Ghostbusters

  • Review Date: October 30, 2005
  • PG
  • Genre: Comedy
  • 1984
 Review

Common Sense Media says

Paranormal fun with some scares, innuendo.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this iconic '80s movie is pretty tame for it to be about catching scary ghosts (only a few are skeletal and scary) and the possible end of the world. The scariest part is probably the large dogs with glowing eyes that attack and possess two characters. Viewers will find some language that's strong for a PG ("s--t" a few times, for starters) and sexually charged scenes, one where a character fantasizes briefly about a ghost giving him oral pleasure, and another where a possessed woman writhes around and says "I want you inside me" to Peter, who laughs it off. Two Ghostbusters do a lot of smoking, often dangling a cigarette out of their mouths while trying to catch ghosts.

  • A rare movie where scientists save the day.
  • Peter Venkman is shown as a bit of a womanizer for comic effect, but figures out he'll have more chances getting the girl through heroism. The Ghostbusters band together and trust each other in difficult situations.
  • Plenty of blasting from special ghost-busting lasers. A hotel ballroom is destroyed and another building explodes with the main characters running for their lives. Ghosts take over NYC, some scary-looking (with decomposing skeletal appearances and wicked grins) some not (slimy green blobs who eat a lot). Two characters are possessed by large dog-like creatures. One has arms grab her through a chair and screams as she's hurled through the room. A building crumbles and pieces fall on a crowd below who also almost get smashed by a 50-foot walking marshmallow. Mentions of ancient god worship and sacrifices, as well as judgment day and what it meant according to the Bible and other traditions. A demi-god attacks with lightning bolts coming from her arms.
  • A fantasy scene implies Ray receives oral pleasure from a ghost; you see his pants mysteriously unzipped down to his underwear and his eyes cross in pleasure. Dana makes bold sexual advances while possessed, writhing around, and showing lots of leg. She even says, "Do you want this body?" "Take me now" and "I want you inside me" to Peter who jokes that she already has more than one person inside her. Plus a few kisses and plenty of innuendo, including a joke about getting the Stay Puft Marshmallow "laid."
  • "S--t" is said three times, "bitch" once, "ass" and other versions a few times, "pissed," "hell," "mother puss bucket," and jokes about an EPA official having no "d--k."
  • Coke is seen a few times, a Twinkie is used as a metaphor, and one of the Ghostbusters shouts, "it's Miller time." Cheese-Its and Budweiser are consumed. A montage shows the Ghostbusters on the cover of some prominent magazines like Time and The Atlantic with the voices of Casey Kasem and Larry King in the background.
  • Lots of smoking, mostly by Peter and Ray who often have a cigarette dangling from their lips while catching ghosts. They also share a bottle of hard alcohol after being fired from their jobs and are seen drinking beer a few times. A ghost chugs wine that goes right through him.

What's the story?

The hilarious team of Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd and Harold Ramis fight ghosts and ghouls in their profession of paranormal sanitation workers. With fully charged proton packs strapped to their backs, they venture around New York City exterminating pesky apparitions. Peter Venkman (Bill Murray) falls for Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver), a reserved beauty that unwillingly becomes the gatekeeper for an apocalyptic spiritual dimension. The team, along with newcomer Ernie Hudson (Ramis), face-off against demonic forces with cataclysmic magnitude. One notable scene involves the eradication of a 50-foot Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.


Is it any good?

 

Director Ivan Reitman's Ghostbusters is a family film that succeeds in cleverly combining comedy, action, and some age-appropriate scary stuff. Although, the film has some frightening moments, Murray, Aykroyd, and Ramis provide enough comic relief to lighten the fears. Considering its 1984 release date, the film's special effects are superlative.

Parents will enjoy watching this movie with their children. However, during scary scenes (particularly one involving a hardnosed librarian), they might have to cover younger kids' eyes.


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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about what defines a hero. What other movies feature scientists and professors who save the day?

  • Families can also talk about the scares mix with humor. For kids normally scared of things like ghosts, how did the humor help? How did seeing a creature like the 50-foot Stay Puft marshmallow man make you laugh, even while the Ghostbusters were in danger?

  • Families can also discuss ghosts and the supernatural. Do you believe in ghosts, and why or why not?


This review was written by Alex Orner
Parent of 10 and 12 year old
October 27, 2010
 
I'd say 12 and up.
Love this movie but I don't think the implied oral sex scene is for kids of this age.

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Teen, 14 years old
January 22, 2011
 
:)
oral ghost sex isnt good for children!!

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Parent of 9 and 12 year old
September 11, 2009
 
The implied oral sex from a spirit was way too graphic for my kids. This is the first time I have found a common sense rating to be off the mark.

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Teen, 16 years old
January 14, 2011
 
i watched this when i was 7 and i wasnt scared. i think its a good movie and kinda funny

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Kid, 13 years old
April 16, 2010
 
Ghostbusters-Movie Review
I thought the 1984 movie "Ghostbusters" was the grestest movie of the 1980's. I thought that the movie did have a little too much profanity. Now, if this movie came out in this decade it would be PG-13. But the MPAA did not have good control of there films until 2000. Also,the MPAA did not have the PG-13 rating until after the film Gremlins came out. P.S: There is some scray scenes the film that might scare kids under the age of 11, so what ever you do do not let them see this movie.

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Kid, 13 years old
November 28, 2010
 
Who are you gonna call?
I like the movie. It is cool. At first, I was a little surprised it was rated PG because of all the romance, violence, language, and smoking. But then I saw, how it could be rated PG. I like the action, and the ghosts weren't too scary. I really enjoyed it.

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Teen, 15 years old
October 1, 2009
 
Hilarious movie, my favourite line being "Shhh! Can you smell that?" Great movie, pehaps the sex could have been cut. Oral ghost sex?! No thanks.

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Parent of 8 and 11 year old
October 10, 2009
 
Parents might be a little uncomfortable - but the kids loved it!
I definitely noticed the sexually suggestive scenes when watching with my 7 and 10 year-olds - but it went right over their heads. There were a few bad words (sh*t, b*tch) but again, I don't think it was a big deal. Too much smoking...but I don't think seeing these guys smoke is going to make my kids want to. They LOVED it and thought it was super funny - they keep talking about the slime and the marshmallow man!

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Teen, 14 years old
December 23, 2010
 
ggood but edgy
this is a very funny ovie but its iffy for young kids for strong language and a dream sequence thts semi graphic.

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Ouch! Way too iffy on the sexual content!
My major issue is the sex scenes in this movie! One ghost is portrayed as having oral sex and there is another sex scene that is really way over the top! Not for kids with any awareness!

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This review was written by Alex Orner
Topics:magic and fantasy, monsters, ghosts, and vampires
Studio:Sony Pictures
Director:Ivan Reitman
Cast:Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver
Genre:Comedy
Run time:107 minutes
Theatrical release date:June 8, 1984
DVD release date:June 10, 2002
MPAA rating:PG

This review was written by Alex Orner
 

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ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
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