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Poltergeist

Play trailer Poster for Poltergeist PG Released Jun 4, 1982 1h 54m Horror Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 77 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
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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Poltergeist

Poltergeist

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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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Critics Reviews

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Wendy Ide The Times (UK) ... A masterclass in creeping suburban horror. Oct 23, 2023 Full Review Kevin Maher The 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 Julian Singleton Cinapse Where the shocks of Chain Saw felt limited to the avoidable horrors of back country Texas, Poltergeist places its phantoms within the walls where we feel safest: our own. Jul 11, 2025 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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Fred Man, this is a GOOD movie. Nowadays I only hope for solidly mediocre. No boring parts. Great character development. Freely, but not too gory, we'll except for one dream sequence where a guy tears his own face off. Very California 1980s growing up - R.C. Cars, T.V. remotes new technology, Televisions going off air at night after the National Anthem, etc Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/13/24 Full Review geminielsy One of the best movies it still gave me the chills. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/13/24 Full Review jessie Classic 🤌🏽 not too spooky 👍🏽 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/18/22 Full Review M T Watched and rewatched for decades and this film will stick with you. No other movie about the supernatural has matched or, quite frankly, come close to this. It's thrilling and the perfect score compliments it. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/12/25 Full Review Max W The effects were surprisingly sophisticated for the time. I can appreciate the novelty but the scares just don‘t hold up to modern standards. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/03/25 Full Review Brenton B This movie is an original and classic and it gives me otherworldly vibes Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/08/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Poltergeist

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Movie Info

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
Producer
Frank Marshall, Steven Spielberg
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
Runtime
1h 54m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo, Dolby
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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