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Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson ... see more see more... , Rick Moranis , Annie Potts , William Atherton , David Margulies , Steven Tash , Slavitza Jovan , Michael Ensign , Alice Drummond , Timothy Carhart , Jordan Charney , Joe Cirillo , Patty Dworkin , Paddi Edwards , Joe Franklin , Rhoda Gemignani , Roger Grimsby , Stanley Grover , Kymberly Herrin , Tommy Hollis , Reginald VelJohnson , Casey Kasem , Jean Kasem , Larry King , Ric Mancini , Norman Matlock , Tom McDermott , Eda Reiss Merin , Jason Reitman , John Ring , John Rothman , Murray Rubin , Jennifer Runyon , Danny Stone , James Hardie , Carol Henry , Sam Moses , Frances E. Nealy , Frantz Turner , Ruth Oliver , Larry Dilg , Winston May , Christopher Wynkoop , Bill Couch , Nancy Kelly

Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson star as a quartet of Manhattan-based "paranormal investigators". When their government grants run out, the former three go into business as The ... read more read more...Ghostbusters, later hiring Hudson on. Armed with electronic paraphernalia, the team is spectacularly successful, ridding The Big Apple of dozens of ghoulies, ghosties and long-legged beasties. Tight-lipped bureaucrat William Atherton regards the Ghostbusters as a bunch of charlatans, but is forced to eat his words when New York is besieged by an army of unfriendly spirits, conjured up by a long-dead Babylonian demon and "channelled" through beautiful cellist Sigourney Weaver and nerdish Rick Moranis. The climax is a glorious sendup of every Godzilla movie ever made-and we daresay it cost more than a year's worth of Japanese monster flicks combined. Who'd ever dream that the chubby, cheery Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man would turn out to be the most malevolent threat ever faced by New York City? When the script for Ghostbusters was forged by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, John Belushi was slated to play the Bill Murray role; Belushi's death in 1982 not only necessitated the hiring of Murray, but also an extensive rewrite. The most expensive comedy made up to 1984, Ghostbusters made money hand over fist, spawning not only a 1989 sequel but also two animated TV series (one of them partially based on an earlier live-action TV weekly, titled The Ghost Busters. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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81% liked it

949,269 ratings

Critics

94% liked it

52 critics

PG, 1 hr. 45 min.

Directed by: Ivan Reitman

Release Date: June 1, 1984

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DVD Release Date: June 29, 1999

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Stats: 40,957 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (40,957)

