…and One Reason Why Maybe It Isn’t!
Tom Fallows runs down 50 reasons why the 1984 classic horror comedy Ghostbusters is The Greatest Film of All Time.
Also check out the three sequels to this list Gremlins, Back to the Future and Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho!
1. Bill Murray
This is the movie that made the Saturday Night Live comedian a bonified movie star and would pave the way for such later delights as Groundhog Day (1993), Lost in Translation (2003) and Broken Flowers (2005). Without Bill Murray, would Ghostbusters be the classic it is today?
2. The Dialogue
Just transcribing the movie would enough reason why Ghostbusters achieves greatness. This list contains as many classic quotes as we could fit. i.e.
“You forget, Peter. I was present at an undersea unexplained sponge migration,” – Ray.
3. Ray Parker Jr’s Theme Song
All together now, “Who ya gonna call?”
The music video is pretty cool too. It’s got Chevy Chase, Teri Garr and Columbo in it. Awesome!
4. Ivan Reitman
The movie proves, contrary to recent evidence that Reitman can direct a movie. If this went to court, and the prosecution produced Evolution (2001) and My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006) as Exhibits A & B, then the defence would only need to show Ghostbusters to result in an instant dismissal.
5. Old Boy Heroes
In an age obsessed with youth, it’s nice to see four heroes old enough to be your dad.
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48 Comments
Best.Article.Ever.
i think they shound make a ghostbusters 3 in cgi for dvd
i heard they made dragonball the movie and i wented to known if they will
make dragonballz the movie in cgi
I liked the article except for your slam on Reagan and Thatcher. (apparently economic growth and defeating communism make some people sad) If you love ghostbusters that much you should realize that it’s a conservative movie. You even cite this two times with the smoking and the epa bureaucrat. I would like to ad my favorite quote. when Ray disdainfully says to Peter ” i’ve worked in the private sector, they expect results.”
Waitaminute!
Isn’t Peck the epitome of Government officialdom (and this being an 80s movie, therefore Reaganomics)? And didn’t Reagan and Thatcher indulge in unnecessary military build ups, take part in the covert destabilization of foreign countries (like Nicaragua), neglect their countries working class (and worst of all homeless), piss on the unions and embrace the notion of the politics of fear (long before George W. came along)?
And sure, Ghostbusters is conservative in that it’s a studio film, but Akyroyd and Murray come from a background of anarchic comedy, which definitely comes across in the movie.
Basically, I bet when it came to voting, only almost 50% of the Ghostbusters vote Republican.
Just goes to show if you can get 50 reasons out of one film then it MUST be one of the greatest films of all time. Seriously, everything about this film is fantastic, the quotes, the music, the comedy, the girl, and it is still a popular film after all these years.
Great blog Tom, thanks!
You’re wrong about one thing, though… Ecto-1 is the 2nd coolest movie vehicle of all time. And that’s only because Doc Brown’s DeLorean Time Machine trumps it.
Exactly!
Wait a minute, 50 reasons why this is the greatest movie in the world, and NONE of them include the greatest line in the movies EVER?
“Ray, when someone asks you if you’re a god, you say YES!!” – Winston
Absolutely shameful
You forgot the Keymaster!
Excellent list. It laid out the reasons why Ghostbusters is awesome, yet was also extremely entertaining. As for the one reason why it isn’t, personally, I see the inclusion of Winston as the unbeliever. He’s the one person that has no connections with the paranormal (while the others were professors in some type of related field), and is essentially the skeptic. It adds another dimension to the Ghostbusters universe, and Winston is a very likeable character.
Tony, I sort of did include that – it’s point number 37. Does that redeem me?
Braeden Orr, I think you are 100% right.
I just watched this movie, and I was thinking “This is the best movie ever”. Looks like it’s proven right. :D
great stuff, funny points you make… for a great comedy! and throw in Annie Potts best performance as well.
however, I didn’t see my favorite quote of all: “I’ve dealt with the private sector, they expect results!”
.. also there’s the university test student:
“We’re testing the effects of negative reinforcement on psychic ability”
“I can tell you the result – it’s PISSING me OFF!”
jose, Worlds Best Films
50 great points, but you’re still wrong.
Winston was awesome! Is TOTALLY the “Everyman,” not just some “lazy black stereotype” Come on, when in the film did you just see Winston kicking back avoiding things? Just because he showed up halfway through the movie doesn’t mean he was any less a good Ghostbuster.
- Don’t forget that great scene when he and Ray were driving Ecto-1 back to the firehouse, and they were having the discussion about the end of the world. Ray taking teh science standpoint, Winston taking the spiritual one… but even though they were on opposite ends of the spectrum, they came to the same conclusions.
- He was right on the front line with the other three in every case since he joined, including the climactic battle that saved the city/world at the end of the film.
- and COME ON, he gave the BEST closing line you could possibly have for this film… “I LOVE THIS TOWN!”
WINSTON. WAS. AWESOME.
Recognize.
Damn right Nate! I agree with you totally on this. While Ray was the “heart of the ghostbusters”, I think that Winston was the glue that held them together. I’m sick of people always pushing Winston to the back. If you ever get the chance to meet Ernie Hudson at an appearance or con, he’s the ONLY real Ghostbuster there is. He still suits up in his uniform and has been in a couple of fan films that I know of. Freakin great guy!
Other than that, fantastic article. This is one of films best movies. Good work! (and upon reading the other comments, Brandon Orr, good comment)
re #23: It’s PKE Meter, not EPK Meter.
*crawls back to his nerd cave*
Howabout the scene where Ray dreams a ghost is going down on him. That’s pretty unique/funny/non-conservative. it may not be as iconic as some of the other things you’ve mentioned, but I don’t think I’ve seen any other movie involving oral sex by a ghost.
@Nate – I think you overstate the extent of Winston’s dedication to the team. Remember the scene in the jail cell, where not only does he try to disassociate himself, explaining that he wasn’t even at the fire house when it blew up, and furthermore declaring that “no offense, but he’s going to get his own lawyer”. Steady paycheck don’t buy loyalty it seems.
Replace Ghostbusters 2 with The Real Ghostbusters cartoon show (creepiest cartoon this side of Anime) and you may have yourself a list there.
thanks for mentioning the Master System game! WE ARE old enough to remember ! lol
Make that 51 reasons Ghostbusters just might be the greatest film of all time, because Winston is awesome. I’m tired of him getting the shaft.
Let’s get the “token black” guy stuff out of the way: yes, to a degree he is. But New York is a very multicultural city so it only stands to reason they include someone of some other ethnicity if you’re going to be representative of the city.
At the end of the day his character is awesome. He does drop some of the best quotes in the short time he’s on screen. He totally captures the blue collar capitalist spirit that runs through the movies (see: “paycheck” quote). He has the spookiest scene, which is simply Ray and him talking about the end of the world as they drive into the city. Finally he drops the closes out the movie with his cry of pure joy.
So even if he was created to be a “token black guy” he transcends those beginnings and is a genuinely awesome addition.
@Ryan – Shame on me
@Oscar – The Real Ghostbusters was on the short list. But I prefer the second movie. Although the episode where you see them return from fighting Gozer is amazing.
@Ronaldo – Winston. Tricky one this and the reason i posted it is I’m really not sure what to think. I’m tempted to argue that its a weak role, given real life by a wonderful performance by Ernie Hudson. I guess my real gripe though is with Ghostbuster 2. By this time he’s a fully paid up Ghostbuster and I still feel like he’s short changed. Why he isn’t in the first underground sequence (“where do you think all this stuff came from…the sky?!?”) or the bit with the Scolari brothers? I love him, but not sure the filmmakers do…
In all fairness to him being only near the end of GB1, Winston was originally going to be in at the beginning. But, they thought it was do more for the character to have in come in near the end. I agree, as it did create a great story, and added a new layer of depth with the addition of Winston. As for his role near the beginning of GB2, I have no idea why he wasn’t there. Perhaps as a throwback to the first movie? Either ray, Winston and Ray were my favorite characters from the films. Both were very likable, unique, and had some of THE best lines and interactions in the entire series.
you could make lists like this for Predator, Back to the Future, Aliens, Terminator, Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, Robocop, Raiders, and Star Wars… because these ARE the 10 best films ever made.
Wow!… I must say, I’m quite impressed with your list, Tom!… Thanks for the great read, buddy! (I’d really like to see lists like this for a LOT of films out there!!!)
There ARE some really great quotes that definitely deserved spots on this list, but you also have quite a few already, so I’m not really complaining.
I’m kinda surprised the SEGA MASTER SYSTEM game was mentioned, LOL!… Although that was a good game, the Nintendo version was very poorly done, haha!
Thanks for recognizing the great score as well!… The usual moviegoer doesn’t really pay that much attention to the quality of a film’s score, but I’m a HUGE fan of them! (I’m a Danny Elfman fan all the way!)
Thanks again!
Mike Sorge
Thanks, Mike
Yeah there probably are alot of films you could apply this format too (and if any of the other writers on the site want to do it, go ahead).
Ghostbusters was easy for me because I’ve been watching it regularly since I was 5 years old. I’m not sure what other films I could get this kind of mileage out of.
