Editing Poltergeist (franchise)

{{Short description|Horror film franchise}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox media franchise
| title = ''Poltergeist''
| image = Poltergeist (franchise logo).png
| imagesize = 235px
| caption = Official franchise logo
| creator = [[Steven Spielberg]]
| origin = ''[[Poltergeist (1982 film)|Poltergeist]]''
| owner = [[Amazon MGM Studios]]{{efn|Excluding the original 1982 film, which is currently owned by [[Warner Bros.]] via [[Turner Entertainment|Turner Entertainment Co.]] and the 2015 reboot film is owned by [[20th Century Studios]]}}
| years = 1982–2015
| books = 
| novels = 
| comics = 
| magazines = 
| strips = 
| films = {{plainlist|
* ''[[Poltergeist (1982 film)|Poltergeist]]'' (1982)
* ''[[Poltergeist II: The Other Side]]'' (1986)
* ''[[Poltergeist III]]'' (1988)
* ''[[Poltergeist (2015 film)|Poltergeist]]'' (2015)
}}
| tv = ''[[Poltergeist: The Legacy]]'' (1996–1999)
| plays = 
| musicals = 
| games = 
| rpgs = 
| vgs = 
| radio = 
| soundtracks = 
| music = 
| toys = 
}}
'''''Poltergeist''''' is an American [[horror film|horror]] [[film series|film franchise]] distributed by [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] during the 1980s. The original trilogy revolves around the members of the Freeling family, who are stalked and terrorized by a group of [[restless ghosts|ghosts]], led by a [[demon]] known as the Beast, that are attracted to the youngest daughter, Carol Anne. The original film was co-written and produced by [[Steven Spielberg]]. The ''Poltergeist'' films collected a total of approximately $132&nbsp;million at the United States box office.

[[Fox 2000 Pictures]] and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer released a "[[Revisionism (fictional)|revisionist]]" [[Poltergeist (2015 film)|reboot]] of the series<ref name="caf">[https://deadline.com/2013/06/mgm-fox-2000-to-co-finance-production-to-start-this-fall-525652/ "MGM, Fox 2000 To Co-Finance & Distribute ‘Poltergeist’; Production To Start This Fall"]. ''[[Deadline Hollywood]]''. June 20, 2013.</ref> on May 22, 2015.<ref name="DeWitt, Poltergeist May Release">{{cite web|last1=Hipes|first1=Patrick|title=Rosemarie DeWitt Chimes In For 'La La Land'|url=https://deadline.com/2015/08/rosemarie-dewitt-la-la-land-cast-ryan-gosling-emma-stone-1201491314/|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=August 4, 2015|publisher=Penske Business Media, LLC|access-date=October 23, 2015}}</ref>
[[Heather O'Rourke]] and [[Zelda Rubinstein]] were the only cast members to have appeared in all three films.

== Films ==
=== ''Poltergeist'' (1982) ===
{{main|Poltergeist (1982 film)}}
''[[Poltergeist (1982 film)|Poltergeist]]'' is the original film in the trilogy, directed by [[Tobe Hooper]], co-written by [[Steven Spielberg]] and released on June 4, 1982. The story focuses on the Freeling family, which consists of parents Steve ([[Craig T. Nelson]]) and Diane ([[JoBeth Williams]]); teenage daughter Dana ([[Dominique Dunne]]); eight-year-old Robbie ([[Oliver Robins]]); and five-year-old Carol Anne ([[Heather O'Rourke]]), who live in Cuesta Verde, a California [[housing development]] which comes to be [[Haunted house|haunted by ghosts]]. The apparitions, under the control of a [[demon]] known as the "Beast", communicate through the family's [[television set]] and can only be heard by Carol Anne. Attracted to her [[Energy (esotericism)|life force]] and believing she will help lead them into the "[[afterlife|Light]]", the specters abduct Carol Anne through her bedroom closet, which acts as a portal to their dimension. Much of the film involves the family's efforts to rescue their daughter, aided by a group of [[parapsychology|parapsychologist]]s ([[Beatrice Straight]], Martin Casella, [[Richard Lawson (actor)|Richard Lawson]]) and spiritual [[mediumship|medium]] Tangina Barrons ([[Zelda Rubinstein]]). Carol Anne is eventually rescued from the other side and, following a second attack by the Beast that reveals the ghosts had originated from an improperly relocated cemetery beneath the neighborhood, the Freelings flee Cuesta Verde just before the house implodes and disappears into another dimension.<ref name = "411mania">{{cite web |url=https://411mania.com/movies/columns/84476/A-Bloody-Good-Time-9.04.08:-Poltergeist-Franchise-Breakdown.htm |title=A Bloody Good Time 9.04.08: Poltergeist Franchise Breakdown |last=Lee |first= Joseph |publisher=411mania.com |date = September 4, 2008 |access-date=February 26, 2011}}</ref>

