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"Ghostbusters" Movies & TV

official logo for the "Ghostbusters" movies of 1984, 1989, and 2016           

synopses & history

movies & TV

principals

links


Synopses  and  History
           The first production of 'Ghost Busters' was the live-action Saturday morning children's TV show "The Original Ghost Busters" [1975]. Forrest Tucker starred as goofy spook hunter Jake Kong, Larry Storch was his assistant Eddie Spenser, and Bob Burns was Tracy, their pet Gorilla. The "Ghost Busters" animated TV series [1986] was spun off from that first show, using the same characters. The later spinoff animated TV series "Extreme Ghostbusters" [1997] had Eddie Spenser's son advising modern college students in the battle against the paranormal. All are currently in syndication on various children's TV networks.

           The producers of the live-action movie "Ghostbusters" [1984] made a deal with the owners of 'The Original Ghost Busters' for use of the name; the 1984 movie was a big hit, as was the sequel live-action movie "Ghostbusters II" [1989]. Both were written by Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis & Rick Moranis and directed by Ivan Reitman; Bill Murray portrayed Dr. Peter Venkman, Dan Aykroyd was Dr. Raymond Stantz, Harold Ramis was Dr. Egon Spengler, Ernie Hudson was Winston Zeddmore, Rick Moranis was Louis Tully, Annie Potts was their receptionist Janine Melnitz, and Sigourney Weaver was Venkman's girlfriend Dana Barrett. Plans for "Ghostbusters III" were shelved when Harold Ramis died.
           Because of the name contract, the first related animated TV series was called "The Real Ghostbusters" [1986-91] and the now-in-production animated TV series is called "Ghostbusters: Ecto Force" [to be broadcast in 2018?]; the latter takes place in the year 2050.

           The live-action reboot movie "Ghostbusters" [July 2016] did poorly at the box-office, so a sequel seemed unlikely. However, "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" was announced (with trailer) in December 2019 for Summer 2020 release; the "Ghostbusters III" failure is ignored and the new film is promoted as a sequel to the 1984 & 1989 hits.


Movies  and  Television
'Ghostbusters' franchise entry at Wikipedia
Spook Central: The Ghostbusters Companion fansite

search DVDs & Blu-ray on keyword 'ghostbusters' {returns over 300 items} at Amazon

"The Ghost Busters" aka "The Original Ghostbusters" TV series
[Filmation/CBS-TV Sept-Dec 1975]
The Original Ghost Busters 1975 TV series  Two guys and their pet gorilla hunt spooks; 15 episodes, intended for kids on Saturday mornings
Created, co-produced & written by Marc Richards; directed by Norman Abbott & Larry Peerce; starring Forrest Tucker, Larry Storch, Bob Burns {as Tracy the Gorilla} & Lou Scheimer; guest actors included Huntz Hall, Jim Backus, Ina Balin, Severn Darden, Marty Ingels, Ted Knight, Bernie Kopell, Howard Morris, Billy Barty, Joe E. Ross
complete series all-region color DVD [4/2007] 2 disks for $23.98
Filmation complete series color DVD [4/2007] 2 disks - out of prodn/used
full credits at IMDb • series entry at Wikipedia
watch {dark} opening sequence [12/2011 upload; 1:06] online at YouTube

listed #48 on Timeout London's Best 100 Science Fiction Movies in 2015  "Ghostbusters"  [Columbia Pictures June 1984, re-release Nov 2011]
Ghostbusters original 1984 film  "They're here to save the world' • location filming in New York City and Los Angeles; 'supernatural comedy film' about three odd-ball scientists of the paranormal who set up shop as hunters of poltergeists and other spirits, and are eventually called on to save New York City • Co-produced & directed by Ivan Reitman; written by Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis & Rick Moranis; music by Elmer Bernstein; cinematography by Lαszlσ Kovαcs; starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, Rick Moranis, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, William Atherton, David Margulies, Larry King, Joe Franklin, Casey Kasem; listed as #32 all-time box-office in 2011 with 70,730,600 tickets; added to National Film Registry (2015)
Sony Pictures widescreen color Blu-ray [9/2014] for $9.99
Sony Pictures widescreen color digital/Blu-ray combo [5/2013] for $9.99
Sony Pictures widescreen color Blu-ray [6/2009] for $11.99
Sony Pictures Home Ent. color widescreen DVD [3/2006] for $7.12
S.B.M.E. soundtrack CD [6/2004] 10 tracks for $4.89
S.B.M.E. soundtrack CD [6/2004] 10 tracks for $4.89
Arista Records soundtrack vinyl LP [1990] out of prodn/used
full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia
watch official trailer [7/2013 upload; 2:22] online at YouTube

"Filmation's Ghost Busters" animated TV series
[Filmation/Group W 1986]
Ghost Busters 1986 animated TV series  based on the live-action series of 1975; 65 half-hour animated TV episodes broadcast September to December 1986; featuring voices of Pat Fraley, Peter Cullen, Lou Scheimer, Alan Oppenheimer, Linda Gary, Erika Scheimer, Susan Blu
Volume 1: B.C.I. / Eclipse color DVD [2/2007] 6 disks for $77.11
Volume 2: B.C.I. / Eclipse color DVD [2/2007] 5 disks - out of prodn/used
Entertainment Rights 2-pack color DVD set [2007] 11 disks for $158.88 {sic}
full credits at IMDb • series entry at Wikipedia

"The Real Ghostbusters" animated TV series  [Sony/ABC-TV 1986-91]
'The Real Ghostbusters' animated TV series  Columbia Pictures Television and D.I.C. Entertainment produced an animated spin-off television series that ran for 140 episodes over seven seasons; same five main characters as the 1984 movie, with additional 'pet ghost' named Slime • Created by Harold Ramis & Dan Aykroyd; featuring voices of Frank Welker, Maurice LaMarche, Arsenio Hall, Lorenzo Music, Laura Summer, Dave Coulier, Kath Soucie & Buster Jones; guest actors include Rodger Bumpass, Stanley Ralph Ross, Roscoe Lee Browne, June Foray, B.J. Ward, Walter Koenig, Rose Marie, Dan Aykroyd, William Marshall • series credits at IMDb • series entry at Wikipedia
Volumes 1-5: Sony Pictures Home Ent. color DVD set [7/2016] 5 disks for $27.92  7/2016
Volumes 5-10 (five disks): expected Sept 2016
Volumes 11-15 (five disks): expected sometime later
Volumes 16-20 (five disks): expected sometime later
Volumes 21-24 (four disks): expected sometime later
"The Real Ghostbusters: Complete Collection" on DVD [2009]
Time-Life Ent. color DVD set [9/2009] 25 disks for $123.99 {sic}

"Ghostbusters II" feature film  [Columbia Pictures June 1989]
Ghostbusters II feature film  The Ghostbusters team has fallen on hard times, and when they attempt to come out of retirement, are promptly arrested; but they soon discover that an evil sorcerer is about to slime all of Manhattan, so they leap into action . . .
Co-produced & directed by Ivan Reitman; written by Harold Ramis & Dan Aykroyd; starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, Rick Moranis, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, Peter MacNicol, Harris Yulin, David Margulies, Kurt Fuller, Janet Margolin, Jason Reitman, Cheech Marin & Max von Sydow (voice)
Sony Pictures Home Ent. widescreen color Blu-ray [9/2014] for $9.99
Sony Pictures Home Ent. widescreen color Blu-ray/4K-UltraHD combo [6/2016] 2 disks for $18.99
Sony Pictures Home Ent. widescreen color DVD [3/2006] for $8.70
full credits at IMDb • series entry at Wikipedia
watch official trailer [9/2014 upload; 2:32] online at YouTube

"Extreme Ghostbusters" animated TV series
[Columbia Pictures TV 1997]
color title from 'Extreme Ghostbusters' 1997 animated TV series  Next-generation animated spinoff from the 1975 live-action TV series; 40 half-hour episodes broadcast from September to December 1997; featuring voices of Maurice LaMarche, Tara Strong, Pat Musick, Jason Marsden, Alfonso Ribeiro, Rino Romano, Billy West
Region 1 Blu-ray/DVD not available • full credits at IMDb • series entry at Wikipedia
watch opening sequence [11/2008 upload; 1:08] online at YouTube
'Extreme Ghostbusters' fansite [circa 1998]

Ghostbusters Double Feature Gift Set on DVD or Blu-ray  "Ghostbusters Double Feature Gift Set" [2005]
includes "Ghostbusters" [1984], "Ghostbusters 2" [1989], and a commemorative book
Sony Pictures Home Ent. widescreen color Blu-ray [9/2014] 2 disks for $14.99
Sony Pictures Home Ent. widescreen color DVD [8/2005] 2 disks for $12.49

"Return of The Ghostbusters" feature film  [2007]
85-minute amateur film by non-profit group based in Denver, Colorado
full credits at IMDb • official movie website

"Ghostbusters III"
work on "Ghostbusters 3" went on forever, with various actors in, then out, then in and out again; Harold Ramis died in February 2014,
and the last "Ghostbusters 3" activity seems to be May 2014; meanwhile, fans made these two unofficial videos:
watch 10/2008 trailer [5:14] online at YouTube
watch 2/2014 animated movie [2:39:52] online at YouTube