Star Wars, Jaws and Indiana Jones are a bit obvious.
The Maltese Falcon maybe? Oce Upon a Time in the West? We’ll see.
But thanks again for the kind words, Mike.
“No job is too big, no fee is too big”
I hope I’m not restating this, but theres a 3rd movie due for release in 2012.
Tim Faulkner: unfortunately, communism is not dead, nor did Reagan/Thatcher defeat it. But anyhow, this article is AWESOME!
I actually think Winston was a great character in the first film, an “everyman” without the background or education of the three “original” Ghostbusters, he brings not just extra manpower, but a bit more of a down-to-earth view as a guy looking for a job who gets into way more than he bargained for. “I love this town!” truly was a great line.
The real problem was, with many other things, the way his character was treated in Ghostbusters II. That movie was far weaker than the original to begin with, but one of the worst scenes that stands out in my memory was of Ernie Hudson and the approaching ghost train. To quote someone far funnier than me, “He made Buckwheat look like Sidney Poitier.”
Its obvious that Ghostbusters was one scifi movie made for, and written by, scifi fanatics. GBII, compared to alot of movies today, stands out as a film with alot of imagination, believe it or not-it might not be able to compete with the first but its still watchable and amusing in its own right.
I think murray is probably doing the sensible thing in not really wanting another sequel, but if it does appear it should probably be a new cast for a new generation, as nothing is likely to ever compare well with the original! :P
The article is funny, and yeah it is the best movie ever. Winston is no ‘lazy black guy’ – he’s the earth that was needed to balance the other 3 elements. Don’t make me get the essay out I wrote about that 5 years ago.
It’s a little known fact that Winston was actually over-qualified for the job. He had multiple degrees including a PhD and was a former marine. No seriously.
IS VinZ Clortho not mentioned?
The quote is actually, “It’s true…this man has no dick” after Peck is called Dickless.
Or, as in the TV version, “some kind of rodent, I don’t know which” after he is called Wally Wick.
It’s classic either way.
I was obsessed with this movie since the age of around 8 – great special effects and script, knew it almost off by heart as a result, and collected all of the toys. Including the proton pack, lol. As already mentioned, the musical score really did give it its own unique feel and atmosphere. The second movie was also good-the idea of a painting coming to life was a great one, and like the first movie, is still an enjoyable watch, despite Peter MacNicol (Dr. Janosz Poha) and his awful accent! ..who I realised was putting on a fake one all along-when noticing him 10+ yrs later, in Ally Beal, lol.
I just really hope Ghostbusters 3 can do the originals (even GB2!) some justice, and isnt just another rehash with a younger ‘cool’ main cast to up the cinema audience-hopefully the original writers are on board at least, as supposedly Bill Murray is now finally as well, if only for that 10 second original cast re-appearance. I think they should stick with the original cast for GB3 all the way, as continuation of the script and comedy that really would work, but then, how likely would that be to happen?! the audiences will be massive at the cinema with long time fans interested, but we will have to wait and see whether it will be worth it-lets hope so :)
i agree this is the best movie ever. but this could be better written. and way more could be mentioned. and don’t dis Winston.
I think most people in 1984 would’ve been just as sad if Carter were stil President then rather than Reagan.
Late to the game here… My very favorite commedy of all-time, and the best one to quote. I am confused as to why the author says that Winston is possibly a lazy, black stereotype. What about his character is stereotypical, or is linked to a particular race? He’s just an everyman that joins the team and I think would have been the same no matter his race.
Awesome list. Really enjoyed watching the Siskel and Ebert movie critic review.
I feel Winston was just hired help, and a cypher for the audience. His role in the story was really to just show the increase in work load the original trio was facing, and the increase in business. Yes the ghostbusters were a business that served all your supernatural extermination needs and you only hire help in business if business is going well.
Although a lot of people ridicule Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, for some polical reasons, the fact remains that 1980-2005, was THE most productive in the history of the World. The highest employment rate, the lowest level of poverty, the highest growth rate of jobs, the highest growth rate of private income. Get educated.
Thank you so much for pointing that out. I distinctly remember many mainstream Americans referring to that time period as the “feel-good” period, especially the late eighties.
I loved this movie I went to see it by myself in a cinema in Southampton uk in the afternoon 1984 one of my all time comedy feel good movies
Fifty is an important point (try not to forget that the filmmakers make the elephant in the room, not Ernie Hudson). To look deeper into point 50, pay close attention to the specific ways in which Winston drives (or doesn’t drive) the plot. (Focus less on the other components, such as his character traits.)
Winston rules
Nice article! I did love Winston though!
You could at least have watched the movie again to get the quotes right, old son.