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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 76 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

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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 Times (UK) ... A masterclass in creeping suburban horror. Oct 23, 2023 Full Review Kevin Maher Times (UK) One of the great anti-온라인카지노추천 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 온라인카지노추천. 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 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 Les N The 2nd best movie of the 80s. Great. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 04/22/25 Full Review K K The Poltergeist didn't tell us it was a family movie over and over rather it delivered. Fun movie with some scares but not over the top in gore, scares, violence. This would be more along the lines of a family scary movie, yet that is relative to people and family. A drama about a family going through issues that suddenly exposes the concept that when things seem to be going well, they don't take anything for granted: owning a house, having a job, a healthy, safe family. This movie shows how fast events can change. Good storyline, solid acting/sets/makeup/clothes/sound/lights. Some GROSS moments. This main image of Carol Ann, played by Heather O"Rourke, hands on 온라인카지노추천, inspired a movie released last year to use a similar image in promotions. I found that movies that inspired me enough to use a similar visual needed to understand Poltergeist way more and have stronger IMAGINARY skills. When movie inspires others then it is a GOOD THING! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/20/25 Full Review Garry A My mom took me to the Drive In to see this when I was kid. It was real scary when it first came out. I still think the special effects are cool. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/16/25 Full Review Read all reviews
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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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