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Ghostbusters

  • 1984
  • PG
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
470K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
885
3
Ghostbusters (1984)
Watch the 30th Anniversary Trailer for Ghostbusters.
Play trailer1:35
14 Videos
99+ Photos
High-Concept ComedyQuirky ComedySupernatural FantasyActionComedyFantasySci-Fi

Three parapsychologists forced out of their university funding set up shop as a unique ghost removal service in New York City, attracting frightened yet skeptical customers.Three parapsychologists forced out of their university funding set up shop as a unique ghost removal service in New York City, attracting frightened yet skeptical customers.Three parapsychologists forced out of their university funding set up shop as a unique ghost removal service in New York City, attracting frightened yet skeptical customers.

  • Director
    • Ivan Reitman
  • Writers
    • Dan Aykroyd
    • Harold Ramis
  • Stars
    • Bill Murray
    • Dan Aykroyd
    • Sigourney Weaver
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.8/10
    470K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    885
    3
    • Director
      • Ivan Reitman
    • Writers
      • Dan Aykroyd
      • Harold Ramis
    • Stars
      • Bill Murray
      • Dan Aykroyd
      • Sigourney Weaver
    • 748User reviews
    • 289Critic reviews
    • 71Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 9 wins & 9 nominations total

    Videos14

    30th Anniversary Trailer
    Trailer 1:35
    30th Anniversary Trailer
    '80s Movie Quiz With "Stranger Things" Star Gaten Matarazzo
    Clip 3:41
    '80s Movie Quiz With "Stranger Things" Star Gaten Matarazzo
    '80s Movie Quiz With "Stranger Things" Star Gaten Matarazzo
    Clip 3:41
    '80s Movie Quiz With "Stranger Things" Star Gaten Matarazzo
    GremlinBusters | Anniversary Remix
    Clip 1:07
    GremlinBusters | Anniversary Remix
    Clip: Game Characters
    Clip 0:56
    Clip: Game Characters
    Ghostbusters Scene: Monsters In The Fridge
    Clip 0:49
    Ghostbusters Scene: Monsters In The Fridge
    Ghostbusters Scene: We Thought You Were Someone Else
    Clip 0:52
    Ghostbusters Scene: We Thought You Were Someone Else

    Photos440

    View Poster
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    + 433
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    Top cast96

    Edit
    Bill Murray
    Bill Murray
    • Dr. Peter Venkman
    Dan Aykroyd
    Dan Aykroyd
    • Dr. Raymond Stantz
    Sigourney Weaver
    Sigourney Weaver
    • Dana Barrett
    Harold Ramis
    Harold Ramis
    • Dr. Egon Spengler
    Rick Moranis
    Rick Moranis
    • Louis Tully
    Annie Potts
    Annie Potts
    • Janine Melnitz
    William Atherton
    William Atherton
    • Walter Peck
    Ernie Hudson
    Ernie Hudson
    • Winston Zeddmore
    David Margulies
    David Margulies
    • Mayor
    Steven Tash
    Steven Tash
    • Male Student
    Jennifer Runyon
    Jennifer Runyon
    • Female Student
    Slavitza Jovan
    • Gozer
    Michael Ensign
    Michael Ensign
    • Hotel Manager
    Alice Drummond
    Alice Drummond
    • Librarian
    Jordan Charney
    Jordan Charney
    • Dean Yeager
    Timothy Carhart
    Timothy Carhart
    • Violinist
    John Rothman
    John Rothman
    • Library Administrator
    Tom McDermott
    Tom McDermott
    • Archbishop
    • Director
      • Ivan Reitman
    • Writers
      • Dan Aykroyd
      • Harold Ramis
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews748

    7.8470.4K
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    Featured reviews

    8SmileysWorld

    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.
    Somebody_Has_Stolen_My_Name

    "We got one!"

    The first thing that needs to be said is that Ghostbusters (1984) is possibly the funniest film ever. That's quite the bold statement to make but with good cause. This film holds up probably more than any other comedy in existence. You know how there are those movies that you see that are hysterical the first few times you see them? This one just keeps on coming. I remember when I was a kid, I wore our copy of Ghostbusters out. At the time, I thought it was a horror movie (I wasn't the brightest bulb) so I watched it constantly (Being that I am a horror buff) never realizing what it truly was. I hadn't yet caught on to a lot of the humor. About eight years later, I noticed that I hadn't seen the film for forever and a day. I popped it in and oh my God...I just about died with laughter.

