Poltergeist

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Poltergeist

PG,

1982,

1h 54m,

Horror/

Mystery & Thriller

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Watchlist

89%

80 Reviews

Tomatometer

79%

100,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

80 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Strange and creepy happenings beset an average California family, the Freelings -- Steve (Craig T. Nelson), Diane (JoBeth Williams), teenaged Dana (Dominique Dunne), eight-year-old Robbie (Oliver Robins), and five-year-old Carol Ann (Heather O'Rourke) -- when ghosts commune with them through the television set. Initially friendly and playful, the spirits turn unexpectedly menacing, and, when Carol Ann goes missing, Steve and Diane turn to a parapsychologist and eventually an exorcist for help.

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Critics Consensus

Smartly filmed, tightly scripted, and -- most importantly -- consistently frightening, Poltergeist is a modern horror classic.

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Wendy Ide

The Times (UK)

Oct 23, 2023

... A masterclass in creeping suburban horror.

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

Oct 21, 2022

4/5

One of the great anti-TV movies, alongside Network and The Truman Show.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Oct 21, 2022

5/5

The keynote of the film is O’Rourke’s eerie, ethereally pale face, illuminated by the unearthly light of the haunted TV.

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Rachel Wagner

Rachel's Reviews (YouTube)

Oct 28, 2025

They do a great job building tension with some effective scares

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Bryce Hanson

Horror Movie Talk

Sep 18, 2025

10/10

It really has something for everyone. It’s accessible enough to general audiences that don’t want to see gore, or be constantly scared out of their gore, but it has enough scares and good special effects to satisfy most horror fanatics.

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Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

Sep 11, 2025

4/5

The major scares stuck with audiences for good reason, though it's the family dynamics that really make this one a classic.

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Khalid

Nov 9, 2020

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Ralph

Nov 9, 2020

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Delphia

Nov 9, 2020

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Cooper

Nov 9, 2020

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Abraham R

Mar 20, 2019

While the special effects don't necessarily hold up to today's standards, "Poltergeist" is still a thrilling haunted house film with all the typical Spielberg touches and an impressive exhibit of family drama when the youngest daughter goes missing through the television.

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Mar 12, 2019

I could watch it over and over again. It was made awhile ago so the graphics arenâ(TM)t going to be as good but it doesnâ(TM)t really matter since the older age technology is replaced with an amazing story

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Tobe Hooper

Director

Craig T. Nelson

Steve Freeling

JoBeth Williams

Diane Freeling

Beatrice Straight

Dr. Lesh

Dominique Dunne

Dana Freeling

Oliver Robins

Robbie Freeling

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Synopsis

Strange and creepy happenings beset an average California family, the Freelings -- Steve (Craig T. Nelson), Diane (JoBeth Williams), teenaged Dana (Dominique Dunne), eight-year-old Robbie (Oliver Robins), and five-year-old Carol Ann (Heather O'Rourke) -- when ghosts commune with them through the television set. Initially friendly and playful, the spirits turn unexpectedly menacing, and, when Carol Ann goes missing, Steve and Diane turn to a parapsychologist and eventually an exorcist for help.

Director: Tobe Hooper
Producer: Frank Marshall
Screenwriter: Michael Grais, Mark Victor
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Rating: PG
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 4, 1982, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $121.8M
Runtime: 1h 54m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo, Dolby
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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