Dan Aykroyd Reveals Columbia Paid $500,000 for Ghostbusters Title
Aykroyd said the cast filmed alternate takes as the Ghostblasters because Columbia Pictures did not yet own the name.
Dan Aykroyd said on X that filming of Ghostbusters began before Columbia Pictures owned the title, and that the studio later paid $500,000 to buy the name. The actor, who played Dr. Raymond Stantz in the 1984 film, shared the account on October 31, 2026.
According to Aykroyd, the cast filmed alternate takes using different business names because the title was not secured. He also posted vintage promotional clips in which he, Bill Murray and Harold Ramis pitched the business as the Ghostblasters.
An earlier Ghostbusters on television
Aykroyd said Taft Broadcasting owned the title Ghostbusters for a half-hour sitcom starring Larry Storch, Forrest Tucker and a gorilla. That production predated the Columbia film.
He credits Dean Martin as the source of the term, citing a line in the 1953 film Scared Stiff, which also featured Jerry Lewis and Lizabeth Scott. Aykroyd has said he watched every ghost comedy ever made while researching the first film, which was released in 1984.
Quick answers
How much did Columbia Pictures pay for the Ghostbusters title?
Aykroyd said Columbia paid $500,000 to buy the name.
Who owned the Ghostbusters title before Columbia?
According to Aykroyd, Taft Broadcasting held the title for a half-hour sitcom starring Larry Storch, Forrest Tucker and a gorilla.
What alternate name did the cast use in early takes?
Aykroyd shared promotional clips in which he, Bill Murray and Harold Ramis pitched the business as the Ghostblasters.