The following contains spoilers for Haunted Mansion, in theaters now.
Haunted Mansion reinvents many elements of the ride of the same name. Many aspects of the original Haunted Mansion attraction from the Disney Parks fit neatly into the 2023 movie, including characters even getting their own version of the signature Doom Buggy. Much of the film's actual plot is also rooted in the established lore and characters of the ride -- including the primary antagonist, the Hatbox Ghost.
The Hatbox Ghost (played by Jared Leto) is a consistent threat, working to break the spirits of the film's principal characters. Yet the intimidating character also has a surprisingly twisty real-life history, from being an infamously removed element of the ride to becoming a fan-favorite. The film expands on that by making him a key part of the Haunted Mansion's mythology, and highlights his true purpose -- and potential -- within the attraction's lore.
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Who Is the Hatbox Ghost in Haunted Mansion?
The Hatbox Ghost serves as the primary antagonist of Haunted Mansion, so dangerous and deadly force that even the other spirits in Gracey Manor fear him. He's shown to be a monstrous entity, even compared to overtly murderous figures like the Bride. Thanks to the psychic skills of Harriet, the group is able to send Ben across the material plane and into a supernatural realm. There he discovers that the Hatbox Ghost is the real malevolent force in the manor -- capable of ordering around the others and terrorizing them into his service.
The group eventually learns he was once a wealthy man named Alistair Crump. Crump had been a wealthy aristocrat with a cruel streak, indulging his worst impulses with murderous acts and dark magic. Although Crump's servants eventually turned against him and beheaded him, Crump's spirit survived within Gracey Manor. His mission became to trap a thousand souls inside -- as that would allow him to break loose and spread his evil around the world.
In a movie that often straddles the line between goofy comedy, dramatic character beats and genuine horror, the Hatbox Ghost is never played as anything less than frightening. Crumb is always portrayed with a creepy layer of menace, even if his final form in Haunted Mansion's familiar third act lacks some of the inherent malice from earlier in the picture. But it's a clever way to elevate him beyond the rest of the spirits, which is even more important since the Hatbox Ghost spent decades out of focus before the release of the film.
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How the Hatbox Ghost Took Years to Return in Real Life
The Haunted Mansion opened in 1969, and became one of Disneyland's many iconic attractions. Among the original ghosts in the ride was the Hatbox Ghost: an animatronic creation with a unique physical appearance. The concept was that his head would disappear from atop his shoulders and appear inside a hatbox in his hands. The effect was created by clever lighting and well-placed shadows -- but proved difficult in practice. Nearby natural light ruined the scare, and the Hatbox Ghost was removed after only a few months.
However, the character remained infamous, steadily gaining more popularity over the years -- in part due to his absence and the mystery it added. The Hatbox Ghost appeared in more and more material, such as the Haunted Mansion comic series, video games like Disney Crossy Road and parodies like Muppets Haunted Mansion. When The Haunted Mansion went through renovations ahead of its 60th anniversary in 2015, the Hatbox Ghost was reinstalled. Modern technology allowed a new version of the character to work, with a small piece of animation creating the illusion of the disappearing and reappearing head.
The Hatbox Ghost spent decades as The Haunted Mansion's biggest example of what could have been. His creepy design only gained more power once he was removed from the ride. It therefore makes perfect sense to bring him back in the biggest way possible, with Haunted Mansion highlighting how much the character has added to the franchise. The movie's story also gives yet another layer of intrigue to the character, because his continued appearance in the Haunted Mansion ride is now even more chilling thanks to the scares and challenges he presents in the film.
Haunted Mansion is in theaters now.