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[[quoteright:350:[[Film/Ghostbusters1984 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ghostbusters6.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[TropeNamers They're ready to believe you!]]]]

->''"When things get strange, when what goes bump in the night flicks on the lights, when no one else can help you, give me a call. I'm in the book."''
-->-- '''[[Literature/TheDresdenFiles Harry Dresden]]''', ''Literature/{{Storm Front|DresdenFiles}}''

All kinds of ThingsThatGoBumpInTheNight seem to plague the media. It seems you can't throw a TV remote without hitting ghosts, [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampires]], TheLegionsOfHell, aliens, or some other type of monster. Fortunately, wherever there are monsters, there's likely to be people who hunt them, and [[TagLine they ain't afraid of no ghosts.]]

These folks tend to come in a number of distinct varieties:

# TheChosenOne, who is also often the HunterOfMonsters.
# A small band of concerned but "average" citizens who have taken it upon themselves to deal with the threat(s). The ones who survive long enough can also graduate to [[HunterOfMonsters Hunter]] status or become an OccultDetective. May opt to [[WeHelpTheHelpless Help the Helpless]].
# The Freelanced Professional, someone who's been in the business of hunting and fighting vampires, werewolves, wizards, and aliens for a long time, usually was part of the former at some point. Often a [[HunterOfMonsters Hunter]] or OccultDetective. Not really a part of any organization (might be loosely) that hunts them, but usually has a network of friends, experts, and allies to help him out.
# A quasi-governmental [[TheMenInBlack Agency]] or Secret Society which both deals with the threat(s) and actively strives to keep the citizenry at large ignorant. Often headed up by DaChief, with a CowboyCop protagonist who has been newly recruited from the local police force.
# [[ChurchMilitant Priests and Nuns who kick ass]] who worship a [[MissionFromGod Deity or at least follow a religious paradigm]] that does ''not'' approve of such blasphemies.
# In TheUnmasquedWorld, government-sanctioned (or possibly non-sanctioned) CapeBusters or the MutantDraftBoard (in variants tilted towards supernatural horrors rather than metahumans) may be called in to deal with it.
# A ParanormalInvestigation team who investigate ghosts and spirits. Their equipment consists of digital thermometers, cameras, camcorders, EMF meters (to detect paranormal activity) and voice recorders (to record EVP).

Of course, {{Muggles}} [[{{Masquerade}} don't tend to be aware]] of the existence of the threat, so types 1-5 are often perceived as kooks, often of the AgentMulder brand. Still, [[WaxingLyrical if there's something strange in your neighbourhood...]]

See also CreatureHunterOrganization and ParanormalInvestigation. Compare OccultDetective and often related to DemonSlaying. If they're good enough, they may boast WeDoTheImpossible.
----
!!Examples:
[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* In ''Manga/DemonSlayerKimetsuNoYaiba'', the Demon Slayer Corps is the only organization capable of handling a demon, especially one that has supernatural Blood Arts. Unfortunately they're not officially recognized by the government and rarely known by the general populace. So while requests are made to the individual swordsman, they usually come from HQ or else a swordsman may investigate suspicious disappearances on their own initiative.
* In ''Anime/DevilHunterYohko'', Yohko's best friend, [[{{Meganekko}} Chigako]], appoints herself as her manager and starts by trying to promote her as a professional demon slayer, by taking out an ad in the paper. She also tries to make recordings of Yohko's battles, to showcase her abilities, in order to build Yohko's reputation. Though it usually ends up putting Chigako in harm's way, [[UnwantedAssistance or simply makes Yohko's job more difficult]].
* In ''Anime/GaReiZero'', two anti-paranormal organizations consist of the Ministry of Defense's Paranormal Disaster Countermeasure Headquarters, staffed by actual Self-Defense Forces officers/soldiers/staff with a few agents who have the ability to detect and see spirits while using weapons and military equipment that have been customized to fight demons. The other is the Ministry of Environment's Supernatural Disaster Countermeasures Division, consisting of agents who can see supernatural entities while relying on custom-made anti-demon weapons and equipment. Both anti-paranormal organizations have access to vehicles that can be used for traveling around Japan such as Chinook helicopters permanently posted to the PDCH while the SDCD has access to Humvees.
* Shibuya Psychic Research from ''Manga/GhostHunt'', as well as the various other exorcists/investigators who often accompany them.
* ''Manga/GhostSweeperMikami'': The titular character runs an agency dedicated to exorcising ghosts that cause trouble, although she has her fair share of run-ins with various supernatural beings, including vampires, werewolves and many others. She's said to be the best at this job, although she only takes works that [[OnlyInItForTheMoney net her a hefty amount of money]].
* The ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}'' Organization fights a secret war to protect Queen and Country from vampires... with ''{{Dracula}}'' as their best agent.
* The titular character of ''Manga/HellTeacherNube'', Meisuke "Nube" Nueno, is a very well-known and respected exorcist. Even though [[{{Obake}} Japanese folklore]] already gravitates towards him, his school (Doumori Elementary) and his students, people from far and wide seek him out to keep him from having too much free time. Also, [[spoiler:his father]] is a ''world''-renowned warrior monk and spiritualist; his fame is so great that the media constantly hounds him, and he even has fanclubs among Nube's students. By the end of the manga, [[spoiler:Nube has moved to another town, leaving the responsibility to protect Doumori to [[TheRival Tamamo]] and Izuna]].
* ''Manga/TheKurosagiCorpseDeliveryService'' is a group of {{Psychopomp}}s for hire, who speak to the dead and help fulfill their last wishes in exchange for payment.
* In the ''Franchise/{{Nasuverse}}'', the [[ChurchMilitant Burial Agency]] and the Magus Association's Enforcers are the main agencies that police the supernatural. Their main jobs are containing Dead Apostles, eliminating rogue magi, and maintaining the {{Masquerade}} by [[LaserGuidedAmnesia hypnotizing]] or {{killed|ToUpholdTheMasquerade}} any {{muggle|s}} witnesses. When demons were more common, several clans in Japan were dedicated to hunting them.
* ''Anime/PhantomQuestCorp'' is a for profit organization that'll take [[ParanormalInvestigation any case dealing with the paranormal]], or the supernatural. Incidentally, the show's intro just happens to be their ad!
* ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'':
** The Tendo Dojo seems to be the standard place to go in Nerima for demon and ghost sightings. It's stated that battling such things is the responsibility of the "true martial artist," whatever ''that'' is. [[note]]In {{Fanon}}, it's one of two options: Either it's an excuse for Genma and/or Soun to make Ranma do it, or Ranma honestly believes it is something he must do. Note that the two options are ''not'' mutually exclusive...[[/note]]
** Specific example: "Mystery of the Marauding Octopus Pot" {{Filler}} story, from both manga and anime. Ranma, Soun and Genma are hired to come to a seaside village and deal with a living octopus pot that has been stealing all sorts of things, namely food and women's underwear. Soun and Genma promptly take to their private room and lounge around eating seafood, while Ranma, expressing disdain for their attitude, goes and uses his GenderBender {{Curse}} to stake out the women's baths in order to lure out the lecherous monster. [[spoiler:It turns out to be DirtyOldMan [[MiniatureSeniorCitizens Happosai]], raiding the village to care for a beautiful moocher (anime version) or because he's a dick (manga).]]
