Image: Columbia Pictures/Getty Images
About This Quiz
You asked for it, you got it. 'Ghostbusters' was one of the most popular movies of the 1980s, and its release date is used as a means for charting time for the Stuff You Should Know podcast. You ain't afraid of no quiz.
"Ghostbusters" was released in what year?
1985
1983
1984
Any discerning Stuff You Should Know fan should know that it was released in 1984. Or as Josh likes to call it, "year zero."
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What was the original movie rated?
G
PG-13
PG
There is a little bad language and some mild violence, so the movie earned a solid PG rating.
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True or False: "Ghostbusters" was the highest grossing film of 1984.
TRUE
FALSE
Although it was a huge success, it came in second by a slight margain to a little movie called "Beverly Hills Cop."
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What is the running time for "Ghostbusters?"
95 minutes
105 minutes
Ever the efficient filmmaker, Ivan Reitman brought the movie in at a tidy 105 minutes.
125 minutes
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What major movie studio released "Ghostbusters?"
Columbia Pictures
Pay attention to the beginning of the film and you'll know that it was a Columbia Pictures release.
Paramount Pictures
20th Century Fox
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How much money did it cost to make the movie?
$76 million
$50 million
$32 million
It was 1984, people. Thirty-two million dollars for a comedy was a lot of money back then, and it was the budget for "Ghostbusters."
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True or False: "Ghostbusters" was nominated for more than one Academy Award.
TRUE
True. The movie was nominated for best visual effects and best original song.
FALSE
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Which two writers got an offical writing credit?
Bill Murray and Harold Ramis
Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis
Yes, Harold Ramis was one of the writers. So was Dan Aykroyd.
Ivan Reitman and Harold Ramis
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Who earned an uncredited nod as a contributing writer?
Rick Moranis
Did you guess Murray? You're wrong. It was Rick Moranis, eh.
Bill Murray
Ivan Reitman
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Bill Murray starred in what role?
Dr. Peter Venkman
If you've seen the movie just once, you probably know that Murray played Dr. Peter Venkman.
Dr. Raymond Stantz
Dr. Egon Spengler
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In her first major film role, which actress gave a breakout performance as the Ghostbusters secretary Janine?
Mercedes Ruehl
Sigourney Weaver
Annie Potts
Sigourney Weaver was the romantic lead, and Mercedes Ruehl wasn't even near the movie. That leaves Annie Potts.
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Aykroyd and Ramis originally wrote Bill Murray's role for which actor?
Steve Martin
John Belushi
Dan Aykroid wrote the role of Venkman for his best friend, John Belushi, whose untimely death prevented him from playing the part.
John Candy
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The role of Winston, the fourth Ghostbuster, was orignally written for which actor?
Billy Crystal
Eddie Murphy
A young Eddie Murphy was the first choice for the role that ultimately went to Ernie Hudson.
Richard Pryor
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Which legendary cinematographer shot "Ghostbusters"?
Conad Hall
Gordon Willis
Laszlo Kovacs
Any of these guys would have been great, but Ivan Reitman was lucky to have Laszlo Kovacs behind the lense.
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Which two media personalities made cameo appearances as themselves?
Dr. Ruth and Morely Safer
Phil Donahue and Dan Rather
Larry King and Casey Kasem
How about some of those names to take you back? The right answer, though, is Larry King and DJ Casey Kasem.
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What makes Ray Parker Jr. feel good?
Getting slimed
Bustin'
If you missed this one, then turn in your movie fan credentials and go to sleep. Bustin' makes Ray Parker Jr. feel good.
A nice massage
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Which future pop star had an uncredited role as "birthday girl" at the young age of 13?
Debbie Gibson
Long before she was Deborah, little Debbie Gibson played the role of birthday girl.
Tiffany
Alanis Morissette
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Which adult film star made a brief appearance as "man behind barricade?"
John Holmes
Ron Jeremy
It's a quick shot, but the face of adult film star Ron Jeremy is hard to miss.
Rocco Siffredi
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Which basketball star also had a cameo appearance as himself?
Wilt Chamberlain
Dr. J
Bill Walton
Fans of the Portland Trailblazers should recognize basketball legend and Deadhead Bill Walton, playing himself.
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True or False: "Ghostbusters" is an all-time top 30 grossing movie when you adjust for inflation.
TRUE
FALSE
Close, but no ectoplasm for you. "Ghostbusters" narrowly missed the all-time adjusted gross top 30 at No. 32.
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The role of Louis Tully, played by Rick Moranis, was orginally written for which actor?
John Candy
Although it's hard to imagine anyone besides Moranis, John Candy would have made a fine Tully.
Steve Martin
Randy Quaid
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What was the original setting of "Ghostbusters" before Harold Ramis changed it?
Turn of the Century New York City
San Francisco
New York City in the future
Because of cost fears, the original script that set the movie in the future was abandoned. Aykroyd's original vision had a futuristic New York City with teams of Ghostbusters all over the city.
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In the original script, Gozer was a normal man in a business suit and was almost played by which actor?
Paul Reubens
You're just dying to work Steve Martin into this movie aren't you? Sorry, it was Pee Wee Herman himself who turned down the role.
Steve Martin
Michael Keaton
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Although the lower half of the building really exists, which noteworthy real-life building inspired the model for the re-worked top half of Dana's apartment?
The New York Public Library
Transamerica Building in San Francisco
Continental Life Building in St. Louis
Check out a picture of the Continental Life Building sometime and you'll see that it was the obvious inspiration for Dana's apartment building.
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Which song did Ray Parker Jr.'s "Ghostbusters" lose to at the Oscar Awards?
Stevie Wonder -- "I Just called to Say I Love You"
Those were all nominees, but nobody puts Stevie Wonder in a corner. He just called to say he loves you.
Kenny Loggins -- "Footloose"
Phil Collins -- "Against All Odds"
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Ray Parker Jr.'s hit song peaked at which top 10 position?
No. 2
No. 1
The theme song went all the way to No. 1 and stayed there for three weeks.
No. 5
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Which singer has gone to battle with Ray Paker Jr. over the years in multiple lawsuits, starting with an accusation that Parker stole the main "Ghostbusters" riff?
Hall and Oates
Lionel Richie
Huey Lewis
Lewis alleged that Parker stole from his song "I Want a New Drug." The matter was settled out of court, and Lewis was sued years later by Parker after he made comments regarding the matter on VH1's "Behind the Music."
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At the end of the movie, more than 50 pounds of what was dumped on character Walter Peck?
Marshmallow cream
Shaving cream
Shaving cream took the place of the marshmallow when the Stay-Puft man was blown to bits.
Whipped cream
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Bill Murray's participation was contigent on what?
That he would be the highest paid actor on the movie
That his salary would include a percentage of the profits
That Columbia Pictures would finance the movie "The Razor's Edge" for him to star in
Murray has never been about the money. He wanted to get his pet project made -- "The Razor's Edge."
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What was the original name of the movie in Dan Aykroyd's first version of the script?
"Ghost Smashers"
As cartoonish as it sounds, "Ghost Smashers" was the original title of the movie.
"Ghostbusters Incorporated"
"Ghost Exterminators Incorporated"
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You Got:
/30
Columbia Pictures/Getty Images
