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Ghostbusters

Ghostbusters (sometimes written Ghost Busters) is a 1984 sci-fi comedy film about three parapsychologists who are fired from a New York City University, and start up their own business investigating and eliminating ghosts. It was followed by a sequel, Ghostbusters II (1989), and two cartoon series, The Real Ghostbusters and Extreme Ghostbusters. See The Real Ghostbusters for information about the cartoons and the comics, etc., and for information about the Ghostbusters' vehicles and tools/weapons.

The films sparked the catchphrase, "Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!"

Franchise history
The concept was inspired by Aykroyd's own fascination with the paranormal, and was conceived by Aykroyd as a vehicle for himself and friend and fellow Saturday Night Live alum John Belushi. The original story as written by Aykroyd was much more ambitious -- and unfocused -- than what would be eventually filmed; in Aykroyd's original vision, a group of Ghostbusters would travel through time, space and other dimensions taking on huge ghosts.

Aykroyd pitched the story to director/producer Ivan Reitman, who liked the basic idea but immediately saw the budgetary impossibilities demanded by Aykroyd's first draft. At Reitman's suggestion, the story was given a major overhaul, eventually evolving into the final screenplay which Aykroyd and Ramis hammered out over the course of a few months in a Martha's Vineyard bomb shelter. In addition to Aykroyd's high-concept basic premise and Ramis' skill at grounding the fantastic elements with a realistic setting, the film benefits from Bill Murray's semi-improvisational performance as Peter Venkman, the character initially intended for Belushi (who had died of a drug overdose while Aykroyd and Ramis were still working on the script). The extent of Murray's improvisation while delivering his lines varies wildly with every re-telling of the making of the film; some say he never even read the script, and improvised so much he deserves a writing credit, while others insist that he only improvised a few lines, and used his deadpan comic delivery to make scripted lines seem spontaneous.

Among the featured New York locations were Columbia University, the New York Public Library, still very much active Hook & Ladder 8, Central Park West, Tavern on the Green in Central Park, Lincoln Center, inside a defunct New York jail and various street locations for the montages. The interior of the firehouse was done in LA's Fire Station 23, the basement of the Library was substituted by a LA library, the Biltmore Hotel in LA served as the lobby and entrance for the Sedgewick Hotel, while the other locations were on sound stages.

Gozer's temple was the biggest and most expensive set ever to be constructed at that time. In order to properly light it and create the physical effects for the set, other stages needed to be shut down and all their power diverted over to the set. The hallway sets for the Sedgewick Hotel were originally built for the movie Rich and Famous in 1981 and patterned after the Algonquin Hotel in New York City, where Reitman originally wanted to do the hotel bust. The Biltmore was chosen because the large lobby allowed for a tracking shot of the Ghostbusters in complete gear for the first time. Dana Barrett and Louis Tully's apartments were constructed across two stages and were actually on the other side of their doors in the hallway, an unusual move in filmmaking.

A problem arose during filming when it was discovered that a show was produced in 1975 by Filmation for CBS called Ghostbusters, starring Larry Storch and Forrest Tucker (see the article The Ghost Busters). As a result, if Columbia could not secure the name alternate ones were made up and ready to be used. However, during the filming of the crowd for the final battle, the extras were all chanting "Ghostbusters" causing the producers to ensure the studio got the name. And they did. Ghostbusters was released in the United States on June 8, 1984, starring Bill Murray, Rick Moranis, Sigourney Weaver, Annie Potts and Ernie Hudson, and grossed approx. $240 million in the US and over $50 million abroad during its theatrical run, making it easily the most succesful film of that year. A video game based on the movie was released by Activision for the Atari gaming system and a number of 1980s home computers, and West End Games released Ghostbusters: A Frightfully Cheerful Roleplaying Game.

A song used for the movie, also called "Ghostbusters" was a hit for Ray Parker Jr., and is now a staple at "1980s retro" parties, as well as Jekyll & Hyde's Halloween-themed restaurant in Manhattan.

In 1989, Ghostbusters II was released, featuring the return of the main cast and a new villain. Hitting theaters on June 16, the second film's storyline was nearly identical to the first, with Venkman again acting flippant until he gradually re-charms Dana, and the Ghostbusters again struggling to keep their business afloat until business picks up again thanks to the rise of another demonic/ghostly ruler from ancient times, as well as a river of pink goo below the city that seemed to be the living embodiment of hate and bad feelings. The movie also gave us the return of meek, mild-mannered accountant Louis Tully (Rick Moranis), who was introduced into the cartoon the following season.

Aykroyd and Ramis struggled for years to get started on a third Ghostbusters film, but were unable to come up with a script that could meet their own satisfaction. The possibility of a third film grew even more complicated as Murray's interest in reprising his role waned over the years, and Aykroyd finally admitted that a third film would probably never happen. At one stage Aykroyd had a working script, and Murray even agreed to reprise a bit part, but Columbia would not get on board due to the cost. This quandary was parodied in an episode of The Critic, in which Jay Sherman was asked to write a script for a film called "Ghost-Chasers 3," which was a bomb.