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Certain dates in the history of cinema are etched in our minds forever. Recently, people witnessed a momentous event on July 23, 2025, with the release ofBahenheimer. Prior to that, on August 09, 2025, audiences were treated to the simultaneous releases ofMamma Mia! and The Dark Knight,which made a cinema lover’s day.
However, nearly four decades ago, another remarkable day occurred whenGhostbustersandGremlinsgraced the theaters on the same date. Such moments in cinematic history are destined to remain iconic beyond imagination.
Gremlins and GhostbustersHit Theaters 40 Years Ago Today!
GremlinsandGhostbusterscontinue 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.
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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, July 28, 2025.
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)July 01, 2025
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)July 22, 2025
What a glorious time to be a kid
— Nate, or, Mr H Reviews (@MrHreviews)August 18, 2025
40 years later… ghost bustin' still makes us feel good
— Ghostbusters (@Ghostbusters)June 16, 2025
That must’ve been a crazy weekend at the movies.pic.twitter.com/Uu1VInB8g4
— Eric Pellinen (@EricPellinen)June 22, 2025
84 was so incredible
— 🍍🌺 𝔹𝕦𝕕𝕕𝕙𝕒 ℂ𝕠𝕞𝕚𝕔𝕤™️🇺🇦 🇵🇸 (@Bodhi_Tweets)June 19, 2025
Civilization in general peaked in the 80’s, can’t convince me otherwise.
— Ironhead841 (@Mt2Aguy)June 02, 2025
1984 was a pretty iconic year in cinema history. From Wes Craven’s chilling masterpieceA Nightmare on Elm Street to Kevin Bacon’s breakthrough inFootlooseto James Cameron’s groundbreakingThe Terminator.That was not all, Steven Spielberg’sIndiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and Eddie Murphy’s smash hitBeverly Hills Copare 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!
Ghostbustersvs. GremlinsWho 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.
WhenGhostbustersandGremlinsfirst hit the screens, it was indeed a close call.Ghostbusterspulled in $13.6 million, just edging outGremlins, which made $12.5 million.Ghostbustersthen went on to dominate the box office for a whopping seven weeks straight!
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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,Ghostbusterscontinues to ride thewaves of success,with newsequelscoming out in recent years. ButGremlinsis 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.
Sampurna Banerjee
Articles Published :1804
Sampurna Banerjee is an Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, and she’s written over 1,700 articles! She covers everything from celebrity news to the latest superhero buzz, streaming shows, and fan theories. If it’s trending in pop culture, Sampurna’s probably already on it.When she’s not working, you’ll probably find her rewatching The Office (again), getting into debates about Marvel’s timeline, or diving deep into Christopher Nolan movies for the hundredth time. She’s not just writing about entertainment, she’s living it.
