105 Ghostbusters Quotes That Any Fan Should Know

Luca Demetriou
Dec 12, 2023 By Luca Demetriou
Originally Published on Jan 13, 2021
Studio shot of Lego ghostbuster

Ghostbusters is a '84 American supernatural comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis.

The story focuses on four eccentric parapsychologists who begin a ghost-catching business in New York City. The movie was well-received for its deft blend of comedy, action, and horror. It was the number one film for seven consecutive weeks.

“Drop everything, Venkman. We got one” says Ray Stantz in 'Ghostbusters'. Ray Stantz was a character portrayed by Dan Aykroyd in all four live-action films and was voiced by Frank Welker in the animated series. He is a member of the Ghostbusters and one of the parapsychology doctors, along with Dr. Peter Venkman and Dr. Egon Spengler.

Ghostbusters films had been in various stages of development following the release of 'Ghostbusters II' in '89. The 'Ghostbusters' remake is considered a box office flop, having made an estimated $70 million loss.

Aykroyd claims that Feig’s over-spending and refusal to shoot additional scenes directly led to the film’s failure, ensuring that the 'Ghostbusters' franchise will not continue. 'Ghostbusters' was the first comedy film to employ expensive special effects.

'The Ghostbusters' earned good recognition, while the remake of 'Ghostbusters' was a flop. Here are some of the ghostbusters quotes every fan should know, including 'Ghostbusters' quotes like "Ray, what did you do", "have you noticed how weird it's getting out there", and "where do these stairs go" 'Ghostbusters' quotes.

If you like this article, be sure to check out 'The Good Place' quotes and 'The Martian' quotes for more.

Best Ghostbusters Quotes

'Ghostbusters' is one of the most liked movies and was the number one film for seven consecutive weeks. It was one of the most successful comedy films of the '80s. Here are some of the funny 'Ghostbusters' quotes.

1. “On the end of the world.”

- Dr. Ray Stantz.

2. “On your singing voice.”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

3. “On the appeal of Dana.”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

4. “You’re not gonna lose the house, everybody has three mortgages nowadays.”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

5. “Back off man, I’m a scientist.”

- Bill Murray.

6. “Why worry? Each one of us is carrying an unlicensed nuclear accelerator on his back.”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

7. “The flowers are still standing!”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

8. “That’s the bedroom, but nothing ever happened in there.”

- Dana Barrett.

9. “What a crime.”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

10. “Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together…mass hysteria!”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

11. “Goodbye…I’m gonna get you a nice fruit basket. I’m gonna miss him.”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

12. “That would have worked if you hadn’t stopped me.”

- Egon Spengler.

13. “I think that would be extraordinarily dangerous.”

- Egon Spengler.

14. “I don’t think he’s human.”

- Egon Spengler.

15. “...The neighborhood is like a demilitarized zone.”

- Egon Spengler.

16. “Ray, when someone asks you if you’re a god, you say 'YES'!”

- Winston Zeddemore.

17. “Myth? Ray, has it ever occurred to you that maybe the reason we’ve been so busy lately is because the dead have been rising from the grave?”

- Winston Zeddmore.

18. “I’m Winston Zeddmore, Your Honor. I’ve only been with the company for a couple of weeks, but these things are real. Since I joined these men, I’ve seen...[stuff] that’ll turn you white.”

- Winston Zeddmore.  

19. “Hey, wait a minute. Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey. Hold it. Now, are we actually gonna go before a federal judge, and tell him that some moldy Babylonian God is going to drop in on Central Park West, and start tearing up the city?”

- Winston Zeddmore.

20. “No, we’re exterminators. Someone saw a cockroach up on twelfth [the twelfth floor].”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

21. “You it’ just occurred to me that we really haven’t had a successful test of this equipment.”

- Dr. Ray Stantz.

22. “There is no Dana, only Zuul.”

- Dana Barrett.

23. “Don’t cross the streams.”

- Dr. Egon Spengler.

24. “Human sacrifice...Mass hysteria!”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

25. “Have you or any member of your family ever been diagnosed schizophrenic or mentally incompetent?”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

26. “I’m always serious.”

- Egon Spengler.

27. “You’re very handy, I can tell. I bet you like to read a lot, too...I read a lot myself. Some people think I’m too intellectual but I think it’s a fabulous way to spend your spare time. I also play racquetball...Do you have any hobbies?”

- Janine Melnitz.

28. “You don’t act like a scientist. You’re more like a gameshow host.”

- Dana Barrett.

29. “We both have the same problem: you.”

- Dana Barrett.

30. “Spengler! I'm with Venkman! He got slimed!”  

- Dr. Ray Stantz.

