Editing Ghostbusters

{{Short description|1984 film by Ivan Reitman}}
{{About|the original 1984 film|other uses}}
{{Featured article}}
{{Use list-defined references|date=April 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Ghostbusters
| image          = Ghostbusters (1984) theatrical poster.png
| alt            = The poster for Ghostbusters (1984), featuring actors Harold Ramis, Bill Murray, and Dan Aykroyd in characters looking above.
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Ivan Reitman]]
| producer       = Ivan Reitman
| writer         = {{plainlist|
* [[Dan Aykroyd]]
* [[Harold Ramis]]
}}
| starring       = {{plainlist|
* [[Bill Murray]]
* Dan Aykroyd<!--Linked above-->
* [[Sigourney Weaver]]
* Harold Ramis<!--Linked above-->
* [[Rick Moranis]]
}}<!--ONLY NAMES ON POSTER. DO NOT ADD POTTS OR HUDSON-->
| music          = [[Elmer Bernstein]]
| cinematography = [[László Kovács (cinematographer)|László Kovács]]
| editing        = {{plainlist|
* [[David Blewitt|David E. Blewitt]]
* [[Sheldon Kahn]]
}}
| production_companies = {{plainlist|
* Columbia-Delphi Productions
* Black Rhino{{efn|Columbia-Delphi Productions and Dan Aykroyd's Black Rhino are credited as the production companies behind ''Ghostbusters''.<ref name="AFI" /><ref name="GuardianRhino" />}}
}}
| distributor    = [[Columbia Pictures]]
| released       = {{Film date|1984|06|08}}
| runtime        = 105 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $25–30&nbsp;million
| gross          = $370&nbsp;million
}}

'''''Ghostbusters''''' is a 1984 American [[Supernatural fiction|supernatural]] [[comedy film]] directed by [[Ivan Reitman]] and written by [[Dan Aykroyd]] and [[Harold Ramis]]. It stars [[Bill Murray]], Aykroyd, and Ramis as [[Peter Venkman]], [[Ray Stantz]], and [[Egon Spengler]], three eccentric [[parapsychologists]] who start a [[ghost]]-catching business in [[New York City]]. It also stars [[Sigourney Weaver]] and [[Rick Moranis]], and features [[Annie Potts]], [[Ernie Hudson]], and [[William Atherton]] in supporting roles.

Based on his fascination with [[spirituality]], Aykroyd conceived ''Ghostbusters'' as a project starring himself and [[John Belushi]], in which they would venture through time and space battling supernatural threats. Following Belushi's death in 1982, and with Aykroyd's concept deemed financially impractical, Ramis was hired to help rewrite the script to set it in [[New York City]] and make it more realistic. It was the first comedy film to employ expensive special effects, and [[Columbia Pictures]], concerned about its relatively high $25–30&nbsp;million budget, had little faith in its box office potential. Filming took place from October 1983 to January 1984, in New York City and [[Los Angeles]]. Due to competition for special effects studios among various films in development at the time, [[Richard Edlund]] used part of the budget to found [[Boss Film Studios]], which employed a combination of [[practical effects]], miniatures, and puppets to deliver the ghoulish visuals.

''Ghostbusters'' was released on June 8, 1984, to critical acclaim and became a cultural phenomenon. It was praised for its blend of comedy, action, and horror, and Murray's performance was often singled out for praise. It earned at least $282&nbsp;million worldwide during its initial theatrical run and was the [[1984 in film#Highest-grossing films|second-highest-grossing film of 1984]] in the [[United States]] and [[Canada]], and the then-highest-grossing comedy ever. It was the number-one film in US theaters for seven consecutive weeks and one of only four films to gross more than $100&nbsp;million that year. Further theatrical releases have increased the worldwide total gross to around $370&nbsp;million, making it one of the most successful comedy films of the 1980s. In 2015, the [[Library of Congress]] selected it for preservation in the [[National Film Registry]]. Its theme song, "[[Ghostbusters (song)|Ghostbusters]]" by [[Ray Parker Jr.]], was also a number-one hit.

With its effect on popular culture, and a dedicated fan following, the success of ''Ghostbusters'' launched a multi-billion dollar [[Ghostbusters (franchise)|multimedia franchise]]. This included the popular animated television series ''[[The Real Ghostbusters]]'' (1986), its follow-up ''[[Extreme Ghostbusters]]'' (1997), [[List of Ghostbusters video games|video games]], board games, [[Ghostbusters (comics)|comic books]], clothing, music, and [[Haunted attraction (simulated)|haunted attractions]]. ''Ghostbusters'' was followed in 1989 by ''[[Ghostbusters II]]'', which fared less well financially and critically, and attempts to develop a second sequel paused in 2014 following Ramis's death. After [[Ghostbusters (2016 film)|a 2016 reboot]] received mixed reviews and underperformed financially, a second sequel to the 1984 film, ''[[Ghostbusters: Afterlife]]'' (2021), was released, followed by ''[[Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire]]'' (2024).

== Plot ==
<!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summaries for featured film articles should be 400–700 words. Word count as of 01/19/2022 is 531 words.-->
After [[Columbia University]] [[parapsychology]] professors [[Peter Venkman]], [[Ray Stantz]], and [[Egon Spengler]] experience their first encounter with a [[ghost]] at the [[New York Public Library Main Branch|New York Public Library]], the university [[Dean (education)|dean]] dismisses the credibility of their [[paranormal]]-focused research and fires them. The trio responds by establishing "Ghostbusters", a paranormal investigation and [[Pest control|elimination]] service operating out of a disused firehouse. They develop high-tech nuclear-powered equipment to capture and contain ghosts, although business is initially slow.

Following a paranormal encounter in her apartment, cellist Dana Barrett visits the Ghostbusters. She recounts witnessing a demonic dog-like creature in her refrigerator utter a single word: "Zuul". Ray and Egon research Zuul and details of Dana's building while Peter inspects her apartment and unsuccessfully attempts to seduce her. The Ghostbusters are hired to remove [[Slimer|a gluttonous ghost]] from the Sedgewick Hotel. Having failed to properly test their equipment, Egon warns the group that crossing the energy streams of their [[proton pack]] weapons could cause a catastrophic explosion. They capture the ghost and deposit it in an ecto-containment unit under the firehouse. Supernatural activity rapidly increases across the city and the Ghostbusters become famous; they hire a fourth member, [[Winston Zeddemore]], to cope with the growing demand.

Suspicious of the Ghostbusters, [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] inspector Walter Peck asks to evaluate their equipment, but Peter rebuffs him. Egon warns that the containment unit is nearing capacity and supernatural energy is surging across the city. Peter meets with Dana and informs her Zuul was a [[demigod]] worshipped as a servant to "Gozer the Gozerian", a [[shapeshifting]] god of destruction. Upon returning home, she is possessed by Zuul; a similar entity possesses her neighbor, Louis Tully. Peter arrives and finds the possessed Dana/Zuul claiming to be "the Gatekeeper". Louis is brought to Egon by police officers and claims he is "Vinz Clortho, the Keymaster". The Ghostbusters agree they must keep the pair separated.

Peck returns with law enforcement and city workers to have the Ghostbusters arrested and their containment unit deactivated, causing an explosion that releases the captured ghosts. Louis/Vinz escapes in the confusion and makes his way to the apartment building to join Dana/Zuul. In jail, Ray and Egon reveal that Ivo Shandor, leader of a Gozer-worshipping cult in the early 20th century, designed Dana's building to function as an antenna to attract and concentrate spiritual energy to summon Gozer and bring about the apocalypse. Faced with supernatural chaos across the city, the Ghostbusters convince the mayor to release them.

The Ghostbusters travel to a hidden temple located on top of the building as Dana/Zuul and Louis/Vinz open the gate between dimensions and transform into demonic dogs. Gozer appears as a woman and attacks the Ghostbusters, then disappears when they attempt to retaliate. Gozer’s disembodied voice demands the Ghostbusters "choose the form of the destructor". Ray inadvertently recalls a beloved corporate mascot from his childhood, and Gozer reappears as a gigantic [[Stay Puft Marshmallow Man]] that begins destroying the city. Against his earlier advice, Egon instructs the team to cross their proton energy streams at the dimensional gate. The resulting explosion destroys Gozer's avatar, banishing it back to its dimension, and closes the gateway. The Ghostbusters rescue Dana and Louis from the wreckage and are welcomed on the street as heroes.

== Cast ==
{{Main|List of Ghostbusters characters}}
[[File:Ghostbusters 1984 Cast Collage 2.png|thumb|upright=1.3|alt=Portrait photos of the stars of the film: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Ernie Hudson, Harold Ramis, and Annie Potts|Stars of the film include (l-r) [[Bill Murray]] (pictured in 1989), [[Dan Aykroyd]] (1982), [[Sigourney Weaver]] (1989), [[Harold Ramis]], [[Ernie Hudson]] (both 2009), and [[Annie Potts]] (1989)]]
* [[Bill Murray]] as [[Peter Venkman]]
* [[Dan Aykroyd]] as [[Ray Stantz]]
* [[Sigourney Weaver]] as [[Dana Barrett]]
* [[Harold Ramis]] as [[Egon Spengler]]
* [[Rick Moranis]] as [[Louis Tully]]
* [[Annie Potts]] as [[Janine Melnitz]]
* [[William Atherton]] as [[Walter Peck]]
* [[Ernie Hudson]] as [[Winston Zeddemore]]

In addition to the main cast, ''Ghostbusters'' features [[David Margulies]] as Lenny Clotch, [[Mayor of New York City|Mayor of New York]], [[Michael Ensign]] as the Sedgewick Hotel manager, and Slavitza Jovan as Gozer (voiced by [[Paddi Edwards]]). It also features astrologist [[Ruth Hale Oliver]] as the Library Ghost,<ref name="PeopleJun2014" /> [[Alice Drummond]] as the Librarian,<ref name="BBCDec2016" /> [[Jennifer Runyon]] and Steven Tash as Peter's psychological test subjects,<ref name="IndieWireJun2012" /><ref name="WizardApr19" /> [[Timothy Carhart]] as a violinist,<ref name="WizardApr19" /> and [[Reginald VelJohnson]] as a corrections officer.<ref name="FSR" /> [[Playboy Playmate|''Playboy'' Playmate]] [[Kymberly Herrin]] appears as a seductive ghost in Ray's dreams.<ref name="PeopleJun2014" />

[[Roger Grimsby]], [[Larry King]], [[Joe Franklin]], and [[Casey Kasem]] make [[cameo appearance]]s as themselves; Kasem in a voice-only role. In addition, Kasem's wife, [[Jean Kasem|Jean]], appears as the tall guest at Louis' party; along with [[Debbie Gibson]] in her film debut and porn star [[Ron Jeremy]].<ref name="IndieWireJun2012" /> Director [[Ivan Reitman]] provided the voice to Slimer and other miscellaneous ghost voices.<ref name="FSR" />

== Production ==
=== Development ===
[[File:Ivan Reitman with prop from Ghostbusters (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|upright|alt=Photograph of director Ivan Reitman at a red carpet event with photographers behind him | Director [[Ivan Reitman]] (pictured in 1984) contributed ideas to the ''Ghostbusters'' script and helped secure its funding.]]
''Ghostbusters'' was inspired by Dan Aykroyd's fascination with and belief in the paranormal,<ref name="AFI" /><ref name="VanityFair2014" /> which he inherited from his father, who later wrote the book ''A History of Ghosts'';<ref name="THR2016" /> his mother, who claimed to have seen ghosts; his grandfather, who experimented with radios to contact the dead; and his great-grandfather, a renowned [[Spiritualism (movement)|spiritualist]]. In 1981, Aykroyd read an article on [[quantum physics]] and parapsychology in ''[[The Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research]]'', which gave him the idea of trapping ghosts. He was also drawn to the idea of modernizing the comedic ghost films of the mid-20th century by comics such as [[Abbott and Costello]] (''[[Hold That Ghost]]'', 1941), [[Bob Hope]] (''[[The Ghost Breakers]]'', 1940) and [[the Bowery Boys]] (''[[Ghost Chasers]]'', 1951).<ref name="VanityFair2014" /><ref name="Esquire" />

Aykroyd wrote the script, intending to star alongside [[Eddie Murphy]] and his close friend and fellow ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' (''SNL'') alumnus [[John Belushi]], before Belushi's accidental death in March 1982.<ref name="AFI" /><ref name="VanityFair2014" /> Aykroyd recalled writing one of Belushi's lines when producer and talent agent [[Bernie Brillstein]] called to inform him of Belushi's death.<ref name="VanityFair2014" /> He turned to another former ''SNL'' castmate, Bill Murray, who agreed to join without an explicit agreement, which is how he often worked.<ref name="VanityFair2014" /> Aykroyd pitched his concept to Brillstein as three men who chase ghosts and included a sketch of the Marshmallow Man character he had imagined. He likened the Ghostbusters to pest-control workers, saying that "calling a Ghostbuster was just like getting rats removed".<ref name="Esquire" /> Aykroyd believed Ivan Reitman was the logical choice to direct, based on his successes with films such as ''[[Animal House]]'' (1978) and ''[[Stripes (film)|Stripes]]'' (1981).<ref name="VanityFair2014" /> Reitman was aware of the film's outline while Belushi was still a prospective cast member; this version took place in the future with many groups of intergalactic ghostbusters, and felt it "would have cost something like $200{{nbsp}}million to make".<ref name="Esquire" />{{efn|The estimated $200{{nbsp}}million required to realize Dan Aykroyd's original vision for ''Ghostbusters'' is equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|200000000|1983}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}.}} Aykroyd's original 70- to 80-page [[film treatment|script treatment]] was more serious in tone and intended to be scary.<ref name="VanityFair2014" /><ref name="Esquire" />

Reitman met with Aykroyd at Art's Delicatessen in [[Studio City, Los Angeles]], and explained that his concept would be impossible to make. He suggested that setting it entirely on Earth would make the extraordinary elements funnier, and that focusing on realism from the beginning would make the Marshmallow Man more believable by the end. He also wanted to portray the Ghostbusters' origins before starting their business: "This was beginning of the 1980s—everyone was going into business".<ref name="VanityFair2014" /><ref name="Esquire" /> After the meeting, they met Harold Ramis at [[Warner Bros. Studios Burbank|Burbank Studios]]. Reitman had worked with Ramis on previous films and believed he could better execute the tone he intended for the script than Aykroyd.<ref name="Esquire" /> He also felt Ramis should play a Ghostbuster. After reading the script, Ramis joined the project immediately.<ref name="VanityFair2014" />

Although the script required considerable changes, Reitman pitched the film to [[Columbia Pictures]] executive [[Frank Price]] in March 1983. Price found the concept funny, but was unsure of the project, as comedies were seen to have limited profitability. He said the film would take a big budget due to its special effects and popular cast.<ref name="VanityFair2014" /><ref name="Esquire" /> Reitman reportedly said they could work with $25–30&nbsp;million;{{efn|The 1984 budget of $25–30&nbsp;million is equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|25000000|1983}}}}–${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|30000000|1983}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}.}} varying figures have been cited. Price agreed, as long as the film could be released by June 1984.<ref name="VanityFair2014" /><ref name="THR2016" /> Reitman later admitted he made up the figure, basing it on three times the budget for ''Stripes'', which seemed "reasonable".<ref name="VanityFair2014" /> This left 13 months to complete the film, with no finished script, effects studio, or filming start date.<ref name="THR2016" /> Reitman hired his previous collaborators [[Joe Medjuck]] and [[Michael C. Gross]] as [[Film producer|associate producers]].{{sfn|McCabe|2016|p=18}} Columbia's CEO [[Fay Vincent]] sent his lawyer Dick Gallop to Los Angeles to convince Price not to pursue the film, but Price disagreed. Gallop returned to the head office to report that Price was "out of control".<ref name="VanityFair2014" /><ref name="Esquire" />

As the title "Ghostbusters" was legally restricted by the 1970s children's show ''[[The Ghost Busters]]'', owned by [[Universal Studios, Inc.|Universal Studios]], several alternative titles were considered, including "Ghoststoppers", "Ghostbreakers", and "Ghostsmashers".<ref name="VanityFair2014" /><ref name="Collider2013" /><ref name="TelegraphJun16" /> Price parted ways with Columbia early in ''Ghostbusters''{{'}} production and became head of [[Universal Pictures]], at which point he sold Columbia the title for $500,000 plus 1% of the film's profits. Given [[Hollywood accounting|Hollywood's accounting]] practices—used by studios to artificially inflate a film's production costs to limit royalty or tax payouts—the film technically never made a profit for Universal to be owed a payment.<ref name="Esquire" /><ref name="Collider2013" /><ref name="AtlanticAccounting" />

=== Writing ===
Aykroyd, Ramis, and Reitman began reworking the script, first at Reitman's office, then sequestering themselves and their families on [[Martha's Vineyard]], [[Massachusetts]]. Aykroyd had a home there, and they worked day and night in his basement for about two weeks.<ref name="THR2016" /> Aykroyd was willing to rework his script; he considered himself a "[[Scope creep|kitchen sink]]" writer who created the funny situations and paranormal jargon, while Ramis refined the jokes and dialogue. They wrote separately, then rewrote each other's drafts. Many scenes had to be cut, including an asylum haunted by celebrities, and an illegal ghost-storage facility in a [[New Jersey]] gas station.<ref name="VanityFair2014" /> Their initial draft was completed when they left the Vineyard in mid-July 1983, and a third and near-final draft was ready by early August.<ref name="VanityFair2014" /><ref name="THR2016" /><ref name="RollingJuly2016" /> When Murray flew to New York after filming ''[[The Razor's Edge (1984 film)|The Razor's Edge]]'' (1984) to meet Aykroyd and Ramis, he offered little input on the script or his character. Having written for Murray multiple times, Ramis said he knew "how to handle his character's voice".<ref name="VanityFair2014" />

It was decided early on that Ramis's character would be the brains of the Ghostbusters, Aykroyd's the heart, and Murray's the mouth.<ref name="Esquire" /> Aykroyd drew inspiration from fiction [[archetypes]]: "Put Peter Venkman, Raymond Stantz, and Egon Spengler together, and you have the [[Scarecrow (Oz)|Scarecrow]], [[Cowardly Lion|the Lion]], and the [[Tin Woodman|Tin Man]]".<ref name="VanityFair2014" /> His concept called for the Ghostbusters to have a boss and to be directed into situations, but Ramis preferred they be in control "of their own destiny" and make their own choices. This led to the development of more distinct identities for the characters: Peter as the cool, modern salesman; Ray as the honest, enthusiastic technician; and Egon as the factual, stoic intellectual.{{sfn|McCabe|2016|p=18}}

Reitman thought the most difficult parts of the writing were determining the story's goal, who the villain was and their goal, why ghosts were manifesting, and how a towering Marshmallow Man would appear. The creature was one of many elaborate supernatural entities in Aykroyd's initial treatment, originally intended to emerge from the [[East River]] only 20 minutes into the film. It stood out to Reitman but concerned him because of the relatively realistic tone they were taking. Meanwhile, Reitman searched for a special effects studio, eventually recruiting [[Richard Edlund]] in the same two-week span.<ref name="THR2016" /><ref name="DOGMay2016" />

=== Cast and characters ===
[[File:2009 CUN Award Party William Atherton 008 (cropped).JPG|thumb|upright|left|alt=Photograph of William Atherton looking slightly to his left|[[William Atherton]] (in 2009) portrays [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] inspector Walter Peck.]]
Murray was considered essential to ''Ghostbusters''{{'}} potential success, but he was known for not committing to projects until late. Price agreed to fund Murray's passion project ''The Razor's Edge'', believing if it failed it would lose little money, and hoping the gesture would secure Murray's commitment to ''Ghostbusters''.<ref name="VanityFair2014" /> [[Michael Keaton]], [[Chevy Chase]], [[Tom Hanks]], [[Robin Williams]], [[Steve Guttenberg]], and [[Richard Pryor]] were also considered for the role.<ref name="AFI" /><ref name="SROtherCast" /><ref name="TelegraphCast" /> [[Christopher Walken]], [[John Lithgow]], [[Christopher Lloyd]], [[Jeff Goldblum]], and Keaton were considered to portray Egon.<ref name="TelegraphCast" /><ref name="ShortListEgon" /> Ramis was inspired by the cover of a journal on abstract architecture for Egon's appearance, featuring a man wearing a three-piece tweed suit and wire-rim glasses, his hair standing straight up. He took the character's first name from a Hungarian refugee with whom he attended school, and the surname from German historian [[Oswald Spengler]].<ref name="Esquire" /> Apart from the three main stars, Medjuck was largely responsible for casting the roles.{{sfn|McCabe|2016|p=19}}

Hudson auditioned five times for the role of Winston Zeddemore.<ref name="VanityFair2014" /> According to him, an earlier version of the script gave Winston a larger role as an Air Force demolitions expert with an elaborate backstory. Excited by the part, he agreed to the job for half his usual salary. The night before shooting began, he received a new script with a greatly reduced role; Reitman told him the studio wanted to expand Murray's part.<ref name="EWNov2014" /> Aykroyd said Winston was the role intended for [[Eddie Murphy]], although Reitman denied this.<ref name="PeopleJun2014" /><ref name="VultureApr2011" /> [[Gregory Hines]] and [[Reginald VelJohnson]] were also considered for the part.<ref name="CBRJul16" /><ref name="THRVelJohnson" />

[[Daryl Hannah]], [[Denise Crosby]], [[Julia Roberts]], and [[Kelly LeBrock]] auditioned for the role of Dana Barrett, but Sigourney Weaver attracted the filmmakers' attention. There was resistance to casting her because of the generally serious roles she had played in ''[[Alien (1979 film)|Alien]]'' (1979) and ''[[The Year of Living Dangerously (film)|The Year of Living Dangerously]]'' (1982). She revealed her comedic background, developed at the [[Yale School of Drama]], and began walking on all fours and howling like a dog during her audition.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="THR2016" /><ref name="Esquire" /><ref name="CrosbyHannah" /><ref name="HomeMedia2022" />}} It was her suggestion for Dana to become possessed by Zuul; Reitman said this solved problems with the last act by giving the characters personal stakes in the events.<ref name="THR2016" /> Weaver also changed Dana's occupation from a model to a musician, saying that Dana can be somewhat strict, but has a soul because she plays the cello.<ref name="VanityFair2014" />

[[John Candy]] was offered the role of Louis Tully. He told Reitman he did not understand the character and suggested portraying Tully with a German accent and multiple [[German Shepherd]]s, but the filmmakers felt there were already enough dogs in the film. Candy chose not to pursue the role. Reitman had previously worked with Rick Moranis and sent him the script; he accepted the role an hour later.<ref name="THR2016" /><ref name="Esquire" /><ref name="RollingJuly2016" /> Moranis developed many aspects of his character, including making him an accountant, and ad-libbed the lengthy speech at Tully's party.<ref name="RollingJuly2016" /> [[Sandra Bernhard]] turned down the role of the Ghostbusters' secretary Janine Melnitz, which went to Annie Potts. When she arrived for her first day of filming, Reitman rushed Potts into the current scene. She quickly changed out of her street clothes and borrowed a pair of glasses worn by the [[set dresser]] which her character subsequently wore throughout the film.<ref name="HuffPoSep2014" /><ref name="Esquire" />