=== ''Poltergeist II: The Other Side'' (1986) ===
{{main|Poltergeist II: The Other Side}}
The first sequel, ''[[Poltergeist II: The Other Side]]'', directed by [[Brian Gibson (director)|Brian Gibson]] and released on May 23, 1986, takes place one year after the events in ''Poltergeist'' and offers an alternate explanation of the ghosts' origin. The film also develops the identity and [[backstory]] of the Beast, who lived during the 19th century as a religious [[zealot]] named Reverend Henry Kane ([[Julian Beck]]). Kane was the leader of a [[utopia]]n [[cult]], who in anticipation of the [[Eschatology|end of the world]], sealed themselves in a cavern located directly below what later became the Freeling property. Kane is anxious to possess Carol Anne to continue manipulating his followers after death. The ghosts follow and attack the Freelings at their current household. Aided by an [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian]] [[shaman]] named Taylor ([[Will Sampson]]), the Freelings manage to escape from Kane and his followers a second time.<ref name = "411mania"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://poltergeistonline.com/theyre-back-the-story-of-the-inevitable-sequel/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715102504/http://poltergeistonline.com/theyre-back-the-story-of-the-inevitable-sequel/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=July 15, 2011 |title=They're Back: The Story of the Inevitable Sequel |last= Kelhoffrr |first = Josh |work=Poltergeist Online |date=June 23, 2010}}</ref>

=== ''Poltergeist III'' (1988) ===
{{main|Poltergeist III}}
The final film in the original trilogy, ''[[Poltergeist III]]'', directed and co-written by [[Gary Sherman (director)|Gary Sherman]], was released on June 10, 1988. To protect Carol Anne, the Freelings have sent her to live temporarily in a Chicago skyscraper with skeptical relatives Pat and Bruce Gardner ([[Nancy Allen (actress)|Nancy Allen]] and [[Tom Skerritt]]) and their daughter Donna ([[Lara Flynn Boyle]]). However, during [[psychiatric]] sessions, Carol Anne's recollection of her experiences enables Kane and his followers to locate her and make contact through the building's ubiquitous [[mirror]]s.<ref name="411mania"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://poltergeistonline.com/spirits-in-the-city-the-third-and-final-sequel/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715102510/http://poltergeistonline.com/spirits-in-the-city-the-third-and-final-sequel/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 15, 2011|title=Spirits in the City: The Third and Final Sequel|last=Kelhoffrr|first=Josh|work=Poltergeist Online|date=June 23, 2010}}</ref> The ghosts abduct Carol Anne and then Donna, prompting Pat, Bruce, and Donna's boyfriend Scott (Kipley Wentz) to enlist the help of Tangina, who eventually escorts Kane into the spectral Light, thereby sacrificing herself to save the family.

=== ''Poltergeist'' (2015) ===
{{main|Poltergeist (2015 film)}}
A reboot of the original film, ''[[Poltergeist (2015 film)|Poltergeist]]'' was directed by [[Gil Kenan]] and released on May 22, 2015. It centers on a family struggling to make ends meet who relocate to a suburban home. As in the original, the youngest daughter is kidnapped by spirits that inhabit the house. [[Sam Rockwell]] and [[Rosemarie DeWitt]] star as the married couple, [[Kennedi Clements]] plays the daughter, and [[Jared Harris]] plays the host of a paranormal-themed TV show who comes to the aid of the family.

