Poltergeist (1982) Horror Movie Poster

Poltergeist (1982)

MovieSupernatural Horror

Released: June 4, 1982

Runtime: 114 min

PG

United States

English

A little girl sits in front of a television full of static and says, "They're here." Poltergeist turned the ordinary suburban home, with its TV, toys and closets, into a haunted house, and became one of the biggest horror hits of the 1980s. Directed by Tobe Hooper, the director of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and co-written and produced by Steven Spielberg, it was made for about 10.7 million dollars and earned around 122 million worldwide. Spielberg was so involved that people still argue about who really directed it. It earned three Oscar nominations, all of which lost to Spielberg's own E.T. Fans still ask what the Beast is, why the house was haunted, and whether the film's "curse" is real.

8.2/10

Horror Jungle Rating

IMDb

7.3/10

IMDb Rating

90%

Rotten Tomatoes

Watch Trailer Where to Watch

QUICK HORROR SNAPSHOT

Creepiness & Uncanny

9/10

Monster / Killer Threat

7/10

Atmosphere & Dread

8/10

Re-watch Value

9/10

Gore & Violence

4/10

Jump Scares

7/10

Psychological Terror

6/10

Overall Scare Factor

6/10

Tension & Suspense

8/10

Official Trailer

Where to watch

Updated November 12, 2026

Fandango at Home

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AMC+

AMC+US

Available

Starz

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Available

Apple TV

Apple TVAU · CA · IN · UK · US

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Max

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Available

Amazon Prime Video

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Amazon Prime Video

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Rent

SHOULD YOU WATCH IT?

Worth Watching?A classic haunted-house blockbuster from Tobe Hooper and Steven Spielberg.

Yes

Watch Alone?It is more thrilling than terrifying.

Yes

Watch in the Dark?The TV glow and the storm scenes are best in the dark.

Yes

Good for Date Night?Fun, scary and full of classic moments.

Yes

Watch With Parents?Fine for families with older kids.

Yes

Beginner Friendly?Rated PG, a great first ghost film.

Yes

Family Friendly?Rated PG, but the clown, the tree and the face-tearing scene scare young children.

Maybe

Slow Burn?It starts playful before the haunting turns dark.

Maybe

Headphones Recommended?Jerry Goldsmith's score and the static voices are great.

Yes

18+

Age RecommendationContains strong horror content, violence, and disturbing themes.

13+

Spoiler Free Review

The Freelings are a happy family in Cuesta Verde, a new housing development in California. Steve (Craig T. Nelson) sells homes in the area. Their youngest daughter, Carol Anne (Heather O'Rourke), starts talking to the TV static at night, and soon chairs are moving by themselves and the kitchen is full of strange forces.

At first the haunting is fun, almost magical. Then it turns terrifying, and Carol Anne vanishes. The family brings in a team of parapsychologists and the small, unforgettable medium Tangina (Zelda Rubinstein) to get her back.

The film has Spielberg's warm family feeling and Hooper's darker edge. JoBeth Williams is fantastic as the fierce mother, and the effects by Industrial Light and Magic still look impressive. Jerry Goldsmith's score swings between sweet and frightening.

Some effects have dated, and the final act piles on more scares than it needs. But Poltergeist is a joyful, scary classic, perfect for a family horror night.

What Works

Iconic scenes: the TV, the clown, the tree and the closet.

JoBeth Williams is great as the brave, desperate mother.

Zelda Rubinstein's unforgettable medium Tangina.

Impressive effects by Industrial Light and Magic.

Jerry Goldsmith's beautiful, eerie score.

What Doesn't Work

Some effects look dated.

The ending feels overstuffed.

It is more fun than truly frightening for adults.

FINAL VERDICT:

Poltergeist is a classic family horror film, full of iconic scares and heart. Watch it with the family, and keep an eye on the TV.

Be Careful, Spoilers Ahead

Plot Summary (Spoilers)

The Freeling family, Steve, Diane and their children Dana, Robbie and Carol Anne, live in Cuesta Verde, a new suburban development in California. One night, Carol Anne talks to the static on the TV. Then she announces, "They're here."

Strange things begin to happen. Chairs move and stack themselves, glasses break and objects slide across the kitchen floor. At first, Diane finds it exciting. But during a storm, a gnarled tree outside crashes through the window and grabs Robbie, and while the family saves him, Carol Anne is pulled into a glowing portal in her closet. Her voice can still be heard through the TV.

The Freelings bring in parapsychologist Dr. Lesh and her team. They see objects flying and ghostly figures. Dr. Lesh calls in the medium Tangina Barrons, who explains that the spirits are lost souls who have not crossed over, and that a terrible presence she calls "the Beast" is holding Carol Anne captive.

