Which 1996 horror comedy did Peter Jackson direct?
Answer
The Frighteners
Answer
The Frighteners
The 1996 horror comedy directed by Peter Jackson is The Frighteners. The supernatural film stars Michael J. Fox as Frank Bannister, an architect who can communicate with ghosts after the death of his wife.
Frank turns his ability into a deceptive business: he befriends ghosts, arranges staged hauntings, and then charges clients to remove them. The scheme changes when a murderous spirit appears in the form of the Grim Reaper and begins attacking both the living and the dead. The movie blends comedy, horror, fantasy, and visual-effects spectacle rather than fitting neatly into one genre.
Jackson and Fran Walsh developed the idea while working on Heavenly Creatures. Robert Zemeckis initially considered directing it as a Tales from the Crypt-related project, but the film ultimately became Jackson's Hollywood feature. It was shot entirely in New Zealand, with digital effects created largely by the young Weta Digital. Though not a major box-office success, The Frighteners later gained a cult following.
Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Aug. 2026