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Poltergeist

  • 19821982
  • 1515
  • 1h 54m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
158K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,813
298
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Heather O'Rourke and JoBeth Williams in Poltergeist (1982)
Home Video Trailer from MGM
Play trailer2:25
6 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Horror
  • Thriller

A family's home is haunted by a host of demonic ghosts.A family's home is haunted by a host of demonic ghosts.A family's home is haunted by a host of demonic ghosts.

IMDb RATING
7.3/10
158K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,813
298
  • Director
    • Tobe Hooper
  • Writers
    • Steven Spielberg(screenplay by)
    • Michael Grais(screenplay by)
    • Mark Victor(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • JoBeth Williams
    • Heather O'Rourke
    • Craig T. Nelson
Top credits
  • Director
    • Tobe Hooper
  • Writers
    • Steven Spielberg(screenplay by)
    • Michael Grais(screenplay by)
    • Mark Victor(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • JoBeth Williams
    • Heather O'Rourke
    • Craig T. Nelson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 474User reviews
    • 257Critic reviews
    • 79Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 4 wins & 8 nominations total

    Videos6

    Poltergeist (1982)
    Trailer 2:25
    Poltergeist (1982)
    Stream & Scream: The Best Haunted Houses
    Clip 4:35
    Stream & Scream: The Best Haunted Houses
    Upside Down the Rabbit Holes of "Stranger Things"
    Clip 3:45
    Upside Down the Rabbit Holes of "Stranger Things"
    What Horror Movies Terrified You as a Kid?
    Full Episode 3:18
    What Horror Movies Terrified You as a Kid?
    Halloween Costume Creations
    Video 1:50
    Halloween Costume Creations
    Sneak Previews Season 4 Episode 32
    Video 29:51
    Sneak Previews Season 4 Episode 32

    Photos165

    Heather O'Rourke, JoBeth Williams, and Craig T. Nelson in Poltergeist (1982)
    Dominique Dunne in Poltergeist (1982)
    Oliver Robins in Poltergeist (1982)
    Steven Spielberg, Craig T. Nelson, and James Karen in Poltergeist (1982)
    JoBeth Williams and Beatrice Straight in Poltergeist (1982)
    Martin Casella, Richard Lawson, and Beatrice Straight in Poltergeist (1982)
    JoBeth Williams, Richard Lawson, Oliver Robins, Zelda Rubinstein, and Beatrice Straight in Poltergeist (1982)
    Heather O'Rourke in Poltergeist (1982)
    Craig T. Nelson in Poltergeist (1982)
    Heather O'Rourke in Poltergeist (1982)
    Heather O'Rourke in Poltergeist (1982)
    JoBeth Williams in Poltergeist (1982)