=== Future ===
In October 2023, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' reported that a television series is in early development by [[Amazon MGM Studios]].  It is set to be executive produced by Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey of [[Amblin Television]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Otterson |first=Joe |date=2023-10-30 |title=''Poltergeist'' TV Series in Early Development at Amazon MGM Studios (Exclusive) |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/poltergeist-tv-series-amazon-mgm-studios-1235772948/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref>

== Television ==
=== ''Poltergeist: The Legacy'' (1996–1999) ===
{{main|Poltergeist: The Legacy}}
A spin-off television series, ''[[Poltergeist: The Legacy]]'', ran from 1996 to 1999, though it does not have any connection to the films other than the title.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mackie|first1=Drew|title=20 Things You Might Not Know About the Original Poltergeist Trilogy|url=https://people.com/movies/poltergeist-trilogy-trivia/|website=[[People (magazine)|People]]|access-date=May 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521183516/http://www.people.com/people/mobile/article/0,,20923734,00.html|archive-date=May 21, 2015|date=May 20, 2015}}</ref>

== Cast and crew ==
=== Cast ===
The following table shows the cast members who played the primary characters in the film series.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:99%;"
|-
! rowspan="3" style="width:15%;"| Character
! colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| Original series 
! colspan="1" style="text-align:center;"| Reboot 
! colspan="1" style="text-align:center;"| Television Series 
|-
!  style="text-align:center; width:15%;"| ''[[Poltergeist (1982 film)|Poltergeist]]''
!  style="text-align:center; width:15%;"| ''[[Poltergeist II: The Other Side|Poltergeist II<br>{{small|The Other Side}}]]''
!  style="text-align:center; width:15%;"| ''[[Poltergeist III]]''
!  style="text-align:center; width:15%;"| ''[[Poltergeist (2015 film)|Poltergeist]]''
!  style="text-align:center; width:15%;"| ''[[Poltergeist: The Legacy|Poltergeist<br>{{small|The Legacy}}]]''
|-
! 1982
! 1986
! 1988
! 2015
! 1996–1999
|-
! Carol Anne Freeling
| colspan="3" | [[Heather O'Rourke]]
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |
|-
! Steven "Steve" Freeling
| colspan="2" | [[Craig T. Nelson]]
| rowspan="4" {{N/A|''Mentioned''}}
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |
|-
! Diane Freeling (née Wilson)
| [[JoBeth Williams]]
| JoBeth Williams<hr>{{small|Jaclyn Bernstein}}{{ref|young|Y}}
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |
|-
! Dana Freeling
| [[Dominique Dunne]]
| {{N/A|''Mentioned''}}
| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |
|-
! Robert "Robbie" Freeling
| colspan="2" | [[Oliver Robins]]
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |
|-
! Dr. Martha Lesh
| [[Beatrice Straight]]
| colspan="4" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |
|-
! Ryan Mitchell
| [[Richard Lawson (actor)|Richard Lawson]]
| colspan="4" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |
|-
! Dr. Marty Casey
| Martin Casella
| colspan="4" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |
|-
! Tangina Barrons
| colspan="3" | [[Zelda Rubinstein]]
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |
|-
! Reverend Henry Kane / "The Beast"
| colspan="1" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
| [[Julian Beck]]<hr>Noble Craig (Vomit Creature) 
| [[Nathan Davis (actor)|Nathan Davis]]<hr>{{small|[[Corey Burton]]}}{{ref|voice|V}}
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Jessica "Grandma Jess" Wilson
| colspan="1" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |
| [[Geraldine Fitzgerald]]<hr>{{small|Kelly Jean Peters}}{{ref|young|Y}}
| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |
|-
! Taylor
| colspan="1" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |
| [[Will Sampson]]
| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |
|-
! Bruce Gardner
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |
| colspan="1" | [[Tom Skerritt]]
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |
|-
! Patricia "Pat" Wilson-Gardner<br>{{small|Trish Wilson}}
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |
| colspan="1" | [[Nancy Allen (actress)|Nancy Allen]]
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |
|-
! Donna Gardner
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |
| colspan="1" | [[Lara Flynn Boyle]]
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |
|-
! Scott
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |
| colspan="1" |Kipley Wentz
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Dr. Seaton
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |
| colspan="1" |Richard Fire
| colspan="2" style="background:#d3d3d3;" |
|-
! Madison "Maddy" Bowen
| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
| [[Kennedi Clements]]
| style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Eric Bowen
| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
| [[Sam Rockwell]]
| style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Amy Bowen
| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
| [[Rosemarie DeWitt]]
| style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Griffin "Griff" Bowen
| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
| [[Kyle Catlett]]
| style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Kendra Bowen
| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
| [[Saxon Sharbino]]
| style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Carrigan Burke
| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
| [[Jared Harris]]
| style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Dr. Brooke Powell
| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
| [[Jane Adams (actress, born 1965)|Jane Adams]]
| style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Boyd
| colspan="3" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
| [[Nicholas Braun]]
| style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
|-
! Dr. Derek Rayne
| colspan="4" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
| [[Derek de Lint]]
|-
! Nick Boyle
| colspan="4" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
| [[Martin Cummins]]
|-
! Alexandra "Alex" Moreau
| colspan="4" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
| [[Robbi Morgan]]
|-
! Father Philip Callaghan
| colspan="4" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
| Patrick Fitzgerald
|-
! Dr. Rachel Corrigan
| colspan="4" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
| [[Helen Shaver]]
|-
! Katherine "Kat" Corrigan
| colspan="4" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
| Alexandra Purvis
|-
! William Sloan
| colspan="4" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
| [[Daniel J. Travanti]]
|-
! Kristin Adams
| colspan="4" style="background:#d3d3d3;"|
| [[Kristin Lehman]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" colspan="6" | {{smalldiv|1='''Note(s)'''
1. Henry Kane in his "Vomit Creature" incarnation is portrayed by Noble Craig.<br />
2. Though Henry Kane was portrayed by Nathan Davis, he was [[Voice acting|voiced]] by Corey Burton.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.poltergeistiii.com/corey.html |title=Interview with the Voice of Kane |publisher=PoltergeistIII.com |access-date=February 27, 2011}}</ref>}}
|}