* The DWMA forces in ''Manga/SoulEater'' deal with supernatural threats, usually involving demons or witches. If any other organizations are involved, we don't see them.
* The Sumeragi Family of [[UsefulNotes/{{Onmyodo}} onmyouji]], as portrayed in ''Manga/TokyoBabylon'', will deal with anyone's paranormal issues if hired, to the point that the current head of the family is so busy he can't attend school on a regular basis.
* ''Manga/YuYuHakusho'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ic0uSrw4zUg Yusuke and friends provide]] a DemonSlaying service.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
%%* ''ComicBook/TwoThousandAD's'' ''Caballistics, Inc.'' Also Devlin Waugh.
* ''ComicBook/AtomicRobo'': Robo starts out as a type three who either gets recruited to deal with assorted mad science nonsense or stumbles on it of his own accord, then later starts a business to do it with more reliable backup. Later in his career, the appeal has kind of worn off for him, and he repeatedly grouses that all he ''wants'' to do is just regular science, but no, he has to keep running around putting out everyone else's fires and getting beaten half to scrap while doing so.
-->'''Robo:''' I have ''got'' to restructure my life so I spend more time reading abstracts and less time punching dinosaurs.
%%* The ComicBook/{{BPRD}} and their most famous agent, ComicBook/{{Hellboy}}, fall into the third variation of this.
* Subverted in ''Dark Gods'' a series by Justin Jordan for Creator/AvatarPress. The Storm is an organization that's supposedly created by the mysterious yet benevolent occult investigator Murdoch to hunt down cults and fight lesser entities and gods that were created through the qlippoth by [[{{Tulpa}} humans personifying events and concepts]] which were inevitably corrupted into evil by human Id. However the Storm, while fairly well equipped, were deliverately poorly trained and given inadequate protection from the dark gods which [[CurbstompBattle easily slaughtered the whole group]], save Murdoch and a lucky few. That's because the Storm was really intended as a HumanSacrifice. Murdoch was once the Babylonian god Bel Marduk and was originally a priest who manipulated his people's religion with a self-inserted legend to become a DeityOfHumanOrigin. His powers were waning from a lack of belief, so he sought to restore them by offering his followers' death to himself.
%%* Franchise/TheDCU has a ''ton'' of people on hand to deal with this sort of thing. ComicBook/DoctorFate, ComicBook/ThePhantomStranger, [[ComicBook/{{Hellblazer}} John Constantine]], ComicBook/{{Zatanna}}... hell, even ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}''.
* ''ComicBook/HackSlash'' is about a former FinalGirl who becomes a [[OurSlashersAreDifferent slasher]]-hunter.
* ''Franchise/MarvelUniverse'':
** In ''ComicBook/{{AXIS}}'', this ends up being Hobgoblin's big shtick as he realizes that GoodFeelsGood and turns self-help guru.
** ComicBook/DoctorStrange is the go-to guy for dealing with most supernatural threats, and people often come directly to him to deal with their supernatural problems. Since he's the Sorcerer Supreme, it's pretty much in his job description. Or Brother Voodoo or Magik if Strange isn't around.
** So [[TheWorldIsAlwaysDoomed your planet is about to get devoured again]]. Who you gonna call? Why, the ComicBook/FantasticFour, of course!
** In cases of victims of psychic attacks, [[Characters/MarvelComicsProfessorX Professor Charles Xavier]] of the ComicBook/XMen is usually the only expert who can treat such casualties.
* As noted in the Western Animation tab, the ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'' gang don't wind up facing actual ghosts and the mysteries they stumble upon are usually unintentional. This is inverted in the Gold Key comic of ''Scooby'', as starting with issue #14 the gang became ghost breakers for hire.
-->'''Scooby:''' ''[thought balloon]'' Oh, brother... get in the newspapers for solving a few mysteries and pretty soon your services are in high demand.
* The ''ComicBook/{{Vampirella}}'' comics have featured different variations of this trope:
** The main character herself is a vampire who [[DefendsAgainstTheirOwnKind protects humans from supernatural threats]]. She is often aided by demon hunter Adam Van Helsing and the wizard Pendragon.
** During the 90s, Vampirella was allied with the Danse Macabre, an organization that fought supernatural threats with considerably more extreme measures. They were unfortunately wiped out by the villainess Nyx, [[HeroKiller who also killed Vampirella herself.]]
** ''Vampirella: The New Monthly'' introduced the comic's ChurchMilitant variant of this trope called the Sisterhood, an organization of nuns who fought the supernatural.
** A later run in the early 2000s introduced the World's End Circus, a covert branch of the FBI tasked with fighting supernatural threats.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* In a MissingTrailerScene for the HalloweenEpisode of ''Fanfic/CalvinAndHobbesTheSeries'', Calvin claimed he was going to call the Ghostbusters, but Hobbes [[YouFool called him a fool]] as it was [[HorrorDoesntSettleForSimpleTuesday their busiest night]].
* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'':
** It becomes something of a RunningGag for one character or another to have Xavier recommended to them as either a teacher or more frequently, a therapist, since he's pretty much the only therapist in the superhuman community -- though as Harry points out when this is [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]], he's also the best.
** [=MI13=] tend to be the ones who are called in to handle superhuman and/or supernatural nonsense in Britain, to the increasing disgruntlement of the Ministry.
** Harry Dresden is the man who investigates the weird in Chicago as part of his OccultDetective shtick, though even SHIELD sometimes turn to him for his near-unrivalled skills as a supernatural tracker. His later teacher [[spoiler:and girlfriend]] Wanda Maximoff is suggested to have spent most of the last decade and a half dabbling in this too.
* "Who Ya Gonna Call?" was a 1988 fan story for the ''Series/DoctorWho'' fanzine Time Log that paired the sixth Doctor and Peri with the Ghostbusters. They're both investigating strange goings on in Arkham, Massachusetts, although the Doctor resolutely refuses to believe in ghosts.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/Beowulf2007'': "I'm here to kill your monster."
* Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny, and Porky Pig parody ''Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}'' with ''WesternAnimation/DaffyDucksQuackbusters''. They even have a tagline:
-->''"Spooks spooked, goblins gobbled, U.F.O.s K.O.'ed, aliens alienated, vampires evaporated, and monsters remonstrated!"''
