Ghostbusters

also known as “Ghost Busters,” “Ghost Smashers,” “Arvoh ovchilari,” “Biệt Đội Săn Ma,” “Krotitelé duchu,” “Draugabanar,” “Els caçafantasmes,” “Ghostbusters - Die Geisterjäger,” See all »

MPA Rating: PG-Rating (MPA)

for unspecified reasons.

Reviewed by: Evan Land
CONTRIBUTOR

Moral Rating:	Average (somewhat offensive)
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience:	• Teens • Young-Adults • Adults
Genre:	Sci-Fi Action Supernatural-Horror Comedy
Length:	1 hr. 45 min.
Year of Release:	1984
USA Release:	June 8, 1984

Relevant Issues

Ghosts in the Bible

Demons in the Bible

Is Satan a real person that influences our world today? Is he affecting you? Answer

DEMON POSSESSION and Influence—Can Christians be demon possessed? In what ways can Satan and his demons influence believers? Answer

Exorcism

Featuring	Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, Rick Moranis, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, William Atherton
Director	Ivan Reitman
Producer	Ivan Reitman Bernie Brillstein See all » Michael C. Gross Joe Medjuck Columbia - Delphi Productions Black Rhino Productions
Distributor	Columbia Pictures, a division of Sony Pictures

This movie takes place in the beautiful city of New York. Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray and Harold Ramis just got fired from their nice job at a University where they were teaching a course on “Paranormal Psychology.” Now they have to find out what they’re going to do for a living. So they open up their business of catching ghosts; there seem to be a lot of them in New York. The business is about to go broke, until Sigourney Weaver hires them to find out what are all of these strange things that are going on in her apartment.

Content Warnings: Bill Murray tries to date Sigourney Weaver, and Weaver keeps on saying “no” throughout the picture, until towards the end of the movie where Weaver becomes possessed by a demon and tries to make love to Murray’s character. Murray answers Weaver’s request in a joking manner. Rick Moranis is the stereotypical next door neighbor who also happens to like Weaver (incidentally, Moranis is also possessed by a demon).

Although I wouldn’t recommend this movie for any Christians, there are some good qualities that are portrayed in this movie. One of them is that Dan Aykroyd’s character (who never met G-d) quoted the book of Matthew. Another good quality of this movie is that Winston (Ernie Hudson), who is one of the people who hunts ghosts, says he loves “Jesus’ style.” There is even mention of some of the pagan gods that were worshiped in Sumeria. The other positive aspect about this movie is that it shows what can happen when you are demon possessed.

Followed by: “Ghostbusters II” (1989) and various spinoffs, TV series and cartoons

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.

Positive
Negative
Young people

Positive

Positive—This movie is a lot of fun. There are many classic lines. Good triumphs over evil. Bill Murray’s character is flawed, but aren’t we all? I am not saying his flawed character should be emulated, but let’s use his character to recognize and understand we need a savior.

It is, also, good to see how flawed people can still do good even though it may be a relative good. The Bible is full of stories where God uses flawed people to accomplish His purposes. We need to understand that and not try to be perfect before we work for God. We will never attain perfection on this Earthly plain. I digress. Young children might be frightened. Parental guidance is needed to explain some of the sexual humor.
My Ratings: [Average / 4]

Mark L. Gilliam, age 40

Negative

Negative—The review is accurate as far as it goes, but is very generous. This film is filled with occult teaching, sugarcoated with a layer of comedy. The bit with the “Gatekeeper” (the female demon possessing Weaver) and the “Keymaster” (the male one possessing Moranis) using their hosts to have “magic sex” in order to open the portal for a third demon… the scene where the Ghostbusters fall into a hole in the street and then “rise” and fight the demons, to the cheers of everyone including nuns and Hasidic Jews… memorable quotes like, “Next time someone asks you if you’re a god, say yes”… it’s one continual assault on the audience.

“The weapons of our warfare are not carnal” (2 Cor. 10:4) means, in part, that we can’t fight the spirit world with a bunch of high-tech gadgetry. Spiritual power must be defeated by a stronger Spiritual power (Luke 11:20-22).
My Ratings: [Average / 4]

Brett Willis, age 51

Comments from young people

Negative—I have NO clue why this movie was left a comedy. Yes, it was really funny at parts, and it was a good movie. (Effect-wise, movie making quality, story-wise, great acting) But there is just as many deomic and devilsh things in “Ghostbusters” as there is in “Exorcist”. Lots of demons or they call “ghosts”. The first 30 minutes would make any child under 12 scream like theres no tomorrow. So now I don’t even know why the MPA left is PG! Want a good movie, see “Shanghai Noon,” but this movie was a waste.
My Ratings: [Very Offensive / 4]

Davie Powers, age 14

I really liked this movie, although there was some sexuality (when Weaver gets possessed by a demon and offers Murray sex), but there was no profanity.
My Ratings: [Average / 4]

Ryan Flesch, age 12

PLEASE share your observations and insights to be posted here.