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Poltergeist (1982 film)

Updated: 12/10/2025, 9:14:09 PM Wikipedia source

Poltergeist is a 1982 American supernatural horror film directed by Tobe Hooper and written by Steven Spielberg, Michael Grais, and Mark Victor from a story by Spielberg. It stars JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, and Beatrice Straight, and was produced by Spielberg and Frank Marshall. The film follows a suburban family whose home is invaded by malevolent ghosts that abduct their youngest daughter. As Spielberg was contractually unable to direct another film while he made E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Hooper was selected based on his work on The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and The Funhouse. The origin of Poltergeist can be traced to Night Skies, which Spielberg conceived as a horror sequel to his 1977 film Close Encounters of the Third Kind; Hooper was less interested in the sci-fi elements and suggested they collaborate on a ghost story. Accounts differ as to the level of Spielberg's involvement, but it is clear that he was frequently on set during filming and exerted significant creative control. For that reason, some have said that Spielberg should be considered the film's co-director or even main director, though both Spielberg and Hooper have disputed this. Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer through MGM/UA Entertainment Co. on June 4, 1982, Poltergeist was a major critical and commercial success, becoming the eighth-highest-grossing film of 1982. In the years since its release, the film has been recognized as a horror classic. It was nominated for three Academy Awards, named by the Chicago Film Critics Association as the 20th-scariest film ever made, and a scene made Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments. Poltergeist also appeared at No. 84 on American Film Institute's 100 Years...100 Thrills. The film was followed by Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986), Poltergeist III (1988), and a 2015 remake, but none had the critical success of the original.

Infobox

Directed by
Tobe Hooper
Screenplay by
mw- Steven Spielberg Michael Grais Mark Victor
Story by
Steven Spielberg
Produced by
Frank Marshall Steven Spielberg
Starring
JoBeth Williams Craig T. Nelson Beatrice Straight
Cinematography
Matthew F. Leonetti
Edited by
Michael Kahn
Music by
Jerry Goldsmith
Productioncompanies
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer SLM Production Group Amblin Productions
Distributed by
MGM/UA Entertainment Co.
Release date
June 4, 1982 (1982-06-04)
Running time
114 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$10.7 million
Box office
$121.7 million

Tables

· Reception › Accolades
1983
1983
Year
1983
Association
Academy Awards
Category
Academy Award for Best Original Score
Result
Nominated
Academy Award for Best Sound Effects Editing
Academy Award for Best Sound Effects Editing
Year
Academy Award for Best Sound Effects Editing
Association
Nominated
Academy Award for Best Visual Effects
Academy Award for Best Visual Effects
Year
Academy Award for Best Visual Effects
Association
Nominated
Saturn Award
Saturn Award
Year
Saturn Award
Association
Saturn Award for Best Horror or Thriller Film
Category
Won
Saturn Award for Best Make-up
Saturn Award for Best Make-up
Year
Saturn Award for Best Make-up
Association
Won
Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress – Zelda Rubinstein
Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress – Zelda Rubinstein
Year
Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress – Zelda Rubinstein
Association
Won
Saturn Award for Best Actress – JoBeth Williams
Saturn Award for Best Actress – JoBeth Williams
Year
Saturn Award for Best Actress – JoBeth Williams
Association
Nominated
Saturn Award for Best Director – Tobe Hooper
Saturn Award for Best Director – Tobe Hooper
Year
Saturn Award for Best Director – Tobe Hooper
Association
Nominated
Saturn Award for Best Music – Jerry Goldsmith
Saturn Award for Best Music – Jerry Goldsmith
Year
Saturn Award for Best Music – Jerry Goldsmith
Association
Nominated
British Academy Film Awards
British Academy Film Awards
Year
British Academy Film Awards
Association
BAFTA Award for Best Special Visual Effects
Category
Won
Young Artist Awards
Young Artist Awards
Year
Young Artist Awards
Association
Young Artist Award for Best Younger Supporting Actress – Heather O'Rourke
Category
Nominated
Year
Association
Category
Result
1983
Academy Awards
Academy Award for Best Original Score
Nominated
Academy Award for Best Sound Effects Editing
Nominated
Academy Award for Best Visual Effects
Nominated
Saturn Award
Saturn Award for Best Horror or Thriller Film
Won
Saturn Award for Best Make-up
Won
Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress – Zelda Rubinstein
Won
Saturn Award for Best Actress – JoBeth Williams
Nominated
Saturn Award for Best Director – Tobe Hooper
Nominated
Saturn Award for Best Music – Jerry Goldsmith
Nominated
British Academy Film Awards
BAFTA Award for Best Special Visual Effects
Won
Young Artist Awards
Young Artist Award for Best Younger Supporting Actress – Heather O'Rourke
Nominated

References

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