* ''Anime/FirstSquad'': The titular squad is a Russian counter-occult special force consisting of five teenagers, set during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. [[spoiler:Only one of them lasts more than fifteen minutes into the first film, but luckily, she can channel the [[OurGhostsAreDifferent ghosts]] of her comrades.]]
* One of the oldest examples is the [[WesternAnimation/ClassicDisneyShorts Mickey, Donald and Goofy]] cartoon "WesternAnimation/LonesomeGhosts", in which the trio run a Ghost Exterminator Agency.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* ''Film/AbrahamLincolnVampireHunter'' is about... [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Abraham Lincoln hunting vampires]]. The only other hunter shown in the film is Henry, the guy who trains Lincoln, though it's sort of implied that Henry recruits and trains other hunters on a regular basis.
* The Boys from ''Film/BadTaste'', who respond to threats from outer space.
* In ''Film/{{Casper}}'', Dr. Harvey is ultimately called to exorcise the HauntedHouse, but Carrigan tries a few other professionals first -- even [[Creator/DanAykroyd one of the trope namers]], who is run out of the house by the Ghostly Trio and tells the new owners:
-->''"Who you gonna call? [[SubvertedCatchphrase Someone else!]]"''
* In ''Demon Hunters'' from Dead Gentlemen Productions, the aforementioned Hunters of Demons are the Brotherhood of the Celestial Torch -- an official branch of Heaven that deals with Hell's agents. "You've heard of Hell's Angels? Well, we're... [[{{Metaphorgotten}} Heaven's Demons]]."
%%* The title character in ''Film/TheExorcist''.
* ''Film/FantasticBeastsAndWhereToFindThem'': Newt Scamander, an expert on magical creatures, seems to be the magical equivalent of an animal control expert.
%%* Peter Vincent in ''Film/FrightNight1985'', although he gets dragged into it unwillingly.
* ''Film/Ghostbusters1984'': "If there's something strange... in your neighborhood... [[TropeNamers who you gonna call?]]" "'''GHOSTBUSTERS!'''" Probably the most well-known "concerned citizens" example who are formerly parapsychologists. Although they're also making money off it and for that reason, they encourage the {{muggles}} finding out. Peter Venkman even lampshades it in the sequel:
-->'''Peter Venkman:''' "Sometimes, weird things happen, ''someone'' has to deal with it, and ''who you gonna '''call'''''?"
%%* The titular siblings in ''Film/HanselAndGretelWitchHunters''.
%%* Just like in the comics, the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense in ''Film/Hellboy2004''.
%%* TheChurch in ''Film/JohnCarpentersVampires''
* The Frog Brothers in ''Film/TheLostBoys''. Teenage vampire hunters, they state "We're dedicated to a higher purpose. We're fighters for truth, justice, and the American way."
* ''Film/MenInBlack'' takes the "secret government agency" approach, with the titular agency having the dual role of protecting the Earth from malevolent aliens and keeping those benevolent aliens living on the planet from being discovered.
%%* ''Film/TheMonsterSquad''.
* Dr. Lesh and her crew, Ryan and Marty from ''Film/Poltergeist1982''. They're just parapsychologists who study on ghosts, creaking doors and cold spots.
%%* ''[[Film/VanHelsing VAN HEEEEELLSIIIIIIIIIIIIING!]]''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/{{Beowulf}}'': The eponymous hero takes on the demon Grendel, Grendel's mother, and eventually a dragon; not in self-defense but because he wants to.
* R.S Belcher's ''The Brotherhood of the Wheel'' has the titular Brotherhood protect humanity from supernatural threats and psychopathic killers. Additionally, the FBI has the real-life special taskforce "Highway Serial Killings Iniative" to investigate and keep under wraps serial killer packs, such as the Finders and the Zodiac Lodge, who use the highways to hunt.
* The title character of ''Literature/CarnackiTheGhostFinder'' functions as this, and more than anything else resembles a cross between the Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}} and Franchise/SherlockHolmes.
* ''Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian'': Conan has often been hired or recruited to kill a supernatural threat. While some civilized folk aren't impressed with his superstituous ways, he's built a long resume of knowing how to kill monsters.
* Most investigators in the ''Franchise/CthulhuMythos'' either die or go insane just by learning about the cosmic horrors. However, several stories feature characters who actively fight back against the Mythos. One is Derleth's Professor Shrewsbury, another is policeman-turned-occult hunter Inspector Legrasse (yes, the same one that turns up in ''TabletopGame/CallOfCthulhu''). Brian Lumley wrote about both occultist Titus Crowe and the Wilmarth Foundation, both dedicated to stopping the various Mythos threats.
* In ''Cyrion'' by Creator/TanithLee, the titular character is a master swordsman, all-around genius and amateur sleuth in a SwordAndSorcery world. Cyrion's famous for solving problems involving the supernatural.
* In ''Literature/DarkerThanYouThink'', Dr. Mondrick's Humane Research Foundation appears to be an ordinary group of researchers but was actually founded to study and fight shapeshifters. [[spoiler:All but one member of the Foundation is killed, but it's implied that he may try to create another more secret organization.]]
* The title character of ''Literature/DirkGentlysHolisticDetectiveAgency'' is actually running a hustle to bank on people's credulity, not quite a 'concerned citizen'. Yet he manages to get into, and solve, mysteries the only solution to which are supernatural agents.
* {{Parodied|Trope}}, along with every other existing trope ever, in ''Literature/{{Discworld}}''. This particular trope gets its turn in ''Literature/ReaperMan'':
-->''"Who is he going to call! ''We're'' the wizards around here."''
* Van Helsing from ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'' originally acts as a consultant on abnormal medical phenomena rather than a VampireHunter. Luckily, he also happens to be the latter as well, and formally initiates his five new friends into a team of vampire-busters.
* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'':
** To quote [[OccultDetective Harry Dresden]]'s Yellow Pages ad: "Harry Dresden--Wizard. Lost Items Found. Paranormal Investigations. Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates. No {{Love Potion}}s, [[BagOfHolding Endless Purses]], or Other Entertainment." (Ironically, Harry did have to resort to doing a birthday party at least once [[PerpetualPoverty to make ends meet]].) If you need a cop, call 911. If you need a miracle, call Harry Dresden. (In fact, he gets a fair number of calls ''from'' the cops -- most usually from Karrin Murphy.)
** There's also [[ChurchMilitant the Knights of the Cross]], though you don't usually call for their help so much as [[BigDamnHeroes they show up at exactly the right moment to save the day.]] [[GodIsGood Working for the Almighty]] gives you [[ContrivedCoincidence a good sense of timing.]]
** To a lesser extent, the Paranet. They're a grassroots group of minor magical talents and those in the know who banded together for mutual protection, colaborative work, and to spreading information within their community. They don't have access to the elite Wizard-level knowledge or power, but having been helped organized by one helps. Arguably, their greatest asset is the ability to use the internet to communicate and operate, without having the magical juice [[WalkingTechBane to break the machine they're using]] to access it.
