Poltergeist (1982) Shooting Script (Copy) First Draft – February, 1981 (includes final revisions) Complete screenplay with 119 pages Screenplay by Steven Spielberg, Mark Victor and Michael Grais Story by Steven Spielberg Poltergeist is a 1982 American supernatural horror film directed by Tobe Hooper and produced and co-written by Steven Spielberg. It follows a suburban family whose home is invaded by violent paranormal forces that ultimately abduct their youngest daughter, forcing them into a terrifying confrontation with the supernatural. The film is considered a landmark of modern horror cinema for its combination of emotional family drama and escalating supernatural terror. Its portrayal of ordinary suburban life disrupted by otherworldly forces helped redefine the genre and influenced countless horror films that followed. Steven Spielberg’s influence is key to the film’s tone and emotional strength, blending intimacy and spectacle in a way that elevated the material beyond conventional horror. The film’s impact, reinforced by its practical effects and iconic imagery, secured its place as one of the most influential horror films ever made. As a Shooting Script, this version reflects the production-ready screenplay used during filming, incorporating all final revisions into the structured format that shaped the finished film. Did you know? Our scripts come directly from the USA. They are easy to recognize because they have the standard U.S. paper size. Typically, people use A4-sized paper (297mm in height) to make fan copies of scripts. This paper size is not used in the United States; they use letter-sized paper (279mm in height). This is noticeable because this scripts usually have black lines at the top and bottom, showing that the original paper size used to copy (any American script) is smaller than A4. Also, our scripts have been preserved under the strictest climate control standards in HVAC-R conditions, both during storage and throughout the packaging process. As a result, a label is applied after sealing them, as shown in the photos. They are bound in the same way that vault copies of scripts are preserved, without any oxidizable materials that could damage the paper. They are carefully packed in bubble wrap and placed in a cardboard box to ensure they arrive in the best possible condition.