=== Crew ===
{| class="wikitable"  style="text-align:center; width:99%;"
|-
! rowspan="3" style="width:10%;"| Occupation
! colspan="4" | Film
|-
! style="width:10%;" | ''Poltergeist''
! style="width:10%;" | ''Poltergeist II:<br />The Other Side''
! style="width:10%;" | ''Poltergeist III''
! style="width:10%;" | ''Poltergeist''
|-
! 1982
! 1986
! 1988
! 2015
|-
! Director
| [[Tobe Hooper]]
| [[Brian Gibson (director)|Brian Gibson]]
| [[Gary Sherman (director)|Gary Sherman]]
| [[Gil Kenan]]
|-
! Writer(s)
| [[Michael Grais]]<br />[[Steven Spielberg]]<br />[[Mark Victor]]
| Michael Grais<br />Mark Victor
| Gary Sherman<br />Brian Taggert
| [[David Lindsay-Abaire]]
|-
! Producer(s)
| [[Frank Marshall (film producer)|Frank Marshall]]<br />Steven Spielberg
| Michael Grais<br />Mark Victor
| Barry Bernardi
| [[Roy Lee]]<br />[[Sam Raimi]]<br />[[Robert Tapert]]
|-
! Composer
| colspan="2" | [[Jerry Goldsmith]]
| [[Joe Renzetti]]
| [[Marc Streitenfeld]]
|-
! Cinematographer
| [[Matthew F. Leonetti]]
| [[Andrew Laszlo]]
| [[Alex Nepomniaschy]]
| [[Javier Aguirresarobe]]
|-
! Editor
| [[Michael Kahn (film editor)|Michael Kahn]]
| [[Thom Noble]]<br />[[Bud S. Smith]]<br />M. Scott Smith
| Ross Albert
| [[Jeff Betancourt]]<br />[[Bob Murawski]]
|-
! Distributor by
| [[MGM/UA Entertainment Co.]]
| [[MGM Entertainment Co.]]
| [[MGM/UA Communications Co.]]
| [[20th Century Fox]]
|-
!  Production company
| [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]<br />SLM Production Group<br />Mist Entertainment<br />[[Amblin Productions]]
| colspan="2"| [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]
| [[Fox 2000 Pictures]]<br />[[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]<br />[[Ghost House Pictures]]<br />[[TSG Entertainment]]<br />[[Vertigo Entertainment]]
|-
! Release date
| June 4, 1982
| May 23, 1986
| June 10, 1988
| May 22, 2015
|-
! Runtime
| 114 minutes
| 91 minutes
| 98 minutes
| 93 minutes
|}