    Top cast

    Edit
    JoBeth Williams
    JoBeth Williams
    • Diane Freelingas Diane Freeling
    Heather O'Rourke
    Heather O'Rourke
    • Carol Anne Freelingas Carol Anne Freeling
    Craig T. Nelson
    Craig T. Nelson
    • Steve Freelingas Steve Freeling
    Beatrice Straight
    Beatrice Straight
    • Dr. Leshas Dr. Lesh
    Dominique Dunne
    Dominique Dunne
    • Dana Freelingas Dana Freeling
    Oliver Robins
    Oliver Robins
    • Robbie Freelingas Robbie Freeling
    Michael McManus
    Michael McManus
    • Ben Tuthillas Ben Tuthill
    Virginia Kiser
    Virginia Kiser
    • Mrs. Tuthillas Mrs. Tuthill
    Martin Casella
    Martin Casella
    • Martyas Marty
    Richard Lawson
    Richard Lawson
    • Ryanas Ryan
    Zelda Rubinstein
    Zelda Rubinstein
    • Tanginaas Tangina
    James Karen
    James Karen
    • Mr. Teagueas Mr. Teague
    Lou Perryman
    • Pugsleyas Pugsley
    • (as Lou Perry)
    Clair E. Leucart
    • Bulldozer Driveras Bulldozer Driver
    • (as Clair Leucart)
    Dirk Blocker
    Dirk Blocker
    • Jeff Shawas Jeff Shaw
    Allan Graf
    Allan Graf
    • Neighboras Neighbor
    Joseph Walsh
    Joseph Walsh
    • Neighboras Neighbor
    • (as Joseph R. Walsh)
    Helen Baron
    • Woman Buyeras Woman Buyer
    • Director
      • Tobe Hooper
    • Writers
      • Steven Spielberg(screenplay by) (story by)
      • Michael Grais(screenplay by)
      • Mark Victor(screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    A young family are visited by ghosts in their home. At first the ghosts appear friendly, moving objects around the house to the amusement of everyone, then they turn nasty and start to terrorise the family before they "kidnap" the youngest daughter. —Rob Hartill
    • poltergeist
    • ghost
    • paranormal investigation
    • haunted house
    • inanimate object comes to life
    • 264 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • From a dimension beyond the living, a terror to scare you to death.
    • Genres
      • Horror
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • 15
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Heather O'Rourke kept the pet goldfish Carol Anne has in the film.
    • Goofs
      Many viewers have pointed out that only one of the houses in the neighborhood is affected by ghosts even though the whole neighborhood and many other houses were built on the same ground. However, there are two sections of the movie that explain this discrepancy: one in which Steven tells a prospective buyer that his family was one of the first to move into their neighborhood, and another in which Steven's boss mentions that Carol Anne was born in the house. The novelization makes the connection more explicit: because Carol Anne was born in the burial ground, the spirits gravitated toward the Freeling household, attracted by her life force.
    • Quotes

      Carol Anne Freeling: They're here.

    • Crazy credits
      After the credits and the logo of the MGM lion is shown, we hear children laughing. Fans of the film have assumed that the laughing children are those who have been released from the beast and have crossed over the threshold into the next life.
    • Alternate versions
      For ABC's 1985 network television premiere, Marty's hallucination is altered so instead of him ripping his own face off, he sees his face rapidly deteriorate briefly.
    • Connections
      Edited into Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986)
    • Soundtracks
      The Star-Spangled Banner
      (1814) (uncredited)

      Music based on "The Anacreontic Song" by John Stafford Smith

      Arranged by Arturo Toscanini

      [Played as TV sign-off music several times]

    User reviews474

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    "They're heeeere!"
    Sometimes to judge a film fairly you really need to consider the time at which it was made and what film-making technology existed at that time. This was the first big budget film to really tackle the subject of paranormal investigation, and at the time it was made it was seamless and sleek. It would be easy for people today to put it down for some of the early 1980's effects, but let's flip this perspective around and consider that no CGI what-so-ever was used. But at the same time, "Poltergeist" has a strangely family-friendly vibe. It was directed by Tobe Hooper, but it has the unmistakable fingerprints of producer/writer Steven Spielberg all over it. It focuses on an ordinary, harmless suburban family living their usual lives (their biggest problem is the death of a pet bird), which is suddenly thrown into chaos by outside forces. And unlike most horror movies, there isn't even a lot of violence... well, except for one grotesque hallucination.

    Don't expect the usual gore and typical shocks you see in all modern horror films these days, Poltergeist is not about that. With all of the elements of visual effects, sound, acting, directing (Tobe Hooper) and writers (Steven Spielberg) this is one film that achieves everything you want to see in a motion picture. Anyway, Jo Beth Williams and Craig T. Nelson are great in this film. They have real chemistry. You believe they love each other and are a team. The kids are pretty great, too. It's actually quite a thoughtful movie and even has an odd warmth to it. Though there are a few scary moments. The final fifteen minutes are played out to such effect, that one could call it pure horror.

    Overall rating: 7 out of 10.
    helpful•15
    3
    • PredragReviews
    • Jan 21, 2017

    FAQ17

    • What is Ryan listening to while drawing?
    • Who is the glowing ghost floating across the living room?
    • What is 'Poltergeist' about?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 16, 1982 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • It's Night Time
    • Filming locations
      • 4267 Roxbury Street, Forest Hills, Simi Valley, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
      • SLM Production Group
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $10,700,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $77,177,301
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $6,896,612
      • Jun 6, 1982
    • Gross worldwide
      • $77,177,301
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 54 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

    Related news

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