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    Poltergeist

    • 19821982
    • PGPG
    • 1h 54min
    IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    147K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,651
    1
    • Cast & crew
    • User reviews
    • Trivia
    • IMDbPro
    Heather O'Rourke and JoBeth Williams in Poltergeist (1982)
    Home Video Trailer from MGM
    Trailer2:25
    6 Videos
    99+ Photos
    HorrorThriller

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

    • 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
    • 433User reviews
    • 261Critic reviews
    • 79Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 4 wins & 7 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 Freeling
    Heather O'Rourke
    Heather O'Rourke
    • Carol Anne Freeling
    Craig T. Nelson
    Craig T. Nelson
    • Steve Freeling
    Beatrice Straight
    Beatrice Straight
    • Dr. Lesh
    Dominique Dunne
    Dominique Dunne
    • Dana Freeling
    Oliver Robins
    Oliver Robins
    • Robbie Freeling
    Michael McManus
    Michael McManus
    • Ben Tuthill
    Virginia Kiser
    Virginia Kiser
    • Mrs. Tuthill
    Martin Casella
    Martin Casella
    • Marty
    Richard Lawson
    Richard Lawson
    • Ryan
    Zelda Rubinstein
    Zelda Rubinstein
    • Tangina
    James Karen
    James Karen
    • Mr. Teague
    Lou Perryman
    • Pugsley
    • (as Lou Perry)
    Clair E. Leucart
    • Bulldozer Driver
    • (as Clair Leucart)
    Dirk Blocker
    Dirk Blocker
    • Jeff Shaw
    Allan Graf
    Allan Graf
    • Neighbor
    Joseph Walsh
    Joseph Walsh
    • Neighbor
    • (as Joseph R. Walsh)
    Helen Baron
    • Woman Buyer
    • Director
      • Tobe Hooper
    • Writers
      • Steven Spielberg(screenplay by) (story by)
      • Michael Grais(screenplay by)
      • Mark Victor(screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    See production, box office, & company info

    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
    ghosthauntingparanormal investigationpoltergeistcult classic287 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • From a dimension beyond the living, a terror to scare you to death.
    • Genres
      • Horror
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • PG
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Heather O'Rourke kept the pet goldfish Carol Anne has in the film.
    • Goofs
      (at around 2 mins) At the beginning of the movie when the golden retriever is going up to each member of the family, a crew member is seen through a small crack in the door right before the dog goes into Dana's room.
    • 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 reviews433

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Now THIS is a horror movie!!
    There are two types of "horror" films:There are the scary ones, which is what the word "horror" means in the first place,and then there is the bloody,gory kind.Perhaps the latter kind should be categorized under another name.At any rate,Poltergeist is a good horror film.It goes beyond the idea of typical ghosts in sheets jumping out of nowhere and saying "boo!".Most of the adventure takes place in their world rather than ours,although we cannot see what is going on there.This is a very thrilling movie.It has great special effects and all of the scare elements that make a horror film what it is supposed to be.The clown in the chair at the foot of the boy's bed was a particularly tense moment for me.This is the only movie I went to see 4 times at the theater,partly to watch others' reactions.I have often heard that the film,and it's two sequels,were the victim of some type of curse,as after each film was released,a member of the cast passed away,including Heather O'Rourke,who played Carol Anne, after the 3rd film.She was only 10.Curse? Coincidence? Who knows? I guess anything is possible.All in all,this is one of the best films ever for the horror genre.
    helpful•96
    53
    • SmileysWorld
    • Oct 6, 2001

    FAQ16

    • 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
      • June 4, 1982 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Juegos diabólicos
    • 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
      • $77,142,388
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $6,896,612
      • Jun 6, 1982
    • Gross worldwide
      • $77,142,388
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 54min
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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