History Main / WhoYouGonnaCall

* 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 Ptrol's doostep after Elasti-Woman's [[TheImmodestOrgasm immodest orgasm]] summons a demon capable of such a thing.

* The title character of ''Literature/CarnackiTheGhostFinder'' functions as this, and more than anything else resembls a cross between the Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}} and Franchise/SherlockHolmes.

* 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 DeiityOfHumanOrigin. His powers were waning from a lack of belief, so he sought to restore them by offering his followers' death to himself.

* Creator/DataEast's unreleased UsefulNotes/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''.

* ''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.

%%* ''Series/{{Sanctuary}}''

[[quoteright:350:[[Film/{{Ghostbusters 1984}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ghostbusters6.jpg]]]]

# 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]].

* 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.]]
* ''Anime/FirstSquad'', 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.]]
* 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.

* ''Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya'': This is, technically, the intent of the SOS Brigade. Thanks to their leader they tend to make things much worse whenever they actual get a case.
* ''Manga/GhostSweeperMikami'': The titular character runs an agency dedicated to exorcise 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 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 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]].
* The ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}'' Organization fights a secret war to protect Queen and Country from Vampires... with ''{{Dracula}}'' as their best agent.
* 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.
* This is the purpose of the Hero Association in ''Manga/OnePunchMan''. Their effectiveness varies a lot though.

* The Tendo Dojo of the ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' universe 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).]]
* ''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).

* 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.
* 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.
* ''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.

* The ComicBook/{{BPRD}} and their most famous agent, ComicBook/{{Hellboy}}, fall into the third variation of this.
* Comicbook/DoctorStrange is the go-to guy for dealing with most supernatural threats in the Franchise/MarvelUniverse, and people often come directly to him to deal with their supernatural problems. And since he's the Sorcerer Supreme, it's pretty much in his job description. Or Brother Voodoo or Magik if Strange isn't around.
* ''Comicbook/HackSlash'': a comic book about a former FinalGirl who becomes a slasher-hunter.
* ''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.
* Franchise/TheDCU has a ''ton'' of people on hand to deal with this sort of thing. ComicBook/DoctorFate, ComicBook/ThePhantomStranger, [[Characters/HellblazerJohnConstantine John Constantine]], Characters/{{Zatanna}} hell, even ''Characters/{{Batman|TheCharacter}}''.
* ''Comicbook/TwoThousandAD's'' ''Caballistics, Inc.'' Also Devlin Waugh.
* [[TheWorldIsAlwaysDoomed So your planet is about to get devoured again.]] [[Comicbook/FantasticFour Who you gonna call?]]
* In cases of victims of psychic attacks, [[Characters/MarvelComicsProfessorX Professor Charles Xavier]] is usually the only expert in the Franchise/MarvelUniverse who can treat such casualties.
* In ''ComicBook/{{AXIS}}'', this ends up being Hobgoblin's big shtick as he realizes that GoodFeelsGood and he turns self-help guru.

* 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.

* In ''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.

** 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.

* 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]].

[[folder:Films — Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Beowulf|2007}}'': "I'm here to kill your monster."

[[folder:Films — Live-Action]]
* "If there's something strange... in your neighborhood... [[TropeNamers who you gonna call?]]" "'''[[Film/Ghostbusters1984 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.
* The Ghostbusters were spoofed briefly in ''Film/{{Casper}}'', when Ghostbuster Ray Stantz (Creator/DanAykroyd's character) got run out of the haunted mansion by the Ghostly Trio, he told the new owners:
-->"Who you gonna call? [[SubvertedCatchphrase Someone else!]]"
* Peter Vincent in ''Film/FrightNight1985'', although he gets dragged into it unwillingly.
* Just like in the comics, the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense in ''Film/{{Hellboy|2004}}''.