%%* ''Literature/FelixCastor'' in his novels.%%Administrivia/ZeroContentExample
* ''Literature/ForestKingdom'': Book 3 of the ''Hawk & Fisher'' spinoff series (''The God Killer'') features the God Squad, a special unit of Haven's police force who deal with supernatural phenomena and entities.
* ''Literature/GhostFinders'' features ghost-hunting investigators from a government-affiliated agency called [[ShoutOut the Carnacki Institute]].
* ''Literature/HarryPotter'': The Aurors of the Ministry of Magic are mostly magical law enforcement (they apprehend dark wizards). The books mention many other departments of the Ministry of Magic that deal with magical creatures and spirits for the sake of the Wizarding (and Muggle) community.
* ''Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya'': This is, technically, the intent of the SOS Brigade. Thanks to their leader, they tend to make things much worse whenever they actually get a case.
* ''Literature/JakubWedrowycz'': Jakub is an amateur exorcist, and yet one of the most effective experts in his profession in the world. The setting also includes traditional priest exorcists, while Jakub is just an old drunkard who makes a living by making moonshine, but he's not any less effective, though his methods rely less on religious rituals and more on blunt force (well, that and some RitualMagic).
%%* John and Dave from ''Literature/JohnDiesAtTheEnd''.%%Administrivia/ZeroContentExample
* In the ''Jules De Grandin'' stories by Creator/SeaburyQuinn, the eponymous [[TheAce famous expert]] and MasterOfAll OccultDetective will solve your supernatural problems (and the occasional mundane case) for money or pro bono -- and if it's an especially heinous criminal, Jules will happily give him a horrible death.
* The protagonist of ''Literature/LabyrinthsOfEcho'' works in the "Minor Secret Investigations Forces". They deal with magical crime (you don't send normal policemen against an insane wizard capable of blowing up a city block or raising a cadaver army) and variety of dangerous monsters -- and sometimes one leads to another. As to the ghosts, they are rarely lucid, thus some end up as targets; on the other hand, the best-performing branch (in a bustling port city at that) of Secret Investigations itself is composed entirely of mages' ghosts.
* There are plenty of these agencies in ''Literature/LockwoodAndCo'', which is set in an AlternateUniverse where hauntings have become rampant.
%%* The titular company and others like it from ''Literature/MonsterHunterInternational''.%%Administrivia/ZeroContentExample
%%* The Shadowhunters from ''Literature/TheMortalInstruments'' and ''Literature/TheInfernalDevices''.%%Administrivia/ZeroContentExample
* A couple of short fantasy novels, ''Ogre Castle'' and ''In The Sea Nymph's Lair'', feature a wizard-and-apprentice team who specialize in exorcising the many, many ghosts left behind by a recent war among archmages.
* In ''Literature/{{Pact}}'', Andy and Eva -- two local [[TheWitchHunter witch hunters]] in the small town of Jacob's Bell -- are supplied and trained by a loose organization of Canadian hunters of the supernatural based out of Montreal.
%%* The Raven Corporation in ''Literature/{{Ravencraft}}''.%%Administrivia/ZeroContentExample
* ''Literature/RentalMagica'' is about a "magical problem solving" business, and it started with hunting a runaway "[[HellHound dog]]", then many of other missions were--or ended up being--about fighting some or other monster (when it wasn't about fighting some crazy wizard).
* ''Literature/RepairmanJack'': Jack has been ''pushed'' into this role by the machinations of the Otherness and the Ally, although he'd far rather be "fixing" mundane problems for his customers. He doesn't advertise his services against supernatural threats, but people keep referring anyone with that kind of problem to him anyway.
* ''Literature/RiversOfLondon'': The Folly are a long-established covert unit of the Metropolitan Police who specialize in "magical crime".
* Grettir from ''Literature/TheSagaOfGrettirTheStrong'' makes a habit of dispatching undeads and trolls.
* ''Literature/ShadowPolice'' is about a group of cops who initially [[BrokenMasquerade get drawn into the occult]] while investigating a gangster who has turned to black magic.
* RealLife firefighter Sean Grigsby's ''Smoke Eater'' novels feature an elite force of high-tech ''dragon''-fighters, called to action by the emergence of man-eating incendiary reptiles from the depths of the Earth.
* One ''Franchise/StarWars'' novel, ''Destiny's Way'', gives us this quote.
-->''"Well, what happens if you need a diplomat who can also practice philosophy, fight with a lightsaber, and levitate small objects? Who else are you going to call but us?"''
%%* Spike Stoker in ''Literature/ThursdayNext''.%%Administrivia/ZeroContentExample
* ''Franchise/TheWitcher'': Witchers alter themselves with physical discipline, meditation and alchemy to develop the enhanced abilities and magic needed to fight monsters. Though they traditionally do this for a fee, the fee is at their discretion and can be suited to what the employer can afford; for example, expecting gold from lords and kings but saving a peasant's farm for a home-cooked meal.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
%%* ''Series/SevenDays'': Occasionally; most of their problems are human-inspired.
* ''Series/{{Angel}}'': Despite being the {{Trope Namer|s}} for WeHelpTheHelpless, most of the time, Angel is involved as a [[TheChosenOne Chosen One]]. Early on, he follows visions sent by PowersThatBe. Prophecies tend to replace the visions as a motive force later, prompting [[YouCantFightFate fate]]-[[{{Pun}} al]] conflict on all sides.
* Batman is literally called via the Bat-phone in ''Series/Batman1966'', and usually to battle only bizarre supercrime.
* One episode of ''Series/{{Beetleborgs}}'' features a "Dr. Buster Zapper", a ghostbuster-like phasm hunter hired by Trip and Van to capture Flabber. [[spoiler:In reality, he's a SnakeOilSalesman who doesn't know squat about real ghosts.]]
* In ''Series/BlueSWAT'', the main organization of the same name is a police unit dedicated to conducting anti-alien black ops.
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
** While Buffy is the chosen one type, she can also team up with a gang of "concerned citizens" to stop the forces of evil (like vampires and demons) into taking over Earth and killing the innocent.
** Theoretically backed by a Secret Society, and in one season an official government Agency turns up as well. The phrase itself is {{lampshade|Hanging}}d in "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS7E13TheKillerInMe The Killer in Me]]":
--->'''Buffy:''' No, it's not a book thing. It's a phone thing.\\
'''Spike:''' Who you gonna call? ''[beat]'' God, that phrase is never going to be usable again, is it?\\
'''Buffy:''' Doubt it.
* Every time someone has a problem may call ''Series/ElChapulinColorado'' by saying always the same catchphrase: "Oh, ¿y ahora, quien podrá defenderme?" ("Aw, and now, who could defend me?"). These problems often include supernatural creatures or aliens.