William Atherton was chosen for the role of Walter Peck after he had appeared in the [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] play ''[[Broadway (play)|Broadway]]''. Peck was described as akin to [[Margaret Dumont]]'s role as a [[Foil (literature)|comedic foil]] to the [[Marx Brothers]]. Atherton said: "It can't be funny, and I don't find [the Ghostbusters] in the least bit charming. I have to be outraged."<ref name="AVClubApr2010" /> The role of the [[Sumer]]ian god Gozer the Gozerian, envisioned as a business-suited architect, was originally intended for [[Paul Reubens]]. When he passed on the idea, Yugoslavian actress Slavitza Jovan was cast and the character changed to one inspired by the [[androgynous]] looks of [[Grace Jones]] and [[David Bowie]].<ref name="HuffPoSep2014" /><ref name="DreadCenFeb2016" /><ref name="VultureMay2011" /> Paddi Edwards was uncredited as the voice of Gozer, dubbing over Jovan's strong Slavic accent.<ref name="AFI" /><ref name="PeopleNov2014" /> Reitman's wife and their children, [[Jason Reitman|Jason]] and [[Catherine Reitman|Catherine]], filmed a cameo appearance as a family fleeing Dana's building, but the scene was cut because Jason was too scared by the setup to perform a second take.{{sfn|Inguanzo|2021|p=11}}

=== Filming ===
{{multiple image|total_width=350
 | direction = horizontal
 | alt footer = Head shots of Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman 
 | caption_align = center 
 | image1 = Ghostbusters Headquarters - Firehouse, Hook & Ladder Company 8 (52142207393).jpg
 | caption1 = [[Firehouse, Hook & Ladder Company 8]] (in 2022), the New York City firehouse used for the exterior of the Ghostbusters headquarters.
 | alt1 = Photograph of 55 Central Park West which served as the home of Dana and Louis and the setting for the climactic battle
 | image2 = 55 Central Park West (Ghostbusters Building) by David Shankbone.jpg
 | caption2 = [[55 Central Park West]] (in 2007), which served as the setting for the climactic battle.
 | alt2 = Photograph of Firehouse, Hook and Ladder Company 8, the New York City firehouse used for the exterior of the Ghostbusters headquarters 
}}
[[Principal photography]] began in New York City on October 28, 1983.<ref name="AFI" /><ref name="VanityFair2014" /><ref name="BTMSep14" /> On the first day, Reitman brought Murray to the set, still unsure if he had read the script.<ref name="VanityFair2014" /> Filming in New York lasted for approximately six weeks, finishing just before Christmas.<ref name="THR2016" /> Reitman was conscious they had to complete the New York phase before they encountered inhospitable December weather.<ref name="LAWeeklyJul2016" /> At the time, choosing to shoot in New York City was considered risky. In the early 1980s, many saw the city as synonymous with [[History of New York City (1978–present)#Koch and Dinkins (1978–1993)|fiscal disaster and violence]], and Los Angeles was seen as the center of the entertainment industry. In a 2014 interview, Reitman said he chose New York because "I wanted the film to be{{nbsp}}... my New York movie".<ref name="VanityFair2014" /> As Reitman was working with comedians, he encouraged [[Improvisational theatre|improvisation]], adapting multiple takes and keeping the cast creations that worked, but directing them back to the script.<ref name="RollingJuly2016" />

Some [[guerrilla filmmaking]] took place, capturing spontaneous scenes at iconic locations around the city, including one shot at [[Rockefeller Center]] where the actors were chased off by a real security guard.<ref name="VanityFair2014" /> A scene was shot on [[Central Park West]] with extras chanting "Ghostbusters" before the name had been cleared. Medjuck contacted the studio, urging them to secure permission to use the word as the title.<ref name="Esquire" />

The building at [[55 Central Park West]] served as the home of Weaver's character and the setting of the Ghostbusters' climactic battle with Gozer. The art department added extra floors and embellishments using [[matte painting]]s, models, and digital effects to create the focal point of ghostly activity.<ref name="FSR" /><ref name="NYMag2005" /><ref name="DigitalSpyMay2015" /> During shooting of the final scene at the building, city officials allowed the closure of the adjacent streets during [[rush hour]], affecting traffic across a large swath of the city. Gross commented that, from the top of the building, they could see traffic queuing all the way to [[Brooklyn]]. At various points, a police officer drew his gun on a taxi driver who refused orders; in a similar incident, another officer pulled a driver through his limo window. When angry citizens asked Medjuck what was being filmed, he blamed [[Francis Ford Coppola]] filming ''[[The Cotton Club (film)|The Cotton Club]]'' (1984). Aykroyd encountered science-fiction writer [[Isaac Asimov]], a man he admired, who complained, "You guys are inconveniencing this building, it's just awful; I don't know how they got away with this!"<ref name="Esquire" /> Directly next to 55 Central Park West is the [[Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (Manhattan)|Holy Trinity Lutheran Church]], which is stepped on by the Marshmallow Man.<ref name="DigitalSpyMay2015" />

Other locations included [[New York City Hall]],<ref name="DigitalSpyMay2015" /> the New York Public Library main branch,<ref name="AFI" /> the [[Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts]],<ref name="LATimesLincoln" /> [[Columbus Circle]], the [[Irving Trust Bank]] on [[Fifth Avenue]],<ref name="Curbed" /> and [[Tavern on the Green]]. [[Firehouse, Hook & Ladder Company 8]] in the [[Tribeca]] neighborhood was used as the Ghostbusters' headquarters.<ref name="AFI" /><ref name="PeopleJun2014" />{{sfn|Wallace|2015|pp=31–32, 38–39, 48}} Columbia University allowed its [[Havemeyer Hall]] to stand in for the fictional Weaver Hall, on the condition the university not be identified by name.{{sfn|Wallace|2015|pp=31–32, 38–39, 48}}

Filming moved to Los Angeles, resuming between Christmas and the New Year.<ref name="THR2016" /> Due to the film's use of practical effects, skilled technicians were needed who resided mainly in the city and soundstages that were non-existent in New York.<ref name="LAWeeklyJul2016" /> Despite its setting, most of ''Ghostbusters'' was filmed on location in Los Angeles or on sets at Burbank Studios. Location scouts searched for buildings that could replicate the interiors of buildings being filmed in New York.<ref name="AFI" /><ref name="LAWeeklyJul2016" /> Reitman tried using the interior of Hook & Ladder 8, but was unable to take it over long enough because it was an active fire station. Interior firehouse shots were taken instead at the decommissioned [[Fire Station No. 23 (Los Angeles, California)|Fire House No. 23]] in downtown Los Angeles. The building design, while common in New York, was a rarity in Los Angeles. An archival photograph of an active crew in Fire House No. 23 from 1915 was hung in the background of the Ghostbusters' office.<ref name="LAWeeklyJul2016" />

Filming in the main reading room of the New York Public Library was only allowed in the early morning and had to be concluded by 10:00&nbsp;am.<ref name="DOGMay2016" /> The basement library stacks were represented by the [[Los Angeles Central Library]] as Reitman said they were interchangeable.<ref name="LAWeeklyJul2016" /> The [[Millennium Biltmore Hotel]] stood in for the scenes set at the fictional Sedgewick Hotel.{{sfn|Wallace|2015|pp=47–48}} Principal photography concluded at the end of January 1984, after between 55 and 62 days of filming.<ref name="THR2016" /><ref name="TestedMay15" />

=== Post-production ===
The short production schedule and looming release date meant Reitman edited the film while it was being shot. There was often only time for a few takes.<ref name="THR2016" /><ref name="DOGMay2016" /> Reitman sometimes found making an effects-laden movie frustrating, as the special effects had to be [[storyboard]]ed and filmed in advance; there was no option to go back and produce new scenes. As Gross described it: {{nowrap|"[Y]ou}} storyboard in advance, that's like editing in advance. You've got a scene, they're going to approve that scene, and we're going to spend nine months doing that cut. There's no second takes, no outtakes, there's no coverage. You can cut stuff, but you can't add stuff. It made [Reitman] so confined that it really bothered him".<ref name="TestedMay15" />

A deleted scene involved a segment at "Fort Detmerring" where Ray has a sexual encounter with a female ghost. The scene was intended to introduce a love interest for Aykroyd. Ramis believed it was extraneous to the fast-moving plot, however, so Reitman used the footage as a dream sequence during the mid-film montage instead.<ref name="SlashFeb17" /> Editor [[Sheldon Kahn]] sent Reitman black-and-white reels of sequences during filming. They not only allowed him to make changes, but he considered they also helped him understand how to better pace the film. Kahn completed the first full cut three weeks after filming concluded.<ref name="THR2016" /> The final cut runs for 105{{nbsp}}minutes.<ref name="AFI" />

=== Music ===
{{See also|Ghostbusters (1984 soundtrack)|Ghostbusters (song)|l1=Ghostbusters ''soundtrack''}}
{{Listen|filename=Ghostbusters 1984 Elmer Bernstein Score Sample.ogg|pos=right|title=''Elmer Bernstein&nbsp;– Main Theme''|description=Bernstein scored an "antic" theme for the Ghostbusters, balancing the film's comedic and serious tones{{sfn|Larson|1985|pp=9—10}}|format=[[Ogg]]}}
The ''Ghostbusters'' [[film score|score]] was composed by [[Elmer Bernstein]] and performed by the 72-person [[Hollywood Studio Symphony]] orchestra at [[The Village (studio)|The Village]] in [[West Los Angeles, California]]. It was orchestrated by David Spear and Bernstein's son [[Peter Bernstein (composer)|Peter]].{{sfn|Larson|1985|pp=9—10}}<ref name="TheVillage" /> Elmer Bernstein had previously scored several of Reitman's films and joined the project early on, before all the cast had been signed.{{sfn|Larson|1985|pp=9—10}} Reitman wanted a grounded, realistic score and did not want the music to tell the audience when something was funny.<ref name="TestedMay15" /> Bernstein used the [[ondes Martenot]] (effectively a keyboard equivalent of a [[theremin]]) to produce the "eerie" effect. Bernstein had to bring a musician from England to play the instrument because there were so few trained ondists. He also used three [[Yamaha DX7]] synthesizers.{{sfn|Larson|1985|pp=9—10}}<ref name="TheVillage" /> In a 1985 interview Bernstein described ''Ghostbusters'' as the most difficult score he had written, finding it challenging to balance the varying comedic and serious tones. He created an "antic" theme for the Ghostbusters he described as "cute, without being really way out". He found the latter parts of the film easier to score, aiming to make it sound "awesome and mystical".{{sfn|Larson|1985|pp=9—10}}

Early on Reitman and Bernstein discussed the idea that ''Ghostbusters'' would feature popular music at specific points to complement Bernstein's original score. This includes "Magic" by Mick Smiley, which plays during the scene when the ghosts are released from the Ghostbusters headquarters. Bernstein's main theme for the Ghostbusters was later replaced by [[Ray Parker Jr.]]'s "[[Ghostbusters (song)|Ghostbusters]]".{{sfn|Larson|1985|pp=9—10}}<ref name="TheVillage" /> Bernstein personally disliked the use of these songs, particularly "Magic", but said, "it's very hard to argue with something like ["Ghostbusters"], when it is up in the top ten on the charts".{{sfn|Larson|1985|pp=9—10}}

Music was required for a montage in the middle of the film, and "[[I Want a New Drug]]" by [[Huey Lewis and the News]] was used as a temporary placeholder because of its appropriate tempo. Reitman was later introduced to Parker Jr. who developed "Ghostbusters" with a similar riff to match the montage.<ref name="Esquire" /> There were approximately 50 to 60 different theme songs developed for ''Ghostbusters'' by different artists before Parker Jr.'s involvement, though none was deemed suitable.<ref name="CBCJul16" /><ref name="MediumJul16" /> [[Huey Lewis]] was approached to compose the film's theme, but was already committed to work on ''[[Back to the Future]]'' (1985).<ref name="AFI" />

== Design ==
During the thirteen-month production, all the major special effects studios were working on other films. Those that remained were too small to work on the approximately 630 individual effects shots needed for ''Ghostbusters''. At the same time, special effects cinematographer Richard Edlund planned to leave [[Industrial Light & Magic]] (ILM) and start his own business. Reitman convinced Columbia to collaborate with [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] (MGM), which also needed an effects studio, to advance Edlund $5&nbsp;million to establish his own company, [[Boss Film Studios]].<ref name="VanityFair2014" /><ref name="THR2016" /> According to Edlund, lawyers used much of the setup time finalizing the contract, leaving only ten months remaining to build the effects studio, shoot the scenes, and [[Compositing|composite]] the images.<ref name="VanityFair2014" /> The Boss Film Studios' team was split to complete work on ''Ghostbusters'' and MGM's science-fiction film ''[[2010: The Year We Make Contact]]''.<ref name="AFI" /> The $5&nbsp;million effects came in at $700,000 over budget.<ref name="DOGMay2016" /> The strict filming schedule meant most of the effects shots were captured in one take.<ref name="TestedMay15" /> Gross oversaw both the creation of Boss Film Studios, and the hiring of many conceptual designers including comic book artists [[Tanino Liberatore]] (whose work went unused) and [[Bernie Wrightson]] (who helped conceive several ghost designs), and [[Storyboard#Film|storyboarder]] Thom Enriquez, whose designs contributed to the "Onion Head ghost".{{sfn|McCabe|2016|p=19}}

=== Creature effects ===
{{See also|Slimer|Stay Puft Marshmallow Man}}
[[File:Steve Johnson, convention appearance, Texas October 2013.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=A photograph of Steve Johnson|[[Steve Johnson (special effects artist)|Steve Johnson]] created the final design for the "Onion Head ghost", later named "Slimer".]]

Edlund's previous work on the supernatural horror film ''[[Poltergeist (1982 film)|Poltergeist]]'' (1982) served as a reference for the ghost designs in ''Ghostbusters''. Gross said it was difficult to balance making the ghosts a genuine threat while fitting the film's more comedic tone.{{sfn|McCabe|2016|p=22}}{{sfn|McCabeB|2016|p=29}} Special effects artist [[Steve Johnson (special effects artist)|Steve Johnson]] sculpted the gluttonous, slimy, green ghost then known as the "Onion Head ghost" on set due to the puppet's unpleasant smell.<ref name="TelegraphJun16" /><ref name="BDJun2018" /> The creature was given the name "Slimer" in the 1986 animated television series ''[[The Real Ghostbusters]]''.<ref name="AFI" /> The Slimer design took six months and cost approximately $300,000. After struggling to complete a design due to executive interference, Johnson took at least three grams of cocaine and completed the final design in one night, based in part on Aykroyd's and Ramis's wish for the creature to homage Belushi.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="VanityFair2014" /><ref name="Esquire" /><ref name="BDJun2018" />{{sfn|Waddell|2016|p=42}}}} The full-size [[foam rubber]] puppet was worn by Mark Wilson and filmed against a black background. Puppeteers manipulated the model's movements with cables.<ref name="AFI" />{{sfn|Waddell|2016|p=42}}{{sfn|McCabeC|2016|pp=80, 82}}

Aykroyd tasked his friend, referred to as the Viking, with designing the Marshmallow Man, asking for a combination of the [[Michelin Man]] and the [[Pillsbury Doughboy]] in a sailor hat.<ref name="Esquire" /> The Marshmallow Man outfit was built and portrayed by actor and special effects artist Bill Bryan, who modeled his walk on [[Godzilla]]. There were eighteen foam suits, each costing between $25,000 and $30,000; seventeen of them, worn by stuntman Tommy Cesar, were burned as part of filming.<ref name="DOGMay2016" />{{sfn|McCabeC|2016|p=82}} Bryan used a separate air supply due to the foam's toxicity. There were three different heads for the suit, built from foam and fiberglass, with different expressions and movements controlled by cable mechanisms. The costume was filmed against scale models to finish the effect. The effects team was able to find only one model of a police car at the correct scale and bought several, modifying them to represent different vehicles. The water from a burst hydrant hit by a remote-controlled car was actually sand as the water did not scale down.<ref name="DOGMay2016" /><ref name="AMC" /><ref name="StanWinston" /> The "marshmallow" raining down on the crowd after it is destroyed was shaving cream. After seeing the intended {{convert|150|lb|kg}} of shaving cream to be used, Atherton insisted on testing it. The weight knocked a stuntman down, and they ended up using only {{convert|75|lb|kg}}. The cream acted as a skin irritant after hours of filming, giving some of the cast rashes.<ref name="Esquire" />

Johnson also sculpted the Zombie Cab Driver puppet.{{sfn|McCabeC|2016|p=80}} It was the only puppet shot on location in New York City. Johnson based it on a reanimated corpse puppet he had made for ''[[An American Werewolf in London]]'' (1981).{{sfn|McCabeC|2016|p=80}} Johnson and Wilson collaborated on the Library Ghost, creating a puppet operated by up to 20 cables running through the torso that controlled aspects such as moving the head, arms, and pulling rubber skin away from the torso to transform it from a humanoid into a monstrous ghoul.{{sfn|McCabeC|2016|p=81}} The original Library Ghost puppet was considered too scary for younger audiences and was repurposed for use in ''[[Fright Night]]'' (1985).<ref name="IndieWireJun2012" /> The [[library catalog]] scene was accomplished live in three takes, with the crew blowing air through copper pipes to force the cards into the air. These had to be collected and reassembled for each take. Reitman used a multi-camera setup to focus on the librarian and the cards flying around her and a wider overall shot.<ref name="THR2016" /><ref name="DOGMay2016" /> The floating books were hung on strings.<ref name="DOGMay2016" />

[[Randall William Cook|Randy Cook]] was responsible for creating the quarter-scale [[stop-motion]] puppets of Gozer's minions Zuul and Vinz, the Terror Dogs, when in motion. The model was heavy and unwieldy, and it took nearly thirty hours to film it moving across a {{convert|30|ft|m|adj=on}} stage for the scene where it pursues Louis Tully across a street.{{sfn|McCabeC|2016|p=81}} For the scene where Dana is pinned to her chair by demonic hands before a doorway beaming with light, Reitman said he was influenced by ''[[Close Encounters of the Third Kind]]'' (1977). A rubber door was used to allow distortion as if something was trying to come through it, while [[grip (job)|grips]] concealed in a trapdoor beneath the chair, burst through it while wearing demonic dog-leg gloves.<ref name="DOGMay2016" /> Made before the advent of [[computer-generated imagery]] (CGI), any non-puppet ghosts had to be animated. It took up to three weeks to create one second of footage.<ref name="DOGMay2016" /> For Gozer, Slavitza Jovan wore red contact lenses that caused her a great deal of pain, and she wore a harness to move around the set.<ref name="FSR" />

=== Technology and equipment ===
{{See also|Ectomobile|Proton pack}}
Hardware consultant Stephen Dane was responsible for designing most of the Ghostbusters' iconic equipment, including the "proton packs" used to wrangle ghosts, ghost traps, and their vehicle, the [[Ectomobile]]. The equipment had to be designed and built in the six weeks before filming began in September 1983.<ref name="BTMSep14" /><ref name="GizmodoSep14" /> Inspired by a military issue [[flamethrower]], the "proton packs" consisted of a handheld proton stream firing "neutrino wand" connected by a hose to a backpack said to contain a nuclear accelerator.<ref name="Collider2013" /><ref name="WiredJul17" /> Dane said he "went home and got foam pieces and just threw a bunch of stuff together to get the look. It was highly machined, but it had to look off-the-shelf and military surplus".{{sfn|Wallace|2015|pp=55–56}}

Following Reitman's tweaks to the design, on-screen models of the "proton packs" were made from a fiberglass shell with an aluminum backplate bolted to a [[All-purpose lightweight individual carrying equipment|United States Army backpack frame]].<ref name="WiredJul17" /> Each pack weighed approximately {{convert|30|lb|kg}} with the batteries for lighting installed, and strained the actors' backs during the long shoots.<ref name="DOGMay2016" />{{sfn|Wallace|2015|pp=55–56}} Two lighter versions were made; a hollow one with surface details for wide shots, and a foam rubber version for action scenes.<ref name="DOGMay2016" /><ref name="WiredJul17" /> The fiberglass props were created by special effects supervisor [[Chuck Gaspar]], based on Dane's design. Gaspar used rubber molds to create identical fiberglass shells.{{sfn|Wallace|2015|pp=55–56}} The "neutrino wand" had a [[flash (photography)|flashbulb]] at the tip, giving animators an origin point for the proton streams.<ref name="DOGMay2016" /> Fake walls laced with pyrotechnics were used to practically create the damage of the proton streams.<ref name="LAWeeklyJul2016" /> The "Psychokinetic Energy meter" ("PKE meter") prop was built using an Iona SP-1 handheld shoe polisher as a base, to which lights and electronics were affixed.{{sfn|Wallace|2015|p=59}} The PKE meter prop was designed and built by [[John Zabrucky]] of Modern Props in partnership with an outside fabricator.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2020-01-03/modern-props-closes-its-doors|title=His props starred in hundreds of Hollywood movies and TV shows. Now he's exiting the stage after 42 years|last=Perman|first=Stacy|date=January 3, 2020|website=[[The Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=February 9, 2023}}</ref> The technology was designed to not be overly fancy or sleek, emphasizing the characters' scientific backgrounds combined with the homemade nature of their equipment.<ref name="LAWeeklyJul2016" />

The Ectomobile was in the first draft of Aykroyd's script, and he and John Daveikis developed some early concepts for the car. Dane developed fully detailed drawings for the interior and exterior and supervised the transformation of the 1959 [[Cadillac Miller-Meteor]] ambulance conversion into the Ectomobile.<ref name="DriveJul16" /> According to Aykroyd, the actual vehicle was "an ambulance that we converted to a hearse and then converted to an ambulance".<ref name="THREctomobile" /> Early concepts featured a black car with purple and white strobe lights giving it a supernatural glow, but this idea was scrapped after cinematographer [[László Kovács (cinematographer)|László Kovács]] noted that dark paint would not film well at night. The concept also had fantastic features such as the ability to dematerialize and travel inter-dimensionally. Two vehicles were purchased, one for the pre-modification scenes.<ref name="DriveJul16" /> Dane designed its high-tech roof array with objects including a directional antenna, an air-conditioning unit, storage boxes and a [[radome]].{{sfn|Wallace|2015|pp=41–42}} Because of its size, the roof rack was shipped to Manhattan on an airplane, while the car was transported to the East Coast by train.<ref name="BTMSep14" /> Sound designer [[Richard Beggs]] created the siren from a recording of a leopard snarl, cut and played backward.{{sfn|Wallace|2015|pp=41–42}}

=== Logo and sets ===
[[File:ProhibitionSign2.svg|thumb|upright|alt= The design of the "no ghosts" logo features a diagonal bar that runs through a red circle from top-left to bottom-right.|The alternative "correct" design of the "no ghosts" logo features a diagonal bar that runs top-left to bottom-right.<ref name="CreativeReview" />]]
In the script, Aykroyd described the Ghostbusters clothing and vehicle as bearing a [[no symbol]] with a ghost trapped in it, crediting the Viking with the original concept.<ref name="CreativeReview" /><ref name="NationalPostJun1414" /> The final design fell to Gross, who had volunteered to serve as [[art director]]. As the logo would be required for props and sets, it needed to be finalized quickly, and Gross worked with Boss Film artist and creature design consultant [[Brent Boates]] who drew the final concept, and [[R/GA]] animated the logo for the film's opening. According to Gross, two versions of the logo exist, with one having "ghostbusters" written across the diagonal part of the sign. Gross did not like how it looked and flipped the diagonal bar to read top left to bottom right instead, but they later removed the wording. According to Gross, this is the correct version of the sign that was used throughout Europe. The bottom left to top right version was used in the United States as that was the design of the No symbol there.<ref name="CreativeReview" />