* The Boys from ''Film/BadTaste'' (not to be confused with the comic of the same name by Creator/GarthEnnis), who respond to threats from outer space.
* In the Dead Gentlemen series Demon Hunters, 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''.
* TheChurch in ''Film/JohnCarpentersVampires.''
%%* ''Film/TheMonsterSquad''
* ''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.
* Newt Scamander, an expert on magical creatures, in ''Film/FantasticBeastsAndWhereToFindThem'', seems to be the magical equivalent of an animal control expert.
* Dr. Lesh and her crew, Ryan and Marty from ''Film/{{Poltergeist|1982}}''. They're just parapsychologists who study on ghosts, creaking doors and cold spots.
* The titular siblings in ''Film/HanselAndGretelWitchHunters''.

* ''Literature/ForestKingdom'': The ''Hawk & Fisher'' spinoff series' book 3 (''The God Killer'') features the God Squad, a special unit of Haven's police force who deal with supernatural phenomena and entities.

%%* ''Series/SevenDays'': Occasionally; most of their problems were human-inspired.
* ''Series/{{Angel}}'': Despite being the {{Trope Namer|s}} for WeHelpTheHelpless, most of the time Angel was involved as a [[TheChosenOne Chosen One]]. Early on he followed visions sent by PowersThatBe. Prophecies tended to replace the visions as a motive force later, prompting [[YouCantFightFate fate-]][[{{Pun}} al]] conflict on all sides.
* One episode of ''Series/{{Beetleborgs}}'' featured a "Dr. Buster Zapper", a ghostbuster-like phasm hunter hired by Trip and Van to capture Flabber. [[spoiler: In reality, he was a SnakeOilSalesman who didn't know squat about real ghosts.]]
* ''Series/{{Batman|1966}}'' was literally called via the Bat-phone in the 1960s' television series, and usually to battle only bizarre supercrime.
* ''Series/BlueSWAT'', where 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.

-->'''Buffy:''' No, it's not a book thing. It's a phone thing.\\

* 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/{{Charmed|1998}}'': 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.

** 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!

* ''Series/{{Fringe}}'': Covert government agency.
** Actually spoken by Walter Bishop (played by John Noble) in one episode.

* 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'' featured a lone Concerned Citizen fighting an alien infiltration. Just as he started to gain some helpers, the show was canceled.

* ''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/TheXFiles'': Agents Scully and Mulder are FBI agents called on to solve the X-Files, the FBI's cold case files, deemed unsolvable due to possible supernatural elements.

[[folder:Podcasts]]
* The titular [[Podcast/TheMagnusArchives 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.
[[/folder]]

* 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.
* The players in the RPG ''TabletopGame/CallOfCthulhu'' usually fall into the "concerned citizens" category, unless they work for the modern day agency ''TabletopGame/DeltaGreen''.

* 1st edition ''TabletopGame/{{Chill}}'' had the Societas Argenti Viae Eternitata (SAVE), an organization similar to the Hoffman Institute, below.

* 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.
* Department-7 from ''TabletopGame/{{d20 Modern}}'' 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. It's 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.

** 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 posses of concerned citizens making the West safe from fear and creatures of the night.
* The Imperium ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' 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]].

* The TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness had a number of hunter groups, with one particular type of hunter getting their own gameline in ''TabletopGame/HunterTheReckoning''. The [[TabletopGame/NewWorldOfDarkness 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.

* 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.
* ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'':
** ''GURPS Black Ops'' had a top secret agency called "The Company" that fought 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).
* 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.

* 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]].
* 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.

* The Brimstone Society which the [[{{Pun}} titular]] character from VideoGame/{{Bloodrayne}} works for.
* ''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. Also there are 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.

* In the ''VideoGame/XCom'' games, you ''play'' the fourth type. The entire organisation, that is.
* 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.

