Ghostbusters

They're here to save the world.
Ghostbusters (1984)
Timing: 1:45 (105 min)
7.8/10
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7.5/10
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7.8/10
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Release date
Country
Genre
Budget
$30 000 000
Revenue
$296 640 120
Director
Scenario
Producer
Ivan Reitman, Michael C. Gross, Joe Medjuck, Bill Damaschke, Bernie Brillstein
Operator
Composer
Artist
John DeCuir
Audition
Karen Rea
Editing
Sheldon Kahn, David E. Blewitt
All team (58)

Short description

After losing their university jobs, three parapsychologists start a ghost-catching business in New York City and uncover a supernatural threat that could destroy the world.

What's left behind the scenes

  • According to the script, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man was initially supposed to appear against the backdrop of the Statue of Liberty to demonstrate the size difference, but this scene was deemed too difficult to film and had to be removed from the script.
  • The building where Dana lives actually exists, but instead of 22 floors, it only has 20 (address: 55 Central Park West, New York).
  • The demonic voice of Dana/Zuul belongs to Ivan Reitman.
  • According to the script, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man's first appearance was meant to be against the backdrop of the Statue of Liberty to emphasize the difference in scale, but the scene was deemed too difficult to film and had to be removed from the script.
  • The ghost known as "Slimer" was originally called "Lukogolov" (literally 'Onionhead') due to his bad breath.
  • Gozer was originally intended to look like a person in a business suit and was to be played by performer Paul Rubens, but he turned down the role. Similarly, punk rocker Anne Carlisle declined the role of Zuul.
  • The filmmakers were unable to push back the release date, and in the summer of 1984, a "raw" version of the movie was released in US theaters with unfinished special effects and some plot inconsistencies. Fortunately, audiences ignored these flaws, and the film earned the creators decent box office returns.
  • The role of Peter Venkman was written with John Belushi in mind.
  • The role of Peter Venkman was written for John Belushi.
  • Originally, the Ectomobile was supposed to be completely black. But after it was decided that a large portion of the filming would take place at night, the car was repainted white.
  • The film's title song, written by Ray Parker Jr., topped the Billboard charts for three weeks.
  • The role of Winston was developed with Eddie Murphy in mind.
  • In the original version of the script, Harold Ramis's story took place in the future, on different planets. But Ivan Reitman said that such a film would cost $300 million (and that was in 1984), so the script had to be rewritten.
  • The production design utilized the existing set from the film 'Rich and Famous'. The Step Pyramid of Djoser was built separately and was one of the most complex filming sets of its time.
  • In Harold Ramis's original draft of the script, the story took place in the future across different planets. However, Ivan Reitman stated that such a film would cost 300 million dollars (and this was in 1984), so the script had to be rewritten.
  • To drum up interest in the film, director Ivan Reitman embarked on a rather interesting gamble. A promotional spot was released in which the traditional movie phone prefix "555" was replaced with a real "1-800" number. Curious members of the public who called the number could hear a specially recorded message performed by Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd. For six weeks, the number received approximately 1,000 calls every hour.
  • To generate interest in the film, director Ivan Reitman embarked on a rather interesting venture. An advertisement was launched in which the traditional “555” prefix for movie phone numbers was replaced with a regular “1-800”. Curious viewers who called this number could hear a specially recorded message performed by Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd. For six weeks, around 1000 calls were received on this number every hour.
  • Harold Ramis did not want to act in the film; he only wanted to help Aykroyd with the screenplay. However, the role suited Ramis so well that he decided to play it, despite having primarily focused on writing and directing up to that point.
  • Steve Guttenberg could have played Peter Venkman, but he chose to work on 'Police Academy' (1984) instead of 'Ghostbusters'.
  • The title song from the movie, written by Ray Parker Jr., topped the Billboard charts for three weeks.
  • Gozer was originally intended to appear as a man in a business suit and was to be played by Paul Reubens, but he turned down the role. Similarly, punk rocker Ann Carlisle also refused the role of Zuul.
  • The script was originally titled "Ghost Smashers".
  • Michael Keaton was also offered the role of Peter Venkman, and after he turned it down, he was offered the role of Egon. Keaton refused that role as well. Chevy Chase was another contender. He turned it down, later explaining that he was given a rough draft of the script which was dark and frightening.
  • Harold Ramis didn't want to act in the film, only to help Ackroyd with the script. But the role suited Ramis so well that he decided to play it, although he had previously focused mainly on screenwriting and directing.
  • The filmmakers were unable to postpone the release date, and in the summer of 1984, a ‘raw’ version of the film with unfinished special effects and some plot inaccuracies was released in the United States. Fortunately, audiences ignored these flaws and brought the filmmakers decent box office receipts.
  • The film's sets used an existing set from "Rich and Famous." Gozer's temple was built separately and was one of the most complex sets to film at the time.
  • Christopher Walken, John Lithgow, Jeff Goldblum, and Christopher Lloyd were all considered for the role of Egon.
  • In fact, in 1982, Ivan Reitman planned to film "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (with Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd), but instead made "Ghostbusters".
  • The role of Louis (played by Rick Moranis) was intended for John Candy, but he declined after his ideas about the character were rejected by Ivan Reitman.
  • The role of Peter Venkman was also offered to Michael Keaton; after he declined, he was offered the role of Egon, which he also turned down. Another contender was Chevy Chase. He declined, later justifying his decision by claiming he had been given a rough draft of the script that was too bleak and scary.
  • The role of Louis (played by Rick Moranis) was intended for John Candy, but he declined after his ideas regarding the character's personality were rejected by Ivan Reitman.
  • In reality, in 1982, Ivan Reitman planned to adapt 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' (starring Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd), but he filmed 'Ghostbusters' instead.
  • Originally, the Ecto-1 was intended to be completely black. However, after it was decided that most of the car scenes would be filmed at night, the vehicle was repainted white.
  • Steve Guttenberg could have played Peter Venkman, but he chose to work on "Police Academy" (1984) instead of "Ghostbusters".
  • Christopher Walken, John Lithgow, Jeff Goldblum, and Christopher Lloyd were considered for the role of Egon.

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