When there’s something strange in your neighborhood, who you gonna call? In reality, you should call the police, but, by the law of ’80s movies, there’s only one group of paranormal mavericks who can help you. That’s right, the Ghostbusters are busting ghosts on streaming, and they’re actually doing it for free. The Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray-led comedy is often regarded as one of the most iconic and best movies of the 1980s, and helped to spawn the well-known franchise that had very diminishing returns with each sequel. Even with the increasingly worse sequels, the original Ghostbusters remains a fan favorite. For those looking to watch it for the 101st time, or to introduce your kids to the world of spooky ghosts and possessed librarians, it’s streaming completely free.
Ghostbusters is currently streaming for free on Pluto TV and the film is returning from the dead on the streaming charts. Ghostbusters is the second most popular movie on the free streaming platform at the time of writing. Released in 1984, Ghostbusters is a certified 80s classic. Alongside Murray and Aykroyd, the film also starred Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, and Rick Moranis. It was directed by Ivan Reitman, who co-wrote the script with Ramis, Eykroyd, and Moranis. Everyone knows the plot of Ghostbusters. But, just in case you forgot, here’s the official synopsis:
“After the members of a team of scientists (Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray) lose their cushy positions at a university in New York City, they decide to become “ghostbusters” to wage a high-tech battle with the supernatural for money. They stumble upon a gateway to another dimension, a doorway that will release evil upon the city. The Ghostbusters must now save New York from complete destruction.”
Ghostbusters merits should also need little reminding (but we’re going to anyway). The film holds a near-perfect 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. Surprisingly, audiences were slightly more critical of the movie, as it has an 88% audience rating. But the film was a box office sensation, becoming the highest-grossing movie of 1984, earning $296 million worldwide.
Are More ‘Ghostbusters’ Sequels on the Way?
Ironically, considering the team’s tanglings with the paranormal, the Ghostbusters franchise is one that will apparently never die. The original team returned for a sequel, aptly titled Ghostbusters 2, in 1989, which was incredibly divisive among the fan base. Then there was the 2016 all-female reboot, which it’s probably best not to talk about.
In desperate need of some cash, Columbia Pictures dusted off the Ecto-1 for the legacy sequel, Ghostbusters: Afterlife in 2021. The film was a box office success, despite mixed reviews, and resulted in the far worse Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire in 2024. The films might not have been great, but they made bank at the box office and, as a result, the Ghostbusters franchise will never get a chance to go to the afterlife. An animated movie was announced back in December 2024, although news about the film has been silent since. A release date has not yet been revealed.
- Release Date
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June 8, 1984
- Runtime
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105 Minutes