"Ghostbusters" reboot  [Paramount Pictures July 2016]  5/2016
Ghostbusters 2016 reboot  "Answer the call" • More and more ghosts are invading New York City, conjured by an insane janitor, and four women join forces to reverse the supernatural havoc . . . Co-produced, co-written & directed by Paul Feig; co-written by Katie Dippold, based on the 1984 film; starring Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, Chris Hemsworth, Jaime Pacheco, Andy Garcia, Ed Begley Jr., Charles Dance, Karan Soni, Steve Higgins, Neil Casey, Nate Corddry
DVD/Blu-ray not yet available
R.C.A. Records soundtrack CD [7/2016] 14 tracks for $9.99
Sony Classical motion picture score CD [7/2016] 21 tracks for $11.38
full credits at IMDb • official movie site • movie entry at Wikipedia
watch 3/2016 official trailer [2:37] at YouTube

Ghostbusters Movie novelizations by Stacia Deutsch & Nancy Holder   "Ghostbusters: {Junior} Movie Novelization" [grades 3-7; 2016] by Stacia Deutsch
Kindle Edition from Simon & Schuster Digital Sales [6/2016] for $5.99
Simon Spotlight 7½x5 pb [6/2016] for $5.94
Turtleback Books 7½x5¼ hardcover [6/2016] for $17.20
"Ghostbusters: {Adult} Movie Novelization" [2016] by Nancy Holder
Kindle Edition from Tor/Macmillan [6/2016] for $9.99
Tor Books mass pb [6/2016] for $7.73

"The Ghostbusters: A Web Series" [indep Oct 2016]  they are on Facebook
The Ghostbusters Web Series 2016  9-episode fan-produced web series that takes place 30 years after the events in the 1984 & 1989 films
Co-produced, co-written & co-directed by and starring Joseph Lavender; co-directed by Allie O'Neill; co-written by Chad Hudson & Joseph Ricciardelli; co-starring Victor Rivera, Zoe Myers, Rebecca Barnes, Jennifer Masty, Paul Nevin, Niki Edwards, Walter Robert Duckworth, Harrison Russell, Allie O'Neill • full credits at IMDb
watch episodes online at YouTube: episode #1 • episode #2 • episode #3 • episode #4 • episode #5 • episode #6 • episode #7 • episode #8 [9/2019] • episode #9 has not yet 'dropped'

"Ghostbusters: Ecto Force" animated TV series  [broadcast in 2018?]
Announced 6/2016: Sony Pictures Animation, Film Roman, and Ivan Reitman's Ghost Corps are producing a new animated series which will follow “a new generation
of Ghostbusters in the year 2050 who capture ghosts around the world with help from local teams – and some very cool gear!” • latest info at IMDb

"Ghostbusters: Afterlife" [Sony/Columbia July 2020]  
Ghostbusters 4 Afterlife  Two teens move with their single mother to a small town and learn of their grandfather's secret legacy . . .
Co-produced by Dan Aykroyd, Ivan Reitman, others; co-written & directed by Jason Reitman; co-written by Gil Kenan; starring Mckenna Grace, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Paul Rudd, Bill Murray, Annie Potts, Ernie Hudson, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Celeste O'Connor, Bokeem Woodbine, Oliver Cooper, Sydney Mae Diaz, Marlon Kazadi, Logan Kim, CJ Collard, Bud Klasky, Faith Louissaint
full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia
watch 12/2019 official trailer [2:34] online at YouTube



Principals

writer-actor Dan Aykroyd
credits at Internet Movie Database • entry at Wikipedia

actor Bob Burns III
credits at IMDb • entry at Wikipedia

writer-director Paul Feig
credits at IMDb • entry at Wikipedia

actor Chris Hemsworth
credits at IMDb • entry at Wikipedia

actor Ernie Hudson
credits at IMDb • entry at Wikipedia

actress Leslie Jones
credits at IMDb • entry at Wikipedia

actress Melissa McCarthy
credits at IMDb • entry at Wikipedia

actress Kate McKinnon
credits at IMDb • entry at Wikipedia

writer-actor Rick Moranis
credits at IMDb • entry at Wikipedia

actor Bill Murray
credits at IMDb • entry at Wikipedia

actress Annie Potts
credits at IMDb • entry at Wikipedia

writer-actor Harold Ramis [1944-2014]
credits at IMDb • entry at Wikipedia

producer-director-actor Ivan Reitman
credits at IMDb • entry at Wikipedia

producer-director Jason Reitman
credits at IMDb • entry at Wikipedia

producer-creator Marc Richards [1930-2006]
credits at IMDb • no entry at Wikipedia

producer-actor Lou Scheimer [1928-2013]
credits at IMDb • entry at Wikipedia

actor Larry Storch
credits at IMDb • entry at Wikipedia

actor Forrest Tucker [1919-86]
credits at IMDb • entry at Wikipedia

actress Sigourney Weaver
credits at IMDb • entry at Wikipedia

actress Kristen Wiig
credits at IMDb • entry at Wikipedia



'Ghostbusters' Links
official 'Ghostbusters' movie site
'Ghostbusters' franchise entry at Wikipedia
Spook Central: The Ghostbusters Companion fansite
'Extreme Ghostbusters' fansite [circa 1998]



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