* ''VideoGame/CliveBarkersJericho'' features a special military force of occult soldiers Defending The Earth.
* In the ''VideoGame/EliteBeatAgents'' and ''VideoGame/OsuTatakaeOuendan'' world, 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}} Elvira: Mistress of the Dark]]'' 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...
* Discussed by Junpei in ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'', where he and the other protagonists are members 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!”
* Averted in ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'', 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...
* Creator/DataEast's unreleased UsefulNotes/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''.
* In ''[[VideoGame/TheBlackwellSeries Blackwell Convergence]]'', 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 tropes, being a secret society who hunt down any supernatural threat preying on the innocent.

* ''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 SuperSoldier[=s=] lead by a cannibal psychic.

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* In the Webcomic/{{Zokusho|Comics}} multi-verse the Wayward Cross is somewhere between type 2 and 3.
%%* SEMME in the Webcomic/{{Walkyverse}}.
* 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.
* ''WebComic/VampireCheerleaders'': The ''WebComic/ParanormalMysterySquad'' is a privately run organization, much like [[Anime/PhantomQuestCorp Phantom Quest.]] As their name implies, DemonSlaying is their business and they take on cases dealing with the paranormal, in general. At least, until vol.4 where [[spoiler: [[BreakingTheFellowship they're disbanded]] [[http://www.vampirecheerleaders.net/strips-vc/searching_high_and_low by order of PETM]], following Stephanie Kane's abduction]].

* 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.

-->'''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?
%%* The Harker Institute of Super-Natural Studies in ''Webcomic/PennyDreadful''

[[folder:Web Original]]

* As a parody of the ''Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}'' films, Theatre/TheLeagueOfSTEAM fall into the second variety. They even parody the TV commercial from the first ''Film/{{Ghostbusters|1984}}'' film in a short.
* The ''Website/SCPFoundation'', a solid flavor 4. On bad days they fight to keep AWorldHalfFull half full, but most of the time they tend to the messes made by less dangerous but no less bizarre artifacts and people.
* ''Blog/HowToHero'' invokes this word for word in their guide to summoning ghosts.

[[folder:Web Videos]]
* ''Theatre/TheLeagueOfSTEAM'' is a Steampunk version of the Ghostbusters, a "paranormal pest control service" in a neo-Victorian setting. The ''Ghostbusters'' TV ad from the film is even parodied in a short.
-->''Whom should you telegram?''
[[/folder]]

* One of the oldest examples is the [[WesternAnimation/ClassicDisneyShorts Mickey, Donald and Goofy]] cartoon "WesternAnimation/LonesomeGhosts", where the trio run a Ghost Exterminator Agency.
* Naturally, ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'' is an example.
** And its sequel ''WesternAnimation/ExtremeGhostbusters''.
* When the movie that lends this trope its name became a hit, Creator/{{Filmation}} made an animated series (called simply ''[[WesternAnimation/FilmationsGhostbusters Ghostbusters]]'') that was based on their previous live-action series (which predated the 1984 film by nine years).
* A couple of ''WesternAnimation/{{Bonkers}}'' episodes dealt 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/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.
* ''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."

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'': In "Ghosts in the Machines", Fry is haunted by Bender's ghost, and decides he needs to bust this ghost. Hermes says, "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/LooneyTunes'': Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny, and Porky Pig parody ''Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}'' with ''Daffy Duck's Quackbusters''. They even have a tagline:
--> "Spooks spooked, goblins gobbled, U.F.O.s K.O.'ed, aliens alienated, vampires evaporated, and monsters remonstrated!"

* Mystery Inc., a.k.a. the WesternAnimation/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.)
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs1981'' 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".
* The ''WesternAnimation/PhantomInvestigators''.
-->'''Daemona:''' 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!
* Hiccup and co. in ''WesternAnimation/DragonsRidersOfBerk'' deal with all sorts of dragon-related problems with their services often requested by Berk's villagers.
* Discussed in an episode of ''The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper'', a Spinoff of ''{{Film/Casper}}'', 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.
* 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.
* ''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.

