Ghostbusters facts for kids

Ghostbusters is a super popular American comedy movie from 1984. It's all about a team of scientists who start a business to catch and trap ghosts in New York City. The movie was directed by Ivan Reitman. It was written by two of its stars, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. The main actors include Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Sigourney Weaver, Annie Potts, William Atherton, Ernie Hudson, and Rick Moranis. Elmer Bernstein created the music for the film. Ghostbusters was so successful that a sequel, Ghostbusters II, came out later.

Story of the Ghostbusters

The movie follows three smart but quirky scientists: Peter Venkman (played by Bill Murray), Raymond Stantz (played by Dan Aykroyd), and Egon Spengler (played by Harold Ramis). They study strange things like ghosts. When their university fires them, they decide to start their own business. Their new company is called "Ghostbusters," and their job is to catch ghosts for money!

They set up their headquarters in an old firehouse in New York City. They invent special equipment like proton packs, which are like powerful vacuum cleaners for ghosts. They also have a cool car called Ecto-1, which is a modified ambulance.

First Ghostly Encounters

Their first customer is Dana Barrett (played by Sigourney Weaver), a cellist who lives in a fancy apartment building. She tells them that her refrigerator is acting strangely and seems to be a gateway to another dimension. Soon, more and more ghosts start appearing all over the city. The Ghostbusters become very busy and famous.

They hire a new member, Winston Zeddemore (played by Ernie Hudson), to help with all the ghost-catching. Their secretary, Janine Melnitz (played by Annie Potts), also helps keep things organized.

Facing a Big Threat

As the number of ghosts grows, the Ghostbusters realize something big is happening. An ancient evil god named Gozer the Destructor is trying to come back to Earth through Dana's apartment building. A government official named Walter Peck (played by William Atherton) doesn't believe in ghosts and tries to shut down the Ghostbusters. He even turns off their ghost containment unit, which releases all the ghosts they've caught back into the city!

New York City becomes a chaotic mess with ghosts flying everywhere. The Ghostbusters must team up to stop Gozer and save the city from total destruction. They face off against powerful spirits and even a giant marshmallow man!

Making the Movie

Ghostbusters was a huge hit when it came out on June 8, 1984. People loved its mix of comedy, special effects, and spooky fun. The movie's theme song, "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr., also became incredibly popular.

The special effects for the ghosts and monsters were quite advanced for the time. For example, the famous "Slimer" ghost was designed by Steve Johnson. The movie's success led to a sequel, Ghostbusters II, in 1989, and many other movies, TV shows, and video games in the Ghostbusters universe.

Images for kids

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  Stars of the film include (l-r) Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Ernie Hudson, Harold Ramis, and Annie Potts

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  Director Ivan Reitman (in 2013) contributed ideas to the Ghostbusters script and helped secure its funding.

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  William Atherton (in 2009) portrays Environmental Protection Agency inspector Walter Peck.

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  55 Central Park West (in 2007), which served as the setting for the climactic battle

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  Firehouse, Hook & Ladder Company 8 (in 2007), the New York City firehouse used for the exterior of the Ghostbusters headquarters

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  Steve Johnson created the final design for the "Onion Head ghost", later named "Slimer".

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  Following Harold Ramis's death in 2014, fans commemorated Ramis by leaving tributes outside Hook & Ladder 8.

See also

In Spanish: Los cazafantasmas para niños