Poltergeist

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Poltergeist

PG

Released Jun 4, 1982

1h 54m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

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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Critics Consensus

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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

Nick O

So ya think you got it all figured out, huh? Perfect house, spouse and three wonderful kids? Yeah, well maybe you should consider the possibility that your sub-division might be built on top of a cursed graveyard!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/06/25

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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10%

17%

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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
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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