Ghostbusters

"Ghostbusters" (1984)

The character: Dr. Peter Venkman

What about him: An academic researcher and paranormal investigator/exterminator with the soul of a genuine quack (specifically Dr. Hugo Z. Hackenbush from "A Day at the Races").

Murray moment: After a raging demon appears... more in a refrigerator: "Generally you don't see that kind of behavior in a major appliance."

Analysis: Murray is definitely the eye of this blockbuster special-effects storm. The "Ghostbusters" sight gags are funny, but we know Murray's reaction to them is going to be the real punch line. It takes a comic genius to turn a gigantic Stay Puft Marshmallow Man into your straight man: "We've been going about this all wrong. This Mr. Stay Puft's OK. He's a sailor, he's in New York ... We get this guy laid, we won't have any trouble."

(Columbia Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection)