Poltergeist
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Back in cinemas Oct 25 — 2 cinemas in 2 states · 2 screenings at 2 cinemas on our showtimes page
Where to watch: Not on major US streamers — check digital rental.
How it scared people
The vibe
Suburbia's shiny promise — TV in every room, houses on schedule — turns predatory when the youngest daughter starts talking to the static. Big-hearted Spielbergian spectacle with real teeth: the clown, the tree, the pool. "They're here" did permanent damage.
Poltergeist (1982) Parents Guide
| MPA rating | Rated PG |
|---|---|
| Runtime | 114 minutes |
| Jump scares | 3/5 — moderately scary, with a handful of strong sequences |
| Gore | 2/5 — only light gore |
| Dread | 2/5 — a mild unease that fades quickly |
| Themes | demonic possession |
Poltergeist is rated PG by the MPA. We score it 3/5 for jump scares, 2/5 for gore and 2/5 for lingering dread, over 114 minutes. Better suited to teens than to younger children.
We rate what the film does — scares, gore, dread — not scene-level content like language or nudity, which we don't track.
Before you press play
- How scary is Poltergeist?
- On our intensity scale, Poltergeist rates 6/10 for jump scares and 4/10 for dread. It is moderately scary, with a handful of strong sequences.
- How gory is Poltergeist?
- Poltergeist rates 4/10 for gore — expect only light gore.
- How long is Poltergeist?
- Poltergeist runs 114 minutes (1h 54m).
- What is Poltergeist rated?
- Poltergeist is rated PG by the MPA. On our own scale it rates 6/10 for jump scares, 4/10 for gore and 4/10 for dread — the PG tells you what it was certified, those tell you what it will do to you.
- Where to watch Poltergeist (1982)?
- Poltergeist is back in cinemas from Oct 25 — 2 screenings at 2 cinemas on our showtimes page. It is not on a major US subscription streamer yet.
