44 Years Later, Steven Spielberg’s Scariest Movie of All Time Is Officially Back on Streaming

The 1982 horror film *Poltergeist* is back on HBO Max, renewing attention to a long-running debate over whether credited director Tobe Hooper or producer Steven Spielberg did most of the directing. The dispute matters because the film’s production blurred the line between Hooper’s role on set and Spielberg’s extensive involvement.

The article says Spielberg had originally developed a science-fiction horror idea called *Night Skies*, while Hooper said he brought an independently developed *Poltergeist* concept to the project. Crew member John Leonetti credited Spielberg with directing, while stars JoBeth Williams and Craig T. Nelson affirmed Hooper’s role; actor Zelda Rubinstein described it as a joint effort with Spielberg exerting more control. In a 1982 interview, Spielberg described stepping in when questions on set went unanswered, and the film’s release alongside *E.T.* the same year added to perceptions of his influence.