The Anthony Mackie Netflix Horror That’s A Surprise Audience Favorite

By Charlene Badasie | Updated

Anthony Mackie in We Have A Ghost

Supernatural horror-comedy We Have A Ghost is currently streaming on Netflix. Directed by Christopher Landon, the movie is based on Geoff Manaugh’s 2017 short story Ernest. With a stellar cast including David Harbour, Anthony Mackie, Tig Notaro, and Jennifer Coolidge, this quirky film takes audiences on an unpredictable journey through the afterlife.

Anthony Mackie is part of the star-studded horror-comedy, We Have A Ghost, which is now streaming on Netflix.

The story begins when the Presley family purchases a new home. Their youngest member, Kevin (Jahi Winston), soon stumbles upon a mute ghost in the attic, sporting a shirt with the name Ernest. Determined to help the ghost find his forgotten past, Kevin, with the help of his father Frank (Anthony Mackie), uploads a video of Ernest to YouTube in an attempt to gain fame.

At school, Kevin meets Joy (Isabella Russo), who also happens to be their neighbor, and together, they embark on a quest to uncover the ghost’s true identity. As they delve deeper into the mystery, they discover a photograph of the ghost posing with a previous house owner named Ernest S. (Tom Bower). This leads to a series of flashbacks that reveal the ghost’s connection to a daughter.

david harbour
We Have A Ghost

The plot of the Anthony Mackie movie takes an unexpected twist when Doctor Leslie Monroe (Tig Notaro), a horror writer with a CIA background in capturing ghosts, attempts to capture Ernest. However, Kevin, Joy, and Ernest are already on their way to Oklahoma, where they hope to get answers from Ernest S., who reveals that the ghost’s name is Randy.

Earnest S. shares a chilling story of Randy’s wife’s death, his subsequent disappearance, and his daughter June. The CIA soon arrives in Oklahoma, leading to Randy’s capture. As the story unfolds, Randy has a disturbing flashback of his own murder. This revelation prompts Doctor Monroe to set Randy free.

We Have A Ghost was a small-scale production but a big hit for Anthony Mackie and David Harbour, as it became a hit for Netflix with over 3 billion minutes viewed.

Meanwhile, Ernest S. arrives at the Presley house, believing Kevin to be seeking revenge for Randy’s murder. A shocking revelation emerges as Ernest S. confesses to a dark secret. The climax of We Have a Ghost sees a confrontation between Kevin and Ernest S. in the attic, which culminates in a dramatic intervention by Frank (Anthony Mackie).

Randy is eventually reunited with his daughter, leading to a heartwarming farewell between Randy and Kevin. As Randy departs for the afterlife, Frank (Anthony Mackie) decides to move his family to a brand new home. As Kevin leaves the house for the last time, a flicker of light in the attic suggests that the supernatural may still linger.

The production of We Have a Ghost faced its fair share of challenges, including a temporary halt due to Hurricane Ida. David Harbour’s portrayal of the mute ghost, Ernest, was particularly notable. Director Christopher Landon admired Harbour’s willingness to take on the challenging role and his ability to convey complex emotions without uttering any words.

We Have A Ghost

While We Have a Ghost offers a unique and heartwarming take on the age-old story of the supernatural, it was not without its detractors. With a 42 percent critic score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 53, it’s clear that the film divided opinions. Some found the blend of horror and comedy to be uneven, while others praised its quirky ’80s aesthetic.

Following its release on February 24, We Have a Ghost, starring Anthony Mackie, earned approximately 19.1 million CVEs over its first weekend. These streaming figures were rather impressive for a B-tier film. According to What’s On Netflix, it had a better launch than A Madea Homecoming and The Curse of Bridge Hollow. 

What’s Next For Anthony Mackie

Anthony Mackie’s most recent project is Twisted Metal. The comedy series is based on the vehicle combat video game of the same name. The story follows John Doe, a talkative “milkman” with no memory of his past. He is tasked with traversing a desolate United States to deliver a mysterious package with unknown contents to secure a chance at a better future.

Anthony Mackie’s most anticipated project is Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Brave New World, which will hit theaters on July 26, 2024. The movie is directed by Julius Onah from a script he co-wrote with Malcolm Spellman and Dalan Musson. Danny Ramirez, Carl Lumbly, Tim Blake Nelson, Shira Haas, Harrison Ford, and Liv Tyler also star in the movie.

For now, fans of Anthony Mackie can catch him in We Have A Ghost, currently streaming on Netflix.