible for the Disney Bundle for free. You can check your plan and learn more about eligibility and terms over at the Verizon website. Note that the Disney+ promo through Verizon is only available through midnight on Nov. 17, so be sure to secure your free subscription before that date.
Best free Disney+ deal
Total by Verizon customers on the $60/month prepaid unlimited plan get Disney+ Premium (no ads) included for free as long as they stay on the plan. If you cancel or switch plans, your Disney+ subscription is no longer valid. If you're on the $50/month prepaid unlimited plan, you can score six free months, which is still plenty of time to tune into Haunted Mansion and other Disney gems. The plan is only available with active service for six consecutive months.
Other ways to watch Haunted Mansion at home
Dedicated fans can also add Haunted Mansion to their digital film collection beginning Oct. 4. With your purchase, you'll also get access to exclusive bonus content, including bloopers, hidden Easter eggs, and behind-the-scenes making-of content.
Here are the best digital platforms for purchasing the film.
Buy in UHD on Amazon Prime Video — $17.74
$19.99(save $2.25)Buy in 4K UHD on Vudu — $19.99
Buy in 4K on Apple TV+ — $19.99
Buy in 4K on Google Play — $19.99
What are the bonus features?
The best part about purchasing the film, as opposed to streaming, is all the fun bonus features you get. Here's a glimpse at what's included.
Making Haunted Mansion (Featurette): Listen as the cast, crew, and filmmakers discuss making the movie based on the spooky theme park attraction. See how the ghosts were brought to life, how technology was involved, and how the ride inspired the design.
999 Happy Haunts (Featurette): There are 999 Happy Haunts inside the Disney Parks' attraction. Check out all the included Easter eggs where characters big, small, alive, departed, human and otherwise appear in both the movie and the ride.
Deleted Scenes: Watch the scenes that didn't make it into the final cut.
Bloopers (Gag Reel): Just because it's a spooky film doesn't mean it wasn't a hoot behind the scenes. See some of the funny moments on set.
How to watch The Haunted Mansion 2003 film
Two decades before the 2023 Haunted Mansion film, there was The Haunted Mansion, which starred Eddie Murphy in 2003. Both films are based on the Disney theme park ride, but approach the plot a bit differently. The original 2003 film followed two real estate agents who end up trapped in the Haunted Mansion with their children. The new film follows a single mother and her 9-year-old son who move into a New Orleans mansion seeking a fresh beginning. As you can imagine, the home is not what they imagined and they must call a paranormal tour guide, a psychic, a priest, and a historian for guidance.
If you want to watch the original Haunted Mansion film before diving into the new one, you have a couple of options. Disney+ subscribers can stream the original film for free with their subscription. Non Disney+ subscribers can rent ($1.74 at Amazon Prime Video) or purchase the 2003 film ($15.74 at Amazon Prime Video) on digital retailers like Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+.
