Where to Stream the Original 1984 Ghostbusters, All the Sequels, And The Cartoon
Slime time!
Before Netflix streamed its first video, the phrase “Ghostbusters streaming” brought to mind the nuclear radiation emanating from the back-mounted proton packs of the titular heroes. But today, it means streaming Ghostbusters in crystal-clear high-definition, with no physical medium required. But where can you watch Ghostbusters streaming right now?
To paraphrase the sensei of the paranormal, Peter Venkman, if you’re serious about actually catching a ghost, they’re pretty much everywhere. All you need to do to feel funky is turn on your TV or power up your computer. Want to know where Ghostbusters is streaming? Let us be your Keymaster and Gatekeeper.
How to Stream Ghostbusters (1984)
The original and classic 1984 Ghostbusters.
The one, the only, the original supernatural comedy classic stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis, Annie Potts, William Atherton, a zombie taxi driver, terror dogs, Slimer, Gozer the Destroyer, and, of course, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.
The original Ghostbusters is streaming as a rental on Amazon Prime.
How to Watch Ghostbusters II (1989)
It’s five years later, and the now-disbanded Ghostbusters must reunite to help Dana (Weaver). Think of it as the cinematic equivalent of pulling all the decorations out of the closet for the umpteenth Halloween season. Some people like to knock this movie, but it’s a kick to see the gang again. This movie also features Peter MacNicol’s immortal line, “Everything you’re doing is bad, I want you to know this.” There’s also a lot of slime.
Ghostbusters II is streaming as a rental on Amazon Prime.
How to Watch Ghostbusters: Answer the Call (2016)
Take some of the funniest people in comedy– namely Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones — a beloved franchise, and a talented director in Paul Feig, blend them all together and you get… an intermittently amusing Ghostbusters reboot. To be fair, this movie is not nearly as bad as some critics and fans said it was, so if you’re feeling like getting that Ghostbusters feeling, but you don’t feel like watching the old ones, this one is worth a revisit.
Ghostbusters (2016) is a streaming rental on Amazon and elsewhere.
How to Watch Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)
Directed by Jason Reitman, the son of original ‘busters director Ivan Reitman, the long-delayed film Ghostbusters: Afterlife is a direct sequel to the first two films and takes place in the same continuity. And, although the movie features cameos from much of the original cast, the focus is decidedly on the next generation of Ghostbusters, who have family connections to the classic squad.
Right now you can rent Ghostbusters: Afterlife on Amazon Prime for $5.99. Or watch it with a Starz subscription.
How to Watch The Real Ghostbusters
The Ghostbusters franchise includes not only the four films but also two animated series, as well as games, puzzles, books, lunch boxes, action figures, and much, much more. The first cartoon show was The Real Ghostbusters, which ran for 130 episodes over seven seasons (1986-1991) and followed the characters from the first two films on weekly adventures both in Manhattan and other haunted locales, with Slimer as their mascot. Kids loved it, parents got a nostalgic kick out of it, and the writers had a blast creating colorful, creepy new creatures for our heroes to vanquish. The voice cast included the legendary Frank Welker (Fred in Scooby-Doo), David Coulier (from Full House), Arsenio Hall, and animation veteran Maurice LaMarche, who voiced Egon Spengler here and, in 1997, the 40-episode spin-off series, Extreme Ghostbusters in 1997. (Note: Extreme Ghostbusters does not currently stream online at all at this time.)
The Real Ghostbusters is available in volumes, as opposed to seasons, on both Amazon and Google Play, priced at $9.99 per volume (and there are 10 volumes!)
As of December 1, 2023, The Real Ghostbusters, is no longer streaming free anywhere and is only online for rental or purchase on Amazon and elsewhere.
This article was originally published on