* ''Series/Charmed1998'': The Charmed Ones, of course, but when ''they'' need to get rid of evil spirits that plague the manor, they call upon the services of a witch doctor. He is actually described as someone who gets rid of the ThingsThatGoBumpInTheNight.
* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
** The Doctor is the freelance professional (or "ancient amateur") variety. They tend to show up based on the whims of their sentient time machine, but a handful of people know how to contact them on purpose. {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d in "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E12ArmyOfGhosts Army of Ghosts]]", where the Doctor quotes this title. Called by name again in "[[Recap/DoctorWho2014CSLastChristmas Last Christmas]]". The Twelfth Doctor is much more overtly conscious of playing this role than some of his predecessors were. In "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS36E6Extremis Extremis]]", he calls ''himself'' to warn of the Monks' impending invasion of Earth.
--->'''The Doctor:''' I'm doing what everyone does when the world is in danger: I'm calling the Doctor!
** UNIT, especially in the Third Doctor era, where he was grounded on Earth for a significant period and worked as their advisor against alien threats. They continue to show up intermittently to this day.
** The revival has other groups that try to track the Doctor specifically. Both fall under the "concerned citizen" status. [[spoiler:Neither has a huge survival rate once the other alien horrors start showing up.]]
* The ''Series/DoomPatrol2019'' episode [[Recap/DoomPatrol2019S2E04SexPatrol "Sex Men"]] sees the eponymous group basically as a sex-theme version of the Ghostbuster, trying to keep the world safe from sex-based extinction. They arrive at the Doom Patrol's doostep after Elasti-Woman's [[TheImmodestOrgasm immodest orgasm]] summons a demon capable of such a thing.
%%* ''Series/FridayThe13thTheSeries'': Concerned Citizens attempting to recover cursed artifacts.
* ''Series/{{Fringe}}'':
** The Fringe Division is a covert GovernmentAgencyOfFiction dedicated to dealing with WeirdScience cases. The trope name is actually spoken by Walter Bishop in one episode.
** Also, in the AlternateUniverse, where the freaky "laws of physics are falling apart" kind of events are so common and powerful they couldn't be kept in secret from the public anymore, the Alt-Fringe Division actually has a specific emergency number for these events, so, in case you see a blackhole-like vortex in your neighborhood, call 711.
* Long before [[SimilarlyNamedWorks the Columbia Pictures version]], Creator/{{Filmation}} (usually an animation company) created a live-action series called ''The Ghost Busters'' which starred Forrest Tucker and Larry Storch, who both previously starred in the sitcom ''Series/FTroop''. It would go on to inspire Filmation's later animated series (called simply, ''[[WesternAnimation/FilmationsGhostbusters Ghostbusters]]''), which was created when the Columbia version became a hit (well, there's a bit more to it than just that, but you get the idea).
* Every ghost hunting program ever like ''Series/GhostHunters'' and ''Series/GhostAdventures''. The paranormal investigators may be "concerned" citizens who investigate ghosts, but at least they have their equipment like EMF meters to monitor ghostly activities, voice recorders to record EVP ghosts produce and video cameras to film supernatural occurrences.
%%* ''Good Vs Evil''
* Detective Nick Burkhardt from ''Series/{{Grimm}}'' is a cop and ''also'' the latest in a line of slayers of fairy-tale-type creatures. Although rather than slaying them, he mostly tries to reason with them, or arrest them if they've committed a crime.
* ''Series/TheInvaders1967'' features a lone Concerned Citizen fighting an alien infiltration. Just as he started to gain some helpers, the show was canceled.
%%* ''Series/TheInvisibleMan'': The [[Creator/{{Syfy}} Sci Fi Channel]] series.
%%* ''Series/KolchakTheNightStalker''
* The Enigma Corporation in ''Series/LostTapes'' are a security firm who deal with the unexplained. The two veteran members seen are both GenreSavvy and completely badass, surviving three supernatural monster attacks and [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu even defeating an Aztec God]]. Rookie or non-combat trained members are normally {{Red Shirt}}s, however.
%%* ''Series/TheMiddleman''
%%* ''Series/Sanctuary2007''
* In ''Series/TheSarahJaneAdventures'', Sarah Jane Smith and her friends are also concerned citizens. Sarah doesn't trust MIB-agencies like UNIT and Torchwood to deal with things sensibly ("Too many guns").
%%* ''Series/SpecialUnit2''
* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': The hunters are a very loosely organised network of freelance humans who've made it their mission in life to track down and kill supernatural menaces. Rather than being called, they tend to show up on witnesses' doorsteps while posing as regular authorities in order to get more info.
* ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'' was established by Queen Victoria to deal with the supernatural threats to her empire, following an encounter with the Doctor and a werewolf. While she resolved to never speak of such incidents, she intended to be prepared for them. However, they are ''laughably'' unprepared to fight the Daleks and Cybermen, and wiped out in the first story they appear in. Then one branch of it is brought back and gets its own series. Since it's led by [[ExperiencedProtagonist Captain Jack Harkness]], they actually get things done.
* ''Series/TheXFiles'': Agents Scully and Mulder are {{FBI Agent}}s called on to solve the X-Files, the FBI's cold case files, deemed unsolvable due to possible supernatural elements.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
%%* The trope is enormously popular in tabletop games in general.
* Many of the secret societies of ''TabletopGame/SeventhSea'' are dedicated to hunting the supernatural.
* ''Bureau 13: Stalking the Night Fantastic'' has a top-secret U.S. government agency hunting paranormal monsters.
* The players in ''TabletopGame/CallOfCthulhu'' usually fall into the "concerned citizens" category, unless they work for the modern-day agency ''TabletopGame/DeltaGreen''.
%%** ''TabletopGame/TrailOfCthulhu'' is similar.
%%* The 1st edition of ''TabletopGame/{{Chill}}'' has the Societas Argenti Viae Eternitata (SAVE), an organization similar to the Hoffman Institute, below.
* The ''TabletopGame/ConspiracyX'' RPG features government agents versus aliens.
* The Eldritch Society in ''TabletopGame/CthulhuTech'' is a non-governmental version three, who suffer the small problem that the government currently wouldn't distinguish them from the real nasties, due to their use of the supernatural in their hunts (arguably quite justifiably, their main weapons are summoned organisms that eat the hosts half the time and merge with them the other half) and their fear that the government is too cult corrupted to be trusted.
* ''TabletopGame/D20Modern'':
** Department-7 often falls under this trope though its exact layout depends on the campaign in question, but it always deals with whatever the campaign at the time revolves around. Its layout depends on what campaign the characters are participating in. In ''Shadow Chasers'' and ''Urban Arcana'', it deals primarily with supernatural threats (The difference between the two settings is whether or not ''the players'' are supernatural.) In ''Agents of Psi'' it has a charter for Psionic agents.
** Similarly, the Hoffman Institute from ''TabletopGame/DarkMatter1999'' investigates strange phenomena. Both Department-7 and the Hoffman Institute (may) exist in the same continuity.
