Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- playful
- zany
- classic movie night
- light mystery viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly find the film a witty, entertaining supernatural comedy whose character performances outweigh its conventional mystery plotting.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Gail Richards returns as a spirit and recruits Cosmo Topper to uncover who murdered her.
Gail's ghost torments and guides Topper while turning the murder inquiry into comic disruption.
The murder investigation repeatedly gives way to zany character comedy and over-the-top reactions.
Gail is murdered while staying at the home of her wealthy friend Ann Carrington.
Films like Topper Returns, and why
Topper
shared ghostly premise, screwball comedy, and light mystery plotting
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir
shared supernatural comedy, eccentric characters, and playful afterlife premise
The Thin Man
shared classic Hollywood mystery farce, witty tone, and mistaken-identity complications
Movie Details
- Director
- Roy Del Ruth
- Release Date
- 1941-03-21
- Runtime
- 88 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (61)
Cast
- Joan Blondell
- Roland Young
- Carole Landis
- Billie Burke
- Dennis O'Keefe
- Patsy Kelly
- H.B. Warner
- Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson
- George Zucco
- Donald MacBride
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, Brew, MGM Plus, FlixFling, Cineverse, Great American Pure Flix Amazon Channel, Artiflix
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, FlixFling
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, FlixFling
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Topper Returns about?
- A murdered socialite returns as a mischievous ghost and recruits the beleaguered Cosmo Topper to expose her killer through supernatural slapstick.
- What is Topper Returns like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Topper Returns as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Topper Returns violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Topper Returns as mild.
- What did critics think of Topper Returns?
- Critics broadly find the film a witty, entertaining supernatural comedy whose character performances outweigh its conventional mystery plotting.
- Which films are like Topper Returns?
- Films with a similar feel include Topper, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, and The Thin Man.
- How long is Topper Returns?
- Topper Returns runs 88 minutes.
- Where can I watch Topper Returns?
- In United States, Topper Returns streams on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, Brew, MGM Plus, FlixFling, Cineverse, Great American Pure Flix Amazon Channel, Artiflix.
