Poltergeist

PG

Now Playing

1 hr. 54 min.

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

List

88%

76 Reviews

Tomatometer

79%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Strange and creepy happenings beset an average California family, the Freelings -- Steve (Craig T. Nelson), Diane (JoBeth Williams), teenaged Dana (Dominique Dunne), eight-year-old Robbie (Oliver Robins), and five-year-old Carol Ann (Heather O'Rourke) -- when ghosts commune with them through the television set. Initially friendly and playful, the spirits turn unexpectedly menacing, and, when Carol Ann goes missing, Steve and Diane turn to a parapsychologist and eventually an exorcist for help.

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Critics Consensus

Smartly filmed, tightly scripted, and -- most importantly -- consistently frightening, Poltergeist is a modern horror classic.

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jessie

Classic 🤌🏽 not too spooky 👍🏽

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/18/22

Full Review

Jules N

Bon classique qui, à certains moments, a quelque peu mal vieilli. Dommage aussi que les réactions des protagonistes sont parfois incompréhensibles. Il garde tout de même un charme particulier qui rend le film très plaisant à voir.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/04/24

Full Review

Todd C

What I liked: The story was good. Special effects were good for the day. In a way it was a cute and cuddly horror story. Craig T. Nelson was good as was JoBeth Williams. The story was told through a child's point of view for the most part. I was impressed with Heather O'Rourke as a child actress. Although not a gory horror story, the gore they had was well done. Seems to stand the test of time. It was Spielberg...and he is awesome. One of the best haunted house movies. I love Zelda Rubinstein...what a gem. What I didn't like: I read a lot of reviews that stated it was a devastating commentary on the tv-oriented culture....I think that is a stretch. I think it could have been better. There were some lapses in acting...even by Craig T. Nelson. Best Scene: Really, I think the scene where one of the analysts is looking in the mirror and seeing his face come apart and then him tearing it apart was really good. Also, the scene where the tree is swallowing the boy was well done. Best Quote: "They're here!"---A classic. Runner up: "You can't choose between life and death when we're dealing with what is in between"

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/02/23

Full Review

matthias s

Poltergeist is a classic horror film that still holds up today. The story of a family haunted by ghosts in their suburban home is both creepy and emotional. The special effects, particularly the iconic scene of the little girl being pulled into the TV, are truly terrifying. The acting is strong, particularly from the child actors, and the direction by Tobe Hooper adds to the film's eerie atmosphere. The film also has the feel and spirit of a classic Spielberg movie, with a strong sense of family and nostalgia. One of the most memorable scenes in the movie is the clown scene, which is guaranteed to give viewers nightmares. Poltergeist is a must-see for fans of the horror genre, with its combination of scares, family drama, and nostalgia.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/09/23

Full Review

Joel H

Poltergeist is a movie that I watched a lot as a kid. It was PG-13 horror before PG-13 even existed. However, it's been years since I last saw it. The tone is much more upbeat than I remembered, with moments of humor & heart surrounding the eerie & grotesque scenes. And the scares hit a little differently now that I'm a parent, as this film deals with the fear of trying to protect your children from harm. Heather O'Rourke is absolutely precious as Carol Anne, which makes any moment she's in danger highly stressful. It's not talked about as much these days, but Poltergeist is a classic horror film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/05/23

Full Review

Dave C

I'm both astounded I've not seen it before, and glad that I hadn't. Seeing it now for the first time, I'm sure I appreciated it more than I would have. The effects and camerawork are testament to Hooper's eye for what works, and this whole movie is truly magnificent as a representation of his career. It also seems to have been his last good movie, which is a shame. For Spielberg, however, this represents the start of his massive run of epic movies! Truly brilliant, and unexpectedly so!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/22/23

Full Review

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Tobe Hooper

Director

Craig T. Nelson

Steve Freeling

JoBeth Williams

Diane Freeling

Beatrice Straight

Dr. Lesh

Dominique Dunne

Dana Freeling

Oliver Robins

Robbie Freeling

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Wendy Ide

Times (UK)

... A masterclass in creeping suburban horror.

Oct 23, 2023

Full Review

Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

One of the great anti-TV movies, alongside Network and The Truman Show.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 21, 2022

Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

The keynote of the film is O’Rourke’s eerie, ethereally pale face, illuminated by the unearthly light of the haunted TV.

Rated: 5/5

Oct 21, 2022

Full Review

Sean Burns

Crooked Marquee

Made around the same time Spielberg was shooting 'E.T. The Extraterrestrial' — the two films were released a week apart that summer — and in many ways it can be seen as that humane masterpiece’s sicko B-side.

Nov 2, 2023

Full Review

Jenn Adams

Bloody Disgusting

Though often remembered for its ominous catch phrase, “They’re here…”, its evil clown, and its gruesome conclusion, Poltergeist is a film brimming with strong female characters.

Rated: A

Feb 18, 2023

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Tobe Hooper does a great job of creating a sense of suburban normalcy and playful family dynamics. Plus he delivers some really creepy scenes.

Oct 29, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

Strange and creepy happenings beset an average California family, the Freelings -- Steve (Craig T. Nelson), Diane (JoBeth Williams), teenaged Dana (Dominique Dunne), eight-year-old Robbie (Oliver Robins), and five-year-old Carol Ann (Heather O'Rourke) -- when ghosts commune with them through the television set. Initially friendly and playful, the spirits turn unexpectedly menacing, and, when Carol Ann goes missing, Steve and Diane turn to a parapsychologist and eventually an exorcist for help.

Director: Tobe Hooper
Screenwriter: Steven Spielberg, Michael Grais, Mark Victor
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Rating: PG
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 4, 1982, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $121.8M
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo, Dolby
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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