** The ''d20 Modern'' SRD also has an organisation called the Fraternal Order of Vigilance, which inverts this trope by being more of a [[FantasticRacism hate group]].
* ''TabletopGame/{{Deadlands}}'' features {{posse}}s of concerned citizens making [[WeirdWest the West]] safe from fear and creatures of the night.
* The ''Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}'' RPG (and its EvenBetterSequel ''Ghostbusters International'') casts the players as owners of a local Ghostbusters franchise; busting ghosts for clients, fending off the EPA and desperately trying to wriggle out of spurious fees that the main office thinks up to drain money from the players' coffers.
* ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'':
** ''GURPS Black Ops'' has a top-secret agency called "The Company" that fights supernatural monsters and aliens.
** ''GURPS Monster Hunters'' is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin.
** ''TabletopGame/GURPSTechnomancer'' has "Hellhounds" who hunt demons and undead. Technically, a Hellhound is a member of [[MegaCorp Leviathan]]'s Cerebus teams, but the term is also used for freelancers such as Eric Keele, Entity Eradicator (who, in the vignette we see him in, is being told by his secretary that the only way they're going to be able to pay for his DepletedPhlebotinumShells is if he agrees to do a photoshoot for a muscle magazine).
* The Crab Clan of ''TabletopGame/LegendOfTheFiveRings'' is dedicated to protecting Rokugan from the dread corrupting supernatural forces of the Shadowlands.
* ''Tabletopgame/LittleFears'' features concerned citizen monster hunters still in grade school.
* The Troubleshooters of ''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}'' exist for the purpose of rooting out Commie mutant traitors. Hope no one finds out they ''are'' Commie mutant traitors...
* In ''TabletopGame/{{Rippers}}'', the court alchemist and Rosicrucian magician John Dee, using monster dissection research from his ex-partner Edward Kelley, eventually becomes Jack the Ripper who teaches others "Rippertech" to a number of scientists and wizards. Against the threat of monsters and after his other disciples went rogue, "Dr Jack" along with his disciple Dr. Abraham Van Helsing create the "Rippers", a monster hunter organization that alternately forbid and embrace Rosicrucian magic and Rippertech.
* In ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'', Ares Macrotechnology maintains a number of tactical military units dedicated to finding and eradicating bug spirit nests.
* The Imperium from ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' faces daemons, aliens, and mutants as daily (and serious) threats, to the point that two branches of the Inquisition, the Ordo Malleus and Ordo Xenos specialize in hunting down and destroying daemons and aliens, and have their own specialized military forces-the Grey Knights and Deathwatch, respectively. The Sisters of Battle also qualify to an extent. The Ordo Hereticus (the third branch of the Inquisition) is responsible for hunting down cultists, mutants and... well... heretics. Of course, given their [[KillItWithFire methods]], you may not exactly ''[[BetterToDieThanBeKilled want]]'' to call them. When you ''do'', it's a tell-tale sign that [[GodzillaThreshold things have gone horribly awry]].
* ''Franchise/TheWorldOfDarkness'':
** The TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness had a number of hunter groups, with one particular type of hunter getting their own gameline in ''TabletopGame/HunterTheReckoning''. The [[TabletopGame/ChroniclesOfDarkness new WoD]] has ''TabletopGame/HunterTheVigil'', a game allowing for the creation of virtually any hunter type. On top of that, the default gametype for nWoD is playing as normal humans -- given the setting, these are most likely either Concerned Citizen hunters (who may graduate into the Vigil, and thus become slightly more organized and effective concerned citizens with the potential to become something more)... or Supernaturals-to-be back when they were still normal.
** ''TabletopGame/{{Orpheus}}'' plays very strongly into this trope as well; people can hire ghostly agents who can communicate with restless spirits, or, depending on the circumstances, fumigate them.
** ''TabletopGame/GeistTheSinEaters'' also uses elements of this. [[ISeeDeadPeople Sin-Eaters]] tend to be a bit more lax about the {{Masquerade}} than other supernaturals, and some of them pass themselves off as ghost hunters, mediums, and exorcists in order to get a better handle of the ghostly ecology of their respective city.
** The fangame ''TabletopGame/GeniusTheTransgression'' has the Karnackis, a group of [[MadScientist Geniuses]] who do this, named after the original [[Literature/CarnackiTheGhostFinder Carnacki]] if misspelled.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/ANNOMutationem'': Raymond's Agency is a firm specializing in occult and inexplainable phenomena such as ghouls or a MadDoctor wearing a plague mask.
* In ''VideoGame/TheBlackwellSeries'', Rosangela decides to set up this sort of business at the end of ''Convergence'' and continues it in ''Deception'', complete with business cards and newspaper advertisement. The titular organisation of ''VideoGame/{{Unavowed}}'', which takes place in the same universe as the ''VideoGame/TheBlackwellSeries'', is a more formal take on the trope, being a secret society which hunts down any supernatural threat preying on the innocent.
%%* The Brimstone Society which the [[{{Pun}} titular]] character from ''VideoGame/BloodRayne'' works for.
* ''VideoGame/CliveBarkersJericho'' features a special military force of occult soldiers defending the Earth.
* The titular paranormal P.I. from ''VideoGame/ConradStevensonsParanormalPI'' is contacted to investigate locations around the town of [[SupernaturalHotspotTown New Eidolon]], where there are serious suspicions of paranormal goings-on. As the game progresses, he also acquires the means to [[BanishingRitual remove]] all types of ghosts and even [[OurDemonsAreDifferent demonic entities]] from said locations.
* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'':
** The eponymous shop, Devil May Cry, hunts demons and devils for a fee. Apparently, the business has been confused for a more generic WeHelpTheHelpless outfit before, hence Dante having a password that only those really needing demons slain would get. Initially, Dante was the only one slaying demons around, but over time, he later had this gig extended to his allies like Lady, Trish, and Nero. The latter even got his own Devil May Cry sign and placed it on Nico's van.
** The Order of the Sword from ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4'' is supposed to act this way for the island of Fortuna. It's a religious group with knights trained to fight demons, but it's eventually shown to be somewhat dubious as [[spoiler:the Order uses demonic powers to enhance themselves]].
** It has been suggested, at least in the expanded materials like the novels, that there are other little demon-hunting outfits in the universe.
* In the world of ''VideoGame/EliteBeatAgents'' and ''VideoGame/OsuTatakaeOuendan'', whenever somebody is in desperate need, they shout out, "[[PhraseCatcher Heeeaaallp!]]" The Agents/Ouendan then arrive to help the helpless... help themselves... with music and dance moves. The helpers in this case are part of a semi-governmental agency, making them the third type.
* The main character in ''VideoGame/{{Elvira}}'' is an agent of a private "ghoul buster" service, advertised in the back of a tabloid magazine. He's hired by Elvira to investigate her haunted castle; he arrives only after the ''real'' crap begins...