== Reception ==
=== Box office performance ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:99%; border:1; text-align:right;"
! rowspan="2" | '''Film'''
! rowspan="2" | '''Release date (US)'''
! rowspan="2" | '''Budget'''
! colspan="3" | '''Box office revenue'''
! rowspan="2" | '''Reference'''
|-
! '''United States'''
! '''Foreign'''
! '''Worldwide'''
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|''Poltergeist'' (1982)
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Start date|1982|6|4}}
| $10.7&nbsp;million
| $76,606,280
| $45,099,739
| $121,706,019
| align="center" |<ref name="numbers">{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/series/Poltergeist.php|title=Box Office History for Poltergeist Movies|work=The-Numbers|publisher=Nash Information Services|access-date=February 26, 2011}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|''Poltergeist II: The Other Side''
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Start date|1986|5|23}}
| $19&nbsp;million
| $40,996,665
| $33,929,000
| $74,925,665
| align="center" |<ref name="numbers"/><ref name=UIP>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=September 11, 1995|page=92|title=UIP's $25M-Plus Club}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|''Poltergeist III''
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Start date|1988|6|10}}
| $9.5&nbsp;million
| $14,114,488
| {{n/a}}
| $14,114,488
| align="center" |<ref name="numbers"/>
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|''Poltergeist'' (2015)
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Start date|2015|5|22}}
| $35&nbsp;million
| $47,425,125
| $48,210,406 	
| $95,635,531 	 
| align="center" |<ref name="BOM">{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl74155521/ |title=Poltergeist (2015) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=May 25, 2015}}</ref>
|-
! colspan=2 align="center"|Total
! $74.2&nbsp;million
! $178,545,003
! {{N/A}}
! $306,381,703
!
|-
| colspan="9" style="text-align:left;"| {{smalldiv|'''List indicator(s)'''
* A dark grey cell indicates the information is not available for the film.}}
|}

=== Critical and public response ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" width=99% border="1" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! Film
! [[Rotten Tomatoes]]
! [[Metacritic]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| ''Poltergeist'' (1982)
| style="text-align:center;"| 88% (59 reviews)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1016513-poltergeist/|title=''Poltergeist'' (1982)|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Flixster]]|access-date=May 21, 2015}}</ref>
| 79 (7 reviews)<ref>{{cite web|title=''Poltergeist'' Reviews|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/poltergeist-1982|website=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|access-date=May 22, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| ''Poltergeist II: The Other Side''
| style="text-align:center;"| 37% (19 reviews)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/poltergeist_ii_the_other_side/|title=''Poltergeist II: The Other Side'' (1986)|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Flixster]]|access-date=May 31, 2013}}</ref>
| 49 (10 reviews)<ref>{{cite web| title=Poltergeist II: The Other Side| url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/poltergeist-ii-the-other-side| website=[[Metacritic]]| access-date=June 18, 2022}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| ''Poltergeist III''
| style="text-align:center;"| 17% (18 reviews)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/poltergeist_iii/|title=''Poltergeist III'' (1988)|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Flixster]]|access-date=May 22, 2015}}</ref>
| 40 (10 reviews)<ref>{{cite web| title=Poltergeist III| url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/poltergeist-iii| website=[[Metacritic]]| access-date=June 18, 2022}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| ''Poltergeist'' (2015)
| style="text-align:center;"| 31% (128 reviews)<ref>{{cite web|title=''Poltergeist'' (2015)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/poltergeist-2009/|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|date=May 22, 2015 |publisher=[[Flixster]]|access-date=May 22, 2015}}</ref>
| 47 (27 reviews)<ref>{{cite web|title=''Poltergeist'' Reviews|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/poltergeist|website=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|access-date=May 26, 2015}}</ref>
|}