    This movie has something for everyone. Director Ivan Reitman said that he found a comedic formula for films...it works as follows: There's the brain, the heart, and the mouth. Ghostbusters scored with all of them. As the brain of the bunch, Egon Spengler's (Harold Ramis also co-wrote it) use of witty humor is hilarious. If you have the right mind set, almost everything Spengler says is laugh out loud funny. At the heart of the Ghostbusters is Dan Aykroyd's (Who created the idea for the film) lovable fool, Ray Stantz. Ray has a tenacity for saying simple minded things and using very little logic and yet somehow the man got a P.H.D. (Probably through studying habits, despite ignorance.) There's a line that he says involving a smell in the beginning of the movie that I am chuckling at just thinking about it. This of course leaves Bill Murray (He was nominated for a Gloden Globe) as the sarcastic Peter Venkman (The mouth of the beast.) Peter is likely the one that gets the most laughs because he, being the mouth that he is, never stops making fun of everything. It's like Rodney Dangerfield in the party scene in Caddyshack but a whole lot funnier and continues the rest of the movie. The film also produces some laughter out of the minor characters as well. The scatological humor toward the end of the film between Rick Moranis (In a role intended for John Candy) and Sigourney Weaver is quite laughter inducing. Ernie Hudson in one of his first big roles has a few good lines as the other Ghostbuster, Winston Zeddmore (The only one who's not a doctor) and William Atherton of Die Hard fame plays the ultimate annoyance as Walter Peck. Not to be forgotten in the mix is Annie Potts as Janine who has some rather memorable humorous lines, for instance the one I've written to summarize the movie. Numerous other well known faces are seen on screen too, which includes John Belushi (Or rather his continuation of the character Bluto, from Animal House) as the principal image used for the now famous 'Disgusting Blob,' Slimer. Like any good comic will tell you, good comedy is generally about setting up the other guys around you. Well, it just so happens that the characters all work well with each other to set the great comedic moments staged in this film.

    Not to be forgotten however in all the funny one liners and set ups is the overall film. Ghostbusters was nominated for numerous awards including Oscars for best song (Courtesy of Ray Parker Jr.) and special effects, which are now slightly dated but possibly work even better with the wacky style being consistent with the rest of the movie. Along with Parker, there are numerous other great songs including a song by The Bus Boys that climbed charts and a rather creepy seeming song (But works well) by Mick Smiley. Another thing that should not be forgotten is the horror elements of the film. Though purposely outrageous, the effects do serve as some potential scare moments. Among the most frightening involve stop motion animated puppets called Terror Dogs. Though the scares are few, they do work fairly well (They had me convinced as a youngster) bringing enough threat to the ghosts that haunt New York City. The story itself is interesting as well, involving some intriguing mythology of Sommeria among other countries.

    Where some films tend to only work a few times, Ghostbusters is consistent. Although, I've found movies such as CLUE, Dr. Strangelove or Airplane to be funnier at different times in my life, this one still makes me laugh even after seeing it hundreds of times. From the opening scares to the ending credits, it will almost surely reel you in. I've laughed harder at some moments in other films but it's rare that I find one that's funnier throughout. Even those films lose their edge after you see them a few times...this one just doesn't. If you haven't seen it, do so. You will almost certainly be glad you did. If you have seen it and didn't like it, try watching it again in a few years. It's almost sure to grow on you eventually. I dare anyone to sit through this movie and not laugh once, no matter how many times they've seen it. If you don't laugh, you're either trying really hard to hold back, have a very odd sense of humor or are dead! It's just that funny. Although I don't rate films, I would easily rate this one a five out of five, placed among the classics. Believe it or not, I think that it belongs alongside Citizen Kane and Lawrence of Arabia. It also spawned an entertaining sequel in 1989. Enjoy!
    eamon-hennedy

    My favorite film as a child and still brilliant today!

    I have special affection for this film. When I was a youngster, growing up between the ages of four and ten, this was my favorite film. I loved the whole Ghostbusters thing. I loved the sequel, the cartoon series, I had to have the toys and merchandise every Christmas, you name it. Strangely, as I have gotten older, I find myself appreciating the film more and more. When I was a child I loved it for the special effects, the gadgets and the ghostbusting especially. Nowadays I love it for the same reasons, but now that I'm older I find myself appreciating the dialog which is some of the funniest committed to a film, the oddball humor, like Venkman's line about dogs and cats living together and the in jokes, like Slimer being the ghost of John Belushi and Venkman rubbing his hand at glee at the thought of the money to be made from the merchandising of the ghostbusters brand. Not only that, but some 80's hairstyles aside, the film as aged remarkably well. My cousin who is five years old has developed a love for the whole Ghostbusters thing, showing that this is truly worthy of being branded one of the most successful films ever made.