* ''VideoGame/FirstEncounterAssaultRecon'' revolves around the eponymous organization, a special unit of the US Army dedicated to fighting paranormal threats to national security, which in the game's case turns out to be a battalion of cloned {{Super Soldier}}s led by a cannibalistic psychic.
* ''VideoGame/GabrielKnight'', the archetypical Chosen One example for this category. Because he's the [[LastOfHisKind last surviving Schattenjäger]] ("shadow hunter"). The second game mentions that in the past Schattenjägers used to belong to categories 2, 4 and 5, being a group of pretty average people (if you forget a large library and a single powerful talisman), some sort of religious order (but definitely not monks), in a world that still believed in supernatural. There are also other organizations with similar objectives, like Brazilian religious order Manos Del Sol ("Men of the Sun"), it's just that Gabriel doesn't know about them.
* The titular ghost, demon and alien hunting team from ''VideoGame/GaiaAttack4'' spends the entire game battling various supernatural threats around the world, from hunting poltergeists in a British hotel and battling poltergeists inhabiting an Australian junkyard, before ultimately thwarting an alien invasion in the final level.
* Creator/DataEast's unreleased Platform/NeoGeo game ''Ghostlop'' starred a team of professional ghost hunters named Bruce and [=McCoy=]. The characters and their associated gameplay were later incorporated into ''VideoGame/MagicalDrop V''.
* ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion'':
** In ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion1'', Luigi himself is charged with the capture of the many Boos in the eponymous mansion in order to rescue Mario. Moreover, the [[WeaponsThatSuck Poltergust 3000]] he wears makes him slightly resemble an actual "Ghostbuster".
** ''VideoGame/LuigisMansionDarkMoon'' has Luigi and Professor E Gadd actually start up a proper ghost hunting business after the Dark Moon shatters and the ghosts turn 'evil'. Including the whole 'journey to multiple different mansions' thing.
* Shinra from ''VideoGame/NamcoXCapcom'' and ''VideoGame/ProjectXZone'' is dedicated to investigating paranormal activity, most of it coming from the Shibuya district. Their rivals include a NebulousEvilOrganisation called Ouma.
* Discussed by Junpei in ''VideoGame/Persona3'', who (along with the other protagonists) is a member of a club dedicated to wiping out the Shadows plaguing the city.
-->'''Junpei:''' It's like we should have our own theme song, y'know? "Who you gonna call? Shadowbusters!"
* The ''VideoGame/SakuraWars'' series has several Type 4's: the Combat Revues, clandestine government organizations that combat demonic threats with steam-powered MiniMecha while masquerading as theater companies. The original series of games have Combat Revues situated in [[TokyoIsTheCenterOfTheUniverse Tokyo]], [[GayParee Paris]], and [[BigApplesauce New York]]. ''VideoGame/SakuraWars2019'' has a reformed Tokyo-based Revue, as well as new Revues in London, Berlin, and Shanghai.
* All three Secret Societies in ''VideoGame/TheSecretWorld'' are Type 3. They all deal with paranormal threats and occult disasters all while controlling the world from the shadows and keeping the truth from the general public. TheIlluminati does this to [[PragmaticVillainy keep themselves in power]] and [[StatusQuoIsGod maintain the status quo]]. The [[KnightTemplar Templars]] believes it's their sworn duty to [[HunterOfMonsters fight and protect humanity against all evil]]. The [[TheChessmaster Dragon]], on the other hand, wants to keep the occult and paranormal activities from mucking up their already planned equations and models. They will sometimes send in one of their [[PlayerCharacter agents]] just to see [[SpannerInTheWorks what will happen]].
* ''VisualNovel/TokyoTwilightGhostHunters'', as the name implies, has you playing a ParanormalInvestigation version of this.
* Averted in ''Franchise/TouhouProject'', as the main character and youkai exterminator, the shrine maiden Hakurei Reimu often solves the various incidents that happen in [[FantasyKitchenSink Gensokyo]] without anyone else knowing that she did. That probably explains why she doesn't get that many donations...
%%* In the ''VideoGame/XCom'' games, you ''play'' the fourth type. The entire organisation, that is.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja'': Dr. [=McNinja=] gets called out to deal with everything from appendicitis to giant lumberjack attacks.
* In ''Webcomic/BramAndVlad'', you can call Van Helsing & Seward, psychiatrists and vampire hunters (they are descendents of the [[Literature/{{Dracula}} original Van Helsing and Seward]]).
-->'''Dr. Van Helsing:''' Think about it this way: if people believe that they need a vampire hunter, either the people really need a vampire hunter, or they need a psychiatrist.\\
'''Dr. Seward:''' Conveniently, we are both. We win a job either way, see?
* In ''Webcomic/HereThereBeMonsters'', Blaine's group of monster hunters is operating in a town with an enhanced weirdness censor, however they are also the town's Animal Control which works out well because every time they've been called out to deal with something mundane like a racoon it is ''not'' a racoon.
%%* This is the purpose of the Hero Association in ''Webcomic/OnePunchMan''. Their effectiveness varies a lot, though.
* The ''Webcomic/ParanormalMysterySquad'' is a privately run organization, much like Anime/{{Phantom Quest|Corp}}. As their name implies, DemonSlaying is their business, and they take on cases dealing with the paranormal in general -- at least until vol. 4, in which [[spoiler:[[BreakingTheFellowship they're disbanded]] [[http://www.vampirecheerleaders.net/strips-vc/searching_high_and_low by order of PETM]], following Stephanie Kane's abduction]].
%%* The Harker Institute of Super-Natural Studies in ''Webcomic/PennyDreadful''.
* Riff in ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'' ran a good business selling information and especially weapons to vampire hunters from Alaska, where the nights are longer. One of his clients, Arminius, was a VampireHunter, but not always as successfully as he liked.
%%* SEMME in the ''Webcomic/{{Walkyverse}}''.
* In the ''Webcomic/ZokushoComics'' multiverse, the Wayward Cross is somewhere between type 2 and 3.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Originals]]
* ''WebAnimation/DoctorLalve'''s Spooktacular sub-series stars the Anti-Spook Squad [[FunWithAcronyms (or the ASS)]], a team of ghost-busting, robot-wrecking, Scout-mangling exterminators. Seeing as how they're lead by [[AxCrazy Soldier]], explosions and fire tend to follow in their wake. At least they're only 25 cents.
** And when they need help, they call in Demoman, the professional (and very drunk) exorcist.
%%* ''Blog/HowToHero'' invokes this word for word in their guide to summoning ghosts.
* ''Theatre/TheLeagueOfSTEAM'' is a {{Steampunk}} version of the ''Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}'', a "paranormal pest control service" in a neo-Victorian setting. The ''Ghostbusters'' TV ad from [[Film/Ghostbusters1984 the first film]] is even parodied in a short.
