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 Zeddemore
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 Spengler work at Columbia University. where they delve into the paranormal and fiddle with many unethical experiments on their students. As they are kicked out of the University, they really understand 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 reports 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 a downtown apartment building which 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 terrible ...

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Plot Keywords:

ghost | ghostbuster | university | scientist | paranormal investigation team | 

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Taglines:

Coming to save the world this summer.

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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:

$13,578,151, 10 June 1984

Gross USA:

$242,582,079

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$295,743,767

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Delphi Films, Black Rhino Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

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

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Janine is interviewing Winston for the job, the scene originally began with Winston listing his qualifications. According to Ivan Reitman in the DVD commentary, Winston was an Army veteran, a former paramedic, and a construction worker. Janine's questioning was considered a funnier opening. In The Real Ghostbusters: The Brooklyn Triangle (1988), the Ghostbusters fight spirits on a construction site run by Winston's father, who chides Winston for quitting the construction business to become a Ghostbuster.

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Goofs

When the Ghostbusters are about to enter the building and the ground begins to break apart, the pieces of ground are not all solid. What appears to be a brown sheet billows out as one piece slopes down.

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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

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).

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Alternate Versions

The version that appeared on ABC-TV in 1987 altered the scene in mayor's office from the "dickless" line to the now famous "Wally Wick". It has become a minor legend among Ghostheads (fans of the film).

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Connections

Referenced in Never Hike Alone (2017)

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Soundtracks

Magic
Written by Mick Smiley
Produced by Keith Forsey
Performed by Mick Smiley

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.