"Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together…mass hysteria!"
Happy October birthday to Annie Potts (October 28)!
Family-Friendliness
- Rating: PG
- Minimum Recommended Age: 9 (Common Sense Media: On for ages 10 and up, Kaboose: Ages 8 and up)
- Quality Rating: 73.5% (Common Sense Media: 4 stars, Kaboose Rating: 4 stars, Parent Previews Overall Grade: C+, Rotten Tomatoes Average Rating: 7.6)
- Number of Lists Recommend: 8
- Sex/Violence/Profanity:
Sex: Some characters make sexual advances, especially while possessed; a fantasy scene implies a character receives oral pleasure from a ghost. A character tries to seduce a man but he refuses. She rolls him over on top of her and says "I want you inside me".
Language includes five instances of "shit", "God damn it", "Everything was fine with our system until the power grid was shut off by dickless here", "Yes, it's true. This man has no dick", "What an asshole", two instances of "ass", "Let's show this prehistoric bitch how we do things downtown", four instances of "hell", "I'll tell you what the effect is! It's pissing me off!", and "Boy, the superintendent's gonna be pissed" - Running Time: 105 minutes
- What does it have to do with Halloween? Nothing
Summary
Fired from their university research jobs, Drs. Venkman, Stantz, and Spengler promptly set up shop as parapsychologists specializing in psychic phenomena and soon they're ridding Manhattan of bizarre apparitions. But the talents of these spirit exterminators--Ghostbusters--are severely tested when beautiful Dana Barrett and her nerdy neighbor become possessed by demons living in their building.
Watch Out For
Common Sense Media:
Parents need to know that the language pushes the limits of the PG rating. The sexual content is relatively mild; however, one character fantasizes briefly about a ghost giving him oral pleasure. This movie deals with the supernatural. Some scenes may be too scary for young children. This is a film with great entertainment value for both parents and children. For the most part, parents should feel comfortable with its relatively tame content.
Kaboose:
It can get a little scary for younger viewers, although even the scary parts are presented in a humorous way. The dialogue can get heavy when Harold Ramis discusses paranormal activity, but thankfully, we have Bill Murray's reactions to keep the pace light and fun. Occasional salty language and sexual innuendo make it more appropriate for the pre-teen crowd and older.
Alice is scared by a ghost
"I'll tell you what the effect is! IT's pissing me off!"
The Library Ghost turns into a monster
Dana sees something in her refrigerator
Slimer attacks Peter
"We came, we waw, we kicked its ass!"
Stantz gets fellatio from a ghost
"So! Who the hell was that?"
"You go get a court order! And I'll sue your ass for wrongful prosecution!"
"Oh shit."
A claw from Dana's chair grabs her
A Terror Dog chases Louis
"Do you want this body?"
"I want you inside me."
Dana's eyes flutter and turn white
Louis' eyes flare red
"Now it's my turn, wise ass."
"Oh shit."
"Oh shit."
Zombie taxi driver
"Ray, for a moment, pretend that I don't know anything about metallurgy, engineering or physics and just tell me what the hell is going on."
Dana and Louis kiss
"Everything was fine with our system until the power grid was shut off by dickless here."
"Yes, it's true. This man has no dick."
"I've seen every kind of combustion known to man, but this beats the hell out of me."
"Since I joined these men, I've seen shit that'll turn you white!"
Dana and Louis turn into terror dogs
Gozer fires lightning at the Ghostbusters
"Let's show this prehistoric bitch how we do things downtown."
The Ghostbusters blast Mr. Stay-Puft
"He's a sailor, he's in New York; we get this guy laid, we won't have any trouble!"
"Boy, the superintendent's gonna be pissed."
Screencaps courtesy of newsie__nympho
Talk About It
Common Sense Media:
* Families can talk about what defines a hero. What other movies feature scientists and professors who save the day?
* Families can also discuss ghosts and the supernatural. Do you believe in ghosts, and why or why not?
Of Note
- Ranks #2 on AMC TV's Best Blob and Slime Monster Movies list, Ten Best Comedy-Horror Movies list, and Funniest '80s Comedies list
- The role of Peter Venkman was originally written for John Belushi. Michael Keaton turned down both the roles of Dr. Peter Venkman and Dr. Egon Spengler. Chevy Chase turned down the role of Dr. Peter Venkman, he claimed that the script used in the movie wasn't the original script and in the original script was very dark and even more scarier. The role of Winston was originally written for Eddie Murphy. Sandra Bernhard was originally offered the role of Janine. The role of Louis Tully was originally written for John Candy. Gozer was originally going to be played by Paul Reubens, who turned down the role.
- Initally, Ray Parker Jr. was having trouble writing the theme song to the film. The problem was solved when he saw the TV commercial for the Ghostbusters business in the film which inspired him to write the song like a advertising jingle for the business. The song was a #1 hit for three weeks.
- Huey Lewis and the News turned down an offer to write and record a theme song for Ghostbusters. They later sued Ray Parker Jr. for plagiarism, citing the similarities between his theme song and their earlier hit "I Want a New Drug."
- Huey Lewis and the News turned down an offer to write and record a theme song for Ghostbusters. They later sued Ray Parker Jr. for plagiarism, citing the similarities between his theme song and their earlier hit "I Want a New Drug."
- A re-release in 1985 gave the film a total gross of $238.6 million surpassing Beverly Hills Cop and making Ghostbusters the most successful comedy of the 1980s.
On TV
"Ghosbusters" will air on A&E at 3:00pm Eastern on Halloween.
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