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The Poltergeist movies are a trilogy of horror films produced in the 1980s. Steven Spielberg wrote, produced, and some say directed the first Poltergeist although Tobe Hooper, (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) was billed as the director. Poltergeist II and III each had a different writer, producer, and director. Brian Gibson directed PII and Gary Sherman PIII.
Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow.
In the first movie, a group of sinister ghosts invade a family's home through the television. At first the ghosts appear friendly, playing tricks and amusing the family, then turn malevolent and nasty. The family's 5 year-old daughter, "Carol Anne," is then abducted by the ghosts and held hostage in their spirital world. A spiritual healer and a ghost expert are eventually brought in, allowing her mother to step into the "other world" to save her. The two sequels (1986 and 1988) followed a path of different ghosts stalking "Carol Anne" and her other family members too.
Some of the stars in the movie suffered unfortunate fates, for which the movie series has been dubbed as having a Poltergeist Curse.