Ghostbusters

Ghostbusters is a media franchise created by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. It began with the 1984 American supernatural comedy film Ghostbusters, directed by Ivan Reitman and produced by Columbia Pictures. The story follows three parapsychologists—Dr. Peter Venkman, Dr. Raymond Stantz, and Dr. Egon Spengler—who start a ghost removal business in New York City, later hiring Winston Zeddemore to help face a rising supernatural threat linked to Gozer the Gozerian and a portal beneath the city. The film blends comedy with paranormal adventure and features memorable effects, creature design, and the theme song Ghostbusters by Ray Parker Jr. The cast also includes Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis, and Annie Potts.

The film had a budget of about $30 million and grossed nearly $295 million worldwide; it received praise for its humor, performances, and visual effects, and won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.

The success led to Ghostbusters II in 1989, directed by Reitman, with a similar cast; the 2016 reboot featured an all-new cast while retaining the concept; 2021's Ghostbusters: Afterlife served as a direct sequel to the 1984 film. The franchise also includes animated series such as The Real Ghostbusters and Extreme Ghostbusters, video games like Ghostbusters: The Video Game, and various novels and comic books.

Iconic elements include the proton packs, particle traps, and the Ecto-Containment Unit; the catchphrase Who you gonna call? is widely recognized. The franchise has had a lasting impact on popular culture, blending humor with supernatural themes and expanding into multiple media formats.