100+ Ghostbuster Trivia Questions & Answers

Question: Who directed the 1984 Ghostbusters film?

Answer: Ivan Reitman

Question: Which two writers co-wrote the screenplay for Ghostbusters?

Answer: Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis

Question: What was Dan Aykroyd’s original concept for Ghostbusters before rewriting?

Answer: A project starring himself and John Belushi battling supernatural threats through time and space

Question: Why was John Belushi replaced by Bill Murray in Ghostbusters?

Answer: John Belushi died in 1982

Question: What was the original budget range for Ghostbusters?

Answer: $25–30 million

Question: Which company distributed the 1984 Ghostbusters film?

Answer: Columbia Pictures

Question: When was the movie Ghostbusters theatrically released?

Answer: June 8, 1984

Question: What was the original title considered for Ghostbusters due to trademark restrictions?

Answer: Ghost Smashers

Question: How much did Columbia Pictures pay for the rights to the title "Ghostbusters"?

Answer: $500,000 plus 1% of the film's profits

Question: Which special effects studio was founded during the production of Ghostbusters?

Answer: Boss Film Studios

Question: How long did filming for Ghostbusters take?

Answer: From October 1983 to January 1984

Question: What was the primary reason for rewriting Ghostbusters to be set in New York City?

Answer: To make the project more realistic and financially practical

Question: Who were the associate producers hired by Ivan Reitman for Ghostbusters?

Answer: Joe Medjuck and Michael C. Gross

Question: What was the main focus of Harold Ramis's contribution to the script?

Answer: Refining jokes and dialogue

Question: Which actor was originally intended to star alongside Dan Aykroyd in Ghostbusters?

Answer: John Belushi

Question: How did Ivan Reitman convince Columbia Pictures to collaborate with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer?

Answer: By advancing Richard Edlund $5 million to establish Boss Film Studios

Question: What was the primary concern Ivan Reitman had during the first screening of Ghostbusters?

Answer: The audience's reaction to the Marshmallow Man

Question: What instrument did Elmer Bernstein use to create the "eerie" effect in the Ghostbusters score?

Answer: Ondes Martenot

Question: What was the original weapon design for the Ghostbusters before becoming proton packs?

Answer: Neutrino wands resembling military flamethrowers

Question: What was Dan Aykroyd's role in the development of the Ghostbusters logo?

Answer: He drew inspiration from fiction archetypes and conceptualized the "no ghosts" logo

Question: Which film company was concerned about the high budget of Ghostbusters?

Answer: Columbia Pictures

Question: What inspired Dan Aykroyd to write the script for Ghostbusters?

Answer: His fascination with the paranormal and his family's experiences

Question: How did Harold Ramis become involved in Ghostbusters?

Answer: Ivan Reitman hired him to help rewrite the script and play Egon Spengler

Question: What was the main challenge in balancing the special effects with the comedic tone in Ghostbusters?

Answer: Ensuring that the effects served the actors' performances without overshadowing the comedy

Question: What was the primary location where Ghostbusters was filmed in New York?

Answer: Hook and Ladder Company 8 Firehouse

Question: Who played the role of Dr. Peter Venkman in Ghostbusters?

Answer: Bill Murray

Question: Which actress portrayed Dana Barrett in Ghostbusters?

Answer: Sigourney Weaver

Question: Who took on the role of Dr. Egon Spengler?

Answer: Harold Ramis

Question: Which actor played the character Winston Zeddemore in Ghostbusters?

Answer: Ernie Hudson

Question: Who was cast as the Ghostbusters' secretary Janine Melnitz?

Answer: Annie Potts

Question: Which actor portrayed the Environmental Protection Agency inspector Walter Peck?

Answer: William Atherton

Question: Who originally read for the role of Walter Peck before William Atherton was cast?

Answer: Michael Keaton

Question: Which character was meant to be portrayed by Eddie Murphy before Ernie Hudson was cast?

Answer: Winston Zeddemore

Question: Who provided the voice for Gozer in Ghostbusters?

Answer: Paddi Edwards

Question: Which actor was offered the role of Louis Tully but declined?

Answer: John Candy

Question: Who accepted the role of Louis Tully after John Candy declined?

Answer: Rick Moranis

Question: Which actress auditioned for Dana Barrett by walking on all fours and howling like a dog?

Answer: Sigourney Weaver

Question: Who portrayed the Sedgewick Hotel manager in Ghostbusters?

Answer: Michael Ensign

Question: Which real-life location served as the exterior for the Ghostbusters' headquarters?

Answer: Hook and Ladder Company 8 Firehouse

Question: Which actor made a cameo appearance as himself in Ghostbusters?

Answer: Larry King

Question: Who played the role of the mayor of New York in Ghostbusters?

Answer: David Margulies

Question: Which Playboy Playmate appeared as a seductive ghost in Ray's dreams?

Answer: Kymberly Herrin

Question: Who portrayed the tall guest at Louis' party in Ghostbusters?

Answer: Jean, wife of Casey Kasem

Question: Which actor provided the voice for Slimer in Ghostbusters?

Answer: Ivan Reitman

Question: Who played the corrections officer in Ghostbusters?

Answer: Reginald VelJohnson

Question: Which actor turned down both the roles of Dr. Peter Venkman and Dr. Egon Spengler?

Answer: Michael Keaton

Question: Who is the director that also voiced Slimer and other miscellaneous ghosts in Ghostbusters?

Answer: Ivan Reitman

Question: Which actress was described as a “perfect foil” for Bill Murray’s character Peter Venkman?

Answer: Sigourney Weaver

Question: Who was the first person to audition for the role of Winston Zeddemore?