    Unlike many of today's blockbusters which are humorless and pompous thinking that they are serious films and forgetting about any sense of fun along with the complicated visual effects, Ghostbusters is funny and a fun paranormal movie. The set pieces are superb as we see the Ghostbusters going up against Slimer, Gozer and, undeniably the classic movie moment of the 80's, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. For a film made in 1984 the climax is very well done and looks exceedingly realistic, without any hint of clues as to the fact that it is a special effect. This is what going to the cinema should be all about. Fun with a capital F. All the actors get into it with great comedic aplomb. Bill Murray, one of the finest comedy actors to grace the screen, is superb as Peter Venkmen who gets the best lines in the film as well as the funniest moments. Just check out the "there is no Dana, only Zool" moment. Murray's priceless reaction to Dana Barrett's possession is one of the most side splitting moments I have ever seen. In fact, the casting is pretty much spot on. As well as Murray, we have co writers Dan Akyroyd and Harold Ramis sharing the spotlight as the fellow Ghostbusters, Sigourney Weaver making a wonderful damsel in distress, Rick Moranis is almost scene stealing as her nerd of a neighbor who becomes possessed himself, while Ernie Hudson and Annie Potts both put in wonderfully sardonic supporting roles who get their chances to shine.

    Add to this one of the best theme tunes and a truly apocalyptic finale, it is no surprising that this was the biggest film of 1984. A summer blockbuster with humor, trills, spills and some of the best special effects money could buy at the time, this is truly a genuine classic and is one of the best Hollywood blockbusters ever made.
    9ccthemovieman-1

    Still Very Funny & Entertaining

    There is no set definition of the word "classic" but I'm sure this film qualifies as such or will in the near future, since it was so unique and popular....and remains so today, over 20 years old later. It's just one of those films that you remember seeing when it came out at the theaters. I doubt if anyone has forgotten the catchy theme song, either.

    Despite numerous viewings, I still find this very funny as I suspect many people do, because it entertains so well. I know the story is ludicrous and I don't believe for one second in ghosts so I ignore the "theology" and just laugh at Bill Murray, Dan Ackroyd, Harold Ramis, Rick Moranis, Annie Potts and Ernie Hudson.

    Murray, as he tends to do, grabs the spotlight more than the rest and delivers more laughs than any of the cast but my favorite was Moranis as the nerdy "Louis Tully." I wish his role had been bigger. All the guys, however, plus Sigourney Weaver, the love interest of the always-horny Murray, are fun. I even liked the sequel because most of this cast was included.
    8hipcheck

    Tell him about the Twinkie.

    That's a big Twinkie.

    One of Murray's best films for lines, still quotable, more than a decade later.

    As a comedy, the pacing is terrific, the cast is top-notch, and it brought together Murray and Ramis, who made Groundhog Day (nuff said!).

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Almost none of the scenes were filmed as scripted, most had at least one ad-lib. Most of Bill Murray's lines are ad-libs.
    • Goofs
      Ray declares that the phenomena they are witnessing may be as important as "the Tunguska blast of 1909." It actually occurred on June 30, 1908.
    • Quotes

      Dr. Raymond Stantz: Everything was fine with our system until the power grid was shut off by dickless here.

      Walter Peck: They caused an explosion!

      Mayor: Is this true?

      Dr. Peter Venkman: Yes it's true.

      [pause]

      Dr. Peter Venkman: This man has no dick.

      Walter Peck: Jeez!

      [Charges at Venkman]

      Mayor: Break it up! Hey, break this up! Break it up!

      Walter Peck: All right, all right, all right!

      Dr. Peter Venkman: Well, that's what I heard!

    • Crazy credits
      Opening titles give the name of the movie as "Ghost Busters" (two words). But in nearly all media/ads and even packaging/casing for home video releases, it is spelled as "Ghostbusters" (one word).
    • Alternate versions
      All German TV versions omit the line by Peter Venkman: "He's a sailor, he's in New York, we get this guy laid, we won't have any trouble." The video and DVD versions are uncut.
    • Connections
      Edited into Muppet Babies: Good, Clean Fun (1984)
    • Soundtracks
      Ghostbusters
      Written and Performed by Ray Parker Jr.

      Courtesy of Arista Records, Inc.

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    FAQ29

    • How long is Ghostbusters?Powered by Alexa
    • What did the ghost of a woman do to Ray in the fort detmerring?
    • What is the big story with the promotional song by Ray Parker junior? Why did Huey Lewis sue him?
    • Is pop singer Debbie Gibson really in this?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 8, 1984 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Facebook
      • Official Site - Ghostbusters
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Los cazafantasmas
    • Filming locations
      • Fire Station 23 - 225 E. 5th Street, Los Angeles, California, USA(interiors: Ghostbusters headquarters)
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Delphi Films
      • Black Rhino Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $30,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $243,640,120
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $13,578,151
      • Jun 10, 1984
    • Gross worldwide
      • $296,640,120
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 45 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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