Year: 1982
Runtime: 114 min
Language: English
Director: Tobe Hooper
A peaceful existence for the Bowen family is shattered when their youngest daughter, Maddy, begins communicating with a mysterious presence. Strange occurrences escalate, and when Maddy disappears, her parents, Eric and Amy, must enlist the help of paranormal experts. They soon discover a terrifying supernatural realm and confront malevolent spirits to rescue their child and restore balance to their home.
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Explore the full timeline and setting of Poltergeist (1982). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.
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Meet the key characters of Poltergeist (1982), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.
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Explore the central themes of Poltergeist (1982), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.
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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Stories where the safety of the home is breached by terrifying supernatural forces.If you liked Poltergeist, you'll find similar movies here where supernatural forces invade a family home. These films feature paranormal threats, desperate parents, and a fight for survival in a familiar setting turned terrifying, creating movies like Poltergeist in tone and theme.
The narrative typically begins with a family in a state of normalcy, which is gradually shattered by inexplicable phenomena. The threat escalates from subtle disturbances to direct, dangerous attacks, often targeting children. The story follows the family's desperate attempts to understand and combat the entity, usually culminating in a final, chaotic confrontation to reclaim their home and loved ones.
Movies in this thread share a core focus on shattering domestic tranquility with supernatural horror. They feature similar tones of high tension and desperation, a pacing that builds from eerie mystery to frantic action, and a heavy emotional weight centered on family protection and child endangerment.
Stories where confronting supernatural evil leaves deep, lasting scars.Find movies similar to Poltergeist where characters survive a paranormal ordeal but are left scarred. These stories involve paranormal investigation, high-stakes rescue missions, and bittersweet endings where safety comes at a great personal cost, perfect for fans of Poltergeist.
The plot structure involves a call to action spurred by a supernatural crisis, leading to an investigation phase where the nature of the threat is uncovered. This builds to a high-intensity confrontation where the evil is battled or contained. However, the resolution is bittersweet; the characters escape or win, but they carry the psychological and physical scars of the encounter, their previous sense of security permanently shattered.
These films are grouped by their shared narrative arc of investigation and costly resolution, a tone blending high tension with profound melancholy, and a bittersweet ending feel. They consistently feature heavy emotional weight, focusing on the lasting trauma inflicted by supernatural experiences rather than a clean, happy conclusion.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Poltergeist in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Poltergeist is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Read a complete plot summary of Poltergeist, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.
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Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Poltergeist: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like Poltergeist that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
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