Medjuck also hired [[John DeCuir]] as [[production designer]].<ref name="RollingJuly2016" /> The script did not specify where Gozer would appear, and DeCuir painted the top of Dana's building with large, crystal doors that opened as written in the script.<ref name="RollingJuly2016" /> The fictional rooftop of 55 Central Park West was constructed at Stage 12 on the Burbank Studios lot. It was one of the largest constructed sets in film history and was surrounded by a 360-degree [[cyclorama]] painting. The lighting used throughout the painting consumed so much power that the rest of the studio had to be shut down, and an additional four generators added, when it was in use.<ref name="THR2016" /><ref name="LAWeeklyJul2016" /><ref name="USAAug14" /> Small models such as planes were hung on string to animate the backdrop.<ref name="THR2016" /> The set was built three stories off the ground to allow for filming from low angles.<ref name="DOGMay2016" />

The first three floors and street-front of Dana's building were recreated as sets for filming, including the climactic earthquake scene where hydraulics were used to raise broken parts of the street.<ref name="FSR" />{{sfn|Wallace|2015|pp=38–39}} Broken pieces of pavement and the road were positioned outside the real location to create a seamless transition between the two shots.<ref name="LAWeeklyJul2016" /> DeCuir said: "They had one night to dress the street. When people went home early in the evening everything was normal, and when the little old ladies came out to walk their dogs in the morning, the whole street had erupted. Apparently, people complained to the New York Police Department and their switchboard lit up."{{sfn|Wallace|2015|p=39}} For the scene where Dana's apartment explodes outwards, Weaver stood on set as the stunt happened.<ref name="DOGMay2016" /> Similarly, the scene of Weaver [[Levitation (illusion)|rotating in the air]] was performed on set using a body-cast and mechanical arm concealed in the curtains, a trick Reitman learned working with magician [[Doug Henning]].<ref name="FSR" />

== Release ==
=== Test screening and marketing ===
''Ghostbusters'' was screened for [[test audience]]s on February 3, 1984, with unfinished effects shots to determine if the comedy worked. Reitman was still concerned audiences would not react well to the Marshmallow Man because of its deviation from the realism of the rest of the film.<ref name="RollingJuly2016" /> Reitman recalled that approximately 200 people were recruited off the streets to view the film in a theater on the Burbank lot. It was during the opening library scene Reitman knew the film worked. Audiences reacted with fear, laughs, and applause as the Librarian Ghost transformed into a monster.<ref name="RollingJuly2016" /> The fateful Marshmallow scene was met with a similar reaction, and Reitman knew he would not have to perform any [[Pick-up (filmmaking)|re-shoots]].<ref name="THR2016" /><ref name="RollingJuly2016" /> The screening for fellow industry members fared less well. Price recalled laughing as the rest of the audience sat deadpan; he rationalized an industry audience wants failure. Murray and Aykroyd's agent [[Michael Ovitz]] recalled an executive telling him, "Don't worry: we all make mistakes", while [[Roberto Goizueta]], [[Chairperson|chairman]] of Columbia's parent, [[The Coca-Cola Company]], said: "Gee, we're going to lose our shirts".<ref name="VanityFair2014" /><ref name="EWJun2000" />

{{ external media
| float = right
| video1 = {{YouTube|id=OqpumEZmxa0|title=Ghostbusters promotional film for Showest 1984 Bill Murray & Dan Aykroyd}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20241217211522/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqpumEZmxa0 Archived at the Wayback Machine]}} 
In the months before its debut, a teaser trailer focused on the "No ghosts" logo, helping it become recognizable far in advance, and generating interest in the film without mentioning its title or its stars.<ref name="AFI" /><ref name="EWanniverinterview" /> A separate theatrical trailer contained a [[toll-free telephone number]] with a message by Murray and Aykroyd waiting for the 1,000 callers per hour it received over a six-week period.<ref name="TelegraphJun16" /> They also appeared in a video for [[ShoWest]], a theater-owner convention, to promote the film.<ref name="EWApr519" /> Columbia spent approximately $10{{nbsp}}million on marketing, including $2.25{{nbsp}}million on prints, $1{{nbsp}}million on promotional materials, and $7{{nbsp}}million on advertising and miscellaneous costs including a $150,000 premiere for a hospital and the hotel costs for the press.<ref name="NYTimesJan87" /> Including the budget and marketing costs, it was estimated the film would have to make at least $80{{nbsp}}million to turn a profit.{{sfn|McCabe|2016|p=22}}

=== Box office ===
{{See also|1984 in film}}
The [[premiere]] of ''Ghostbusters'' took place on June 7, 1984, at the Avco Cinema in [[Westwood, Los Angeles]], before its wide release the following day across 1,339 theaters in the United States (U.S.) and Canada.<ref name="AFI" /><ref name="BOMMain" /> During its opening weekend in the U.S. and Canada, the film earned $13.6{{nbsp}}million—an average of $10,040 per theater.{{efn|The opening weekend gross of $13.6{{nbsp}}million is equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|13600000|1984}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}.}} It finished as the number one film of the weekend, ahead of premiering horror-comedy ''[[Gremlins]]'' ($12.5{{nbsp}}million), and the adventure film ''[[Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom]]'' ($12&nbsp;million), in its third week of release.<ref name="BOMMain" /><ref name="BOMOpeningWKND" /> The gross increased to $23.1&nbsp;million during its first week,{{efn|The opening week gross of $23.1{{nbsp}}million is equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|23100000|1984}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}.}} becoming the first major success for the studio since ''[[Tootsie]]'' (1982).{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="AFI" /><ref name="EWJun2000" /><ref name="BOMWeekly" /><ref name="EW1993" />}} The film remained number one for seven consecutive weeks, grossing $146.5{{nbsp}}million, before being ousted by ''[[Purple Rain (film)|Purple Rain]]'' in early August.<ref name="NYTimesAug84" /><ref name="NYTimesJul1284" /><ref name="BOMWeek7" />

''Ghostbusters'' regained the number one spot the following week before spending the next five weeks at number two, behind the action film ''[[Red Dawn]]'' and then the thriller ''[[Tightrope (film)|Tightrope]]''.<ref name="NYTAug884" /><ref name="BOMWeek10" /><ref name="BOMWeek11" /> ''Ghostbusters'' remained among the top-three grossing films for sixteen straight weeks before beginning a gradual decline and falling from the top-ten by late October. It left cinemas in early January 1985, after thirty weeks.<ref name="BOMWeekly" /><ref name="EWApr14" /> ''Ghostbusters'' had quickly become a hit, surpassing ''Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom'' as the top-grossing film of the summer, and earning $229{{nbsp}}million,{{efn|The United States and Canada theatrical gross of $229{{nbsp}}million is equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|229000000|1984}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}.}} making it the [[1984 in film|second highest-grossing film of 1984]], approximately $5{{nbsp}}million behind Eddie Murphy's action-comedy ''[[Beverly Hills Cop]]'' ($234.8{{nbsp}}million) which was released in mid-December.<ref name="RollingJuly2016" /><ref name="HTRJun16" /> ''Ghostbusters'' surpassed ''Animal House'' as the highest-grossing comedy film ever, until ''Beverly Hills Cop'' surpassed it six months later.<ref name="THR2016" /><ref name="EWApr14" /><ref name="HTRJun16" />

Columbia had negotiated 50% of the box-office revenues or 90% of gross after expenses, depending on whichever was higher. Since the latter was the case, the studio received a 73% share of the box office profit, an estimated $128{{nbsp}}million.<ref name="NYTimesJan87" />{{efn|The estimated $128{{nbsp}}million profit is equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|128000000|1984}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}.}} The main cast members each received percentages of the [[Hollywood accounting#Practices|gross profits or net participation]].<ref name="AFI" /> A 1987 report estimated Murray alone had earned between $20–30{{nbsp}}million from his share.<ref name="LATimesMay87" />{{efn|The estimated $20–$30{{nbsp}}million earned by Bill Murray is equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|20000000|1984}}}}–${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|30000000|1984}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}.}} 1984 saw the release of several films that would later be considered iconic of the era, including: ''Gremlins'', ''[[The Karate Kid]]'', ''[[The Terminator]]'', ''[[A Nightmare on Elm Street]]'', ''[[Romancing the Stone]]'', and ''[[The NeverEnding Story (film)|The NeverEnding Story]]''. It was also the first year in box office history in which four films, including ''Ghostbusters'', grossed over $100{{nbsp}}million.<ref name="TelegraphJul14" />

''Ghostbusters'' was re-released in the U.S. and Canada in August 1985, grossing a further $9.4{{nbsp}}million over five weeks, raising its theatrical gross to $238.6{{nbsp}}million<ref name="BOMReissueWeekly" /><ref name="BOMREissue" /> and surpassing ''Beverly Hills Cop'' as the most successful comedy of the 1980s.<ref name="HTRJun16" /> By the end of 1999, ''Ghostbusters'' had grossed $126 million internationally for a worldwide total of $364.6 million.<ref name=thrww>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=December 28, 1999|title=All-time Boxoffice Champs|page=|url=https://x.com/THRArchives/status/1873071661144260886}}</ref> A restored and remastered version was released in August 2014, at 700 theaters across the U.S. and Canada to celebrate its 30th{{nbsp}}anniversary. It grossed an additional $3.5{{nbsp}}million, bringing the theatrical total to $242.2&nbsp;million.<ref name="EWJune2014" /><ref name="BOM30thWeekly" /> The film has also received limited rereleases for special events and anniversaries.<ref name="VarietyJun14" /><ref name="LATimesSep11" /> Including all reissues since 2000, the film has grossed an estimated $370{{nbsp}}million worldwide.<ref name=thrww/> Adjusted for inflation, the North American box office is equivalent to $667.9{{nbsp}}million in 2020, making it the [[List of highest-grossing films in Canada and the United States|thirty-seventh highest-grossing film ever]].<ref name="BomAdjusted" />

== Reception ==
=== Critical response ===
[[File:Bill Murray-8882.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Photograph of Bill Murray who is looking directly at the camera.|[[Bill Murray]] in 2018. Critics were consistent in their praise of his comedic [[deadpan]] performance as the main highlight of ''Ghostbusters''.]]
''Ghostbusters'' opened to generally positive reviews.<ref name="AFI" /><ref name="HistoryChannel" /> [[Roger Ebert]] gave it three and a half out of four, citing it as a rare example of successfully combining a special effects-driven [[blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbuster]] with "sly" dialogue. Ebert noted the effects existed to serve the actors' performances and not the reverse, saying it is "an exception to the general rule that big special effects can wreck a comedy". He also cited ''Ghostbusters'' as a rare mainstream film with many quotable lines.<ref name="RevEbert" /> Writing for ''[[Newsday]]'', Joseph Gelmis described the Ghostbusters as an adolescent fantasy, comparing their firehouse base to the [[Batcave]] with a [[fireman's pole]] and an Ectomobile on the ground floor.<ref name="RevNewsDay" />

''[[Deseret News]]''{{'}} Christopher Hicks praised Reitman's improved directing skills, and the crew for avoiding the vulgarity found in their previous films, ''[[Caddyshack]]'' and ''Stripes''. He felt they reached for more creative humor and genuine thrills instead. He complained about the finale, claiming it lost its sense of fun and was "overblown", but found the film compensated for this since it "has ghosts like you've never seen".{{sfn|Hicks|1984|p=W5}} [[Janet Maslin]] agreed that the apocalyptic finale was out of hand, saying ''Ghostbusters'' worked best during the smaller ghost-catching scenes.<ref name="RevMaslin" /> [[Dave Kehr]] wrote that Reitman is adept at improvisational comedy, but lost control of the film as the special effects gradually escalated.<ref name="RevKehr" />

[[Arthur Knight (film critic)|Arthur Knight]] appreciated the relaxed style of comedy saying while the plot is "primitive", it has "far more style and finesse" than would be expected of the creative team behind ''Meatballs'' and ''Animal House''. He singled out editors Sheldon Kahn and [[David Blewitt]] for creating a sustained pace of comedy and action.<ref name="RevTHR" /> Despite "bathroom humor and tacky sight gags", [[Peter Travers]] described ''Ghostbusters'' favorably as "irresistible nonsense", comparing it to the supernatural horror film ''[[The Exorcist (film)|The Exorcist]]'', but with the comedy duo Abbott and Costello starring.<ref name="RevPeople" /> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''{{'}}s [[Richard Schickel]] described the special effects as somewhat "tacky" but believed this was a deliberate commentary on other ghost films. Ultimately, he believed praise was due to all involved for "thinking on a grandly comic scale".<ref name="RevSchickel" /><ref name="RevSchickelB" /> ''[[Newsweek]]''{{'}}s [[David Ansen]] enjoyed the film, describing it as a teamwork project where everyone works "toward the same goal of relaxed insanity"; he called it "wonderful summer nonsense".{{sfn|Ansen|1984|p=80}} ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''{{'}}s review described it as a "lavishly produced" film that is only periodically impressive.<ref name="RevVariety" />

Reviewers were consistent in their praise for Murray's performance.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:{{sfn|Hicks|1984|p=W5}}<ref name="RevSchickel" /><ref name="RevSchickelB" /><ref name="RevSiskel" />{{sfn|Kael|1984|p=99}}}} [[Gene Siskel]] wrote that Murray's comedic sensibilities compensated for the "boring special effects".<ref name="RevSiskel" /> ''Variety'' singled out Murray for his "endearing" physical comedy and ad-libbing.<ref name="RevVariety" /> Hicks similarly praised Murray, saying he "has never been better than he is here".{{sfn|Hicks|1984|p=W5}} Schickel considered Murray's character a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to develop fully his patented comic character".<ref name="RevSchickel" /><ref name="RevSchickelB" /> Gelmis appreciated Murray's dismissal of the serious situations to keep them comedic.<ref name="RevNewsDay" />

The interactions between Murray, Aykroyd, and Ramis, were also generally well received.<ref name="RevPeople" /><ref name="RevSiskel" /> Schickel praised Aykroyd and Ramis for their "grace" in allowing Murray to outshine them.<ref name="RevSchickel" /><ref name="RevSchickelB" /> Travers and Gelmis said the three main actors worked well as a collaborative force,<ref name="RevNewsDay" /><ref name="RevPeople" /> and Hicks described Murray, Ramis, and Aykroyd as wanting "to be like the Marx Brothers of the 80s".{{sfn|Hicks|1984|p=W5}} Conversely, Kehr believed the pair were "curiously underutilized", but appreciated Murray's [[deadpan]] line readings.<ref name="RevKehr" /> ''[[The New Yorker]]''{{'}}s [[Pauline Kael]] had problems with the chemistry among the three leads. She praised Murray, but felt other actors did not have much material to contribute to the story; she concluded, "Murray's lines fall on dead air".{{sfn|Kael|1984|p=99}} Maslin believed Murray's talents were in service to a film lacking wit or coherence. She noted that many of the characters had little to do, leaving their stories unresolved as the plot began to give way to servicing the special effects instead. However, she did praise Weaver's performance as an "excellent foil" for Murray.<ref name="RevMaslin" /> ''Variety'' described it as a mistake to cast top comedians but often have them working alone.<ref name="RevVariety" /> Siskel enjoyed the characters interacting with each other, but was critical of Hudson's late addition to the plot and his lack of development, believing it made "him appear as only a [[Tokenism|token]] box office lure".<ref name="RevSiskel" />

=== Accolades ===
''Ghostbusters'' was nominated for two [[57th Academy Awards|Academy Awards in 1985]]: [[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]] for "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr. (losing to [[Stevie Wonder]]'s "[[I Just Called to Say I Love You]]" from ''[[The Woman in Red (1984 film)|The Woman in Red]]''), and [[Academy Award for Best Visual Effects|Best Visual Effects]] for [[John Bruno (special effects)|John Bruno]], Richard Edlund, Chuck Gaspar and [[Mark Vargo]] (losing to ''Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom'').<ref name="Collider2013" /><ref name="AcademyAwards57" /> That year, it was nominated for three [[42nd Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Awards]]: [[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy|Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy]] (losing to ''Romancing the Stone''),<ref name="Golden1" /> [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy|Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy]] for Murray (losing to [[Dudley Moore]] in ''[[Micki & Maude]]''),<ref name="Golden2" /> and [[Golden Globe for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]] for Parker Jr., (losing again to "I Just Called to Say I Love You").<ref name="Golden3" /> "Ghostbusters" went on to win the [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts|BAFTA Award]] for Best Original Song, and Edlund was nominated for Special Visual Effects (losing again to ''Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom'').<ref name="BAFTA1985" /> It won [[Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film|Best Fantasy Film]] at the [[12th Saturn Awards]].<ref name="Saturn1985" />

== Post-release ==
=== Aftermath ===
{{See also|Ghostbusters (song)#Lawsuit|l1="Ghostbusters" song lawsuit}}
[[File:Ray Parker Jr., 1984.jpg|thumb|left|alt=A photograph of Ray Parker Jr. |[[Ray Parker Jr.]] in 1984]]
Ray Parker Jr.'s "Ghostbusters" spent three weeks at number one on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart in 1984 and 21 weeks on the charts altogether.<ref name="CBCJul16" /><ref name="Billboard100" /> The song is estimated to have added $20&nbsp;million to the film's box office.{{sfn|Austin|1989|p=78}} Reitman directed the successful "Ghostbusters" music video that included several celebrity cameos.<ref name="AFI" /><ref name="CBCJul16" /><ref name="MediumJul16" /> Shortly after the film's release, Huey Lewis sued Parker Jr., for plagiarizing his 1983 song "I Want a New Drug";<ref name="AFI" /><ref name="MediumJul16" /> the case was settled out of court in 1985.<ref name="Esquire" /><ref name="MediumJul16" /> Parker Jr. later sued Lewis for breaching a confidentiality agreement about the case.<ref name="MediumJul16" /> In 1984, the filmmakers were also sued by [[Harvey Comics|Harvey Cartoons]], the owner of [[Casper the Friendly Ghost]] for $50&nbsp;million and the destruction of all copies of the film. Harvey alleged the Ghostbusters logo was based on their character [[Ghostly Trio|Fatso]]. The case was decided in Columbia's favor.<ref name="UPINov84" /><ref name="AbovethelawJun14" />

Murray left acting for four years following the release of ''Ghostbusters''. He described the success as a phenomenon that would forever be his biggest accomplishment and, compounded by the failure of his personal project ''The Razor's Edge'', he felt "radioactive". Murray avoided central roles in films until the 1988 Christmas comedy film ''[[Scrooged]]'',<ref name="CSTEbert" /><ref name="RollingStone" /> which used the tagline that Murray was "back among the ghosts".<ref name="NationalPostJun1414" /><ref name="NYT1988" /> In a 1989 interview, Reitman said he was upset at the "little respect" he felt ''Ghostbusters'' received and his work was not taken seriously, believing many dismissed it as just "another action-comedy".<ref name="RollingStone" />

Hudson held mixed feelings about ''Ghostbusters''. He regretted the marginalization of his character from the original script and felt ''Ghostbusters'' did not improve his career as he had hoped, or been promised. In a 2014 interview, he said: "I love the character and he's got some great lines, but I felt the guy was just kind of there{{nbsp}}... I'm very thankful that fans appreciate the Winston character. But it's always been very frustrating—kind of a love/hate thing, I guess."<ref name="EWNov2014" /> Atherton said fans would call him "dickless" on the streets into the 1990s, to his ire.<ref name="FSR" /><ref name="HuffPoSep2014" />
{{-}}

=== Home media ===
''Ghostbusters'' was released on [[VHS]] in October 1985. [[Paramount Pictures]] had scheduled the equally popular ''Beverly Hills Cop'' to release the day before ''Ghostbusters'', forcing Columbia to release it a week earlier to avoid direct competition. Priced at $79.95, ''Ghostbusters'' was predicted to sell well but be outperformed by ''Beverly Hills Cop'' because of its lower $29.95 price.{{efn|The $79.95 and $29.95 cost of a [[VHS]] cassette in 1985 is equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|80|1985}}}} and ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|30|1985}}}}, respectively, in {{Inflation/year|US}}.}} The release was supported by a $1{{nbsp}}million advertising campaign. The film was the tenth best-selling videocassette during its launch week. Columbia earned approximately $20{{nbsp}}million selling the video manufacturing and distribution rights.<ref name="LATimesSep1985" /><ref name="NyTimesDec85" /><ref name="LATimesNov85" /> A record 410,000 cassettes were ordered (exceeded a few months later by ''[[Rambo: First Blood Part II]]''{{'}}s 425,000 unit order). By February 1986, it was estimated to have sold 400,000 copies and earned $32&nbsp;million in revenue, making it the third best-selling VHS of 1985, after ''[[Star Trek III: The Search for Spock]]'' (425,000 units, $12.7&nbsp;million) and ''Beverly Hills Cop'' (1.4&nbsp;million units sold, $41.9&nbsp;million).{{sfn|Harmetz|1986|p=E1}}{{sfn|Newport|1987|pp=8–9}}

''Ghostbusters'' was released in 1989 on [[LaserDisc]], a format then experiencing a resurgence in popularity. The release offered a one-disc version, and a two-disc [[special edition]] version featuring [[deleted scene]]s, a split-screen demonstration of the film's effects, the screenplay, and other special features. In a 1999 interview for the [[DVD-Video|DVD]] release, Reitman admitted he was not involved in the LaserDisc versions and had been embarrassed by the visual changes that "pumped up the light level so much you saw all the [[Matte (filmmaking)|matte]] lines", highlighting flaws in the special effects.<ref name="Voyager" /><ref name="LATimesAug89" /><ref name="EWApr2009" /> ''Ghostbusters'' was also the first full-length film to be released on a [[USB flash drive]] when [[PNY Technologies]] did so in 2008.<ref name="PNY" />

[[Blu-ray]] disc editions were released for the film's 25th, 30th, and 35th anniversaries in 2009, 2014 and 2019. They featured remastered [[4K resolution]] video quality, deleted scenes, alternate takes, fan interviews, and commentaries by crew members and actors including Aykroyd, Ramis, Reitman, and Medjuck. The 35th-anniversary version came in a limited edition steel book cover and contained unseen footage including the deleted "Fort Detmerring" scene.<ref name="ColliderSep14" /><ref name="SyFyApr19" /><ref name="DOGJun 09" /> The film was released as part of the 8-disc ''Ghostbusters: Ultimate Collection'' Blu-ray and [[Ultra HD Blu-ray]] boxset in February 2022, also containing its sequels ''[[Ghostbusters II]]'' (1989) and ''[[Ghostbusters: Afterlife]]'' (2021), and the 2016 reboot ''[[Ghostbusters: Answer the Call]]''. Presented in a ghost trap-shaped box, the release features a 114-minute preview cut of ''Ghostbusters'' including deleted scenes, an edited-for-TV version, recorded auditions for Dana, and a 90-minute documentary, "Ghostbusters: Behind Closed Doors" about the film's production.<ref name="HomeMedia2022" /><ref name="HomeMedia2022B" /> Parker Jr.'s "Ghostbusters" received special edition vinyl record releases, one as a glow in the dark record—the other a white record presented in a marshmallow-scented jacket.<ref name="RollingVinyl" /><ref name="RollingVinyl2" /> A remaster of Bernstein's score was also released in June 2019, on [[compact disc]], digital, and [[Phonograph record|vinyl]] formats. It includes four unreleased tracks, and commentary by Bernstein's son Peter.<ref name="NewswireJun19" />

