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

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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

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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

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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

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jessie

Classic 🤌🏽 not too spooky 👍🏽

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/18/22

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BRENDEN J

Poltergeist was a classic horror movie! I love the characters and the spooky things happening!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/28/25

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Abigail L

this is a great movie worth watching but it's not to scary though.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/18/25

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

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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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