A family's home is haunted by a host of demonic ghosts.A family's home is haunted by a host of demonic ghosts.A family's home is haunted by a host of demonic ghosts.
- Nominated for 3 Oscars
- 5 wins & 9 nominations total
JoBeth Williams
- Diane Freeling
- (as Jobeth Williams)
Lou Perryman
- Pugsley
- (as Lou Perry)
Clair E. Leucart
- Bulldozer Driver
- (as Clair Leucart)
Joseph Walsh
- Neighbor
- (as Joseph R. Walsh)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaHeather O'Rourke kept the pet goldfish Carol Anne has in the film.
- GoofsMany viewers have pointed out that only one of the houses in the neighborhood is affected by ghosts even though the whole neighborhood and many other houses were built on the same ground. However, there are two sections of the movie that explain this discrepancy: one in which Steven tells a prospective buyer that his family was one of the first to move into their neighborhood, and another in which Steven's boss mentions that Carol Anne was born in the house. The novelization makes the connection more explicit: because Carol Anne was born in the burial ground, the spirits gravitated toward the Freeling household, attracted by her life force.
- Quotes
Carol Anne Freeling: They're here.
- Crazy creditsAfter the credits and the logo of the MGM lion is shown, we hear children laughing. Fans of the film have assumed that the laughing children are those who have been released from the beast and have crossed over the threshold into the next life.
- Alternate versionsFor ABC's 1985 network television premiere, Marty's hallucination is altered so instead of him ripping his own face off, he sees his face rapidly deteriorate briefly.
- ConnectionsEdited into Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986)
- SoundtracksThe Star-Spangled Banner
(1814) (uncredited)
Music based on "The Anacreontic Song" by John Stafford Smith
Arranged by Arturo Toscanini
[Played as TV sign-off music several times]
Featured review
A Classic of the Horror Genre
In the Cuesta Verde suburb, in California, the real state agent Steve Freeling (Craig T. Nelson) lives a comfortable life with his wife Diane (Jobeth Williams) and their children Dana (Dominique Dunne), Robbie (Oliver Robins) and Carol Anne (Heather O'Rourke). Now Steve has decided to build a swimming pool for the family. One night, the Freelings witness Carol Anne talking to the static in their television set and telling that they are here. On the following days, the family witnesses weird events in their house and Carol Anne vanishes. Steve and Diane visit the parapsychologist Dr. Lesh (Beatrice Straight) from the university and she goes with her team to the Freelings' house. Soon she realizes that the family is living a poltergeist phenomenon. Further, Steve has a conversation with his chief Mr. Teague (James Karen) and learns that the community was built on a former cemetery. Will they be capable to retrieve Carol Anne from the demon that is holding the little girl?
"Poltergeist" is a horror movie written and produced by Steven Spielberg but directed by Tobe Hooper due to the contract of Spielberg of exclusivity while making "E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial" film. "Poltergeist" can be considered a classic of the horror genre, with an original story of haunted house. There are two sequels and one remake of this movie but none of them comparable to the original film. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Poltergeist: O Fenômeno" ("Poltergeist: The Phenomenon")
"Poltergeist" is a horror movie written and produced by Steven Spielberg but directed by Tobe Hooper due to the contract of Spielberg of exclusivity while making "E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial" film. "Poltergeist" can be considered a classic of the horror genre, with an original story of haunted house. There are two sequels and one remake of this movie but none of them comparable to the original film. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Poltergeist: O Fenômeno" ("Poltergeist: The Phenomenon")
helpful•2013
- claudio_carvalho
- Sep 21, 2015
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Poltergeist: Juegos Diabólicos
- Filming locations
- 4267 Roxbury Street, Forest Hills, Simi Valley, California, USA(Freeling house exteriors)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $10,700,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $77,177,301
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $6,896,612
- Jun 6, 1982
- Gross worldwide
- $77,231,990
- Runtime1 hour 54 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1
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