Scientists Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Raymond Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) and Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) are fired from their university because their paranormal research is conducted by them “more like a game show host” than serious researchers and scientists.
To raise money to further support their work, the three eccentrics decide to open their own business as “Ghostbusters”.
New York coincidentally experiences an increasing number of paranormal visitations at the same time, and soon the Ghostbusters find themselves working on their first real assignment.
Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver) has had a strange encounter in her kitchen, with eggs taking on a life of their own and jumping from their shells, and the interior of her fridge turning into a portal to a very sinister-looking place.
Investigating the case (and the woman), our heroes detect increased paranormal activity in this particular building on Central Park West.
Meanwhile, more apparitions appear across town, sending the entire city into a frenzy, and the Ghostbusters find themselves very much in demand.
In a battle that seems hopeless, the Ghostbusters manage to capture and isolate one ghost after another, cleanly accumulating them all in their unique storage facility in an old fire station.
Things take an interesting turn when Dana and her nerdy neighbour Louis Tully (Rick Moranis) become unwitting tools in the resurrection of Zuul, the master of all ghosts.
With Dana and Louis changed into The Gatekeeper and The Keymaster, the Ghostbusters now have to face their ultimate challenge – The coming of Gozer.
Director Ivan Reitman created Ghostbusters with the help of Saturday Night Livecomedian Dan Aykroyd and writer/actor Harold Ramis.
It was originally conceived as a vehicle for Aykroyd and John Belushi, but was recast after the latter’s unexpected death.
Little did they know they were creating a cinematic phenomenon that would still inspire legions of fans years after its release.
Ghostbusters grossed over $221 million, making it the biggest money-spinner in Columbia’s history.
An inferior sequel, Ghostbusters II, followed in 1989 with the same cast, director . . . and jokes.
As for the 2016 remake . . . where to start? Fans of the franchise had been clamouring for a legacy sequel for years, but Sony went with a different take and decided to do a remake instead, casting a bunch of SNLalumni and gender-swapping everyone in the process.
The plot is a rethreading of the original movie, with lower stakes and more focus on the comedy.
Dr Peter Venkman
Bill Murray Dr Raymond Stantz
Dan Aykroyd Dr Egon Spengler
Harold Ramis Dana Barrett
Sigourney Weaver Louis Tully
Rick Moranis Janine Melnitz
Annie Potts Winston Zeddemore
Ernie Hudson Walter Peck
William Atherton Mrs Van Hoffman
Kathryn Janssen Annette
Cheryl Birchfield Mayor
David Margulies Dean Yeager
Jordan Charney Gozer
Slavitza Jovan Library ghost
Ruth Oliver
New York coincidentally experiences an increasing number of paranormal visitations at the same time, and soon the Ghostbusters find themselves working on their first real assignment.
It was originally conceived as a vehicle for Aykroyd and John Belushi, but was recast after the latter’s unexpected death.
Dr Peter Venkman
Dr Egon Spengler
Winston Zeddemore