Answer: Ernie Hudson

Question: Which character did Rick Moranis’s role evolve into in Ghostbusters?

Answer: Louis Tully

Question: Who was the special effects cinematographer for Ghostbusters?

Answer: Richard Edlund

Question: What company was founded by Richard Edlund during the production of Ghostbusters?

Answer: Boss Film Studios

Question: How many individual effects shots were needed for Ghostbusters?

Answer: Approximately 630

Question: Which ghost was originally known as the "Onion Head ghost" in Ghostbusters?

Answer: Slimer

Question: Who sculpted the final design for Slimer?

Answer: Steve Johnson

Question: What inspired the design of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man?

Answer: A combination of the Michelin Man and the Pillsbury Doughboy in a sailor hat

Question: How much did each Stay Puft Marshmallow Man suit cost?

Answer: Approximately $25,000 to $30,000 each

Question: What was used as the rain for the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man's destruction scene?

Answer: Shaving cream

Question: How many foam suits were made for the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man?

Answer: Eighteen

Question: What was the original material for the Slimer puppet on set?

Answer: Full-size foam rubber

Question: Which actor wore the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man suit?

Answer: Bill Bryan

Question: What was the PKE meter prop based on?

Answer: An Iona SP-1 handheld shoe polisher

Question: Which instrument did Elmer Bernstein use to create the "eerie" effect in the Ghostbusters score?

Answer: Ondes Martenot

Question: How long did it take to film one second of non-puppet ghost footage?

Answer: Up to three weeks

Question: What was the primary material used for the Marshmallow Man’s head?

Answer: Foam and fiberglass

Question: How were the floating books in the library scene animated?

Answer: Hung on strings

Question: What was used to create the distortion effect for the doorway scene in Ghostbusters?

Answer: A rubber door

Question: What special effect was used for the ghostly transformation of the librarian?

Answer: Copper pipes blowing air to move the cards

Question: How many Yamaha DX7 synthesizers did Elmer Bernstein use in the Ghostbusters score?

Answer: Three

Question: What was the original weapon design for the Ghostbusters before becoming proton packs?

Answer: Neutrino wands resembling military flamethrowers

Question: What was the Ectomobile originally intended to do in Dan Aykroyd’s script for Ghostbusters?

Answer: Dematerialize and travel inter-dimensionally

Question: What type of car was converted into the Ectomobile for Ghostbusters?

Answer: 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor ambulance

Question: How was the water effect created for the burst hydrant scene in Ghostbusters?

Answer: Using sand instead of water

Question: What caused some of the cast to get rashes during the marshmallow drop in Ghostbusters?

Answer: Menthol shaving cream acting as a skin irritant

Question: What was used to create the "Psychokinetic Energy meter" prop in Ghostbusters?

Answer: An Iona SP-1 handheld shoe polisher

Question: How much did Ghostbusters gross worldwide?

Answer: Approximately $295.2 million

Question: In what year was Ghostbusters selected for preservation in the National Film Registry?

Answer: 2015

Question: What hit song from Ghostbusters reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100?

Answer: "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr.

Question: How many Academy Award nominations did Ghostbusters receive?

Answer: Two

Question: Which film beat Ghostbusters for the Best Original Song Oscar in 1985?

Answer: "I Just Called to Say I Love You" from The Woman in Red

Question: For how many consecutive weeks was Ghostbusters the number-one film in theaters?

Answer: Seven

Question: What was the initial box office gross required for Ghostbusters to turn a profit?

Answer: At least $80 million

Question: Which film eventually surpassed Ghostbusters as the highest-grossing comedy?

Answer: Beverly Hills Cop

Question: What is the approval rating of Ghostbusters on Rotten Tomatoes?

Answer: 95%

Question: Which publication described Ghostbusters as "irresistible nonsense"?

Answer: Peter Travers in Newsweek

Question: What line from Ghostbusters was voted #68 on "The 100 Greatest Movie Lines"?

Answer: "Dogs and cats living together! Mass hysteria!"

Question: How did Ghostbusters impact the perception of New York City in the early 1980s?

Answer: Helped reverse the negative perception of New York City

Question: What documentary follows various fans of the Ghostbusters series?

Answer: Ghostheads

Question: Which company sued the producers of Ghostbusters over the ghost logo?

Answer: Harvey Cartoons

Question: What was the outcome of Harvey Cartoons' lawsuit against Ghostbusters?

Answer: Columbia won the case

Question: How did critics generally view Bill Murray's performance in Ghostbusters?

Answer: He was consistently praised for his comedic deadpan performance

Question: What was the primary criticism Janet Maslin had about Ghostbusters?

Answer: The apocalyptic finale was out of hand

Question: Which character in Ghostbusters represents the true villain according to some analyses?

Answer: Walter Peck

Question: What legacy did Ghostbusters leave in the film industry regarding merchandising?

Answer: Confirmed the success of Star Wars merchandise and established a new business model

Question: How did Ghostbusters influence future genre films?

Answer: Invented the special-effects driven comedy and mixed genres like comedy, sci-fi, and horror

Question: What phrase from Ghostbusters became a common cultural reference?

Answer: "Who ya gonna call?"

Question: Which real-life event inspired the creation of Ghostbusters?

Answer: Dan Aykroyd's fascination with the paranormal and his family's experiences

Question: How was Ghostbusters received during its re-release in 1985?

Answer: It earned an additional $9.4 million

Question: What accolade did Ghostbusters receive from the American Film Institute?

Answer: Ranked number 28 on its 100 Years...100 Laughs list

Question: How did Ghostbusters perform in test screenings?

Answer: Audiences reacted with fear, laughs, and applause, confirming the film's successful tone