=== Merchandise ===
{{See also|Ghostbusters (franchise)#merchandise|l1=Ghostbusters ''merchandise''}}
Developing merchandise for a film was still a relatively new practice at the time of ''Ghostbusters''{{'}} release, and it was only following the success of ''Star Wars'' merchandise that other studios attempted to duplicate the idea.<ref name="NYTimesJun1989" /> The unexpected success of ''Ghostbusters'' meant Columbia did not have a comprehensive merchandising plan in place to fully capitalize on the film at the peak of its popularity.<ref name="ColliderNov2013" /> They were able to generate additional revenue, however, by applying the popular "no ghosts" logo to a variety of products.<ref name="rs 2016" /> Much of the merchandising success came from licensing the rights to other companies based on the success of the 1986 animated spin-off ''The Real Ghostbusters''.<ref name="ColliderNov2013" /> Merchandise based directly on the film did not initially sell well until ''The Real Ghostbusters'', which on its own helped generate up to $200&nbsp;million in revenue in 1988, the same year the Ghostbusters proton pack was the most popular toy in the United Kingdom.<ref name="TelegraphSep10" /><ref name="NYTimesJun1989" /> A successful [[Ghostbusters (1984 video game)|''Ghostbusters'' video game]] was released alongside the film.<ref name="RetroApr14" /> The film also received two [[novelizations]], ''Ghostbusters'' by Larry Milne (released with the film), and ''Ghostbusters: The Supernatural Spectacular'' by Richard Mueller (released in 1985).<ref name="IndieWireJun2012" /> "Making Ghostbusters", an annotated script by Ramis, was released in 1985.<ref name="VanityFair2014" />

In the years since its release, ''Ghostbusters'' merchandise has included: [[Ghostbusters (1984 soundtrack)|soundtrack albums]], action figures, books, Halloween costumes, various [[Lego]] and [[Playmobil]] sets including the Ectomobile and Firehouse,<ref name="ScreeNRantJul16" /><ref name="I09Jan17" /> board games,<ref name="AmazonMonopoly" /><ref name="AVDec15" /> [[slot machine]]s,<ref name="NewswireAug18" /> [[pinball machine]]s,<ref name="IGNMay17" /> [[bobblehead]]s, statues, [[prop replica]]s, neon signs, ice cube trays, [[Minimates]], coin banks,<ref name="ColliderNov2013" /> [[Funko]] Pop figures,<ref name="GamespotFeb2219" /> footwear,<ref name="BDJun19" /> lunch boxes, and breakfast cereals.<ref name="EWApr14" /> A Slimer-inspired limited-edition citrus-flavored [[Hi-C#Ecto Cooler|Hi-C Ecto Cooler]] drink first released in 1987, was one of the more popular items, and did not cease production until 2001.<ref name="ScreeNRantJul16" /> The Slimer character became iconic and popular, appearing in video games, toys, cartoons, sequels, toothpaste, and juice boxes.<ref name="BDJun2018" /> There have also been crossover products including comic books and toys that combine the Ghostbusters with existing properties like ''Men in Black'',<ref name="I09Jun18" /> ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'',<ref name="SlashJul19" /><ref name="ScreeNRantJul16" /> ''[[Transformers]]'',<ref name="PolygonJun1719" /> and [[WWE|World Wrestling Entertainment]].<ref name="MovieWebJul19" />

== Thematic analysis ==
=== Capitalism and private industry ===
[[File:President Ronald Reagan addresses the nation from the Oval Office on tax reduction legislation.jpg|thumb|alt=A photograph of President Ronald Reagan presenting tax reduction legislation|President [[Ronald Reagan]] addressing the nation in 1981 on tax reduction. ''Ghostbusters'' has been analyzed as promoting Reagan's political policies, espousing limited regulation and a pro-business agenda.]]
As described by academic Christine Alice Corcos, ''Ghostbusters'' is "a satire on academia, intellectuals, city government, yuppies, tax professionals, and apathetic New Yorkers".{{Sfn|Corcos|1997|p=232}} It has also been analyzed as an era-appropriate example of [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]], [[right-libertarian|libertarian]], or [[neo-liberal]] ideology, in particular, [[Reaganomics|Reagan-era economics]] popularized by United States President [[Ronald Reagan]].{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:{{sfn|Clare|2014|pp=76, 93}}<ref name="VoxJul16" /><ref name="SalonFeb14" /><ref name="WashExamJun16" />}} Reaganomics focused on limited government spending and [[deregulation]] in favor of a [[free market]] provided by the [[private sector]] of entrepreneurship, profit motives, and individual initiative.<ref name="VoxJul16" /><ref name="SalonFeb14" /><ref name="WashExamJun16" /> Analysts point to the premise of a small private business obstructed by an arrogant, incompetent bureaucrat (Walter Peck) from a government agency. Peck's interference compromises the Ghostbusters' ghost containment unit, unleashing spirits upon the city and ushering in Gozer's arrival.<ref name="VoxJul16" /><ref name="SalonFeb14" /> When Peck arrives to shutter the Ghostbusters, Egon affirms "this is private property".<ref name="WashExamJun16" /> In this sense, it is Peck, not Gozer, who represents the true villain.<ref name="SalonFeb14" /><ref name="WashExamJun16" /> Others note that after losing their university jobs, Aykroyd's character is upset because their public sector funding required little of them. He had worked in the private sector where "they expect results".<ref name="WashExamJun16" /> Reitman considered himself a "[[Conservatism|conservative]]-slash-[[Libertarianism|libertarian]]".<ref name="WashExamJun16" /><ref name="GameSpotJun19" />

The ''[[Washington Examiner]]'' wrote that the private sector arrives to combat the supernatural activity in New York, for a fee, while the government is incapable of doing anything.<ref name="WashExamJun16" />{{sfn|Clare|2014|p=96}} As ''[[Vox (website)|Vox]]'' notes, the mayor, a government representative, is motivated to release the Ghostbusters after being reminded that their success will save the lives of "millions of registered voters", a cynical view of an official who is motivated by what allows him to retain his position.<ref name="VoxJul16" /> The mayor's choice is ideological: the privatized free market of the Ghostbusters or the government agency Peck represents.{{sfn|Clare|2014|pp=99–100}} Even the police are forced to take Louis/Vinz to the Ghostbusters because they are incapable of dealing with him.{{sfn|Clare|2014|p=96}} Author Ralph Clare highlights that the Ghostbusters reside in a disused firehouse and drive an old ambulance, each sold off as public services fail.{{sfn|Clare|2014|p=100}} Corcos suggests the Ghostbusters are an example of the [[Freethought#United States|American free-thinker]], representing vigilantes fighting against government overreach that is worsening the issue.{{Sfn|Corcos|1997|p=233}}

Clare wrote that ''Ghostbusters'' embraces the free market in the aftermath of American financial despair in the 1970s, particularly in New York City that led to films set in a gritty, collapsing, crime-ridden, and failed New York, such as ''[[Taxi Driver]]'' (1976), ''[[The Warriors (film)|The Warriors]]'' (1979), and ''[[Escape from New York]]'' (1981).{{sfn|Clare|2014|pp=76, 93, 95–96}} ''Ghostbusters'' was created at the beginning of an economic recovery that Clare described as "pure capitalism", focused on the privatization and deregulation to allow the private sector to supplant the government.{{sfn|Clare|2014|pp=76, 93}} The necessity of the mayor outsourcing the ghost problem mirrors the real New York government ceding vast areas of real estate to corporations to stimulate renewal.{{sfn|Clare|2014|pp=95–96}} The use of capitalism can be further seen in how Ray, tasked to empty his mind, is incapable of recalling anything but a consumerist mascot; in another example, Dana's refrigerator, which stores consumerist icons, is where she witnesses Zuul.{{sfn|Clare|2014|pp=100–101}}

=== Inequality, immigrants, and pollution ===
The ghosts in ''Ghostbusters'' have been interpreted as analogs for crime, homelessness, pollution, and faltering infrastructure and public services.{{Sfn|Corcos|1997|p=233}}{{sfn|Clare|2014|pp=96–98}} Corcos discussed ''Ghostbusters''{{'}}s negative take on government and environmental regulation.{{Sfn|Corcos|1997|pp=232–233}} She wrote that the ghosts represent pollutants, remnants of environmental damage, and a reflection of real-life governments refusing to acknowledge environmental problems that affect humanity.{{Sfn|Corcos|1997|pp=233, 235}} The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) explicitly does not believe in the ghosts or "waste" the Ghostbusters are collecting and, in turn, the Ghostbusters do not believe the EPA deserves obedience or compliance because of its ignorance.{{Sfn|Corcos|1997|p=241}} Even though the Ghostbusters have condensed a widespread problem into a small area, they have constructed a dangerous containment unit in a heavily populated area while possessing the unique knowledge to understand how much danger it poses.{{Sfn|Corcos|1997|pp=235, 244}} However, Peck's rigid adherence to government regulation results in him turning off the unit and creating a more dangerous situation.{{Sfn|Corcos|1997|p=257}}

Clare identified the ghosts as representative of New York's issues with the homeless and ethnic minorities. The ghosts, which were once human, are not acknowledged as such and are treated as a nuisance that the Ghostbusters transport to less desirable areas, similar to real-world gentrification. The Ghostbusters charge a substantial fee for their services and so generally serve the affluent such as the Sedgewick hotel and Dana Barrett, while poorer Chinese citizens pay for their services in meat.{{sfn|Clare|2014|pp=96–98}}{{sfn|Clark|2015|pp=36–37}} In this way, Clare argues, ''Ghostbusters'' promotes the regeneration of New York City but ignores the cost to the poor and disenfranchised to achieve it.{{sfn|Clare|2014|pp=101–102}} Author Zoila Clark noted that concept art of an unused Chinatown ghost bore similarities to a stereotypical Chinese immigrant including long, braided hair and a [[Asian conical hat|triangular agricultural hat]].{{sfn|Clark|2015|pp=36–37}}

=== Immaturity ===
Author Nicole Matthews argued the need to present a film targeted at both adults and children leads to the central characters being infantilized and immature.{{sfn|Matthews|2000|p=110}} Critic [[Vincent Canby]] said a film's profitability was dependent on addressing children who "can identify with a 40-year-old-man with a mid-life crisis and 40-year-old-men in midlife crises who long to fight pirates with cardboard cutlasses".{{sfn|Matthews|2000|p=111}} ''Ghostbusters'' presents Venkman's immature comedic sarcasm as a means of disarming situations and furthering the narrative. Author Jim Whalley wrote that this presents a clear tonal shift in the sequel; in ''Ghostbusters'', the characters are hired workers just doing their job, whereas in ''Ghostbusters II'' they are noble heroes saving the city. In doing so, ''Ghostbusters II'' reimagines Venkman's persona as comedic relief instead of a practical tool.{{sfn|Whalley|2010|p=102}} The primarily male audience also results in female characters that are either absent or not important to the overall story.{{sfn|Matthews|2000|p=105}} Author Jane Crisp wrote that Dana encountering Zuul in her fridge presents a stereotypical view of women being associated with the home and kitchen.{{sfn|Crisp|1987}}

== Legacy ==
''Ghostbusters'' is considered one of the first blockbusters and is credited with refining the term to effectively create a new genre that mixed comedy, science fiction, horror, and thrills. ''Ghostbusters'' also confirmed the merchandising success of ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' (1977) was not a fluke. A successful, recognizable brand could be used to launch spin-offs, helping establish a business model in the film industry that has since become the status quo. Once ''Ghostbusters''{{'}} popularity was clear, the studio aggressively cultivated its profile, translating it into merchandising and other media such as television, extending its profitable lifetime long after the film had left theaters.<ref name="rs 2016" />

Entertainment industry observers credit ''Ghostbusters'' and ''Saturday Night Live'' with reversing the negative perception of New York City in the early 1980s.<ref name="VanityFair2014" /><ref name="VultureJul16" /> Weaver said: "I think it was a love letter to New York and New Yorkers{{nbsp}}... the doorman saying, 'Someone brought a cougar to a party'—that's so New York. When we come down covered with marshmallow, and there are these crowds of New Yorkers of all types and descriptions cheering for us{{nbsp}}... it was one of the most moving things I can remember".{{sfn|Wallace|2015|p=39}}<ref name="EWanniverinterview" /> It is similarly credited with helping diminish the divide between television and film actors. Talent agent Michael Ovitz said that before ''Ghostbusters'', television actors were only considered for minor roles in film.<ref name="VanityFair2014" /><ref name="VultureJul16" /> Describing ''Ghostbusters''{{'}} enduring popularity, Reitman said "kids are all worried about death and... ghost-like things. By watching ''Ghostbusters'', there's a sense that you can control this, that you can mitigate it somehow and it doesn't have to be that frightening. It became this movie that parents liked to bring their kids to—they could appreciate it on different levels but still watch it together".<ref name="RollingJuly2016" />

=== Cultural influence ===
''Ghostbusters'' was considered a phenomenon and highly influential.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="VanityFair2014" /><ref name="EWanniverinterview" /><ref name="rs 2016" /><ref name="ForbesJul19" />}} The ''Ghostbusters''{{'}} theme song was a hit, and Halloween of 1984 was dominated by children dressed as the titular protagonists.<ref name="VanityFair2014" /><ref name="rs 2016" /><ref name="CosmoSep17" /> It had a significant effect on popular culture and is credited with inventing the special-effects driven comedy.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="VanityFair2014" /><ref name="EWanniverinterview" /><ref name="rs 2016" /><ref name="ForbesJul19" />}} Its basic premise of a particular genre mixed with comedy, and a team combating an otherworldly threat has been replicated with varying degrees of success in films like ''[[Men in Black (1997 film)|Men in Black]]'' (1997), ''[[Evolution (2001 film)|Evolution]]'' (2001), ''[[The Watch (2012 film)|The Watch]]'' (2012), ''[[R.I.P.D.]]'' (2013), and ''[[Pixels (2015 film)|Pixels]]'' (2015).<ref name="NationalPostJun1414" /><ref name="NewYorkerApr14" /><ref name="DigitalSpyAug15" /> In 2015, the United States [[Library of Congress]] selected ''Ghostbusters'' for preservation in the [[National Film Registry]], finding it "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". Reitman responded: "It's an honor to know that a movie that begins with a ghost in a library now has a spot on the shelves of the Library of Congress".<ref name="THRDec2015" />

In 1984, the ''Ghostbusters'' phenomenon was referred to across dozens of advertisements for everything from airlines to dentistry and real estate. The "-busters" suffix became a common term used at both local and national stages, being applied to topics like the United States national budget ("budgetbusters"), agriculture ("cropbusters"), B-52s ("nukebusters"), sanitation ("litterbusters"), or [[Pan American World Airways|Pan American Airlines]] ("pricebusters"). Similarly, the "no ghosts" logo was modified to protest political candidates like Ronald Reagan and [[Walter Mondale]] to [[Mickey Mouse]] by striking [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]] workers.{{sfn|TheDay|1984|p=18}} Other contributions to the cultural lexicon included "Who ya gonna call?" from Parker Jr's "Ghostbusters",<ref name="MediumJul16" /> and Murray's adlib of "this chick is toast" against Gozer to imply she was finished or doomed over the scripted line of "I'm gonna turn this guy into toast". This is thought to be the first historic usage of "toast" as a slang term.<ref name="BusinessInsideSep18" />

''Ghostbusters'' quickly developed a dedicated fan following that has continued to thrive in the years since.<ref name="ScreeNRantJul16" /> Despite its mainstream success, it is considered an example of a [[Cult film#cult blockbuster|cult blockbuster]]—a popular film with a dedicated fanbase.<ref name="THREctomobile" /><ref name="SpikedJul16" /><ref name="PopMattersJun11" /> It is popular globally, inspiring fan clubs, fan-made films,<ref name="SyFyFeb19" /> art,<ref name="TheVergeApr14" /> and conventions.<ref name="WizardJun18" /> Fans dressed as Ghostbusters occasionally burst into the main reading room of the New York Public Library.<ref name="VanityFair2014" /> The 2016 [[Crowdfunding|crowdfunded]] documentary ''[[Ghostheads]]'' follows various fans of the series and details the effect it has had on their lives, interspersed with interviews from crew, including Aykroyd, Reitman, and Weaver.<ref name=philly /><ref name="GizmodoFeb16" /> A separate 2019 documentary, ''[[Cleanin' Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters]]'', details the film production.<ref name="CLeaninUp" /> Memorabilia from the film is popular, with a screen-used proton pack selling for $169,000 at a 2012 auction.<ref name="THRJul12" /> In 2017, a newly discovered [[ankylosaur]] fossil was named [[Zuul|''Zuul crurivastator'']] after Gozer's minion.<ref name="CBCMay17" /><ref name="LATimesMay17" />

''Ghostbusters'' was turned into a special-effects laden stage show at [[Universal Studios Florida]], which ran from 1990 to 1996, based mainly on the final battle with Gozer. The 2019 [[Halloween Horror Nights]] event at [[Universal Studios Hollywood]] and Universal Studios Florida hosted a [[haunted attraction (simulated)|haunted maze]] attraction featuring locations, characters, and ghosts from the film.<ref name="BloodyJul16" /><ref name="ForbesJul19" /> The film has also been homaged or explicitly referred to across a variety of media including film,{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="MediumJul16" /><ref name="DigitalSpyMar18" /><ref name="BDDec18" /><ref name="CNNSep11" />}} television,<ref name="io9Oct17" /> and video games.<ref name="GameSpotMar1815" /><ref name="PolygonMay2219" /> Aykroyd reprised his Ghostbuster character for a cameo in ''[[Casper (film)|Casper]]'' (1995),<ref name="DigitalSpyMar18" /> and the celebratory parade at the film's denouement inspired the ending of the 2012 superhero film ''[[The Avengers (2012 film)|The Avengers]]'', showing the world celebrating the eponymous team's victory.<ref name="IGNAvengers" />

=== Critical reassessment ===
''Ghostbusters''{{'}}s positive reception has lasted well beyond its release, and it is considered one of the most important comedy films ever made.<ref name="ScreeNRantJul16" /><ref>{{cite book |title=Comedy-Horror Films: A Chronological History, 1914–2008 |url=https://archive.org/details/comedyhorrorfilm00hall|url-access=limited |last=Hallenbeck |first=Bruce G.|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]|year=2009 |isbn=978-0-7864-5378-8|pages=127–131}}</ref> It is listed in the 2013 film reference book ''[[1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die]]''.{{sfn|Schneider|2013|p=708}} On its 30th anniversary in 2014, ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]''{{'}}s entertainment industry-voted ranking named it the seventy-seventh best film of all time.<ref name="THRJun14" /> That year, ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]'' rated ''Ghostbusters'' five out of five, describing it as a "cavalcade of pure joy".<ref name="TimeOutOct14" /> ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]''{{'}}s reader-voted list of the 100 Greatest Movies placed the film as number 68.<ref name="EmpireMar18" /> In 2014, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' readers voted ''Ghostbusters'' the ninth-greatest film of the 1980s.<ref name="RollingStone80s" /> Review aggregation website [[Rotten Tomatoes]] offers a {{RT data|score}} approval rating from {{RT data|count}} critics, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The site's consensus reads: "An infectiously fun blend of special effects and comedy, with Bill Murray's hilarious deadpan performance leading a cast of great comic turns".<ref name="RottenTomatoes" /> The film also has a score of 71 out of 100 on [[Metacritic]] based on eight critical reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.<ref name="Metacritic" />

In 2001, the [[American Film Institute]] ranked ''Ghostbusters'' number 28 on its [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Laughs|100 Years...100 Laughs]] list recognizing the best comedy films.<ref name="AFI2002" /> In 2009, ''[[National Review]]'' ranked ''Ghostbusters'' number 10 on its list of the 25 Best Conservative Movies of the Last 25 Years, noting the "regulation-happy" Environmental Protection Agency is portrayed as the villain and it is the private sector that saves the day.<ref name="NationalReviewFeb09" /> In November 2015, the screenplay was listed number 14 on the [[Writers Guild of America]]'s 101 Funniest Screenplays.<ref name="WGANov15" /> In 2017, the [[BBC]] polled 253 critics (118 female, 135 male) from across 52 countries on the funniest film made. ''Ghostbusters'' came ninety-fifth.<ref name="BBC253" />

''Ghostbusters'' is considered one of the best films of the 1980s, appearing on several lists based on this metric, including: number two by [[Film.com]],<ref name="FilmcomJul07" /> number five by ''Time Out'',<ref name="TimeOutMay16" /> number six by ''[[ShortList]]'',<ref name="ShortListJul19" /> number 15 by ''[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]'',<ref name="ComplexFeb18" /> number 31 by ''Empire'',<ref name="EmpireMay16" /> and it appears on [[Filmsite]]'s non-ranked list.<ref name="FilmSite80s" /> It also appeared on several media outlets' best comedy film lists—ranked number one by ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'',<ref name="EWAug08" /> number four by ''[[IGN]]'',<ref name="IGNNov18" /> number 10 by ''Empire'',<ref name="EmpireMar18Comedy" /> number 25 by ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'',<ref name="TelegraphMar17" /> and number 45 by Rotten Tomatoes,<ref name="RT100" /> which also listed the film number 71 on its list of 200 essential movies to watch.<ref name="RT200" /> Others have named it one of the best science-fiction films,<ref name="TimeOutDec18" /> best science-fiction comedies,<ref name="I09Jul14" /> and best summer blockbusters.<ref name="EWApr14" /><ref name="IGNJul19" /> Murray's Peter Venkman appeared at number{{nbsp}}44 on ''Empire''{{'}}s 2006 list of its "100 Greatest Movie Characters".<ref name="Empire100Venkman" />

