Scary stories for kids: I made my dad take me to see Ghostbusters three times

Scary Stories for Kids: I Made My Dad Take Me to See Ghostbusters Three Times

Rude, gross, and surprisingly adult, this classic 1980s comedy became a favorite among children. The story begins with “three parapsychologists losing their university funding,” which sounds like a joke setup but actually launches one of the decade’s biggest hits.

The Story of Ghostbusters (1984)

The film follows a trio of unlikely professors. Peter Venkman (Bill Murray) is more focused on flirting than research, Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) is energetic and excitable, and Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) is a nerd whose hobby is to “collect spores, moulds and fungus.” Their credibility suffers when they claim to have seen a real ghost at the New York Public Library.

From Academia to Ghostbusting

After being expelled from the university, the trio sets up “Ghostbusters” — a paranormal investigation team — in an abandoned New York firehouse. They add a fourth member, Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson), a practical everyman, and invent nuclear-powered ghost-catching devices.

A New Mission

The Ghostbusters promise to investigate spooky encounters and, crucially, “to believe you.”

“Three parapsychologists lose their university funding.”

Peter Venkman cares more about flirting than research.

The Ghostbusters vow “to believe you.”

Summary: Ghostbusters blends humor with supernatural adventure, following quirky parapsychologists turned ghost hunters who promise to believe and protect those facing paranormal threats.

The Conversation — 2025-11-05