Tangina guides Diane into the portal, tied to a rope. Diane brings Carol Anne back, both covered in slime. Tangina declares the house clean. But while the family prepares to move, the Beast attacks again. Diane is dragged across the ceiling, falls into the half-dug swimming pool, and is surrounded by rising skeletons. Steve realises that his boss built Cuesta Verde on top of a cemetery, moving the headstones but not the bodies.

The family escapes as coffins burst out of the ground and the house is sucked into a portal and disappears. They check into a motel, and Steve pushes the room's television out onto the balcony.

Ending Explained

Why was the house haunted? Cuesta Verde was built on a cemetery. The developers moved the headstones, but left the bodies, angering the spirits.

What is the Beast? A dark, powerful presence among the spirits, which Tangina says is holding Carol Anne captive. Poltergeist II explains it further.

What happens to the house? As the family escapes, the whole house is pulled into another dimension and vanishes.

Why does Steve put the TV outside? The spirits first contacted Carol Anne through the TV static. It is a funny, final moment of the family refusing to let it happen again.

Is the Poltergeist curse real? Some fans believe the franchise is cursed because of the early deaths of actors Heather O'Rourke and Dominique Dunne. Most see it as a sad coincidence.

Hidden Meaning & Symbolism

Suburban greed: The developers cut corners for profit, and families pay the price.
Television: The TV is both the family's babysitter and the doorway for the spirits.
A mother's love: Diane goes into the unknown to bring her daughter back.
The past beneath us: The comfortable present is built on a forgotten past.

Scariest Moments

1

They're Here: Carol Anne turns from the TV static and announces the spirits have arrived.

2

The Tree: The tree outside smashes through the window and grabs Robbie.

3

The Clown: Robbie's clown doll disappears from the chair, then attacks him.

4

The Face: A researcher hallucinates tearing the flesh off his own face in the bathroom mirror.

5

The Pool: Diane falls into the muddy pool, and skeletons rise around her.

Parents Guide / Trigger Warnings

Child Death / Peril

Severe

Children are attacked and Carol Anne is taken.

Jump Scares

Moderate

Several classic jump scares.

Flashing Lights

Moderate

Lightning, glowing portals and TV static.

Substance Abuse

Mild

The parents smoke marijuana, and a friend brings beer.

Graphic Gore

Mild

A face-tearing hallucination and rotting corpses.

Suicide / Self Harm

Mild

A self-mutilation hallucination.

Animal Death

None

No animal deaths.

Nudity

None

No nudity.

Sexual Content

None

No sexual content.

Trigger Warning Notes:

Contains a child abducted by spirits, a self-mutilation hallucination, corpses and skeletons, and parents smoking marijuana.

Trivia

Steven Spielberg wrote the story and produced it, and was so involved that many believe he directed it alongside Tobe Hooper.
The MPAA first gave it an R rating, which was changed to PG on appeal.
It earned three Oscar nominations, all of which lost to Spielberg's E.T.
The visual effects were created by Industrial Light and Magic, and won a BAFTA.
It was followed by Poltergeist II (1986), Poltergeist III (1988) and a 2015 remake.
The early deaths of Heather O'Rourke and Dominique Dunne led to talk of a "Poltergeist curse".

FAQS (Frequently Asked Questions)

Did Steven Spielberg direct Poltergeist?

Tobe Hooper is credited as director, but Spielberg co-wrote, produced and was heavily involved on set, which has led to long debate.

Why was the Freelings' house haunted?

It was built on a cemetery whose headstones were moved, but whose bodies were left behind.

What does "They're here" mean?

Carol Anne says it when the spirits break through the TV static into the house.

Who is the Beast in Poltergeist?

A powerful, evil presence among the spirits, holding Carol Anne captive.

Is Poltergeist based on a true story?

No. It is an original story by Steven Spielberg.

Is the Poltergeist curse real?

Fans point to the deaths of Heather O'Rourke and Dominique Dunne, but most see the "curse" as a sad coincidence.

Is Poltergeist OK for kids?

It is rated PG, and Common Sense Media suggests 13+. Some scenes can scare younger children.

How many Poltergeist movies are there?

Four: Poltergeist (1982), Poltergeist II (1986), Poltergeist III (1988) and the 2015 remake.

Where can I watch Poltergeist (1982)?

It streams on AMC+ in the US, Max in the UK and Starz in Canada, and can be rented or bought on Apple TV and Amazon in most countries.

Movie Information

Original Title

Poltergeist

Release Date

June 4, 1982

Runtime

114 min

Country

United States

Language

English

Status

Released

Director

Tobe Hooper

Writer

Steven Spielberg, Michael Grais, Mark Victor

Main Cast

JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, Heather O'Rourke, Beatrice Straight, Zelda Rubinstein, Oliver Robins, Dominique Dunne, James Karen

Production Company

SLM Production Group, Amblin Entertainment

IMDb Page