== Sequels and adaptations ==
{{main|Ghostbusters (franchise)|l1=Ghostbusters ''franchise''|Ghostbusters II|Ghostbusters: Answer the Call|Ghostbusters: Afterlife|Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire}}
[[File:Harold Ramis memorial.jpg|thumb|alt= A fan tribute set up for Harold Ramis following his death in 2014 outside Hook and Ladder 8|Following [[Harold Ramis]]'s death in 2014, a potential third ''Ghostbusters'' film was replaced with a reboot. Fans commemorated Ramis by leaving tributes outside [[Firehouse, Hook & Ladder Company 8|Hook & Ladder 8]].<ref name="ScreeNRantJul16" />]]
The film's success spawned the [[Ghostbusters (franchise)|''Ghostbusters'' franchise]], comprising animated television shows, film sequels, and reboot.<ref name="CBRJan18" /> ''Ghostbusters'' was followed by the 1986 animated television series ''The Real Ghostbusters''. It ran for 140 episodes over seven seasons across six years, and itself spawned a spin-off Slimer-centric sub-series, [[The Real Ghostbusters (comics)|comic books]], and merchandise. It was followed by a sequel series, 1997's ''[[Extreme Ghostbusters]]''.<ref name="CBRJan18" /><ref name="DOGJul16" /> A film sequel, ''Ghostbusters II'', was released in 1989. Despite breaking box office records and attracting an estimated two million more people to its opening than ''Ghostbusters'', the sequel earned less than the original and received a less enthusiastic response.<ref name="LATimesJun89" /><ref name="VultureAug14" /> Even so, the popularity of the actors and characters led to discussion of a third film.<ref name="VultureAug14" /> The concept failed to progress for many years because Murray was reluctant to participate. In a 2009 interview, he said: <blockquote>We did [''Ghostbusters{{nbsp}}II''] and it was sort of rather unsatisfying for me, because the first one to me was&nbsp;... the real thing. And the sequel&nbsp;... They’d written a whole different movie than the one [initially discussed]{{nbsp}}... so there's never been an interest in a third ''Ghostbusters'', because the second one was disappointing&nbsp;... for me, anyway.<ref name="FSROCt2008" /></blockquote> Aykroyd pursued a sequel through to the early 2010s.<ref name="VultureAug14" /> ''[[Ghostbusters: The Video Game]]'' was released in 2009, featuring narrative contributions from Ramis and Aykroyd, and voice acting by Murray, Aykroyd, Ramis, Hudson, Potts, and Atherton. Set two years after ''Ghostbusters II'', the story follows the Ghostbusters training a recruit (the player) to combat a ghostly threat related to Gozer. The game was well-received, earning award nominations for its storytelling. Aykroyd has referred to the game as being "essentially the third movie".<ref name="VultureAug14" /><ref name="DOGJun14" /> ''Ghostbusters: The Return'' (2004) was the first in a planned series of sequel novels before the publisher went out of business. Several [[Ghostbusters (comics)|''Ghostbusters'' comic books]] have continued the original group's adventures across the globe and other dimensions.<ref name="ScreeNRantJul16" /><ref name="THRApr16" />

Following Ramis's death in 2014, Reitman determined the creative control shared by himself, Ramis, Aykroyd, and Murray was holding the franchise back and negotiated a deal to sell the rights to Columbia; he spent two weeks convincing Murray. Reitman refused to detail the deal but said "the creators would be enriched for the rest of our lives, and for the rest of our children's lives". He and Aykroyd founded [[Ghost Corps]], a production company dedicated to expanding the franchise, starting with the 2016 female-led reboot ''Ghostbusters'' (later retitled ''Ghostbusters: Answer the Call'').{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="EWOCt14" /><ref name="THRFeb14" /><ref name="VultureControl" /><ref name="BBCJan15" />}} Before its release, the reboot was beset by controversies. After its release, it was considered a [[box-office bomb]] with mixed reviews.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="MSNBCMar16" /><ref name="PolygonJul16" /><ref name="FortuneJul16" /><ref name="EsquireJun17" />}} The franchise returned to the original two films with the sequels, ''Ghostbusters: Afterlife'' (2021), directed by Reitman's son [[Jason Reitman|Jason]], and ''[[Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire]]'' (2024).<ref name="VarietySept1" /><ref name="VarietyFrozen"/>

==Notes==
{{div col}}
{{Notelist}}
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="AbovethelawJun14">{{cite web |first=Samantha |last=Beckett |title=On Remand: Lawyers Ain't Afraid Of No Ghosts |url=https://abovethelaw.com/2014/06/on-remand-lawyers-aint-afraid-of-no-ghosts/ |website=[[Above the Law (website)|Above the Law]] |date=June 19, 2014 |access-date=July 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190728113329/https://abovethelaw.com/2014/06/on-remand-lawyers-aint-afraid-of-no-ghosts/ |archive-date=July 28, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="AcademyAwards57">{{cite web|title=The 57th Academy Awards in 1985|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1985|website=[[Academy Awards|Oscars.org]]|date=October 5, 2014 |access-date=June 29, 2019|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190618094517/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1985|archive-date=June 18, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="AFI">{{cite web| title=''Ghostbusters'' (1984) | url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/57089| website=[[American Film Institute]] Catalog of Feature Films| access-date=January 12, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190113003857/https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/57089| archive-date=January 13, 2019| url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="AFI2002">{{cite web|title=AFI's 100 Years...100 Laughs|url=https://www.afi.com/Docs/100Years/laughs100.pdf|website=[[American Film Institute]]|year=2002|access-date=January 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108190613/http://www.afi.com/Docs/100Years/laughs100.pdf|archive-date=November 8, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="AmazonMonopoly">{{cite web |title=''Ghostbusters'' Monopoly Board Game |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pok%C3%A9mon-MN091-450-Ghostbusters-Monopoly/dp/B01FLACM5Y |website=[[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] |access-date=August 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804214710/https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pok%C3%A9mon-MN091-450-Ghostbusters-Monopoly/dp/B01FLACM5Y |archive-date=August 4, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="AMC">{{cite web |title=Story Notes for ''Ghostbusters'' |url=https://www.amc.com/talk/2014/07/story-notes-for-ghostbusters |website=[[AMC (TV channel)|AMC.com]] |date=2014 |access-date=June 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190623200652/https://www.amc.com/talk/2014/07/story-notes-for-ghostbusters |archive-date=June 23, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="AtlanticAccounting">{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/09/how-hollywood-accounting-can-make-a-450-million-movie-unprofitable/245134/|title=How Hollywood Accounting Can Make a $450 Million Movie 'Unprofitable'|last=Thompson|first=Derek|date=September 14, 2011|website=[[The Atlantic]]|access-date=September 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810064038/https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/09/how-hollywood-accounting-can-make-a-450-million-movie-unprofitable/245134/ |archive-date=August 10, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="AVClubApr2010">{{cite web |first=Kyle |last=Ryan |title=William Atherton |url=https://www.avclub.com/william-atherton-1798219915 |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=April 21, 2010 |access-date=June 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190609130133/https://film.avclub.com/william-atherton-1798219915 |archive-date=June 9, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="AVDec15">{{cite web |first=Steve |last=Heisler |title=''Ghostbusters'': The Board Game channels the camaraderie and frenzy of the films |url=https://www.avclub.com/ghostbusters-the-board-game-channels-the-camaraderie-a-1798186178 |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=December 15, 2015 |access-date=August 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723015136/https://games.avclub.com/ghostbusters-the-board-game-channels-the-camaraderie-a-1798186178 |archive-date=July 23, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="BAFTA1985">{{cite web |title=Film in 1985 |url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/1985/film |website=[[British Academy of Film and Television Arts]] |date=1985 |access-date=June 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130502222930/http://awards.bafta.org/award/1985/film |archive-date=May 2, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="BBC253">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20170821-the-100-greatest-comedies-of-all-time |title=The 100 Greatest Comedies of all Time |date=August 22, 2017 |website= [[BBC]]|access-date=May 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170823203519/http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20170821-the-100-greatest-comedies-of-all-time |archive-date=August 23, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="BBCDec2016">{{cite web |title=''Ghostbusters'' librarian actress Alice Drummond dies aged 88 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38206990 |website=[[BBC News Online]] |date=December 5, 2016 |access-date=June 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190618210649/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-38206990 |archive-date=June 18, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="BBCJan15">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-31016868 |title=''Ghostbusters'' female line-up confirmed |website=[[BBC News Online]] |date=January 28, 2015 |access-date=March 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321080551/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-31016868 |archive-date=March 21, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="BDJun2018">{{cite web |first=John |last=Squires |title=FX Master Steve Johnson on Creating Slimer With the Help of Cocaine and John Belushi's Ghost [Exclusive] |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/exclusives/3495677/special-fx-master-steve-johnson-creating-slimer-cocaine-fueled-frenzy-exclusive/ |website=[[Bloody Disgusting]] |date=April 26, 2018 |access-date=June 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190618205333/https://bloody-disgusting.com/exclusives/3495677/special-fx-master-steve-johnson-creating-slimer-cocaine-fueled-frenzy-exclusive/ |archive-date=June 18, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="BloodyJul16">{{cite web |first=Brad |last=Miska |title=Revisiting Universal's "''Ghostbusters''Spooktacular" Show! (Video) |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3398836/revisiting-universals-ghostbusters-spooktacular-show-video/ |website=[[Bloody Disgusting]] |date=July 14, 2016 |access-date=July 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190720181608/https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3398836/revisiting-universals-ghostbusters-spooktacular-show-video/ |archive-date=July 20, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="BDDec18">{{cite web |first=Brad |last=Miska |title=Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray to Cameo in the 'Zombieland' Sequel? [Rumor] |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3539770/dan-aykroyd-bill-murray-cameo-zombieland-sequel-rumor/ |website=[[Bloody Disgusting]] |date=December 31, 2018 |access-date=July 31, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531034908/https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3539770/dan-aykroyd-bill-murray-cameo-zombieland-sequel-rumor/ |archive-date=May 31, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="BDJun19">{{cite web |first=John |last=Squires |title=K-Swiss Celebrates 35 Years of ''Ghostbusters'' With Stay Puft and Slimer Sneakers! |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3565163/k-swiss-celebrates-35-years-ghostbusters-stay-puft-slimer-sneakers/ |website=[[Bloody Disgusting]] |date=June 4, 2019 |access-date=August 7, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608045543/https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3565163/k-swiss-celebrates-35-years-ghostbusters-stay-puft-slimer-sneakers/ |archive-date=June 8, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Billboard100">{{cite magazine| title=''Ghostbusters''| url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/ray-parker-jr/chart-history/hsi/| magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | access-date=January 14, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115023154/https://www.billboard.com/music/ray-parker-jr/chart-history/hot-100/song/333215| archive-date=January 15, 2019| url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="BOM30thWeekly">{{cite web | title = ''Ghostbusters'' (30th Anniversary re-release) | website = [[Box Office Mojo]] | url = https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekly&id=ghostbusters2014.htm | access-date = June 28, 2019 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20190627230546/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekly&id=ghostbusters2014.htm | archive-date = June 27, 2019 | url-status = live}}</ref>

<ref name="BomAdjusted">{{cite web |title=Top Lifetime Adjusted Grosses |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/chart/top_lifetime_gross_adjusted/?adjust_gross_to=2020 |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=August 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704001942/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/chart/top_lifetime_gross_adjusted/?adjust_gross_to=2020 |archive-date=July 4, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="BOMMain">{{cite web |title=''Ghostbusters''|website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=ghostbusters.htm |access-date=June 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102050735/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=ghostbusters.htm |archive-date=January 2, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="BOMOpeningWKND">{{cite web| title =Weekend Box Office – June 8–10, 1984 | website =[[Box Office Mojo]] | url =https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=1984&wknd=23&p=.htm | access-date =June 24, 2019 | archive-url =https://archive.today/20190624113704/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=1984&wknd=23&p=.htm | archive-date =June 24, 2019 | url-status =live}}</ref>

<ref name="BOMREissue">{{cite web| title = Release History for ''Ghostbusters''| website = [[Box Office Mojo]]| url = https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=releases&id=ghostbusters.htm| access-date = December 4, 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081217103543/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=releases&id=ghostbusters.htm| archive-date = December 17, 2008| url-status = live}}</ref>

<ref name="BOMReissueWeekly">{{cite web | title =''Ghostbusters''(Re-issue) (1985) – Weekly Box Office Results | website =[[Box Office Mojo]] | url =https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekly&id=ghostbusters85.htm | access-date =December 4, 2008 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150924105726/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekly&id=ghostbusters85.htm | archive-date =September 24, 2015 | url-status =live}}</ref>

<ref name="BOMWeekly">{{cite web| title =''Ghostbusters'' (1984) – Weekly Box Office Results | website =[[Box Office Mojo]] | url =https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekly&id=ghostbusters.htm | access-date =June 24, 2019 | archive-url =https://archive.today/20190624225811/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekly&id=ghostbusters.htm | archive-date =June 24, 2019 | url-status =live}}</ref>

<ref name="BOMWeek7">{{cite web| title =Weekly Box Office Results for July 27 – August 2, 1984 | website =[[Box Office Mojo]] | url =https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekly/chart/?yr=1984&wk=30&p=.htm | access-date =June 24, 2019 | archive-url =https://archive.today/20190624231502/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekly/chart/?yr=1984&wk=30&p=.htm | archive-date =June 24, 2019 | url-status =live}}</ref>

<ref name="BOMWeek10">{{cite web| title =Weekly Box Office Results for August 10–16, 1984 | website =[[Box Office Mojo]] | url =https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekly/chart/?yr=1984&wk=32&p=.htm | access-date =June 26, 2019 | archive-url =https://archive.today/20190626202310/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekly/chart/?yr=1984&wk=32&p=.htm | archive-date =June 26, 2019 | url-status =live}}</ref>

<ref name="BOMWeek11">{{cite web| title =Weekly Box Office Results for August 17–23, 1984 | website =[[Box Office Mojo]] | url =https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekly/chart/?yr=1984&wk=33&p=.htm | access-date =June 26, 2019 | archive-url =https://archive.today/20190626202321/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekly/chart/?yr=1984&wk=33&p=.htm | archive-date =June 26, 2019 | url-status =live}}</ref>

<ref name="BTMSep14">{{cite web |first=Kevin |last=Stern |title=Beyond the Marquee: The Web-Series (Episode 70) – The ''Ghostbusters'' Ecto-1 Car and Designer Stephen Dane |url=http://beyondthemarquee.com/34980|website=Beyond the Marquee |date=September 18, 2014 |access-date=August 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720164732/http://beyondthemarquee.com/34980 |archive-date=July 20, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="BusinessInsideSep18">{{cite web |first=Mark |last=Abadi |title=9 common words you probably didn't know came from movies |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/star-wars-ghostbusters-clueless-movie-words-2018-5?r=US&IR=T |website=[[Bloody Disgusting]] |date=September 4, 2018 |access-date=July 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190621223547/https://www.cbr.com/movie-legends-revealed-how-ghostbusters-marginalized-winston/ |archive-date=June 21, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="CBCJul16">{{cite web|first=Melody|last=Lau|url=https://www.cbcmusic.ca/posts/12032/15-things-you-might-not-know-about-the-ghostbuster|title=15 Things You Might Not Know about the ''Ghostbusters'' Theme Song|date=July 14, 2016|website=[[CBC Music|CBCMusic.ca]] |access-date=September 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220230845/https://www.cbcmusic.ca/posts/12032/15-things-you-might-not-know-about-the-ghostbuster|archive-date=December 20, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="CBCMay17">{{cite web |first=Nicole |last=Riva |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/new-dinosaur-discovered-zuul-1.4105047|access-date=May 9, 2017|date=May 9, 2017|title=ROM scientists name new dinosaur species after ''Ghostbusters'' villain|website =[[CBC News]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510012449/http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/new-dinosaur-discovered-zuul-1.4105047|archive-date=May 10, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="CBRJul16">{{cite web |first=Brian |last=Cronin |title=Movie Legends Revealed: How ''Ghostbusters'' Marginalized Winston |url=https://www.cbr.com/movie-legends-revealed-how-ghostbusters-marginalized-winston/ |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=July 14, 2016 |access-date=June 21, 2019 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20190621223547/https://www.cbr.com/movie-legends-revealed-how-ghostbusters-marginalized-winston/ |archive-date=June 21, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="CBRJan18">{{cite web |first=Kelvin |last=Childs |title=Something Strange: 15 Dark Secrets About The Real ''Ghostbusters''|url=https://www.cbr.com/dark-secrets-real-ghostbusters/ |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=January 5, 2018 |access-date=July 19, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728055136/https://www.cbr.com/dark-secrets-real-ghostbusters/ |archive-date=July 28, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="CLeaninUp">{{cite web |first=Peter |last=Bradshaw |author-link=Peter Bradshaw |title=Cleanin' Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters review – slime time|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/jan/03/cleanin-up-the-town-remembering-ghostbusters-review-documentary |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=January 3, 2020 |access-date=August 20, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801022622/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/jan/03/cleanin-up-the-town-remembering-ghostbusters-review-documentary |archive-date=August 1, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="CNNSep11">{{cite web |first=Christian |last=DuChateau|title=Relive '80s pop culture in 'Ready Player One' |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2011/09/25/living/ernest-cline-author-interview/index.html |website=[[CNN]] |date=September 29, 2011 |access-date=July 31, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414160703/https://edition.cnn.com/2011/09/25/living/ernest-cline-author-interview/index.html |archive-date=April 14, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Collider2013">{{cite web |first=David |last=Kobylanski |title=You Know Who To Call Part 1: A Detailed History of the ''Ghostbusters'' Movies, Cartoons, Comics, and Merchandise |url=https://collider.com/ghostbusters-history-movies-cartoons-comics/ |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |date=October 31, 2013 |access-date=June 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131105114523/http://collider.com/ghostbusters-history-movies-cartoons-comics/ |archive-date=November 5, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="ColliderNov2013">{{cite web |first=David |last=Kobylanski |title=You Know Who To Call Part 2: A Detailed Look at Recent ''Ghostbusters'' Toys, Video Games, Comics, and Merchandise |url=https://collider.com/ghostbusters-toys-video-games-comics/ |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |date=November 3, 2013 |access-date=July 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190720224835/http://collider.com/ghostbusters-toys-video-games-comics/ |archive-date=July 20, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="ColliderSep14">{{cite web |first=Andre |last=Dellamorte |title=''Ghostbusters'' And ''Ghostbusters'' II (Mastered in 4K) Blu-Ray Reviews |url=https://collider.com/ghostbusters-blu-ray-review-ghostbusters-2/ |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |date=September 27, 2014 |access-date=June 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190630171335/http://collider.com/ghostbusters-blu-ray-review-ghostbusters-2/ |archive-date=June 30, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="ComplexFeb18">{{cite web |first1=Matt |last1=Barone |first2=Brenden |last2=Gallagher |first3=Greg |last3=Topscher |first4=Jason |last4=Serafino |first5=Jennifer |last5=Wood |first6=Justin |last6=Monroe |first7=Ross |last7=Scarano |first8=Tara |last8=Aquino |title=The 50 Best 80s Movies | date=February 16, 2018 | website=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]] | url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/best-80s-movies/ghostbusters | access-date=July 5, 2019 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20190705212546/https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/best-80s-movies/ghostbusters | archive-date=July 5, 2019 | url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="CosmoSep17">{{cite web |first=Carine |last=Lavache | title=The Halloween Costume Everyone Was Wearing the Year You Were Born | date=September 29, 2017 | website=[[Cosmopolitan (magazine)|Cosmopolitan]] | url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/g12267541/the-halloween-costume-everyone-was-wearing-the-year-you-were-born/?slide=35|access-date=August 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200716195103/https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/g12267541/the-halloween-costume-everyone-was-wearing-the-year-you-were-born/?slide=35 |archive-date= July 16, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="CreativeReview">{{cite web |first=Mark |last=Sinclair | title=''Ghostbusters'' and the 'no ghost' logo | date=February 13, 2015 | website=[[Creative Review]] | url=https://www.creativereview.co.uk/ghostbusters-and-the-no-ghost-logo/ |access-date=August 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524221434/https://www.creativereview.co.uk/ghostbusters-and-the-no-ghost-logo/|archive-date=May 24, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="CrosbyHannah">{{cite web |first=Fred |last=Topel |title='Ghostbusters' Documentary Has New Surprises About the Classic Comedy and You Can Watch It for Free |date=June 18, 2020 | website=CheatSheet.com |url=https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/ghostbusters-documentary-has-new-surprises-about-the-classic-comedy-and-you-can-watch-it-for-free.html/ |access-date=August 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817022451if_/https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/ghostbusters-documentary-has-new-surprises-about-the-classic-comedy-and-you-can-watch-it-for-free.html/ |archive-date=August 17, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="CSTEbert">{{cite web |first=Roger |last=Ebert |author-link=Roger Ebert |title=Bill Murray, "Quick Change" Artist |date=July 13, 1990 |website=[[RogerEbert.com]] |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/bill-murray-quick-change-artist |access-date=June 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616011046/http://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/bill-murray-quick-change-artist |archive-date=June 16, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Curbed">{{cite web| last=Budin |first=Jeremiah |title=The Ultimate Ghostbusters Map Guide To New York City |url=https://ny.curbed.com/maps/the-ultimate-ghostbusters-map-guide-to-new-york-city |website=[[Curbed]] |date=October 7, 2014 |access-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111192455/https://ny.curbed.com/maps/the-ultimate-ghostbusters-map-guide-to-new-york-city |archive-date=November 11, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="DigitalSpyMay2015">{{cite web |first=Joshua |last=Winning |title=How to tour New York City like a Ghostbuster – from Dana's Central Park apartment to ''Ghostbusters'' HQ |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a795108/ghostbusters-tour-new-york-city-your-favourite-locations-from-ghostbusters-hq-to/ |website=[[Digital Spy]] |date=May 24, 2016 |access-date=June 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190616194558/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a795108/ghostbusters-tour-new-york-city-your-favourite-locations-from-ghostbusters-hq-to/ |archive-date=June 16, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="DigitalSpyAug15">{{cite web |first=Simon |last=Reynolds |title=6 movies that desperately tried to be ''Ghostbusters'': Pixels, Men in Black and more |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a662735/6-movies-that-desperately-tried-to-be-ghostbusters-pixels-men-in-black-and-more/ |website=[[Digital Spy]] |date=August 12, 2016 |access-date=July 20, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720182243/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a662735/6-movies-that-desperately-tried-to-be-ghostbusters-pixels-men-in-black-and-more/ |archive-date=July 20, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="DigitalSpyMar18">{{cite web |first=Sam |last=Ashurst |title=7 of the most bizarre movie homages you'll ever see |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a852199/movie-homages/ |website=[[Digital Spy]] |date=March 13, 2018 |access-date=July 31, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731213541/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a852199/movie-homages/|archive-date=July 31, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="DOGJul16">{{cite web |first=Stephen |last=Harber |title=Extreme ''Ghostbusters'': revisiting an underappreciated cartoon |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/uk/tv/extreme-ghostbusters/42193/extreme-ghostbusters-revisiting-an-underappreciated-cartoon |website=[[Den of Geek]] |date=July 18, 2016 |access-date=July 19, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411232130/https://www.denofgeek.com/uk/tv/extreme-ghostbusters/42193/extreme-ghostbusters-revisiting-an-underappreciated-cartoon|archive-date=April 11, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="DOGJun 09">{{cite web |first=Craig |last=Thomas |title=''Ghostbusters'' Blu-ray review |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/dvd-bluray/8176/ghostbusters-blu-ray-review |website=[[Den of Geek]] |date=June 17, 2009 |access-date=June 30, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630200006/https://www.denofgeek.com/dvd-bluray/8176/ghostbusters-blu-ray-review |archive-date=June 30, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="DOGJun14">{{cite web |first=Philip |last=Tibbets |title=Why the ''Ghostbusters'' game is "essentially the third movie" |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/games/ghostbusters/30477/why-the-ghostbusters-game-is-essentially-the-third-movie |website=[[Den of Geek]] |date=June 2, 2014 |access-date=July 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190718183241/https://www.denofgeek.com/games/ghostbusters/30477/why-the-ghostbusters-game-is-essentially-the-third-movie |archive-date=July 18, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="DOGMay2016">{{cite web |first=Craig |last=Thomas |title=''Ghostbusters'': saluting the effects of the original movie |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/uk/movies/ghostbusters/40778/ghostbusters-saluting-the-effects-of-the-original-movie |website=[[Den of Geek]] |date=May 18, 2016 |access-date=June 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20161227133132/http://www.denofgeek.com/uk/movies/ghostbusters/40778/ghostbusters-saluting-the-effects-of-the-original-movie |archive-date=December 27, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="DreadCenFeb2016">{{cite web |first=Claire |last=Stokoe |title=10 of Our Favorite Sexy Badass Female Horror Characters |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/150323/10-of-our-favorite-sexy-badass-female-horror-characters/ |website=[[Dread Central]] |date=February 11, 2016 |access-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160212100321/http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/150323/10-of-our-favorite-sexy-badass-female-horror-characters/ |archive-date=February 12, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="DriveJul16">{{cite web |first=Sean |last=Evans |title=11 Facts About the ''Ghostbusters'' Ecto-1 You Never Knew |url=https://www.thedrive.com/vintage/4415/11-facts-about-the-ghostbusters-ecto-1-you-never-knew |website=Drive |date=July 14, 2016 |access-date=August 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115050724/https://www.thedrive.com/vintage/4415/11-facts-about-the-ghostbusters-ecto-1-you-never-knew|archive-date=January 15, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Empire100Venkman">{{cite web|url=http://www.empireonline.com/100-greatest-movie-characters/default.asp?c=44 |title=The 100 Greatest Movie Characters- 44. Peter Venkman | website=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |access-date=June 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107044800/http://www.empireonline.com/100-greatest-movie-characters/default.asp?c=44 |archive-date=November 7, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="EmpireMar18">{{cite web | first=Willow | last=Green | title=The 100 Greatest Movies | date=March 20, 2018 | website=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] | url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-movies-2/ | access-date=July 5, 2019 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20190705212738/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-movies-2/ | archive-date=July 5, 2019 | url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="EmpireMay16">{{cite web | first=Willow | last=Green | title=The 80 best '80s movies: 39–1 | date=May 11, 2016 | website=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] | url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-films-80s-part-2/ | access-date=July 7, 2019 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20190706230301/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-films-80s-part-2/ | archive-date=July 6, 2019 | url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="EmpireMar18Comedy">{{cite web | title=The 50 Greatest Comedies | date=March 31, 2018 | website=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] | url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-comedies/ |access-date=July 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121020308/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-comedies/ |archive-date=November 21, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Esquire">{{cite web| first=Jason| last=Matloff |title=An Oral History of ''Ghostbusters''| url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/news/a27498/ghostbusters-oral-history/| website=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]|date= February 24, 2014|access-date=January 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426011948/https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/news/a27498/ghostbusters-oral-history/ |archive-date=April 26, 2019 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="EsquireJun17">{{cite web| first=Emma| last=Dibdin |title=Dan Aykroyd Attacks Paul Feig for Blowing ''Ghostbusters'' as a Franchise | url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/news/a55469/dan-aykroyd-attacks-paul-feig-ghostbusters/ | website=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]|date= June 5, 2017 |access-date=July 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622051107/https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/news/a55469/dan-aykroyd-attacks-paul-feig-ghostbusters/ |archive-date=June 22, 2018 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="EW1993">{{cite magazine|first=Kate|last=Meyers|title=A Bill Murray filmography|date=March 19, 1993 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|url=https://www.ew.com/article/1993/03/19/bill-murray-filmography|access-date=June 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629083919/https://ew.com/article/1993/03/19/bill-murray-filmography/ |archive-date=June 29, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="EWApr14">{{cite magazine | first = Jeff | last =Labrecque| title =''Ghostbusters'': Best Summer Blockbuster No. 8 | magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]| date = April 18, 2014| url =https://ew.com/article/2014/04/18/ghostbusters-best-summer-blockbuster/| access-date =June 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627230409/https://ew.com/article/2014/04/18/ghostbusters-best-summer-blockbuster/ |archive-date=June 27, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="EWApr519">{{cite magazine | first = Anthony | last =Breznican | author-link = Anthony Breznican | title =Watch Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd hustle theater owners in ''Ghostbusters'' clip | magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] | date = April 5, 2019 | url =https://ew.com/movies/2019/04/05/bill-murray-dan-aykroyd-found-ghostbusters-clip/ | access-date =August 3, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627230635/https://ew.com/movies/2019/04/05/bill-murray-dan-aykroyd-found-ghostbusters-clip/ | archive-date=June 27, 2019 | url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="EWanniverinterview">{{cite magazine | first = Jeff | last = Labrecque | title =1984: ''Ghostbusters'' | magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] | date = November 7, 2014 | url =https://ew.com/article/2014/11/07/1984-ghostbusters/ | access-date =August 3, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803215539/https://ew.com/article/2014/11/07/1984-ghostbusters/ | archive-date=August 3, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="EWApr2009">{{cite magazine |first=Michael |last=Giltz |date=June 18, 1999 |title= ''Ghostbusters'' gets a face-lift on DVD |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |url=https://ew.com/article/1999/06/18/ghostbusters-gets-face-lift-dvd/ |access-date=April 14, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630193220/https://ew.com/article/1999/06/18/ghostbusters-gets-face-lift-dvd/ |archive-date=June 30, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="EWOCt14">{{cite magazine |first=Esther|last=Zuckerman |date=October 8, 2014 |title= Paul Feig explains his vision for a female-led ''Ghostbusters'' |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |url=https://ew.com/article/2014/10/08/paul-feig-ghostbusters-female/ |access-date=April 14, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212063851/https://ew.com/article/2014/10/08/paul-feig-ghostbusters-female/ |archive-date=February 12, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="EWJune2014">{{cite magazine | first = Jeff | last = Labrecque | title =''Ghostbusters'' gets the call for theatrical re-release | magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]| date = June 5, 2014| url =https://ew.com/article/2014/06/05/ghostbusters-rerelease/ | access-date =June 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627230435/https://ew.com/article/2014/06/05/ghostbusters-rerelease/ |archive-date=June 27, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="EWJun2000">{{cite magazine | first = Joshua | last = Rich | title = High Spirits | magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]| date = June 9, 2000 | url = https://ew.com/article/2000/06/09/ghostbusters-technology-remembered/| access-date =June 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624225555/https://ew.com/article/2000/06/09/ghostbusters-technology-remembered/ |archive-date=June 24, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="EWNov2014">{{cite magazine|first=Ernie |last=Hudson |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2014/11/05/ghostbusters-ernie-hudson|title=The painful what-if that haunts 'Ghostbuster' Ernie Hudson|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=November 5, 2014|access-date=March 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624225810/https://ew.com/article/2014/11/05/ghostbusters-ernie-hudson/ |archive-date=June 24, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="EWAug08">{{cite magazine | title=The Comedy 25: The Funniest Movies of the Past 25 Years | magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] | date=August 27, 2008 | url=https://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20221235_25,00.html | access-date=July 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028120433/http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20221235_24,00.html |archive-date=October 28, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="FilmcomJul07">{{cite web |first=MaryAnn|last=Johanson |title=The 10 Best Movies of 1984 |date=July 13, 2007 |website=[[Film.com]] |url=http://www.film.com/movies/the-10-best-movies-of-1984 |access-date=September 3, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904033544/http://www.film.com/movies/the-10-best-movies-of-1984 |archive-date=September 4, 2014}}</ref>

