For GBFans (Ghostbusters Fans) or ghosties, the feeling of unexpectedly hearing or seeing a Ghostbusters reference while watching a movie or a TV show is just something else. It’s probably because we remember some bits of our favorite Ghostbusters scene, or it takes us back to the time when we first watched the movie. Since this franchise was loved by many people around the world, it’s no surprise that it has been used as a reference in several movies, cartoons, TV shows, and others.
That thought alone led us to look for some of the best Ghostbusters references in movies and cartoons. Of course, these are films and shows that we usually saw while TV streaming and loved watching way back. Let’s start!
- Sonic the Hedgehog – Ghost Busted Episode
There’s one episode in Sonic the Hedgehog called Ghost Busted. Well, it’s clearly a reference to Ghostbusters. The episode actually didn’t involve real ghosts, but it’s a fun reference to the film. It focused more on the spooky elements that give off Ghostbusters vibes. But in the end, the so-called ghosts are just fake scares created by Robotnik to trap Sonic similar to how Ghostbusters dealt with ghosts.
- The Simpsons – Tales from the Public Domain
In the episode Tales from the Public Domain, while Homer was talking to John, he said, “John, it’s not only a great play but also became a great movie called Ghostbusters.” Then, the entire family danced to the real Ghostbusters theme song. It was really adorable to watch. It might even take you back to the time when you did the dance yourself while watching Ghostbusters on Dish TV way back.
- SpongeBob SquarePants – SpongeBob’s Place Episode
When we think about SpongeBob, we don’t really think about ghosts or something spooky. But aside from their Halloween episodes, there’s this one scene in SpongeBob’s Place where SpongeBob said, “If you think the Krusty Krab is haunted and needs ghostbusting, I’ll stay away for a while.” There’s not much context to it, but the term ghostbusting holds a lot of memories. It’ll literally make you go through different streaming services to binge-watch the entire franchise.
- Futurama – Ghost in the Machines Episode
We’re not sure if you’re familiar with Futurama, but this sitcom is about a 20th-century pizza delivery guy named Fry who gets frozen and wakes up 1,000 years in the future. There’s this one scene where there was a conversation that goes “All I know is, I’ve got a ghost that needs bustin’.” “Who you gonna call?” “Gho-” “The number you have dialed has been lame since 1989.” A true classic.
- Daffy Duck’s Quackbusters Movie
This Looney Tunes movie is an entire Ghostbusters reference. Duffy Duck starts a ghost-hunting business so he can keep a fortune he inherited from a millionaire dog. But there’s a catch—he has to be honest and use the money for good, or the ghost of the dog will take it back. He hires Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, and Sylvester to help him deal with ghosts. But every time Daffy lies or acts selfish, the ghost takes away more of his money.
The Bottom Line
There are still other movies and cartoons that have Ghostbusters references, but these are some of the most fun and obvious ones. We all know that it became a big part of pop culture. The ghosts, the jokes, the theme song, and everything about Ghostbusters are just something else. Make sure to check these cartoons and movies out if you want to see these references for yourself. Happy watching!