IMDb > Poltergeist (1982)
Poltergeist
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Poltergeist (1982) More at IMDbPro »

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Poltergeist (1982) -- A family's home is haunted by a host of ghosts.
Poltergeist (1982) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)
Poltergeist (1982) -- MyMovieScripts.com - Trailer (Flash)
Poltergeist (1982) -- AllTrailers.net - Trailer (Flash)
Poltergeist (1982) -- MattTrailer.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.4/10   29,745 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 96% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Tobe Hooper
Writers:
Steven Spielberg (story)
Steven Spielberg (screenplay) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Poltergeist on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
4 June 1982 (USA) more
Genre:
Horror | Thriller more
Tagline:
They're here. more
Plot:
A family's home is haunted by a host of ghosts. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 4 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(153 articles)
Wait, Now Heath Ledger Has a DirecTV Commercial?
 (From Cinematical. 2 November 2009, 1:02 PM, PST)

Heath Ledger’s DirecTV Commercial
 (From Slash Film. 2 November 2009, 11:48 AM, PST)

User Comments:
Excellent PG-rated horror thriller. more (239 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Poltergeist (Argentina) (Spain) [es]
Duch (Poland) [pl]
Juegos diabólicos (Venezuela) [es]
Kötü ruh (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Poltergeist (France) [fr]
Poltergeist (Finland) [fi]
Poltergeist (Portugal) [pt]
Poltergeist - La vengeance des fantômes (Canada: French title) [fr]
Poltergeist - O Fenômeno (Brazil) [pt]
Poltergeist: demoniache presenze (Italy) [it]
To pnevma tou kakou (Greece) [el]
more
Runtime:
114 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby (35 mm prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The Rams (then Los Angeles Rams) vs. Saints football game seen near the beginning of the film, is taken from a Monday Night Football game in 1980. more
Goofs:
Continuity: At breakfast, the glass that is about to break in Robbie's hand is leaking considerably, but the amount of milk in the glass is unchanging (considering how much milk is leaking and how much is on the table already). more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Carol Anne: Hello? What do you look like? Talk louder, I can't hear you! Hey, hello! Hello, I can't hear you! Five. Yes. Yes. I don't know. I don't know.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Death of a Ghost Hunter (2007) more
Soundtrack:
The Star-Spangled Banner more

FAQ

How does the movie end?
Why did the tree go after Robbie when the poltergeists were really after Carol Anne?
Is "Poltergeist" based on a book?
more
21 out of 28 people found the following comment useful.
Excellent PG-rated horror thriller., 13 February 2005
10/10
Author: Scott LeBrun from Winnipeg, Canada

Young family in cozy suburban neighborhood is suddenly besieged by a hostile, dastardly spirit that drags the adorable youngest child into the netherworld. They call upon a para-psychological team, then a genuinely gifted clairvoyant, to help them get back the little girl.

Admittedly, this ghost story may be technically directed by Tobe Hooper, but is clearly filtered through the sensibilities of writer / producer Steven Spielberg, making this more family friendly than it might have been otherwise.

"Poltergeist" is a slick, mainstream movie with a heavy accent on flashy special effects, but it also presents us with a reasonably likable and sympathetic family. It's a long film but doesn't feel as long as it is, with segments that are consistent in holding my attention.

Young Heather O'Rourke was a real find as the angelic little girl, and it's saddening to think that both she and co-star Dominique Dunne (who plays the eldest child) were lost at such young ages.

The cast is very good, with standout work by JoBeth Williams as the wife and mother, Beatrice Straight as the head of the research team, and, of course, the one-of-a-kind Zelda Rubinstein as the clairvoyant. I'll also watch almost anything with James Karen in it - he's simply a great character actor.

"Poltergeist" is decent entertainment that save for one ghoulish nightmare sequence should be acceptable fare for older children.

I really liked it; good work by all concerned.

10/10

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (239 total)

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Marijuana JetSoCal
Horror/Comedy the proper genre? skatingbach
Just saw this for the first time, and... ColeKeleher
Is that a holy water holder by the bedroom door?? sheilamc76
Poltergeist DVD 6.66 GB jorgea26
Wife's age blooper? mike_shore
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