<ref name="FilmSite80s">{{cite web |title=The Greatest Films of 1984 |website=[[Filmsite.org]] |url=http://www.filmsite.org/1984.html |access-date=May 21, 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730/http://www.filmsite.org/1984.html |archive-date=July 30, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="ForbesJul19">{{cite web |first=Simon |last=Thompson |title=''Ghostbusters'' Brand Crosses The (Revenue) Streams For Halloween |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/simonthompson/2019/07/17/brand-ghostbusters-crosses-the-revenue-streams-for-halloween/#15fb24d21af6 |website=[[Forbes]] |date=July 17, 2019 |access-date=July 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190720182042/https://www.forbes.com/sites/simonthompson/2019/07/17/brand-ghostbusters-crosses-the-revenue-streams-for-halloween/#15fb24d21af6 |archive-date=July 20, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="FortuneJul16">{{cite web |first=Tom Jr. |last=Huddleston |title=Here's What The Critics Are Saying About the New ''Ghostbusters'' |url=https://fortune.com/2016/07/12/critics-ghostbusters-reviews/ |website=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]] |date=July 12, 2016 |access-date=July 19, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718225955/https://fortune.com/2016/07/12/critics-ghostbusters-reviews/ |archive-date=July 18, 2019 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

<ref name="FSR">{{cite web |first=Jeremy |last=Kirk |title=36 Things We Learned From the ''Ghostbusters'' Commentary Track |url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/36-things-we-learned-from-the-ghostbusters-commentary-track-423ccf3ca5c3/ |website=[[Film School Rejects]] |date=August 9, 2011 |access-date=June 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190623220953/https://filmschoolrejects.com/36-things-we-learned-from-the-ghostbusters-commentary-track-423ccf3ca5c3/ |archive-date=June 23, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="FSROCt2008">{{cite web |first=Adam |last=Sweeney |title=Bill Murray Ain't Afraid of No ''Ghostbusters'' Sequel |url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/bill-murray-aint-afraid-of-no-ghostbusters-sequel/ |website=[[Film School Rejects]] |date=October 7, 2008 |access-date=July 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190717221136/https://filmschoolrejects.com/bill-murray-aint-afraid-of-no-ghostbusters-sequel/ |archive-date=July 17, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="GamespotFeb2219">{{cite web |first=Mat |last=Elfring | title=New Funko Movie Pops at Toy Fair 2019: ''Ghostbusters'', Alien, Shazam, And More |url=https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/new-funko-movie-pops-at-toy-fair-2019-ghostbusters/2900-2580/|website=[[GameSpot]] |date=February 22, 2019 |access-date=August 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805205718/https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/new-funko-movie-pops-at-toy-fair-2019-ghostbusters/2900-2580/ |archive-date=August 5, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="GameSpotJun19">{{cite web |first=Matt|last=Paprocki | title=Dan Aykroyd On ''Ghostbusters''{{'}} Lost Origins, Writing Process, And More 35 Years Later |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/dan-aykroyd-on-ghostbusters-lost-origins-writing-p/1100-6467751/ |website=[[GameSpot]] |date=June 12, 2019 |access-date=August 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619124534/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/dan-aykroyd-on-ghostbusters-lost-origins-writing-p/1100-6467751/ |archive-date=June 19, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="GameSpotMar1815">{{cite web |first=Eddie |last=Makuch | title=''Ghostbusters'' Content Coming to Family Guy Mobile Game |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ghostbusters-content-coming-to-family-guy-mobile-g/1100-6422716/ |website=[[GameSpot]] |date=March 18, 2015 |access-date=August 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721192102/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ghostbusters-content-coming-to-family-guy-mobile-g/1100-6422716/|archive-date=July 21, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="GizmodoFeb16">{{cite web|first=Germain |last=Lussier|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/at-long-last-ghostbusters-fans-may-get-their-own-docum-1759256057|title=At Long Last, ''Ghostbusters'' Fans May Get Their Own Documentary|date=February 15, 2016|website=[[Gizmodo]]|access-date=December 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717223137/https://io9.gizmodo.com/at-long-last-ghostbusters-fans-may-get-their-own-docum-1759256057|archive-date=July 17, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="GizmodoSep14">{{cite web|first=Andrew |last=Liszewski | url=https://gizmodo.com/meet-the-man-who-designed-ghostbusters-most-iconic-prop-1636848858 |title=Meet the Man Who Designed ''Ghostbusters''{{'}} Most Iconic Props in Two Weeks |date=September 19, 2014 |website=[[Gizmodo]]|access-date=August 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905083828/https://gizmodo.com/meet-the-man-who-designed-ghostbusters-most-iconic-prop-1636848858 |archive-date=September 5, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Golden1">{{cite web|title=Winners and Nominees in 1985|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/1985|website=[[Golden Globe Awards|GoldenGlobes.com]]|date=1985|access-date=June 29, 2019|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160326221910/http://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/1985|archive-date=March 26, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Golden2">{{cite web |title=Winners and Nominees in 1985 (Page 1) |url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/1985?page=1 |website=[[Golden Globe Awards|GoldenGlobes.com]] |date=1985 |access-date=June 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190629104531/https://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/1985?page=1 |archive-date=June 29, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Golden3">{{cite web |title=Winners and Nominees in 1985 (Page 3) |url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/1985?page=3 |website=[[Golden Globe Awards|GoldenGlobes.com]] |date=1985 |access-date=June 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190629104648/https://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/1985?page=3 |archive-date=June 29, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="GuardianRhino">{{cite web |first=Hadley |last=Freeman |title=My favourite film: Ghostbusters|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2011/oct/27/my-favourite-film-ghostbusters |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=October 27, 2011 |access-date=October 29, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801022241/https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2011/oct/27/my-favourite-film-ghostbusters |archive-date=August 1, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="HistoryChannel">{{cite web |title="''Ghostbusters''" released |url=https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ghostbusters-released |website=[[History.com]] |date=June 6, 2019 |access-date=August 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190615144706/https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ghostbusters-released |archive-date=June 15, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="HomeMedia2022">{{cite web |first=Nichole |last=Zamlout |title=''Ghostbusters'' Ultimate Collection Box Set Features Rare Preview Cut Of Original Film With Alternate Takes, New Commentary, And More |url=https://collider.com/ghostbusters-ultimate-collection-bonus-content-deleted-scenes-alternate-takes/ |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |date=December 27, 2021 |access-date=December 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211227200910/https://collider.com/ghostbusters-ultimate-collection-bonus-content-deleted-scenes-alternate-takes/ |archive-date=December 27, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="HomeMedia2022B">{{cite web |title=''Ghostbusters'': Ultimate Collection 4K Blu-ray |url=https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=29861 |website=Blu-ray.com |date=December 27, 2021 |access-date=December 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211227233425/https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=29861 |archive-date=December 27, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="HuffPoSep2014">{{cite web |title=''Ghostbusters'' Turns 30! Here's How Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis Ended Up Making Timeless Comedy |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/09/03/ghostbusters-bill-murray-harold-ramis-dan-aykroyd_n_5758398.html |website=[[HuffPost]] |date=September 3, 2014 |access-date=June 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190113232150/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/09/03/ghostbusters-bill-murray-harold-ramis-dan-aykroyd_n_5758398.html |archive-date=January 13, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="IGNAvengers">{{cite web |first=Matt |last=Fowler | title=Kevin Feige Explains How Ghostbusters Influenced the End of The Avengers | date=November 16, 2019 | website=[[IGN]] | url=https://uk.ign.com/articles/2019/11/16/kevin-feige-explains-how-ghostbusters-influenced-the-end-of-the-avengers-martin-scorsese-mcu-cinema | access-date=November 17, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117005105/https://uk.ign.com/articles/2019/11/16/kevin-feige-explains-how-ghostbusters-influenced-the-end-of-the-avengers-martin-scorsese-mcu-cinema | archive-date=November 17, 2019 | url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="I09Jul14">{{cite web |first1=Alasdair |last1=Wilkins |first2=Charlie Jane |last2=Anders |title=The 13 Greatest Science Fiction Comedies Of All Time |url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-13-greatest-science-fiction-comedies-of-all-time-1613425431 |website=[[io9]] | date=July 30, 2014 |access-date=July 24, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123174531/https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-13-greatest-science-fiction-comedies-of-all-time-1613425431 |archive-date=January 23, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="io9Oct17">{{cite web |first=James |last=Whitbrook |title=Stranger Things Had to Ask Permission to Use ''Ghostbusters'' Halloween Costumes |url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/stranger-things-had-to-ask-permission-to-use-ghostbuste-1819838812 |website=[[io9]] |date=October 25, 2017 |access-date=July 31, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714132548/https://io9.gizmodo.com/stranger-things-had-to-ask-permission-to-use-ghostbuste-1819838812 |archive-date=July 14, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="I09Jun18">{{cite web |first1=Beth |last1=Elderkin |first2=Andrew |last2= Liszewski |title=Here Come the Men in Black (and ''Ghostbusters''!) in the Latest Tabletop Gaming News |url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/here-come-the-men-in-black-and-ghostbusters-in-the-l-1830163101 |website=[[io9]] |date=November 6, 2018 |access-date=August 4, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121154513/https://io9.gizmodo.com/here-come-the-men-in-black-and-ghostbusters-in-the-l-1830163101 |archive-date=November 21, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="I09Jan17">{{cite web |first=Andrew |last= Liszewski |title=Playmobil's New ''Ghostbusters'' Toys Are So Great You'll Wish You Had a Childhood Do-Over |url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/playmobils-new-ghostbusters-toys-are-so-great-youll-wis-1791389754 |website=[[io9]] |date=January 31, 2017 |access-date=August 4, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708231304/https://io9.gizmodo.com/playmobils-new-ghostbusters-toys-are-so-great-youll-wis-1791389754 |archive-date=July 8, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="IGNJul19">{{cite web |first=Matt |last=Fowler |title=The 25 Best Summer Blockbusters of All Time |url=https://uk.ign.com/articles/2019/07/01/the-25-best-summer-blockbusters-of-all-time |website=[[IGN]] |date=July 1, 2019 |access-date=July 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190705214655/https://uk.ign.com/articles/2019/07/01/the-25-best-summer-blockbusters-of-all-time |archive-date=July 5, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="IGNNov18">{{cite web | title=25 Best Comedies | date=November 28, 2018 | website=[[IGN]] | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/11/28/top-25-comedies-of-all-time?page=2 | access-date=January 15, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115184346/https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/11/28/top-25-comedies-of-all-time?page=2 | archive-date=January 15, 2019 | url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="IGNMay17">{{cite web |first=Samuel |last=Claiborn |title=''Ghostbusters'' Pinball Machine Announced by Stern Pinball |url=https://uk.ign.com/articles/2016/03/10/ghostbusters-pinball-machine-announced-by-stern-pinball |website=[[IGN]] |date=May 2, 2017 |access-date=August 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160723132954/http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/03/10/ghostbusters-pinball-machine-announced-by-stern-pinball |archive-date=July 23, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="IndieWireJun2012">{{cite web |first=Jessica |last=Kiang |title=5 Things You Might Not Know About ''Ghostbusters'' |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2012/06/5-things-you-might-not-know-about-ghostbusters-109754/ |website=[[IndieWire]] |date=June 8, 2012 |access-date=June 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180406025710/http://www.indiewire.com/2012/06/5-things-you-might-not-know-about-ghostbusters-109754/ |archive-date=April 6, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="LAWeeklyJul2016">{{cite web |first=Jared |last=Cowan |title=Ivan Reitman Looks Back at the Original ''Ghostbusters''{{'}} L.A. Locations |url=https://www.laweekly.com/ivan-reitman-looks-back-at-the-original-ghostbusters-l-a-locations/ |website=[[LA Weekly]] |date=July 7, 2016 |access-date=June 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190610175916/https://www.laweekly.com/ivan-reitman-looks-back-at-the-original-ghostbusters-l-a-locations/ |archive-date=June 10, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="LATimesMay17">{{cite web|first=Amina | last=Khan | url=https://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-dinosaur-ghostbusters-zuul-20170509-htmlstory.html|access-date=May 9, 2017|date=May 9, 2017|title=Dinosaur named for ''Ghostbusters'' creature found in Montana 75 million years after its death|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510030231/http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-dinosaur-ghostbusters-zuul-20170509-htmlstory.html|archive-date=May 10, 2017|url-status=live|url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="LATimesJun89">{{cite web |first=Claudia |last=Puig |title=Record-Busting Opening for 'Ghostbusters II' |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-06-20-ca-2613-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=June 20, 1989 |access-date=July 19, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719204404/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-06-20-ca-2613-story.html |archive-date=July 19, 2019 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="LATimesAug89">{{cite web |first=Terry |last=Atkinson |title=Video . . . What's New : Versatile Laser Discs Make A Big Comeback |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-08-25-ca-907-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=August 25, 1989 |access-date=June 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190630193843/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-08-25-ca-907-story.html |archive-date=June 30, 2019 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="LATimesMay87">{{cite web|first=Leonard |last=Klady |title=Ghostly Movies|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-05-17-ca-380-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=May 7, 1987 |access-date=August 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620143010/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-05-17-ca-380-story.html |archive-date=June 20, 2019 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="LATimesNov85">{{cite web |first=Dennis |last=Hunt |title=Mulling Over 'History Of White People' |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-11-01-ca-1058-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=November 1, 1985 |access-date=June 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190627223821/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-11-01-ca-1058-story.html |archive-date=June 27, 2019 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="LATimesSep11">{{cite web |first=Steven |last=Zeitchik |title=With re-release, can ''Ghostbusters'' pull a 'Lion King'? |url=https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/09/ghostbusters-new-revival-movie-lion-king-showtimes-theaters-los-angeles.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=September 27, 1985 |access-date=June 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190630211317/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/09/ghostbusters-new-revival-movie-lion-king-showtimes-theaters-los-angeles.html |archive-date=June 30, 2019 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="LATimesSep1985">{{cite web |first=Dennis |last=Hunt |title=''Ghostbusters'' Races ''Cop'' To Video Stores |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-09-27-ca-18449-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=September 27, 1985 |access-date=June 27, 2019 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20190610175916/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-09-27-ca-18449-story.html |archive-date=June 10, 2019 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="LATimesLincoln">{{cite web |first=David |last=Ng |title=Lincoln Center fountain, Star Of 'Ghostbusters' And 'Moonstruck,' Reopens|url=https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2009/10/lincoln-center-fountain-star-of-ghostbusters-and-moonstruck-reopens-after-renovations.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=October 2, 2009 |access-date=April 27, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123164138/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2009/10/lincoln-center-fountain-star-of-ghostbusters-and-moonstruck-reopens-after-renovations.html |archive-date=January 23, 2010 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="MediumJul16">{{cite web |first=Mike |last=Pizzo |title=The Freaky Legacy of the ''Ghostbusters'' Theme Song |url=https://medium.com/cuepoint/the-ghastly-legacy-of-the-ghostbusters-theme-song-28094f0e71a1 |website=[[Medium (website)|Medium]] |date=July 14, 2016 |access-date=June 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190627184237/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-09-27-ca-18449-story.html |archive-date=June 27, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Metacritic">{{Cite Metacritic |id=ghostbusters |type=movie |title=Ghostbusters |access-date=January 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209143840/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/ghostbusters |archive-date=December 9, 2014 |url-status=live |publisher_hide=yes}}</ref>

