Ghostbusters (1984)

My Review

“Ghostbusters” is a supernatural comedy film about three eccentric parapsychologists who are fired from teaching jobs at a university, and decide to start their own ghost-catching business. They are hired to neutralize an ancient Sumerian god out to destroy the world, with the comedy & drama proceeding from there. Director Ivan Reitman (“Kindergarten Cop” 1900) created an innovative comedy film with good production values, unique performances, and lucid writing. The script was penned by Dan Akroyd and Harold Ramis.

The cast is headed by Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, and Harold Ramis as the three ghostbusters, with Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis as their customers bothered by ghosts, Annie Potts as ghostbuster’s secretary, Ernie Hudson as the fourth ghostbuster, William Atherton as a government investigator, Alice Drummond as the librarian, David Margulies as the Mayor of New York City, Debbie Gibson as child in restaurant (movie debut), and Larry King and Casey Kasem in cameos as themselves.

“Ghostbusters” was the second highest grossing film of 1984 for producer Ivan Reitman and Columbia Pictures. It was filmed in New York City and Los Angeles. Four sequels followed – “Ghostbusters 2” (1989), “Ghostbusters” (2016), “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” (2021), and “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” (2024).