-->''Whom should you telegram?''
* ''Podcast/TheMagnusArchives'': The titular Magnus Institute openly asks people with supernatural experiences to give a statement explaining their experiences. Many people come in looking for help or information, but the Institute never actually ''helps'' them in any way -- in fact, the statements are used to feed the Beholding, the eldritch fear god that the Institute serves, and anyone who gives a statement will have a recurring nightmare of their experience for the rest of their lives, and those are the ones who get off easy.
* The ''Website/SCPFoundation'' is a solid flavor 4. On bad days, they fight to keep a CrapsackWorld [[AWorldHalfFull half full]], but most of the time, they tend to the messes made by less dangerous but no less bizarre artifacts and people.
* ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'': The "Goobers" at Whateley Academy, training to fight supernatural evil under the auspices of Reverend Englund and the leadership of Buffy-wannabe Nightbane. Of course, whenever they go up against Carmilla (twice in earnest so far plus at least once in the simulators), they keep getting their heads handed to them...
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* A couple of ''WesternAnimation/{{Bonkers}}'' episodes deal with hauntings caused by toon ghosts. During one of the incidents, Bonkers says the trope name, before he and Lucky shake their heads and say "Nah".
* ''WesternAnimation/TheCupheadShow'': In the episode "[[Recap/TheCupheadShowS2E9DeadBroke Dead Broke]]", Cuphead and Mugman decide to raise money to buy ice cream by having their friend [[CuteGhostGirl Miss Chalice]] haunt a house, [[MonsterProtectionRacket then the cups "catch" her with the victims paying them for their services]]. Problems arise when they visit a house that's already haunted, with the spirits within wanting to imprison the trio in paintings and take their place.
%%* ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'' has quite a few over the course of its run: Danny and his friends, Jack and Maddie, the Masters Blasters, the Extreme Ghostbreakers, the Guys in White, and the Groovy Gang and Scaredy Cat.
* In ''WesternAnimation/DragonsRidersOfBerk'', Hiccup and co. deal with all sorts of dragon-related problems with their services often requested by Berk's villagers.
* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' parodies this in one episode where the Griffin house is haunted. Reporter Tom Tucker, who's covering the story, delivers this line, followed by his partner sighing and saying "''Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}''?" Tucker looks at her and says "No, Diane, their insurance company. That's just stupid, what you said."
* The main characters of ''WesternAnimation/{{Fangface}}'' sometimes do this is an unofficial capacity, with many episodes opening with them being called in by a friend to help settle some supernatural goings on. Other episodes, however, show the gang on [[BusmansHoliday vacation and getting roped into the mystery]] through circumstances.
%%* When the movie that lends this trope its name became a hit, Creator/{{Filmation}} made ''WesternAnimation/FilmationsGhostbusters'', an animated series based on their previous live-action series (which predated the 1984 film by nine years).
* Parodied in the ''WesternAnimation/FostersHomeForImaginaryFriends'' episode "[[Recap/FostersHomeForImaginaryFriendsS1E6Bloooo Bloooo]]". When Bloo's cold causes the inhabitants of the house to believe the house is haunted, Coco picks up a phone. Wilt asks "Who you gonna call?", which leads to Coco saying "Co-coco!" in a way reminiscent of the Ghostbusters' theme song. To which Wilt replies "They've been out of business for years!"
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'': In "[[Recap/FuturamaS6E19GhostInTheMachines Ghost in the Machines]]", Bender's ghost haunts Fry, who decides he needs to bust this ghost and starts to dial a phone. Hermes asks "Who you gonna call?", to which Fry replies "Gho--", but gets a dial tone before the operator replies "The number you have dialed has been [[TakeThat lame]] since [[Film/GhostbustersII 1989]]."
%%* ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'' has none other than Hoss Delgado.
* ''WesternAnimation/LonesomeGhosts'' has WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse, WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck and WesternAnimation/{{Goofy}} work as Ghost Exterminators. In a twist, they are hired by the titular ghosts themselves- the ghosts are bored because they have no one to scare, so they pose as a potential client to lure the trio to their HauntedHouse. HilarityEnsues as the "Ghost Exterminators", armed with only conventional weapons, suffer the ghosts antics and pranks.
* ''WesternAnimation/MartinMystery'' has the Center as an anti-supernatural/alien agency.
* The ''WesternAnimation/PhantomInvestigators''. "So remember -- if you're up to your eyeballs in bioplasm, ectoplasm, or phantasms, don't spasm -- call Phantom Investigators, where you'll get no sarcasm, just enthusiasm!"
* Mystery, Inc., a.k.a. the ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'' gang. Subverted in that they very rarely end up dealing with ''[[ScoobyDooHoax actual]]'' spooks, and so often function as more of a WeHelpTheHelpless group. There was also a special called ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMeetsTheBooBrothers'', where Scooby, Shaggy, and Scrappy hire the Boo Brothers, ghost exterminators [[HunterOfHisOwnKind who are ghosts themselves]]. ("It takes one to catch one in this business", they claim.)
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs1981'': In the episode "Smurfing for Ghosts", Peewit looks for Papa Smurf's help to get rid of some unwanted ghosts in Quarrel Castle, but gets instead Brainy and Clumsy, who are both armed with vacuum cleaner-type devices that are designed for capturing ghosts. At the end of the episode, as Brainy and Clumsy head back to the village, Brainy asks Peewit, "Who are you gonna smurf?", and Clumsy answers, "Autosmurfers".
* Discussed in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSpooktacularNewAdventuresOfCasper'' which has the characters mysteriously being erased. Casper rings up a [[ForInconveniencePressOne hotline]], which amongst other things, prompts him to dial 2 if they are being harassed by a Ghostbuster.
%%* Naturally, ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'' is an example, as is its sequel ''WesternAnimation/ExtremeGhostbusters''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Real Life]]
%%* {{Church Militant}}s in general.
* [[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7240405.stm Easington District Council!]] Or at least they pay for them.
* The ones who have been called most often in RealLife to scare away the ThingsThatGoBumpInTheNight, [[OlderThanTheNES going]] [[OlderThanTelevision back]] [[OlderThanRadio through]] [[OlderThanSteam all]] [[OlderThanPrint of]] [[OlderThanFeudalism recorded]] [[OlderThanDirt history]] (and ''before''), are PapaWolf and MamaBear. It's part of the job.
** Domestic dogs have served in this capacity for a very long time too, even back into the days when the strange noise in the night might ''actually be'' a sabertooth cat or pack of dire wolves.
* Though disbanded now, the National Institute for Discovery Science (NIDS) was a group backed by a wealthy businessman that brought together various scientists to investigate reports of the paranormal/supernatural. Their most famous investigation was probably that of {{Skinwalker}} Ranch in Utah.
[[/folder]]
----