⚡ Get All Content for 20% Off ⚡

Why 'Ghostbusters' Should Be Every Entrepreneur's Favorite Movie The movie is 30 years old, but the business principles underlying it are timeless. Really.

By Ray Hennessey

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Who ya gonna call for inspiration? Ghostbusters.

The blockbuster comedy is set for re-release later this summer, marking 30 years since it hit the theaters. It is the quintessential summer movie -- filled with action, laughs and slime.

It is also the biggest film ever made about the triumph of the American entrepreneur.

First, in the words of Philip Klein from the Washington Examiner, Ghostbusters is "the most libertarian Hollywood blockbuster ever made." After all, the government was helpless to deal with all of the ghosts terrorizing New York City, but at the same time it was resentful that a private enterprise was charging folks to do just that.

Related: The 15 Ronald Reagan Quotes Every Business Leader Must Know

But, beneath the politics of the movie is a story that is true to many entrepreneurs. Ghostbusters is, after all, a company. It is formed and incorporated by scientists Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Raymond Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), and Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis), who take a risk to leave the cushy life of academia make money on their idea.

To a large extent, they get business wrong. They spend poorly, renting a dilapidated, abadoned firehouse that is out of their price range simply because they like sliding down the fire pole. They buy an old ambulance as their primary vehicle, apparently spending more on the logo than they do on the siren. They hire a secretary even though the phone never rings. And, as they admit, they spend the last of their petty cash on chinese food.

Soon, they have doubts. There are no customers. There are not enough ghosts...yet.

Then they get a call. A real one. And the business suddenly booms. They even adapt to their growth by making a key addition to the executive team, bringing on Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson).

Once cash starts coming in, they turn to marketing and public relations. They are on television news and talk shows. They make the cover of magazines. More business rolls in.

Related: We Are Flawed, Erring Humans. Don't Blame Google.

Then, all starts to go wrong when the government steps in. Unlike most Hollywood fare, the real villains of Ghostbusters are the regulators, who dismiss the benefits of the innovation the company provides in favor of strict adherence to the rules. It is the Environmental Protection Agency that shuts down Ghostbusters for not having the right waste-handling permits, ignoring that there are ghosts flying around the city and no other entity fit to deal with them. The EPA shuts down the containment system and releases havoc on New York.

In the climax, only the government allowing the private entrepreneurs to use their technology and innovations can stop the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man from destroying the city. (This was, after all, pre-Bloomberg. Mike would have simply banned the Stay-Puft giant for making kids too fat.)

In short, many entrepreneurs are just like Venkman, Stantz and Spengler. They innovate. They take a risk. They struggle and fail. They battle back. They overcome hurdles and they triumph. Sometimes they even get the girl.

And they are often fearless. They ain't afraid of no ghosts.

Related: What Nannies Teach Us About Smart Regulation

Ray Hennessey

Former Editorial Director at Entrepreneur Media

Ray Hennessey is the former editorial director of Entrepreneur.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Remote Side Hustle a 43-Year-Old Musician Works on for 1 Hour a Day Earns Nearly $3,000 a Month: 'All From the Comfort of Home'

Sam Ziegler wanted to supplement his income as a professional drummer — then his tech skills and desire to help people came together.

Business News

Costco CFO Reveals Uncertain Fate of $1.50 Hot Dog and Soda Combo

CFO Richard Galanti reveals that the price will stay the same — but only "for a while."

Business News

The Most Unexpectedly Popular Side Hustle of the Decade Has Low Startup Costs and High Markups

A new report shows that vending machines are a popular investment — and the industry is set to grow up to $3 billion by 2031.

Marketing

Ever Wonder Why Certain Websites Rank Higher Than Yours? This SEO Expert Reveals The Secret to Dominating Search Results

It's often the smart use of SEO, now supercharged with AI, particularly in keyword optimization.

Business News

AI Is Impacting Jobs. Here Are the Gigs Affected the Most, According to an Analysis of 5 Million Upwork Postings

The researcher said in the report that freelance jobs were analyzed first because that market will likely see AI's immediate impact.

Leadership

Former Interrogator Shares 5 Behaviors Liars Exhibit and How to Handle Them

Five deceptive behaviors to look for and how to respond to those behaviors when you encounter them.