=== ''Poltergeist'' curse ===
The "''Poltergeist'' curse" is a rumored [[curse]] attached to the ''Poltergeist'' trilogy and its crew, derived from the deaths of two young cast members in the six years between the releases of the first and third films.<ref name = "411mania"/><ref name="Snopes">Mikkelson, Barbara. [https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/poltergeist-curse/ "Poltergeist Deaths"], Snopes.com, August 17, 2007</ref> The rumor and the surrounding deaths were explored in a 2002 episode of ''[[E! True Hollywood Story]]'' titled "Curse of ''Poltergeist''".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/poltergeist-movie-curse-documentary-explore-830368|title=Documentary to Explore 'Poltergeist' Movie Curse|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=August 14, 2017|language=en}}</ref>
<!-- THIS IS NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF EVERYONE INVOLVED WITH THE FILM WHO HAS DIED. DO NOT ADD ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE IN THEIR 50s OR 60s DYING. PEOPLE THAT AGE DIE; IT'S NOT A CURSE. NEITHER IS DEATH OF A MINOR CHARACTER. -->* [[Dominique Dunne]], who played eldest daughter Dana in the first film, [[Killing of Dominique Dunne|died]] on November 4, 1982, at age 22 after being strangled by her ex-boyfriend John Thomas Sweeney.<ref>"Dominique Dunne, Actress, Dies After Being Choked", ''The New York Times'', November 5, 1982</ref> He was convicted of [[voluntary manslaughter]] and sentenced to six years in prison, but was paroled after serving three and a half years.<ref name=Snopes/> 
* [[Heather O'Rourke]], who played Carol Anne in all three ''Poltergeist'' films, died on February 1, 1988, at the age of 12 due to complications from an acute [[bowel obstruction]].<ref name="1988-05-26LAT">{{cite news| title= Suit Blames Doctors in Death of Young Actress| first= Bob| last= Baker| url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-05-26-mn-5241-story.html| newspaper= [[Los Angeles Times]]| location= Los Angeles, California, US| issn= 0458-3035| oclc= 3638237| date= May 26, 1988| page = 35| access-date= August 7, 2008}}</ref><ref name="1988-02-03NYT">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/03/obituaries/heather-o-rourke-12-starred-in-poltergeist.html|title=Heather O'Rourke, 12; Starred in 'Poltergeist'|date=February 3, 1988|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=January 21, 2013}}</ref><ref name="1988-02-03LAT">{{cite news|title='Poltergeist' Star Heather O'Rourke Dies at Age of 12|first=Burt A.|last=Folkart|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-02-03-mn-27226-story.html|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|location=Los Angeles, California, US|issn=0458-3035|oclc=3638237|date=February 2, 1988|page=3|access-date=May 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105201058/http://articles.latimes.com/1988-02-03/news/mn-27226_1_poltergeist-iii|archive-date=November 5, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><!-- THIS IS NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF EVERYONE INVOLVED WITH THE FILM WHO HAS DIED. DO NOT ADD ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE IN THEIR 50s OR 60s DYING. PEOPLE THAT AGE DIE; IT'S NOT A CURSE. NEITHER IS DEATH OF A MINOR CHARACTER. -->

== Documentary ==
''The Curse of Poltergeist'', a documentary film based on the mystery of the franchise, was set to begin shooting in November 2015, with Adam Ripp as director; financing and production was to be provided by his company Vega Baby, alongside Indonesia-based MD Pictures. The documentary intended to focus on the life and experiences of actor [[Oliver Robins]], who played Robbie Freeling in the first and second installments of the franchise, as a way to explore the tragedies that have befallen those involved with the films.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/poltergeist-movie-curse-documentary-explore-830368|title=Documentary to Explore 'Poltergeist' Movie Curse|author=Mia Galuppo|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|publisher=([[Prometheus Global Media]])|date=October 7, 2015|access-date=October 8, 2015}}</ref> The movie has yet to be produced.

== See also ==
* [[List of ghost films]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{notelist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|qid=Q497622|id=tt0084516|title=Poltergeist (1982)}}
* {{IMDb title|qid=Q499935|id=tt0091778|title=Poltergeist II: The Other Side}}
* {{IMDb title|qid=Q496853|id=tt0095889|title=Poltergeist III}}
* {{IMDb title|qid=Q15040721|id=tt1029360|title=Poltergeist (2015)}}
* {{IMDb title|qid=Q1968323|id=tt0115317|title=Poltergeist: The Legacy}}

{{Poltergeist}}

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[[Category:Poltergeist (franchise)| ]]
[[Category:American film series]]
[[Category:Film series introduced in 1982]]
[[Category:Horror film franchises]]
[[Category:20th Century Studios franchises]]
[[Category:Amazon (company) franchises]]
[[Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer franchises]]
[[Category:Curses]]
[[Category:Poltergeists]]