31. “No job is too big, no fee is too big.”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

32. “I’m giving this whole thing as a promotional expense, that’s why I invited clients instead of friends.’You havin’ a good time, Mark?”  

- Louis Tully.

33. “I couldn’t help it. It just popped in there.”

- Dr. Ray Stantz.

34. “I’m a little fuzzy on the whole “good/bad” thing here.”  

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

35. “I’ve always been a fan of science fiction films, and I’ve never been able to put my particular spin on it.”  

- Ivan Reitman.

36. “A good actor is someone who knows how to take the part and make it real and make it honest and be effective in it. If it’s in a funny movie and, as long as they are cast in an appropriate way, humor will come from it.”

- Ivan Reitman.

37. “I always see things that I can improve...I’m surprised at how effective it is, even today, and how vibrant that movie is and how juicy the performances all are.”

- Ivan Reitman.

38. “I always thought that Bill Murray was one of the great actors that I’ve worked with. And I’ve worked with all kinds of people who are known primarily for their dramatic work.”

- Ivan Reitman.

39. “Oh, don’t leave yet! Maybe if we start dancing, other people will join in?”

- Louis Tully.

40. “I tried to think of the most harmless thing.Something I loved from my childhood. Something that could never ever possibly destroy us. Mr. Stay Puft!”

- Dr. Ray Stantz.

Famous Ghostbusters Quotes

A large number of audience hugely liked 'Ghostbusters' and here are some of the famous Rick Moranis 'Ghostbusters' quotes, Zuul Ghostbusters quotes, Vigo 'Ghostbusters' quotes, Egon 'Ghostbusters' quotes, and Winston 'Ghostbusters' quotes from the movie, including Ghostbusters quotes "when we get to twenty let me know" which fans love. Here are the most famous 'Ghostbusters' quotes.  

41. “Well, when we get to 20, tell me. I’m gonna throw up.”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

42. “Do you know how weird it is out there? We’ve taken our own head count.”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

43. “Where do these stairs go?”

- Dr. Ray Stantz.

44. “Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.”

- Egon Spengler.

45. “What he means is the Old Testament, Mr. Mayor, real wrath-of-God type stuff. Fire and brimstone coming down from the sky!”

- Dr. Ray Stantz.

46. “Gozer the Gozerian... good evening. As a duly designated representative of the City, County and State of New York, I order you to cease any and all supernatural activity and return forthwith to your place of origin or to the nearest convenient parallel dimension.”

- Dr. Ray Stantz.

47. “Ray, the sponges migrated about a foot-and-a-half.”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

48. “I’m studying the effect on negative reinforcement on ESP ability.”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

49. “I think this building should be condemned. There’s serious metal fatigue in all the load-bearing members, the wiring is substandard, it’s completely inadequate for our power needs, and the neighborhood is like a demilitarized zone.”

- Egon Spengler.

50. “I’m going to bring this up at the next tenant’s meeting! There’s not supposed to be any pets in the building!”

- Louis Tully.

51. “You’re right, no human being would stack books like this.”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

52. “Everything was fine with our system until the power grid was shut off.”

- Dr. Ray Stantz.

53. “Do you believe in UFOs, astral projections, mental telepathy, ESP, clairvoyance, spirit photography, telekinetic movement, full trance mediums, the Loch Ness monster and the theory of Atlantis?”

- Janine Melnitz.

54. “Dropping off, or picking up?”

- Janine Melnitz.

55. “I’m Winston Zeddemore. I’ve only been with the company for a couple of weeks, but these things are real.”

- Winston Zeddmore.

56. “You are so kind to take care of that man. You’re a real humanitarian.”

- Janine Melnitz.

57. “We’d like to get a sample of your brain tissue.”

- Egon Spengler.

58. “You’re gonna endanger our client — the nice lady, who paid us in advance before she became a dog.”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

59. “This job is definitely not worth 11.5 a year.”

- Winston Zeddmore.

Funny Ghostbuster Quotes

'Ghostbusters' was a comedy and fantasy movie in which the actors and actresses very well portrayed the characters. Here are some of the funny Bill Murray 'Ghostbusters' quotes as well as from other characters in the movie.

60. “Of course you forget, Peter, I was present at an unexplained, undersea, mass sponge migration.”

- Dr. Ray Stantz.

61. “Janine, someone with your qualifications would have no trouble finding a top-flight job in either the food service or housekeeping industries.”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

62. “Sorry Venkman, I’m terrified beyond the capacity for rational thought.”

- Dr. Egon Spengler.

63. “We used to roast Stay Puft marshmallows by the fire at Camp Wauconda.”

- Dr. Ray Stantz.

