Poltergeist (1982)
"They're here."
The Freelings' suburban home becomes the center of paranormal activity that opens a portal to the 'other side'. With help, they must cross over to get their daughter back.
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| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 4 June 1982 |
| Genre | Horror |
| Director | Tobe Hooper |
| Starring | JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson and Beatrice Straight |
| Runtime | 114 min |
| Rated | PG |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 7.3/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 88% · Metacritic 79/100 · IMDb 7.3/10 · TMDB users 7.2/10 |
Where to watch Poltergeist
Poltergeist is streaming on Max ($18.49 a month) in the US. If that is the only reason to subscribe, one month of Max is $18.49 at list price.
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Rent or buy
You can rent or buy Poltergeist on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube and Fandango at Home.
Where to watch Poltergeist in 10 other countries
| Country | Streaming on (price a month) |
|---|---|
| Austria | Max €11.99 |
| Germany | Max €11.99 |
| Ireland | Max |
| Japan | U-NEXT ¥2189 JPY |
| Liechtenstein | Max |
| Luxembourg | Max |
| Netherlands | Max €11.99 |
| South Korea | Watcha |
| Switzerland | Max CHF16.90 |
| United Kingdom | Max £9.99 GBP |
Subscription, free and ad-supported services we track; prices where Binge Boss has a price list for the country. "About" marks a price the service bills in another currency, converted at the day's rate. All countries as data.
What kind of watch this is
Tobe Hooper directs a suburban nightmare that turns a quiet family home into a doorway for things that do not belong there. It runs 114 minutes, which is long enough for the tension to settle into your bones before the chaos truly starts. The horror here is not about jumpscares; it is about the slow, sickening realization that the walls are breathing. It is a film about the fragility of domestic safety, where the most frightening sound is not a scream, but silence. If you have ever felt a draft that had no source, you will recognize the dread.
What the critics said
Critics found it scary, which is the whole point. Rotten Tomatoes lists an 88% approval rating as of November 2024, while Metacritic sits at 79/100 as of October 2025. IMDb gives it 7.3/10 as of March 2026. The consensus calls it a modern horror classic. Roger Ebert liked how the family sees the events, noting it works because the characters react rather than just watching effects. Gene Siskel disagreed, calling the terror "very, very silly" once the suburban setup ends. That is a fair counterpoint.
What came next for the cast
JoBeth Williams stepped into a string of leading roles, including Kramer vs. Kramer and Stir Crazy. Craig T. Nelson shared that pre-poltergeist momentum, with credits like ...And Justice for All and Stir Crazy. The years after 1982 saw Williams drift toward Wyatt Earp and The Big Year. Nelson’s path took a different turn, leading to The Devil's Advocate and a long run on Young Sheldon. One moved into ensemble drama; the other into sitcom longevity. The timeline records the shifts, but it does not prove the ghost caused them.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched Poltergeist.
Read more: Other Mommy
Sources
- Poltergeist on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q497622 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “Poltergeist (1982 film)” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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