<ref name="MovieWebJul19">{{cite web |first=Jeremy |last=Dick |title=WWE Superstars Become ''Ghostbusters'' Complete with Undertaker Ghost in New Mattel Toys|url=https://movieweb.com/ghostbusters-wwe-action-figures-mattel-comic-con/ |date=July 18, 2019 |website=[[MovieWeb]] |access-date=August 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724210040/https://movieweb.com/ghostbusters-wwe-action-figures-mattel-comic-con/|archive-date=July 24, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="MSNBCMar16">{{cite web |first=Adam |last=Howard |title=All-female ''Ghostbusters'' already fending off controversy |url=https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/all-female-ghostbusters-already-fending-controversy |date=March 9, 2016 |website=[[MSNBC]] |access-date=July 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502180329/http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/all-female-ghostbusters-already-fending-controversy |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="NationalPostJun1414">{{cite news | first=Chris | last=Knight | title=Cultural Studies: Why ''Ghostbusters'' matters, and 10 things you probably didn't know about the movie | date=June 14, 2014 | website=[[National Post]] | url=https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/movies/cultural-studies-why-ghostbusters-matters-and-10-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-the-movie | access-date=August 9, 2019 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20190809211407/https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/movies/cultural-studies-why-ghostbusters-matters-and-10-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-the-movie | archive-date=August 9, 2019 | url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="NationalReviewFeb09">{{Cite web |date=February 5, 2009 |title=The Best Conservative Movies |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2009/02/23/best-conservative-movies/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220128202747/https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2009/02/23/best-conservative-movies/ |archive-date=January 28, 2022 |access-date=January 14, 2022 |website=[[National Review]]}}</ref>

<ref name="NewswireJun19">{{cite web |title=Sony Pictures Launches ''Ghostbusters''™ 35th Anniversary Celebration |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sony-pictures-launches-ghostbusters-35th-anniversary-celebration-300863750.html |date=June 7, 2019 |website=[[PR Newswire|PRNewswire.com]] |access-date=June 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630171831/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sony-pictures-launches-ghostbusters-35th-anniversary-celebration-300863750.html |archive-date=June 30, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="NewswireAug18">{{cite web |title=''Ghostbusters'' Fans: We got one! This Slot's for You – IGT's ''Ghostbusters'' 4D Video Slots |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ghostbusters-fans-we-got-one-this-slots-for-you--igts-ghostbusters-4d-video-slots-300693943.html |date=August 8, 2018 |website=[[PR Newswire|PRNewswire.com]] |access-date=August 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805203512/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ghostbusters-fans-we-got-one-this-slots-for-you--igts-ghostbusters-4d-video-slots-300693943.html|archive-date=August 5, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="NewYorkerApr14">{{cite magazine |first=Tad |last=Friend |title=Comedy First |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2004/04/19/comedy-first |date=April 11, 2014 |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |access-date=July 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160913122657/http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2004/04/19/comedy-first |archive-date=September 13, 2016 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="NYMag2005">{{cite web |first=Steven |last=Gaines |url=https://nymag.com/nymetro/realestate/vu/14943/ |title=One Apartment, 75 Years |date=October 28, 2005 |website=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170428091606/http://nymag.com/nymetro/realestate/vu/14943/|archive-date=April 28, 2017 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="NYT1988">{{cite web |first=Timothy |last=White |title=The Rumpled Anarchy of Bill Murray |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/20/magazine/the-rumpled-anarchy-of-bill-murray.html |date=November 20, 1988 |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=December 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20171223230321/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/20/magazine/the-rumpled-anarchy-of-bill-murray.html?pagewanted=all |archive-date=December 23, 2017 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="NyTimesDec85">{{cite web |first=Aljean |last=Harmetz |title=The Man Re-Animating Disney |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/12/29/magazine/the-man-re-animating-disney.html |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 29, 1985 |access-date=June 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20151130212625/http://www.nytimes.com/1985/12/29/magazine/the-man-re-animating-disney.html |archive-date=November 30, 2015 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="NYTimesJan87">{{cite web | first=Aljean | last=Harmetz | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/28/movies/where-movie-ticket-income-goes.html | title=Where Movie Ticket Income Goes | website=[[The New York Times]] | date=January 28, 1987 | access-date=May 12, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213211225/http://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/28/movies/where-movie-ticket-income-goes.html?pagewanted=all | archive-date=February 13, 2018 | url-status=live | url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="NYTimesJul1284">{{cite web| title = ''Ghostbusters'' Grosses Near 'Indiana Jones'| website = [[The New York Times]]| agency=[[Associated Press]] |date = July 12, 1984| url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9900EFD71339F931A25754C0A962948260| access-date = June 25, 2019| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130104064148/http://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/12/arts/ghostbusters-grosses-near-indiana-jones.html| archive-date = January 4, 2013| url-status = live| url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="NYTimesAug84">{{cite web| title = 'Purple Rain' Ousts ''Ghostbusters'' as No. 1| website = [[The New York Times]]| agency=[[United Press International]] |date = August 1, 1984| url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D04E3DE1638F932A3575BC0A962948260| access-date = June 25, 2019| archive-url = https://archive.today/20190624232204/https://www.nytimes.com/1984/08/01/movies/purple-rain-ousts-ghostbusters-as-no-1.html?searchResultPosition=17| archive-date = June 24, 2019| url-status = live| url-access = limited}}</ref>

<ref name="NYTAug884">{{cite web |title = ''Ghostbusters'' Regains Top Spot at Box Office|website=[[The New York Times]]| agency=[[United Press International]] | date = August 8, 1984| url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE0D71738F93BA3575BC0A962948260| access-date =December 4, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517074513/https://www.nytimes.com/1984/08/08/arts/ghostbusters-regains-top-spot-at-box-office.html |archive-date=May 17, 2017 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="NYTimesJun1989">{{cite web |first=Aljean |last=Harmetz |title=Movie Merchandise: The Rush Is On |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/14/movies/movie-merchandise-the-rush-is-on.html |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 14, 1989 |access-date=July 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416185851/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/14/movies/movie-merchandise-the-rush-is-on.html#selection-401.7-447.22 |archive-date=April 16, 2019 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="PeopleJun2014">{{cite web |first=Jelisa |last=Castrodale |title=30 Things You Need to Know About ''Ghostbusters'' on Its 30th Anniversary |url=https://people.com/movies/ghostbusters-anniversary-30-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-classic-film/ |website=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=June 6, 2014 |access-date=June 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504011825/http://people.com/movies/ghostbusters-anniversary-30-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-classic-film/ |archive-date=May 4, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="PeopleNov2014">{{cite web |first=Drew |last=Mackie |title=Celebrate 25 Years of ''The Little Mermaid'' with 25 Things Even Superfans May Not Know |url=https://people.com/celebrity/the-little-mermaid-25th-anniversary/ |website=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=September 3, 2014 |access-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819140119/https://people.com/celebrity/the-little-mermaid-25th-anniversary/ |archive-date=August 19, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name=philly>{{cite web|first=Nick |last=Vadala|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/entertainment/movies/Locally-produced-Ghostheads-doc-on-Ghostbusters-fandom-heads-to-Netflix.html|title=Locally produced ''Ghostbusters'' fandom doc 'Ghostheads' heads to Netflix|date=June 29, 2016|website=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|access-date=December 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215121404/http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/entertainment/movies/Locally-produced-Ghostheads-doc-on-Ghostbusters-fandom-heads-to-Netflix.html|archive-date=February 15, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="PNY">{{cite web |first=Ben |last=Hardwidge | title=''Ghostbusters'' is first film to be released on USB stick, News |website=[[Custom PC (magazine)|Custom PC]] |date=September 3, 2008 |url=http://www.custompc.co.uk/news/604788/ghostbusters-is-first-film-to-be-released-on-usb-stick.html |access-date=February 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228220828/http://www.custompc.co.uk/news/604788/ghostbusters-is-first-film-to-be-released-on-usb-stick.html |archive-date=February 28, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="PolygonJul16">{{cite web |first=Daniel |last=Friedman |title=How we've lost the ability to criticize ''Ghostbusters'' |url=https://www.polygon.com/2016/7/13/12173660/ghostbusters-criticism-anger |date=July 13, 2016 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |access-date=July 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623092435/https://www.polygon.com/2016/7/13/12173660/ghostbusters-criticism-anger|archive-date=June 23, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="PolygonJun1719">{{cite web |first=Emily |last=Heller |title=Transformers ''Ghostbusters'' toy mashup hits San Diego Comic-Con |url=https://www.polygon.com/deals/2019/6/17/18681872/ghostbusters-transformers-hasbro-action-figure-toy-comic-con-2019 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |date=June 17, 2019|access-date=June 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623095155/https://www.polygon.com/deals/2019/6/17/18681872/ghostbusters-transformers-hasbro-action-figure-toy-comic-con-2019 |archive-date=June 23, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="PolygonMay2219">{{cite web |first=Charlie |last=Hall |title=The ''Ghostbusters'' coming to Planet Coaster in bizarre DLC crossover |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/5/22/18635693/planet-coaster-ghostbusters-dlc |date=May 22, 2019 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |access-date=August 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701134943/https://www.polygon.com/2019/5/22/18635693/planet-coaster-ghostbusters-dlc|archive-date=July 1, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="PopMattersJun11">{{cite web |first=Nathan |last=Pensky |title=Can a Film Be Both a Blockbuster and a Cult Classic? |url=https://www.popmatters.com/135416-can-a-film-be-both-a-blockbuster-and-a-cult-classic-2496093360.html |date=January 6, 2011 |website=[[PopMatters]] |access-date=July 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727091517/https://www.popmatters.com/135416-can-a-film-be-both-a-blockbuster-and-a-cult-classic-2496093360.html |archive-date=July 27, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="RetroApr14">{{cite web |title=The Making Of ''Ghostbusters'' |url=https://www.retrogamer.net/retro_games80/the-making-of-ghostbusters/ |date=April 4, 2014 |website=[[Retro Gamer]] |access-date=July 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718223220/https://www.retrogamer.net/retro_games80/the-making-of-ghostbusters/ |archive-date=July 18, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="RevEbert">{{cite web|first= Roger |last= Ebert |author-link= Roger Ebert |title= ''Ghostbusters''|website= [[RogerEbert.com]] |date = June 8, 1984 |url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/ghostbusters-1984 |access-date= August 10, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190516214337/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/ghostbusters-1984 |archive-date = May 16, 2019 |url-status = live}}</ref>

<ref name="RevKehr">{{cite web |first=Dave|last=Kehr |author-link=Dave Kehr |title=''Ghostbusters'' |url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/ghostbusters/Film?oid=2456705 |date=1984 |website=[[Chicago Reader]] |access-date=August 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160719201038/https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/ghostbusters/Film?oid=2456705 |archive-date=July 19, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="RevMaslin">{{cite web |last= Maslin |first= Janet |author-link=Janet Maslin |title= ''Ghostbusters'' |website= [[The New York Times]] |date= June 8, 1984 |url= https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9904E6D9123BF93BA35755C0A962948260 |access-date= December 4, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110131173724/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9904E6D9123BF93BA35755C0A962948260 |archive-date = January 31, 2011 |url-status= live |url-access= limited}}</ref>

<ref name="RevNewsDay">{{cite web |first= Joseph |last= Gelmis |title=''Ghostbusters'': Newsday's 1984 review of original film |website= [[Newsday]] |date= June 8, 2016 |url= https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/movies/ghostbusters-newsday-s-1984-review-of-original-film-1.11891998 |access-date= August 15, 2019 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20190404071243/https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/movies/ghostbusters-newsday-s-1984-review-of-original-film-1.11891998 |archive-date = April 4, 2019 |url-status= live}}</ref>

<ref name="RevPeople">{{cite web |author=People Staff |title=Picks and Pans Review: ''Ghostbusters''|url=https://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-ghostbusters-vol-21-no-24/ |website=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=June 18, 1984 |access-date=August 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201203147/https://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-ghostbusters-vol-21-no-24/ |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="RevSiskel">{{cite web |first=Gene |last=Siskel |author-link=Gene Siskel |title=Bill Murray busts loose with ghosts |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/chi-ghostbuster-review-gene-siskel-020140224-story.html |date=June 8, 1984 |website=[[Chicago Tribune]] |access-date=August 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171220143330/https://www.chicagotribune.com/chi-ghostbuster-review-gene-siskel-020140224-story.html |archive-date=December 20, 2017 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="RevSchickel">{{cite magazine | first = Richard | last = Schickel | author-link=Richard Schickel | title = Exercise for Exorcists (Page 1) | magazine= [[Time (magazine)|Time]] | date = June 11, 1984 | url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,926579,00.html | access-date = August 12, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090114075221/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,926579,00.html | archive-date = January 14, 2009 | url-status = dead | url-access = limited}}</ref>

<ref name="RevSchickelB">{{cite magazine | first = Richard | last = Schickel | author-link=Richard Schickel | title = Exercise for Exorcists (Page 2) | magazine= [[Time (magazine)|Time]] | date = June 11, 1984 | url =http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,926579-2,00.html | access-date = August 12, 2019 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090224063725/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,926579-2,00.html | archive-date = February 24, 2009 | url-status = dead | url-access = limited}}</ref>

<ref name="RevTHR">{{cite web| url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ghostbusters-thrs-1984-review-748028 |title=''Ghostbusters'': THR's 1984 Review |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=November 11, 2014 |access-date=August 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404071243/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ghostbusters-thrs-1984-review-748028 |archive-date=April 4, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="RevVariety">{{cite web |title=''Ghost Busters'' |date=December 31, 1983 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/1983/film/reviews/ghost-busters-1200426081/ |access-date=August 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502051434/https://variety.com/1983/film/reviews/ghost-busters-1200426081/ |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="RollingStone">{{cite magazine |title=''Ghostbusters II'': Return of the Money-Making Slime |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/ghostbusters-ii-return-of-the-money-making-slime-19890601 |date=June 1, 1989 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=December 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715051011/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/ghostbusters-ii-return-of-the-money-making-slime-19890601 |archive-date=July 15, 2016 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="RollingJuly2016">{{cite magazine |first=Jennifer |last=Wood |title=Ivan Reitman: Why We're Still Talking About ''Ghostbusters'' 30 Years Later |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/ivan-reitman-why-were-still-talking-about-ghostbusters-30-years-later-226806/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=July 6, 2016 | access-date=June 12, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214131924/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/ivan-reitman-why-were-still-talking-about-ghostbusters-30-years-later-226806/ |archive-date=February 14, 2019 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="RollingStone80s">{{cite magazine | title=Readers' Poll: The 25 Greatest Movies of the 1980s | date= February 19, 2014| magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-lists/readers-poll-the-25-greatest-movies-of-the-1980s-10686/23-st-elmos-fire-214856/ | access-date=January 15, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115183932/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-lists/readers-poll-the-25-greatest-movies-of-the-1980s-10686/23-st-elmos-fire-214856/ | archive-date=January 15, 2019 | url-status=live | url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="RollingVinyl">{{cite magazine |first=Ryan |last=Reed |title='Ghostbusters' Theme Gets Glowing Vinyl Reissue for Record Store Day |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/ghostbusters-theme-gets-glowing-vinyl-reissue-for-record-store-day-236005/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=March 24, 2014 |access-date=August 4, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804222844/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/ghostbusters-theme-gets-glowing-vinyl-reissue-for-record-store-day-236005/ |archive-date=August 4, 2019 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="RollingVinyl2">{{cite magazine |first=Daniel |last=Kreps |title='Ghostbusters' Theme Gets 30th Anniversary Marshmallow-Scented Reissue |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ghostbusters-theme-gets-30th-anniversary-marshmallow-scented-reissue-41751/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=October 12, 2014 |access-date=August 4, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804222900/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ghostbusters-theme-gets-30th-anniversary-marshmallow-scented-reissue-41751/ |archive-date=August 4, 2019 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="RottenTomatoes">{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes|title=Ghostbusters|id={{RT data|rtid|noprefix=y}}|type=m|access-date={{RT data|access date}}|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224152424/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ghostbusters/|archive-date=December 24, 2018|url-status=live|publisher_hide=yes}}{{RT data|edit}}</ref>

<ref name="rs 2016">{{cite magazine | first = Charles | last = Bramsco | url = https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/how-ghostbusters-gave-birth-to-the-modern-blockbuster-121570/ | title = How ''Ghostbusters'' Gave Birth to the Modern Blockbuster | date = June 8, 2016 | access-date = July 2, 2019 | magazine= [[Rolling Stone]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702215208/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/how-ghostbusters-gave-birth-to-the-modern-blockbuster-121570/ |archive-date=July 2, 2019 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="RT100">{{cite web |title=140 Essential Comedies |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/essential-comedy-movies/2/ |access-date=July 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190724225348/https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/essential-comedy-movies/2/ |archive-date=July 24, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="RT200">{{cite web |title=200 Essential Movies to Watch Now |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |url=http://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/200-essential-movies-to-watch-now/ |access-date=December 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216115104/http://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/200-essential-movies-to-watch-now/ |archive-date=December 16, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="SalonFeb14">{{cite web |first=Scott |last=Dodd |title=Is ''Ghostbusters'' secretly an anti-EPA screed? |url=https://www.salon.com/2014/02/26/is_ghostbusters_secretly_an_anti_epa_screed_partner/ |date=February 26, 2014 |website=[[Salon (website)|Salon]] |access-date=August 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816233733/https://www.salon.com/2014/02/26/is_ghostbusters_secretly_an_anti_epa_screed_partner/ |archive-date=August 16, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Saturn1985">{{cite web |title=1984 Film Awards for Best Fantasy Film Release: Winner ''Ghostbusters'' |url=https://www.saturnawards.org/The-Saturn-Awards-Past-Winners.php?category=2&year=1984#b |website=[[Saturn Award|SaturnAwards.org]] |access-date=June 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190629110942/https://www.saturnawards.org/The-Saturn-Awards-Past-Winners.php?category=2&year=1984%23b |archive-date=June 29, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="ScreeNRantJul16">{{cite web |first=Mike |last=Mcgranaghan |title=The Best Moments in ''Ghostbusters'' History |url=https://screenrant.com/best-moments-ghostbusters-history/ |website=[[Screen Rant]] |date=July 7, 2016 |access-date=July 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190703172541/https://screenrant.com/best-moments-ghostbusters-history/ |archive-date=July 3, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="SROtherCast">{{cite web |first=Adrienne|last=Tyler |title=Ghostbusters Cast: The Actors Who Almost Played The Main Characters |url=https://screenrant.com/ghostbusters-movie-characters-actors-almost-cast-venkman-spengler/|website=[[Screen Rant]] |date=March 15, 2020 |access-date=August 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200316125035/https://screenrant.com/ghostbusters-movie-characters-actors-almost-cast-venkman-spengler/ |archive-date=March 16, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="ShortListEgon">{{cite web|first=Holly |last=Pyne | url =http://www.shortlist.com/entertainment/films/30-ghostbusters-facts |title=30 things you (probably) didn't know about Ghostbusters |website=[[ShortList]] |date=August 17, 2011 |access-date=March 1, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111201000/https://www.shortlist.com/news/30-ghostbusters-facts |archive-date=November 11, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="ShortListJul19">{{cite web |title=Best 80s movies: the greatest films of the 1980s|url=https://www.shortlist.com/lists/greatest-films-of-the-1980s-400064 |website=[[ShortList]] |date=July 3, 2019 |access-date=July 5, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705215055/https://www.shortlist.com/lists/greatest-films-of-the-1980s-400064|archive-date=July 5, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="SlashFeb17">{{cite web |first=Ethan |last=Anderton |title=A ''Ghostbusters'' Deleted Scene from 1984 Has Been Unearthed |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/ghostbusters-1984-deleted-scene/ |website=[[/Film]] |date=February 17, 2017 |access-date=June 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190622223434/https://www.slashfilm.com/ghostbusters-1984-deleted-scene/ |archive-date=June 22, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="SlashJul19">{{cite web |first=Ethan |last=Anderton |title=''Ghostbusters'' Will Meet the ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' Again…and Become Turtles? [Comic-Con 2017] |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-and-ghostbusters-crossover-sequel/ |website=[[/Film]] |date=July 20, 2019 |access-date=August 3, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606004123/https://www.slashfilm.com/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-and-ghostbusters-crossover-sequel/ |archive-date=June 6, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="SpikedJul16">{{cite web |first=Christian |last=Butler |title=Ghostbusters: haunted by the original |url=https://www.spiked-online.com/2016/07/15/ghostbusters-haunted-by-the-original/ |website=[[Spiked (magazine)|Spiked]] |date=July 15, 2016 |access-date=July 27, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727091805/https://www.spiked-online.com/2016/07/15/ghostbusters-haunted-by-the-original/ |archive-date=July 27, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="StanWinston">{{cite web |title=Bill Bryan – The Wizard of Foam and Plastic|url=https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/artists/bill-bryan-fabricator-innovator-performer|website=[[Stan Winston|stanwinstonschool.com]]|access-date=June 23, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825013038/https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/artists/bill-bryan-fabricator-innovator-performer |archive-date=August 25, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="SyFyApr19">{{cite web |first=Jeff |last=Spry |title=Sony's New ''Ghostbusters'' 4K Blu-Ray Steelbook Release Is Packed With Rare And Never-Seen Extras |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/sonys-new-ghostbusters-4k-blu-ray-steelbook-release-is-packed-with-rare-and-never-seen |website=[[Syfy]] |date=April 7, 2019 |access-date=June 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190630171757/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/sonys-new-ghostbusters-4k-blu-ray-steelbook-release-is-packed-with-rare-and-never-seen |archive-date=June 30, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="SyFyFeb19">{{cite web |first=Jeff |last=Spry |title=9 ''Ghostbusters'' Fan Films, Ranked |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/9-ghostbusters-fan-films-ranked |website=[[Syfy]] |date=February 5, 2019 |access-date=July 23, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190206035021/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/9-ghostbusters-fan-films-ranked |archive-date=February 6, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="TelegraphSep10">{{cite web |first=Andrew |last=Hough |title=''Transformers'' robots 'Britain's most popular toy' over past 25 years |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/8017063/Transformers-robots-Britains-most-popular-toy-over-past-25-years.html|website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=September 22, 2010 |access-date=August 1, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610183443/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/8017063/Transformers-robots-Britains-most-popular-toy-over-past-25-years.html |archive-date=June 10, 2019 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="TelegraphJul14">{{cite web |first=Tim |last=Robey |title=Why 1984 was the best year ever for popcorn cinema |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/10955829/Why-1984-was-the-best-year-ever-for-popcorn-cinema.html |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=July 10, 2014 |access-date=June 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140710222031/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/10955829/Why-1984-was-the-best-year-ever-for-popcorn-cinema.html |archive-date=July 10, 2014 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="TelegraphJun16">{{cite web |first=Rebecca |last=Hawkes |title=''Ghostbusters'': 10 things you didn't know about the original movie |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2016/06/08/slimer-was-played-by-a-peanut-and-other-surprising-ghostbusters/ |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=June 8, 2016 |access-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160715174956/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2016/06/08/slimer-was-played-by-a-peanut-and-other-surprising-ghostbusters/ |archive-date=July 15, 2016 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="TelegraphMar17">{{cite web |title=Best comedy movies: the 40 funniest films of all time |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/best-comedy-movies-funniest-films-time/ghostbusters-1984/ |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=March 24, 2017 |access-date=July 24, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730004236/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/best-comedy-movies-funniest-films-time/ghostbusters-1984/ |archive-date=July 30, 2018 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="TelegraphCast">{{cite web |first=Robbie |last=Collin |title=Who Are You Calling A Washed-Up Superhero? |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/birdman/michael-keaton-interview/ |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=February 25, 2015 |access-date=August 5, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122065605/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/birdman/michael-keaton-interview/|archive-date=November 22, 2020 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="TestedMay15">{{cite web |first=David |last=Konow |title=Putting Together ''Ghostbusters''{{'}} Special Effects |url=https://www.tested.com/art/movies/524482-putting-together-ghostbusters-special-effects/ |website=[[Tested.com]] |date=May 7, 2015 |access-date=June 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190622222404/https://www.tested.com/art/movies/524482-putting-together-ghostbusters-special-effects/ |archive-date=June 22, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="TheVergeApr14">{{cite web |first=Dante |last=D'Orazio |title=Something Strange in the Neighborhood: ''Ghostbusters'' Fan Art Invades New York City |url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/4/23/5643936/ghostbusters-takeover-on-its-30th-anniversary-the-sci-fi-classic |website=[[The Verge]] |date=April 23, 2014 | access-date=July 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027101103/https://www.theverge.com/2014/4/23/5643936/ghostbusters-takeover-on-its-30th-anniversary-the-sci-fi-classic |archive-date=October 27, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="TheVillage">{{cite web |title=Recorded at The Village – Elmer Bernstein's 'Ghostbusters' Score |url=http://villagestudios.com/recorded-at-the-village-elmer-bernsteins-ghostbusters-score/ |website=[[The Village (studio)|The Village]] |date=August 15, 2013 |access-date=June 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190622191736/http://villagestudios.com/recorded-at-the-village-elmer-bernsteins-ghostbusters-score/ |archive-date=June 22, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="THRFeb14">{{cite web|first1=Tatiana|last1=Siegel|first2=Borys|last2=Kit|title=''Ghostbusters III'' Script to Be Reworked Following Harold Ramis' Death|date=February 25, 2014|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ghostbusters-iii-script-be-reworked-683518|access-date=September 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140916155856/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ghostbusters-iii-script-be-reworked-683518|archive-date=September 16, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="THR2016">{{cite web| first=Stephen| last=Galloway | title=The Making of a Comedy Classic: Director Ivan Reitman Spills the Secrets Behind the Original ''Ghostbusters''| url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/ghostbusters-director-ivan-reitman-making-911408| date=July 15, 2016| website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]| access-date=December 18, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219000830/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/ghostbusters-director-ivan-reitman-making-911408| archive-date=December 19, 2018| url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="THRDec2015">{{cite web|first=Mike |last=Barnes |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ghostbusters-top-gun-enter-national-849092|title=''Ghostbusters'', ''Top Gun'', ''Shawshank'' Enter National Film Registry|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=December 16, 2015|access-date=December 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151219075612/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ghostbusters-top-gun-enter-national-849092|archive-date=December 19, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="THRJul12">{{cite web | first=Andy | last=Lewis | title=''Star Trek'', ''Star Wars'', ''Alien'', ''Ghostbusters'' Props Score Sky-High Prices at Auction | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-trek-star-wars-alien-auction-356571 | date=July 31, 2012 | website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] | access-date=July 22, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170601120140/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-trek-star-wars-alien-auction-356571 |archive-date=June 1, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="HTRJun16">{{cite web | first=Pamela| last=McClintock | title=Box Office: How ''Ghostbusters'' Compares to the First Two Films | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-how-ghostbusters-compares-911792 | date=July 19, 2016 | website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] | access-date=June 24, 2019 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20160723202336/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-how-ghostbusters-compares-911792 | archive-date=July 23, 2016 | url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="THRJun14">{{cite web| title=Hollywood's 100 Favorite Films | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/100-best-films-ever-hollywood-favorites-818512/item/ghostbusters-hollywoods-100-favorite-films-818454 | date=June 25, 2014 | website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]| access-date=July 5, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705214119/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/100-best-films-ever-hollywood-favorites-818512/item/ghostbusters-hollywoods-100-favorite-films-818454 |archive-date=July 5, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="THRApr16">{{cite web| first=Graeme | last=McMillan | title=Remembering the Long Forgotten ''Ghostbusters'' Spinoffs Through the Years | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/ghostbusters-spinoffs-a-brief-history-888253 | date=April 27, 2016 | website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] | access-date=August 5, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527215814/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/ghostbusters-spinoffs-a-brief-history-888253 | archive-date=May 27, 2016 | url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="THREctomobile">{{cite web | first=Graeme | last=McMillan| title=''Ghostbusters'' Fans Get Chance to Build Their Own Ectomobiles | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/ghostbusters-fans-get-chance-build-own-ectomobile-1216405 | date=June 7, 2019 | website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]| access-date=July 27, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608164850/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/ghostbusters-fans-get-chance-build-own-ectomobile-1216405 | archive-date=June 8, 2019 | url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="THRVelJohnson">{{cite web | first=Ryan | last=Parker | title='Family Matters' Actor Reginald VelJohnson Says Everyone Still Thinks He's A Cop | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/reginald-veljohnson-talks-comedy-action-840152/ | date=November 16, 2015 | website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]| access-date=June 24, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624193405/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/reginald-veljohnson-talks-comedy-action-840152/ |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="TimeOutMay16">{{cite web | first=Joshua | last=Rothkopf | title=The 30 best '80s movies | url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/movies/the-30-best-80s-movies | date=May 10, 2016 | website=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]] | access-date=July 5, 2019 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20190705213241/https://www.timeout.com/newyork/movies/the-30-best-80s-movies | archive-date=July 5, 2019 | url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="TimeOutOct14">{{cite web | first = Tom | last = Huddleston | title = ''Ghostbusters'' | website= [[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]] | date = October 27, 2014 | url = https://www.timeout.com/london/film/ghostbusters | access-date = December 20, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181220230614/https://www.timeout.com/london/film/ghostbusters | archive-date = December 20, 2018 | url-status = live}}</ref>

