Theater Release- 1984
Home Video Release-
1. Betamax- 1985
2. Video Cassette- 1985, 1989, 1996
3. Laserdisc- 1989, 1992
4. DVD- 1999
Running Time- 105 minutes
MPAA Rating- PG
Closed Captioned
Original Home Release Distributor- RCA
Betamax Tape Make- TDK
VHS Tape Make- Not Available
Video ISBN - 0-8001-0790-X
TV Guide Review
Purchase the Film via GBHQ Online Store
Purchase the Soundtrack via CD Now
Download Multimedia via GBHQ Media
Photo courtesy Paul Rudoff
Suburban Commando PKE Usages Click Here

Synopsis via Tape Cover

When ghosts go ona rampage, only three men can save the world. It's GHOSTBUSTERS, starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis as a maniacal band of parapsychologists specializing in psychic phenomena - and supernatural hilarity! Fired from university research jobs, Drs. Venkman (Murray), Stantz (Aykroyd) and Spengler (Ramis) set up shop as "Ghostbusters," ridding Manhattan of bizarre apparitions. But even the spirit exterminators are severely tested when beautiful Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver) and her nerdy neighbor (Rick Moranis) become possesed by demons living in their building. Soon every spook in the city is loose and our heroes face their supreme challenge at a roof-top demonic shrine. If you want your spirits raised, who you gonna call? GHOSTBUSTERS!

Casting Stuff: Did you know that the film was originally created by Dan Aykroyd as a comedy vehicle for himself and his Blues Brothers comrad John Belushi? After John's passing, the film was rewritten to be a trio of ghosthunters and thus the first approachment of Bill Murray for his now famous role as Pete Venkman was inevitable.

More Casting Stuff: Winston's role was originally offered to comedy and SNL allumn Eddie Murphy (see Ghostbusters Seen and Heard for the full skimmy) and the role of Louis Tully was intended for John Candy to play, even in pre-production, storyboards were drawn with Louis looking very much like comedy great Candy.

Ray Parker Jr.'s hit song was a last minute addition to the film. During production many attempts at a song that, according to Dan Aykroyd, would be catchy and very "dancable" were made, in fact the teaser trailer (available on Criteron's laserdisc, and possibly on the DVD release in 1999) featured one such variation on the song.

Take a look, Stay Puft Marshmellows are hidden in the film twice, once as a billboard, and once in person (hint: take a look at Dana Barrett's counter where the eggs "jump right out of the carton.")

Ghostbusters was the highest grossing comedy film of all time (before Men in Black overthrew the throne) and it was rightly so. The film made the catch phrase "Who Ya Gonna Call?" as popular as "May the Force Be With You" and was instantly a symbol of pop culture.

The Ecto-1 was originally scripted to have psychokenetic powers, including a "cloaking device" and a "smart security alarm." The only paranormal power exhibited by the car in the film was a scene where a police officer puts a ticket on the windsheild and the ticket burns up! The scene, which was shot and cut into the film, was a last-minute deletion during the final editing process.

Hey, did you know that the PKE meter was actually used as a prop in the quietly released from screen to video to bargain bin film Suburban Commando? Did you also know that Ray's Ecto Goggles were used in Fair Game? Check out these pics of the meter from Neil Vitale!

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