Matthew Lillard Calls One of His Cult Classic Films a ‘Terrible Movie’
Matthew Lillard is talking a bit of smack about one film on his lengthy resume, calling this cult classic a “terrible movie.”
The actor recently appeared on the On Film… With Kevin McCarthy podcast, during which he took a look back at some of his iconic roles from the 1990s and 2000s. Lillard is most known for playing Stu Macher in Scream, as well as starring in projects including Hackers, Thirteen Ghosts, She's All That and the Scooby-Doo films, in which he played Shaggy. Currently, he appears on the new season of Daredevil.
When McCarthy noted that his wife was a huge fan of Thirteen Ghosts—a 2001 horror film that wasn’t a box-office success but reached cult classic status in the years after its release— Lillard quipped, “she has such terrible taste.”
Sharing an anecdote about co-star F. Murray Abraham from the set, Lillard recalled Abraham exclaiming to director Steve Beck during filming that “this movie is not about f--king special effects!”
“I remember being shivering down below going, ‘I don’t think you have that right. I think this movie is really only about special effects,’” Lillard continued.
After McCarthy noted that the movie does have a pretty strong fan base, Lillard said, “That movie is one of those things, it’s a glass house and a portal to hell. It’s a little hilarious. I think that [director] Steve Beck did a great job. I always joke at cons and with fans, it’s a terrible movie. It is sort of hilariously great campy movie.”
Looking back, he also said what stood out most for him was the fact star Tony Shalhoub would fly home every weekend to be with his family. While Lillard thought it was crazy at the time, as he wanted to stay and let loose with the cast and crew at bars, he noted he does the same thing now that he has a wife and kids of his own.
What Is Thirteen Ghosts About?
The movie revolves around a widower named Arthur (Shalhoub) and his family, who move into a home filled with angry spirits trapped there by the man’s ghost hunter father.
The house itself is mostly made glass, with Latin phrases etched in them keeping the apparitions imprisoned in its walls. With the help of special glasses, Arthur, his two children and their nanny are able to see the ghosts, most of whom try and kill them when they’re released from their holding cells.
Lillard stars in the film as a physic.
Release and Reception
Released in October 2001, the movie wasn’t exactly a smash hit, making $68.5 million against a $42 million budget.
Currently, the movie sits with a 19% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes, alongside a slightly more positive 49% audience score.
In his review at the time, Roger Ebert—like quite a few critics—praised the art direction, special effects, costumes and makeup. He, however, went on to say the “experience of watching the film is literally painful. It hurts the eyes and ears.”
In recent years, however, it’s been dubbed a “cult classic” and “underrated horror gem.”
After Lillard's new comments became a trending topic on X, fans also started to defend it all over again.
“Matthew, I appreciate your honesty, but you are objectively wrong,” wrote one fan. “Thir13en Ghosts is masterclass in set design, makeup, and visual effects. This is a case of a flimsy remake script elevated by superb art direction.”
After hearing Lillard’s reasoning for not hailing the film, another quipped, “That’s why I love it.”
That's why I love it. https://t.co/BKi4Cklkgb pic.twitter.com/DLP7pmWXv4
— The Movie Professor ???????????? (@FunMovieTVFan) March 26, 2026