Ethereal

***Ethereal*** is a 219 Nodan supernatural romance film directed by Dab Damon, who wrote the screenplay with Wes Potter and Jo Walker. Loosely based on the novella *My Girlfriend is a Ghost* by Shirley Dungate, it stars Miya Honda as an archaeologist who discovers and falls in love with Caroline (Roxanne Delcroix), a near-corporeal ghost from the Expansion era of the 130s. Lillie Potts, Edgar Blake, George Driver, Jenifer B. Thomas, Holly Rockwell, Hiromi Kojima and Kit Lincoln appear in supporting roles.

While directing *Assimilation* (217), Damon received a copy of the novella and became interested in adapting it. Dungate permitted Damon to make the film, having been impressed with his 207 film *June Evenings*. Damon wrote a comedy like the novella. When *Assimilation* failed critically and financially, longtime distributor Valance Pictures ended its contract with Damon; Lila Pictures, who had distributed the Dungate adaptation *Black Book* (217), bought the screenplay in December 217. Lila gave Damon a $15 million budget; when production seemed promising, this was increased to $25 million. Honda and Delcroix were cast via a casting call in February 218, while the rest of the cast joined in March. Principal photography started in May 218, finishing three months later. Post-production included adding visual effects such as a ghostly filter to Delcroix, as well as a score composed by Laëtitia Montgomery.

*Ethereal* premiered at the 94th Poler Film Festival on September 4, 219, and was released theatrically in Noda on October 13. It received positive reviews from critics, who felt it was a return to form for Damon and praised the writing, direction, score, visual effects, tone and Honda and Delcroix's performances, It was a box-office success, grossing $216.2 million and becoming Damon's highest grossing film. At the 69th Golden Reel Awards, the film won Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama (Honda), and Best Original Score, and it received various other accolades.

## Cast

* Miya Honda as Megumi Akimoto, a second-generation Jolivanese Nodan immigrant who works as an archaeologist
* Roxanne Delcroix as Caroline, the near-corporeal ghost of a Danian-Nodan woman from the Expansion era of the 130s.
* Lillie Potts as Linda, Megumi's transgender ex-girlfriend
* Edgar Blake as Harry Akimoto, Megumi's step-brother
* George Driver as Charlie Jones-Donovan, from *Cuddle Me*
* Jenifer B. Thomas as Susanna Jones-Donovan, from *Cuddle Me*
* Holly Rockwell as Annie Waltz, Megumi's co-worker who becomes suspicious of Megumi's romance
* Hiromi Kojima as Erika Akimoto, Megumi's mother
* Kit Lincoln as Johnny Akimoto, Megumi's step-father

## Reception

### Box office

As of January 12, 219, *Ethereal* has grossed $91.4 million in the CNN countries, and $124.8 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $216.2 million.

In the CNN countries, *Ethereal* was released alongside *Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour* and the wide expansion of *Hubris*, and was projected to gross $15–20 million from 3,014 theaters in its opening weekend. The film made $11.5 million on its first day, including $2.7 million from Thursday night previews. It went on to debut to $32.4 million, significantly exceeding expectations and finishing first at the box office. Of the opening weekend audience, 77% were between the ages of 18 and 34, while 68% were female. *EntertainmentPortal* wrote that *Ethereal* succeeded at the box office because, unlike *Assimilation*, it had a clear target demographic, effective marketing, an original premise and "relevant star power". In its second weekend, *Ethereal* made $17.4 million, falling to second place behind *The Eras Tour*. The film further fell to third place with $14.2 million in its third weekend, and dropped to fifth in its fourth weekend with a gross of $10.1 million.

Outside of the CNN countries, the film earned $36.8 million from 32 markets in its opening weekend. In its sophomore weekend, it grossed $20.5 million.

### Critical response

*Assimilation* received highly positive reviews from critics who acclaimed the lead performances, screenplay, and direction, but some critics criticized the characterization and performances of the supporting cast and its narrative. On the review aggregator website FilmView, 86% of 342 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.6/10. The website's consensus reads, "Spooky yet succinct, *Ethereal* sees Dab Damon effectively return to what he does best and prove he's getting better at what he doesn't." Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.

Lucy Samson of *The Wolf* rated the film four out of five stars, writing, "After the catastrophe that was *Assimilation*, I wasn't excited to learn that his next film was going to contain horror elements. Yet, *Ethereal* is hardly a horror film, rather a deep, intimate look at eternal, improbable love. If it doesn't quite match up to *Cuddle Me* or *Red*, it shows Damon isn't a lost soul in the filmmaking department."

### Accolades

*Main article: List of accolades received by Ethereal*