<ref name="TimeOutDec18">{{cite web |first1 =Alex |last1= Plim |first2 =Tom |last2=Huddleston |first3 =Geoff |last3=Andrew |first4 =Catherine |last4=Bray |first5 =Dave |last5= Calhoun|first6 =Cath |last6= Clarke|first7 =Alex |last7=Dudok de Wit |author7-link=Alex Dudok de Wit |first8 =Eddy |last8=Frankel |first9 =Trevor |last9=Johnston|display-authors=etal | title=The 100 best sci-fi movies | url=https://www.timeout.com/london/film/the-100-best-sci-fi-movies | date=December 12, 2018 | website=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]| access-date=July 24, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622211836/https://www.timeout.com/london/film/the-100-best-sci-fi-movies |archive-date=June 22, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="UPINov84">{{cite web | title=Casper's creators aren't so friendly | url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/11/16/Caspers-creators-arent-so-friendly/1331469429200/ | date=November 16, 1984 | website=[[United Press International]]| access-date=July 28, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728113246/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/11/16/Caspers-creators-arent-so-friendly/1331469429200/ |archive-date=July 28, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="USAAug14">{{cite web| first=Bryan | last=Alexander | title=''Ghostbusters'': Five scary facts about the 1984 classic | url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2014/08/29/ghostbusters-comedy-classic-cigarette/14829681/ | date=August 31, 2014 | website=[[USA Today]] | access-date=July 3, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703194100/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2014/08/29/ghostbusters-comedy-classic-cigarette/14829681/ |archive-date=July 3, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="VanityFair2014">{{cite web| first=Lesley M. M.| last=Blume|website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] | url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2014/06/ghostbusters-making-of| title=The Making of ''Ghostbusters'': How Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and "The Murricane" Built "The Perfect Comedy"| date=June 4, 2014| access-date=December 20, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317063300/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2014/06/ghostbusters-making-of| archive-date=March 17, 2018| url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="VarietyFrozen">{{Cite web |last=MacCary |first=Julia |date=November 8, 2023 |title=''Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire'' Trailer: Paul Rudd Is Back Battling Ghosts |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/ghostbusters-afterlife-delayed-1235054013/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108163424/https://variety.com/2023/film/news/ghostbusters-frozen-empire-trailer-paul-rudd-1235541779/ |archive-date=November 8, 2023 |access-date=November 8, 2023 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref>

<ref name="VarietyJun14">{{cite web |first=Andrea|last=Seikaly |title=''Ghostbusters'' to Celebrate 30th Anniversary With Theatrical Re-Release |date=June 5, 2014 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/ghostbusters-30th-anniversary-theater-re-release-1201214268/ |access-date=June 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140812050556/http://variety.com/2014/film/news/ghostbusters-30th-anniversary-theater-re-release-1201214268/ |archive-date=August 12, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="VarietySept1">{{Cite web |last=Rubin |first=Rebecca |date=September 1, 2021 |title=''Ghostbusters: Afterlife'' Delayed a Week |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/ghostbusters-afterlife-delayed-1235054013/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220105045846/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/ghostbusters-afterlife-delayed-1235054013/ |archive-date=January 5, 2022 |access-date=January 5, 2022 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref>

<ref name="VoxJul16">{{cite web |first=Peter |last=Suderman|title=The original ''Ghostbusters'' was hugely political. The new one, not so much. |date=July 20, 2016 |website=[[Vox (website)|Vox]] |url=https://www.vox.com/2016/7/20/12204422/ghostbusters-political-movies |access-date=August 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524221432/https://www.vox.com/2016/7/20/12204422/ghostbusters-political-movies |archive-date=May 24, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Voyager">{{cite web |title=The Criterion Collection: ''Ghostbusters'' |website=[[Voyager Company]] |url= http://www.voyagerco.com/criterion/catalogpage.cgi?ghostbusters |access-date=June 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970213145931/http://www.voyagerco.com/criterion/catalogpage.cgi?ghostbusters |archive-date=February 13, 1997}}</ref><

<ref name="VultureControl">{{cite web |first=Jada |last=Yuan |title=Ivan Reitman on Bill Murray, Internet Trolls, and Why He Fought for the ''Ghostbusters'' Reboot |url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/07/ivan-reitman-ghostbusters-bill-murray-qa.html | website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |date=July 14, 2016 |access-date=September 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608084559/https://www.vulture.com/2016/07/ivan-reitman-ghostbusters-bill-murray-qa.html |archive-date=June 8, 2019 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="VultureAug14">{{cite web |first=Brian |last=Feldman |title=A Roundup of Every ''Ghostbusters 3'' Rumor From the Past 25 Years |url=https://www.vulture.com/2014/08/ghostbusters-3-rumors-timeline.html |website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |date=August 7, 2014 |access-date=July 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150205215233/http://www.vulture.com/2014/08/ghostbusters-3-rumors-timeline.html |archive-date=February 5, 2015 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="VultureApr2011">{{cite web |first=Bradford |last=Evans |title=The Lost Roles of Eddie Murphy |url=https://www.vulture.com/2011/04/the-lost-roles-of-eddie-murphy.html |website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |date=April 7, 2011 |access-date=June 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190621221214/https://www.vulture.com/2011/04/the-lost-roles-of-eddie-murphy.html |archive-date=June 21, 2019 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="VultureJul16">{{cite web |first=Violet |last=Ramis Stiel |title=On My Dad Harold Ramis and Passing the ''Ghostbusters'' Torch to a New Generation of Fans |url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/07/on-my-dad-harold-ramis-and-passing-the-ghostbusters-torch-to-a-new-generation-of-fans.html |website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |date=July 14, 2016 |access-date=July 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008042244/http://www.vulture.com/2016/07/on-my-dad-harold-ramis-and-passing-the-ghostbusters-torch-to-a-new-generation-of-fans.html |archive-date=October 8, 2018 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="VultureMay2011">{{cite web |first=Bradford |last=Evans |title=The Lost Roles of Ghostbusters |url=https://www.vulture.com/2011/05/the-lost-roles-of-ghostbusters.html |website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |date=May 5, 2011 |access-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190604223624/https://www.vulture.com/2011/05/the-lost-roles-of-ghostbusters.html |archive-date=June 4, 2019 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="WashExamJun16">{{cite web |first=Philip |last=Klein |title=Why ''Ghostbusters'' is the most libertarian Hollywood blockbuster of all time |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/why-ghostbusters-is-the-most-libertarian-hollywood-blockbuster-of-all-time |website=[[Washington Examiner]] |date=June 27, 2016 |access-date=August 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816233732/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/why-ghostbusters-is-the-most-libertarian-hollywood-blockbuster-of-all-time |archive-date=August 16, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="WiredJul17">{{cite magazine |first=Rene |last=Chun |title=Inside The Deeply Nerdy—And Insanely Expensive—World Of Hollywood Prop Collecting |url=https://www.wired.com/2017/03/super-expensive-hollywood-props/ |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=March 7, 2017 |access-date=June 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929011829/https://www.wired.com/2017/03/super-expensive-hollywood-props/ |archive-date=September 29, 2018 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}</ref>

<ref name="WGANov15">{{cite web|title=101 Funniest Screenplays List|url=http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=5949|website=[[Writers Guild of America West|WGA.org]] |date=November 11, 2015|access-date=April 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202091302/http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=5949|archive-date=February 2, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="WizardApr19">{{cite web |title=Numerous Supporting Cast, Crew Added To Ghostbusters™ Fan Fest Presented By Wizard World June 7–8 |url=https://wizardworld.com/news/numerous-supporting-cast-crew-added-to-ghostbusters-fan-fest-presented-by-wizard-world-june-7-8 |website=[[Wizard Entertainment|wizardworld.com]] |date=April 22, 2019 |access-date=August 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190723214424/https://wizardworld.com/news/wizard-world-sony-pictures-team-for-ghostbusters-fan-fest-presented-by-wizard-world-june-8-9-2019 |archive-date=July 23, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="WizardJun18">{{cite web |title=Wizard World, Sony Pictures Team For Ghostbusters Fan Fest Presented by Wizard World, June 8–9, 2019 |url=https://wizardworld.com/news/wizard-world-sony-pictures-team-for-ghostbusters-fan-fest-presented-by-wizard-world-june-8-9-2019 |website=[[Wizard Entertainment|wizardworld.com]] |date=June 7, 2018 |access-date=July 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819133340/https://wizardworld.com/news/numerous-supporting-cast-crew-added-to-ghostbusters-fan-fest-presented-by-wizard-world-june-7-8 |archive-date=August 19, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>}}

==Works cited==
'''Books'''
* {{cite book | last=Austin |first=Bruce A. |title=Immediate Seating: A Look at Movie Audiences |year=1989 |chapter=Which Show to See? |isbn=978-0-534-09366-2 |publisher=[[Cengage|Wadsworth Publishing]] |location=Sydney |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cFMbAQAAIAAJ&q=ghostbusters}}
* {{cite book | last=Clare |first=Ralph |title=Fictions Inc.: The Corporation in Postmodern Fiction, Film, and Popular Culture |chapter=Good Times, Bad Times... You Know I Had My Share(s): The Corporation in Five Popular Films |year=2014|isbn= 978-0-8135-6589-7 |publisher=[[Rutgers University Press]] |location=[[New Brunswick, New Jersey]] |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/book/35202}}
* {{cite book |last=Inguanzo |first=Ozzy |title=[[Ghostbusters: Afterlife]]: The Art and Making of the Movie |date=November 2021 |publisher=[[Titan Books]] |location=London |isbn=978-1-78909-652-1 |edition=First}}
* {{cite book | last=Matthews |first=Nicole |title=Comic Politics: Gender in Hollywood Comedy After the New Right |year=2000 |isbn= 978-0-7190-5503-4|publisher=[[Manchester University Press]] |location=[[Manchester]], England |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oSDgMnlWln4C&pg=PA106}}
* {{cite book|last=Schneider|first=Steven Jay|title=[[1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die]]|date=2013|publisher=[[Murdoch Books]] Pty Limited|location=[[Boston]], Massachusetts | isbn=978-0-7641-6613-6|page=708}}
* {{cite book| last=Wallace | first=Daniel |year= 2015| title=Ghostbusters: The Ultimate Visual History| publisher= Insight Editions|location=[[San Rafael, California]]|isbn=978-1-60887-510-8}}
* {{cite book | last=Whalley|first=Jim |title=Saturday Night Live, Hollywood Comedy, and American Culture: From Chevy Chase to Tina Fey |year=2010 |isbn= 978-0-230-10358-0|publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]] |location=London}}

'''Journals'''
* {{cite journal | last=Clark |first=Zoila |title=Immigrants as aliens in the Ghostbusters films |year=2015 |publisher=Intellect Books |journal=Australasian Journal of Popular Culture |volume= 4|issue= 1| pages=29–42 |location=[[Bristol]], United Kingdom | doi=10.1386/ajpc.4.1.29_1 | issn = 2045-5852 }}
* {{cite journal|last=Corcos |first=Christine Alice|date=Fall 1997|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/42842703 |title='Who Ya Gonna C(S)ite?' Ghostbusters and the Environment Regulation Debate|journal=[[Journal of Land Use & Environmental Law]]|volume=13|number=1|jstor=42842703|pages=231–272|access-date=April 4, 2021}}
* {{cite journal|last=Crisp |first=Jane |title="no Message, no Sex, just Good Fun": Dealing with Gender Representation in Popular Films. |date=May 13, 1987|journal=[[Hecate (journal)|Hecate]] |publisher=Hecate Press|volume=13 |issue=1 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/210924065|location=[[St Lucia, Queensland]] |id={{ProQuest|210924065}}}}

'''Magazines'''
* {{cite magazine | last=Larson | first=Randall D. | year=1985 |title=Elmer Bernstein and ''Ghostbusters''| magazine=CinemaScore: The Film Music Journal |issue=13/14 |location=United States |url=https://cnmsarchive.wordpress.com/2013/09/06/elmer-bernstein-and-ghostbusters/comment-page-1/ |access-date=September 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622205251/https://cnmsarchive.wordpress.com/2013/09/06/elmer-bernstein-and-ghostbusters/comment-page-1/ |archive-date=June 22, 2019 |url-status=live}}
* {{cite magazine | last=McCabe | first=Joseph | year= 2016 |title=Bustin' Out a Classic | magazine=[[SFX (magazine)|The Complete SFX Guide to Ghostbusters]] |location=United Kingdom | url=https://archive.org/details/SFX.Special.Edition.The.Complete.Guide.to.Ghostbusters.2016.True.PDF/page/n13 |access-date=August 17, 2019}}
* {{cite magazine | ref={{sfnref|McCabeB|2016}} | last=McCabe | first=Joseph | year= 2016 | title=Ghostly Visions | magazine=[[SFX (magazine)|The Complete SFX Guide to Ghostbusters]] |location=United Kingdom | url=https://archive.org/details/SFX.Special.Edition.The.Complete.Guide.to.Ghostbusters.2016.True.PDF/page/n25 |access-date=August 17, 2019}}
* {{cite magazine | ref={{sfnref|McCabeC|2016}} | last=McCabe | first=Joseph | year= 2016 | title=Making Magic | magazine=[[SFX (magazine)|The Complete SFX Guide to Ghostbusters]] | location=United Kingdom | url=https://archive.org/details/SFX.Special.Edition.The.Complete.Guide.to.Ghostbusters.2016.True.PDF/page/n77 |access-date=August 17, 2019}}
* {{cite magazine|magazine=[[Screen International]]|date=January 3, 1987|pages=8–9|title=That Was The Year That Was|last=Newport|first=David |location=United Kingdom}}
* {{cite magazine| last=Waddell | first=Callum |year= 2016 |title=Slimer Designer | magazine=[[SFX (magazine)|The Complete SFX Guide to Ghostbusters]] |location=United Kingdom |url=https://archive.org/details/SFX.Special.Edition.The.Complete.Guide.to.Ghostbusters.2016.True.PDF/page/n39 |access-date=August 17, 2019}}

'''Newspapers'''
* {{cite news | last = Ansen | first = David | author-link = David Ansen | title = Got a Demon in Your Icebox? | work=[[Newsweek]] | date = June 11, 1984|location= New York City}}
* {{cite news | title=''Ghostbusters'' phenomenon continues |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1915&dat=19841016&id=H3UfAAAAIBAJ&pg=3881,3504919 | date=October 16, 1984|work=[[The Day (New London)|The Day]] | access-date= January 21, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720215655/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1915&dat=19841016&id=H3UfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DHIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3881,3504919 <!-- backup https://archive.today/20190720215103/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1915&dat=19841016&id=H3UfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DHIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3881,3504919 --> |archive-date= July 20, 2019 |url-status=live |location= [[New London, Connecticut]] |ref={{sfnref|TheDay|1984}}}}
* {{cite news |last=Harmetz |first=Aljean |date= February 2, 1986 |title=Next video-cassette boom may be mass market sales |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1320&dat=19860202&id=77QRAAAAIBAJ&pg=2690,550249&hl=en |work=[[The Gainesville Sun]] |location=Gainesville, Florida |access-date=December 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629101159/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1320&dat=19860202&id=77QRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6OkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2690,550249&hl=en <!-- Backup archive.today/4tAwc --> |archive-date=June 29, 2019 |url-status=live}}
* {{cite news | last = Hicks | first = Christopher | title = ''Ghostbusters'' a funny step forward for crazy trio | work= [[Deseret News]] | date = June 8, 1984 | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=336&dat=19840608&id=AatNAAAAIBAJ&pg=5640,3404745 |location=Salt Lake City, Utah| access-date =August 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815225815/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=336&dat=19840608&id=AatNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=G4MDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5640,3404745 |archive-date=August 15, 2019 |url-status=live}}
* {{cite news |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1984/06/25/the-pop-junkpile| last = Kael | first = Pauline | title = The Pop Junkpile | magazine=[[The New Yorker]] | date = June 25, 1984 | location=New York City}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.ghostbusters.com/}}
* {{IMDb title|0087332|Ghostbusters}}

{{Ghostbusters}}
{{Ivan Reitman}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film 1973–1990}}
{{Subject bar|portal1=1980s|portal2=Film |portal3=United States|portal4=Science fiction|commons=yes|n=yes|wikt=yes|q=yes|d=yes|voy=yes|c=Category:Ghostbusters|d-search=Q108745}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ghostbusters films]]
[[Category:1984 comedy films]]
[[Category:1984 comedy horror films]]
[[Category:1984 films]]
[[Category:1980s fantasy comedy films]]
[[Category:1980s ghost films]]
[[Category:1980s monster movies]]
[[Category:1980s American films]]
[[Category:1980s English-language films]]
[[Category:1980s supernatural horror films]]
[[Category:American adventure comedy films]]
[[Category:American comedy horror films]]
[[Category:American fantasy comedy films]]
[[Category:American supernatural horror films]]
[[Category:American monster movies]]
[[Category:Demons in film]]
[[Category:Giant monster films]]
[[Category:Films about spirit possession]]
[[Category:United States National Film Registry films]]
[[Category:Columbia Pictures films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Ivan Reitman]]
[[Category:Films produced by Ivan Reitman]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Dan Aykroyd]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Harold Ramis]]
[[Category:Films scored by Elmer Bernstein]]
[[Category:Films adapted into television shows]]
[[Category:Films set in New York City]]
[[Category:Films set in apartment buildings]]
[[Category:Films set in Columbia University]]
[[Category:Films set in libraries]]
[[Category:Films shot in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Films shot in New York City]]
[[Category:Films using stop-motion animation]]
[[Category:Puppet films]]
[[Category:1984 science fiction films]]
[[Category:English-language comedy horror films]]
[[Category:English-language science fiction horror films]]
[[Category:English-language fantasy comedy films]]
[[Category:Saturn Award–winning films]]