Certain dates in the history of cinema are etched in our minds forever. Recently, people witnessed a momentous event on July 21, 2023, with the release of Bahenheimer. Prior to that, on July 18, 2008, audiences were treated to the simultaneous releases of Mamma Mia! and The Dark Knight, which made a cinema lover’s day.
However, nearly four decades ago, another remarkable day occurred when Ghostbusters and Gremlins graced the theaters on the same date. Such moments in cinematic history are destined to remain iconic beyond imagination.
Gremlins and Ghostbusters Hit Theaters 40 Years Ago Today!
Gremlins and Ghostbusters continue to hold their place as iconic films since their release in theaters. They have transcended time to become timeless classics, drawing many viewers back to relive cherished memories of their childhood.
However, what may come as a surprise to many, particularly Gen Z, is that both of these beloved films were actually released on the same day nearly 40 years ago, today, June 8, 1984.
Fans can’t help but feel a twinge of envy toward those fortunate individuals who had the opportunity to witness this cinematic double feature in real-time. Here is what some of the fans have to say about it,
Would’ve been a hell of a double feature to see back then.
— RJ (@ResonantJustice) June 8, 2024
Imagine being a kid and going to see those movies in the order of Ghostbusters and then gremlins. That would be frightening because you'd have nothing to laugh at once it's over
— Matt Jarbo (@mjarbo) June 8, 2024
What a glorious time to be a kid
— Nate, or, Mr H Reviews (@MrHreviews) June 8, 2024
40 years later… ghost bustin' still makes us feel good
— Ghostbusters (@Ghostbusters) June 8, 2024
That must’ve been a crazy weekend at the movies. pic.twitter.com/Uu1VInB8g4
— Eric Pellinen (@EricPellinen) June 8, 2024
84 was so incredible
— 🍍🌺 𝔹𝕦𝕕𝕕𝕙𝕒 ℂ𝕠𝕞𝕚𝕔𝕤 🇵🇸 (@Bodhi_Tweets) June 8, 2024
Civilization in general peaked in the 80's, can't convince me otherwise.
— Ironhead841 (@Mt2Aguy) June 8, 2024
1984 was a pretty iconic year in cinema history. From Wes Craven’s chilling masterpiece A Nightmare on Elm Street to Kevin Bacon’s breakthrough in Footloose to James Cameron’s groundbreaking The Terminator. That was not all, Steven Spielberg’s Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and Eddie Murphy’s smash hit Beverly Hills Cop are just a few examples of the cinematic gems that graced screens that year.
And that’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the wealth of cinematic treasures from 1984. It was truly a wondrous time to be a kid!
Ghostbusters vs. Gremlins Who Came Out on Top?
It’s pretty wild to think that back in 1984, these two blockbuster movies were duking it out at the box office. But, times were a bit different then, opening weekend stats weren’t as big a deal, and films had more prominent windows in theaters.
When Ghostbusters and Gremlins first hit the screens, it was indeed a close call. Ghostbusters pulled in $13.6 million, just edging out Gremlins, which made $12.5 million. Ghostbusters then went on to dominate the box office for a whopping seven weeks straight!
Hence, it’s pretty much a given that audiences emerged as the real winners, getting to experience such iconic cinematic marvels all in a single day.
Zooming into the present, Ghostbusters continues to ride the waves of success, with new sequels coming out in recent years. But Gremlins is not that far away and is also stirring up excitement, with whispers of a long-awaited third installment in the works. While nothing can quite capture the magic of that fateful day in 1984, the timeless charm of these films is simply unparalleled, the two still stand as timeless classics.
Both Gremlins and Ghostbusters are available on Apple TV for rent.