  • TheDudeLebowski65
    April 4, 2012
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Ghostbusters has got to be one of the most inventive, and original comedies in a long time. Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis wrote the script to this awesome comedy sci fi horror gem. In the process they created something refreshing and ingenious. Ghostbusters can now be seen as a cl... read moreassic, there are so many things that are memorable in the film, and those elements really made the film what it is. The Stay Puft marshmallow Man attacking New York being one of the prime examples of this film being memorable, another would be Dan Aykroyd's character confronting Slimer for the first time. Ghostbusters is a terrific Comedy Horror film. The film effectively blends different genres to create something new and refreshing. The result is an original supernatural comedy with touches of mystery, horror, and sci fi. The film blends everything so well that you really can't put a label on the genre of this film. It's really a true classic. The acting is great, and the story is very original. Probably one of the most memorable things about this film is the Stay Puft Marshmallow man and of course, Slimer. The actors here are simply terrific, Billy Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis portray the fearless Ghostbusters as they rid New York City of the ghosts of the undead. A terrific film that blends many good genres into one great and memorable film. Ghostbusters is a film that will definitely appeal to different genre fans whether you're a horror fan or comedy fan. This film has something for everyone.
  • spielberg00
    February 4, 2012
    spielberg00
    Who ya gonna call?
  • bbcfloridabound
    January 6, 2012
    bbcfloridabound
    Hard to believe that this movie came out 28 years ago, until you watch it again and see how young Bill Murry, Dan Aykroyd and Sigourney Weaver were. The next time you get ready to complain about the price of a DVD or Blue Ray is, I will tell you I paid $69.95 at K mart for the VH... read moreS Tape and that was ten dollars less then anywhere else, there wasn't no Wal-Mart back then. Back then it was a 4 star movie, but when I compare it to movies of today I can only muster up 3 stars, but still its a classic that will be shown for years to come.
  • stuartb1234
    December 24, 2011
    stuartb1234
    I love this movie, who doesn't?
  • fb1664868775
    November 20, 2011
    fb1664868775
    A film that on paper doesn't seem like it should work, Ivan Reitman's comedy/action masterpiece works just fine due to groundbreaking special effects and great comedic performances.
  • fb1341085175
    November 2, 2011
    fb1341085175
    There's something quite magical about seeing well made pre-digital old school optical effects - they required so much more imagination from our brains (now anaesthetized by so much digital trickery) and even though they're not always entirely convincing, there's always the "how d... read moreid they do that?" sense of wonder (how can't one love the sight of a giant marshmallow wreaking havoc in the streets of New York). The film itself appeals to our need for 80s nostalgia, but it hasn't aged as well as some of other fantasy-based comedies from the same time and has lost some of its firecracking energy. Still, it's a welcome reminder of a time before Hollywood went all raunchy and there were pretty good family comedies around - now pretty much an extinct breed. Bill Murray and Rick Moranis have those faces you feel you've known all your life, but that you can't help but laugh at the simple sight of them - but it's Sigourney Weaver who really steals her later scenes with her foxy cross of Regan McNeil and Dr. Frank 'n Further. And who'd have known that the most evil force in the universe would look just like David Bowie.
  • scottgreen96
    October 29, 2011
    scottgreen96
    A truly revolutionary film, and is definitely way ahead of it's time, Bill Murray in particular gave a performance you can't forget, CGI isn't spectacular, but that is just because of it's standard at the time it was made, and is therefore not a problem.
  • skeletonking101
    October 26, 2011
    skeletonking101
    The first Ghostbusters film is a very funny movie, and probably one of the most innovative films of the time. Bill Murray does a hysterically well done job as the douche-bag Dr. Peter Venkman, and the other Ghostbusters do great jobs, Dan Akroyd is great as Peters friend Ray, Har... read moreold Ramis is great as the techie dude Egon, and Ernie Hudson is great as the cool guy Winston. The effects are incredibly well done, and I think it personally has the best effects of the time, if not some of the best effects ever put in film. The plot is very creative and the best thing about it is that the effects and the comedy never overshadow what it is all about, but adds to how interesting the plot of the film is. If you want to see one of the gems of the 1980s then definitely check this film out.
  • FilmFanatik
    October 26, 2011
    FilmFanatik
    A long forgotten film reviewer described this movie as "a perfectly told joke" and I couldn't agree more. Ghostbusters has always been, in my estimation at least, to be the funniest and most engaging film ever made. There are several reasons for this, but they all start with the ... read morestellar direction from Ivan Reitman (who never really gets enough credit). Also credit is due to the wonderful and brilliant writing from Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis in a truly remarkable happy accident of ingenuity. The ensemble cast is quite remarkable too, including Bill Murray, Aykroyd, Ramis, Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis, Annie Potts, Ernie Hudson and William Atherton. Bill Murray steals the show for the most part but there are lots of great moments for the rest of the cast and each of them has their moment to shine. Combining gothic elements, art deco and a gritty New York sensibility, the actual look of them film really stands out and makes it one of the best-looking comedies probably ever produced. Due to the popularity (and rightly so) of the film's theme song, Elmer Bernstein has never been given quite enough credit for the delightful score. At times it can whimsical and upbeat while also managing to capture the fun of the film's more sinister moments and even its romantic side. Industrial Light And Magic also really out-did themselves and enhanced the story's possibilities with the great special effects on display. The ghosts look great and scary, the proton wand shooting and trapping shots look incredible and the final showdown of the movie is nothing more than pure spectacle. Hardly any film has ever combined horror and comedy so well, and still remained so accessible to so many viewers. If it goes down in history as the funniest comedy of all time, I would happily smile and agree. :)
  • aquateen2
    September 20, 2011
    aquateen2
    Ghostbusters is a classic comedy film and the best film that Bill Murray has been cast in to. The laughs come when they need to be. Superbly Silly.

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Critic Reviews

Richard Schickel
October 5, 2008
Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine

Whoever thought of having evil's final manifestation take the form of a 100-ft. marshmallow deserves the rational mind's eternal gratitude. Full Review

May 30, 2007
Variety

Only intermittently impressive. Full Review

Dave Kehr
May 30, 2007
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Essentially a $30 million version of Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy but not at all a bad time, thanks mainly to Bill Murray's incredibly dry line readings and director Ivan Reitman's maintenance o... Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

This movie is an exception to the general rule that big special effects can wreck a comedy. Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

There is more attention to special effects than to humor. Full Review

Michael A. Smith
February 26, 2012
Michael A. Smith, MediaMikes

"Ghostbusters" is a fun romp with a couple of comedy's greatest stars at the top of their game. Full Review

Ben Rawson-Jones
November 2, 2011
Ben Rawson-Jones, Digital Spy

As funny, spooky and marvellous as ever. Full Review

Derek Malcolm
October 31, 2011
Derek Malcolm, This is London

It provoked huge box-office success in 1984 and is still director Ivan Reitman's defining movie. Full Review

Andrew Lowry
October 28, 2011
Andrew Lowry, Total Film

The leads' chemistry is almost, well, spooky, Dan Aykroyd's nerdy enthusiasm rubbing deliciously against a persona-perfecting turn from Bill Murray - and there's even the odd surprise. Full Review

John Ferguson
October 27, 2011
John Ferguson, Radio Times

The often dazzling, special effects-driven slapstick tends to overshadow the fact that there are some slyer, more sophisticated laughs on offer in this blockbusting family comedy. Full Review

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    • Peter Venkman: Yes it's true. This man has no dick.
    • Peter Venkman: Generally you don't see that kind of behavior in a major appliance.
    • Peter Venkman: Nervous?
    • Student: Uh, ya.
    • Peter Venkman: Well we only have 75 more to go.
    • Winston Zeddmore: Ray. If someone asks if you are a god, you say, 'yes!'
    • Peter Venkman: [referring to Gozer] Let's show this prehistoric bitch how we do things downtown.
    • Winston Zeddmore: Ray, when some asks you if you're a god, you say YES!
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  • What movie does the following tagline come from? They're Here To Save The World.  Answer »
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