Ghosts Movie Revives Button House With a Supernatural Adventure

The supernatural comedy Ghosts: The Possession of Button House brings the BBC sitcom's characters back together for a new adventure as the future of their historic home hangs in the balance. Set more than 100 days after Alison and Mike leave the property, the film introduces a possession storyline that allows the spirits to venture beyond the manor's grounds. The movie opens in UK cinemas on October 23, 2026.

Charlotte Ritchie and Kiell Smith-Bynoe return as Alison and Mike, while Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Ben Willbond, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard, Mathew Baynton and Lolly Adefope reprise their roles as the ghosts. Scott Ellis Watson joins the central storyline as Jack, a troubled foster child whose encounter with Julian changes the direction of the adventure.

According to reviews published by Empire and Digital Spy, the film combines the sitcom's familiar humor with elements of action, political intrigue, coming-of-age drama and supernatural comedy. Its central conflict involves the stalled conversion of Button House into a luxury hotel and golf resort, environmental protesters opposing the development, and politicians whose activities complicate the property's future.

The ghosts discover that they can possess living people, giving them a way to leave the house after centuries of confinement. Julian's experience outside the manor provides much of the comedy, while the group must also help protect Jack and determine what will happen to their home.

Empire praised the film's combination of comedy and adventure, describing its humor as delivering "non-stop chuckles." The review highlighted scenes involving a high-speed car chase, an encounter with police and Julian's unfamiliarity with modern life. It also noted that the movie retains the comforting atmosphere of the original sitcom while expanding its storytelling.

The film was created by Them There, the comedy team behind Horrible Histories. Its screenplay reunites the six principal writers from the television series: Farnaby, Baynton, Howe-Douglas, Howick, Rickard and Willbond. Digital Spy praised the continuation for developing the characters rather than simply repeating familiar jokes, while noting that the expanded premise gives the story a distinct cinematic identity.

The return of Alison and Mike also connects the movie to the series finale, which concluded with the couple selling Button House. Their departure initially appeared to provide a definitive ending to the five-season sitcom, which finished with a Christmas special in December 2023. The new film brings them back into the story without overturning the established events.

Outside the fictional manor, the production has renewed attention on West Horsley Place in Surrey, the historic property used as Button House. Five fans from Sweden visited the estate before attending the film's London premiere, traveling dressed as characters from the series.

Amanda Helmfrid, who dressed as Alison Cooper, described the visit as "kind of surreal." She explained the experience of seeing the filming location in person.

"You only see something on screen and then to actually be in the place: amazing, but I can't believe it's real," Helmfrid told the BBC.

Beatrice Gomér, dressed as Sir Humphrey Bone, also emphasized the personal significance of the trip.

"A dream come true to see a place where the series you love so much gets recorded," Gomér said.

Irma Kask, who dressed as Mary, said the group had planned the visit for years, making the opportunity particularly meaningful.

"A long time coming," Kask said of the trip.

The West Horsley Place Trust maintains the Grade I listed estate, whose history includes its seizure by Henry VIII in 1532 and its use by Canadian troops during World War II. The property now operates as an arts venue and filming location, and it will host drive-in cinema screenings of the new movie ahead of its wider release.

Ilona Harris of the trust said the television series had become closely associated with the estate and welcomed the production's return.

"Such a huge part of the West Horsley Place story," Harris said of the series.

Harris also discussed the relationship between the property's real architecture and its fictional identity.

"The extra character, I think, to the series," she said, describing the house's contribution to the show.

She added that fans had traveled from distant locations to see the estate as the sitcom gained popularity.

"Pretty much since the series really took off," Harris said of when visitors began arriving.

For the Swedish visitors, the show's appeal extends beyond its setting. Helmfrid described its following in Sweden as "pretty niche," although some fans had recognized the group at conventions. Lovisa Andersson, dressed as Julian Fawcett MP, praised the program's "feel-good" quality and called it "brilliantly funny." Kim Arvidsson, dressed as Pat, said the characters were "so lovely and fun, and they feel like family."

Jim Howick, who plays Pat and co-wrote the movie, said returning to the estate felt natural after years of filming there. He described the production experience as one that echoed the characters' confinement within the manor.

"When you're filming it's almost like you feel like a ghost yourself," Howick told the BBC.

He explained that the cast often remained at the property between filming sessions, entertaining themselves while waiting to work.

"You're sort of incarcerated in the house, you can't go anywhere," Howick said.

He further compared the cast's downtime with the spirits' existence in the sitcom.

"You're sort of captive and so you end up sat in the green room playing parlour games and trying to amuse yourselves, almost like the ghosts themselves," he said.

Howick also expressed confidence in the characters' continued relevance, saying there was an "afterlife for everything." After the long-running television production, he said the estate "feels like home."

Ghosts: The Possession of Button House opens in UK cinemas on October 23, 2026, continuing the story of the spirits and the living people connected to the historic property.