Ghostbusters (1984)

Three former parapsychology professors set up shop as a unique ghost removal service.

Director:

Ivan Reitman

Writers:

Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis

Stars:

Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bill Murray	...	Dr. Peter Venkman
Dan Aykroyd	...	Dr. Raymond Stantz
Sigourney Weaver	...	Dana Barrett
Harold Ramis	...	Dr. Egon Spengler
Rick Moranis	...	Louis Tully
Annie Potts	...	Janine Melnitz
William Atherton	...	Walter Peck
Ernie Hudson	...	Winston Zeddmore
David Margulies	...	Mayor
Steven Tash	...	Male Student
Jennifer Runyon	...	Female Student
Slavitza Jovan	...	Gozer
Michael Ensign	...	Hotel Manager
Alice Drummond	...	Librarian
Jordan Charney	...	Dean Yeager

Storyline

Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz and Egon work at the University where they delve into the paranormal and fiddle with many unethical experiments on the students. As they are kicked out of the University do they really understand their knowledge of the paranormal and go into business for themselves. Under the new snazzy business name of 'Ghostbusters', and living in the old firehouse building they work out of, they are called to rid New York City of paranormal phenomenon at everyone's whim.... for a price. They make national press as the media thinks and pressures everybody the Ghostbusters are the cause of it all. Thrown in jail by the EPA, the mayor takes a chance and calls on them to help save the city. Unbeknownst to all, a long dead Gozer worshiper (Evo Shandor) erected downtown apartment building is the cause of all the paranormal activity. They find out the building could resurrect the ancient Hittite god, Gozer, and bring an end to all of humanity. Who are you gonna call to stop this ...

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Plot Keywords:

university | ghost | paranormal | new york city | scientist | 

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Taglines:

Let's get slimed one more time. [re-release]

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Fantasy

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

Columbia Pictures MySpace.com

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 June 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ghostbusters

Filming Locations:

Lincoln Center, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,612,564, 10 June 1984, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$238,632,124

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$291,632,124

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Producers Sales Organization, Delphi Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby Stereo (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.40 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the DVD commentary, Ivan Reitman says he received a call from William Atherton complaining that the movie ruined his life. The character of Walter Peck was so hated that people would talk to Atherton as if they were giving the character Peck a piece of their mind. Apparently more than once, physical fights had been started with Atherton in bars.

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Goofs

Near the end of the movie, when the dimensional portal opens, part of the left-hand door disappears briefly in the close-up.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Dr. Peter Venkman: All right, I'm gonna turn over the next card. Concentrate... I want you to tell me what you think it is.

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Crazy Credits

During the end credits, as the Ghostbusters are leaving in Ecto-1, three priests can be seen giving the last rites to a chunk of the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man

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Connections

Referenced in Phelous & the Movies: Alice in Wonderland (2015)

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Soundtracks

I Can Wait Forever
Written by Graham Russell, David Foster and Jay Graydon
Produced by David Foster and Jay Graydon
Performed by Air Supply
Courtesy of Arista Records, Inc.

User Reviews

Great marriage of comedy and spookiness

Very rarely can you pull off a successful blend of two separate movie genres,but the makers of Ghostbusters were overwhelmingly so.On the one hand,you have the comedic charm of Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd,and on the other,a genuine ghostly spookiness that makes you want to hide under a blanket.I recently bought a copy and watched it for the first time in several years,and it's still just as fresh as it was in it's initial release in 1984.It has a great supporting cast for Murray and Aykroyd,including the always great Sigourney Weaver,Rick Moranis,Ernie Hudson,and Harold Ramis,who is just as talented behind the camera as he is in front of it.Watch it with your family,but keep an eye on younger children,as the spookiness may be more than they can handle. Great stuff.