64. “Let’s show this prehistoric [ghost]...how we do things downtown.”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

65. “Ray has gone bye-bye Egon. What have you got left?”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

66. “Spengler, are you serious about actually catching a ghost?”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

67. “We’re ready to believe you!”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

68. “I collect spores, molds, and fungus.”

- Elon Spengler.

69. “He slimed me. I feel so funky.”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

70. “We came! We saw! We kicked its...[behind]!”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

71. “Oh, don’t leave yet! Maybe if we start dancing, other people will join in?”

- Louis Tully.

72. “There’s not supposed to be any pets in the building!”

- Louis Tully.

73. “There’s something you don’t see every day.”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

74. “We’ve been going about this all wrong. This Mr. Stay Puft’s okay! He’s a sailor, he’s in New York!”  

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

75. “I feel like the floor of a taxi cab.”  

- Egon Spengler.

76. “I don’t have to take this abuse from you, I’ve got hundreds of people dying to abuse me.”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

77. “Generally you don’t see that kind of behavior in a major appliance.”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

78. “I’m fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing. What do you mean, bad?”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

79. “Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.”

- Egon Spengler.

80. “I blame myself.”  

- Egon Spengler.

Great Ghostbusters Quotes

Shifting from a carpet cleaning business to capturing ghosts, the main characters in the movie won the heart of the audience. Here are some of the original 'Ghostbusters' quotes and lines that you will certainly enjoy.

81. “You never studied.”  

- Dr. Ray Stanz.

82. “Okay, who brought the dog?”

- Louis Tully.

83. “Your mother!”

- Egon Spengler.

84. “Listen! Do you smell something?”

- Dr. Ray Stantz.

85. “I love this plan! I'm excited to be a part of it! Let's do this!”

- Peter Venkman.

86. “I don't think he's human.”

- Egon Spengler.

87. “Someone blows their nose and you want to keep it?”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

88. “Symmetrical book stacking. Just like the Philadelphia mass turbulence of 1947.”

- Dr. Ray Stantz.

89. “This city is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions.”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

90. “Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies. Rivers and seas boiling.”

- Dr. Ray Stantz.

91. “Sorry, Venkman, I’m terrified beyond the capacity for rational thought.”

- Egon Spengler.

92. “If the answer is “yes,” then don’t wait another minute. Pick up the phone and call the professionals…”

- Dr. Ray Stantz.

93. “Nobody steps on a church in my town!”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

94. “Choose the form of The Destructor!”

- Gozer.

95. “I didn't choose anything…”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

96. “I've got hundreds of people waiting to abuse me.”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

97. “I make it a rule never to get involved with possessed people. Actually, it's more of a guideline than a rule…”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

98. “No! Nobody ever made them like this! The architect was either a certified genius or an authentic wacko!”

- Dr. Ray Stantz.

99. “Ah, if there's a steady paycheck in it, I'll believe anything you say.”

- Winston Zeddmore.

100. “If we're wrong, then nothing happens. We'll go to jail...Peacefully...Quietly...We'll enjoy it. But if we're right, and we can stop this thing... Lenny... you will have saved the lives of millions of registered voters.”  

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

101. “Yeah, it’s a sign alright! We’re going out of business.”

- Janine Melnitz.

102. “Captain, I want these men arrested! They're in criminal violation of the Environmental Protection Act! And this explosion is the direct result of it!”  

- Walter Peck.

103. “Gozer the Gozerian? Good evening. As a duly-designated representative of the City, County and State of New York, I order you to cease any and all supernatural activity and return forthwith to your place of origin or to the next convenient parallel dimension.”

- Dr. Ray Stantz.

104. You're very handy, I can tell. I bet you like to read a lot, too.”

- Janine Melnitz.

105. “Type something, will you? We're paying for this stuff! And don't stare at me, you got the bug-eyes.”

- Dr. Peter Venkman.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestion Ghostbusters quotes, why not look at 'The Breakfast Club' quotes and 'The Day The Earth Stood Still' quotes for more?

Main image credit: Lewis Tse / Shutterstock.com
Second image credit: seaonweb / Shutterstock.com

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Written by Luca Demetriou

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English and Drama, Master of Arts specializing in Performance: Design and Practice

Luca Demetriou picture

Luca DemetriouBachelor of Arts specializing in English and Drama, Master of Arts specializing in Performance: Design and Practice

Experienced in writing and sub-editing, Luca holds a Bachelor's in English Literature and Drama from the University of Birmingham, where he served as the culture editor at Redbrick Paper. He is currently pursuing a Master's in Performance: Design and Practice at the University of the Arts in London, showcasing his passion for the arts, performance, and history. With a keen interest in traveling, Luca enjoys exploring new cultures and experiencing diverse perspectives.

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