-->-- '''[[Literature/TheDresdenFiles Harry Dresden]]''', ''Literature/StormFront''

* Parodied in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/FostersHomeForImaginaryFriends''. 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!"

** Similarly, the Hoffman Institute from ''TabletopGame/DarkMatter'' investigates strange phenomena. Both Department-7 and the Hoffman Institute (may) exist in the same continuity.

->'''Prosecutor:''' So what you're saying is that the world of the supernatural is your exclusive province?\\
'''Peter:''' Kitten, I think that what I'm saying is that: sometimes, shit happens, someone has to deal with it, and who you gonna call?
-->-- ''Film/GhostbustersII''

** 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 Poltergust 3000 he wears makes him slightly resemble an actual "Ghostbuster".

* ''VideoGame/LuigisMansionSeries'':
** In ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion'', Luigi himself is charged with the capture of the many Boos in the eponymous mansion in order to rescue Mario Moreover, the Poltergust 3000 he wears makes him slightly resemble an actual "Ghostbuster".

* ''LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya'': This is, technically, the intent of the SOS Brigade. Thanks to their leader they tend to make things much worse whenever they actual get a case.

* ''LightNovel/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).

* The eponymous agency in the ''Nyctophobia'' books seems to be connected to multiple world governments, with Alpha agents trained to fight monsters, Beta agents for field research, and Gamma agents for desk work. The protagonist Selwyn serves as the resident [[ISeeDeadPeople medium]] on the England-based Beta team with [[Literature/{{Dracula}} Bram Van Helsing]], [[Literature/ThePhantomOfTheOpera Erik Garnier]], [[Literature/{{Frankenstein}} Victor Frankenstein]], [[Literature/TheStrangeCaseOfDrJekyllAndMrHyde Henry Jekyll]] and [[Literature/TheInvisibleMan Tommy Marvel]].

* ''Anime/GhostSweeperMikami'': The titular character runs an agency dedicated to exorcise 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]].

* ''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 [[AntiHero Captain]] [[ExperiencedProtagonist Jack]] [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority Harkness]], they actually get things done.

* Anime/FirstSquad, 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.]]

* In ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion'', Luigi himself is charged with the capture of the many Boos in the eponymous mansion in order to rescue Mario Moreover, the 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.

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* The ''Wiki/SCPFoundation'', a solid flavor 4. On bad days they fight to keep AWorldHalfFull half full, but most of the time they tend to the messes made by less dangerous but no less bizarre artifacts and people.

* 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 ''Franchise/{{Batman}}''.

* In cases of victims of psychic attacks, [[ComicBook/XMen Professor Charles Xavier]] is usually the only expert in the Franchise/MarvelUniverse who can treat such casualties.

* "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, Massachussetts, although the Doctor resolutely refuses to believe in ghosts.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs'' 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".

* ''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, 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.

* ''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 [[GoodPeopleHaveGoodSex not monks]]), in a world that still believed in supernatural. Also there are 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.

** Of course, [[KillEmAll given]] [[EarthShatteringKaboom 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]].

* ''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.
* 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 ''Call of Cthulhu''). Brian Lumley wrote about both Occultist Titus Crowe and the Wilmarth Foundation, both dedicated to stopping the various Mythos threats.

** [[OxxultDetective Harry Dresden]]. To quote his 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.)

* Spike Stoker in Creator/JasperFforde's ''Literature/ThursdayNext''.
* Spoofed, along with every other existing trope ever, by Creator/TerryPratchett. This particular trope gets its turn in ''Literature/ReaperMan'':
-->"Who is he going to call! ''We're'' the wizards around here."

* Literature/FelixCastor in his novels.
* 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?
* ''Literature/LabyrinthsOfEcho'' by Max Frei has the protagonist working 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.
* Van Helsing in ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'', though originally as a consultant on abnormal medical phenomenon rather than a vampire hunter. Luckily, he also happens to be the latter, too, and formally initiates his 5 new friends into a team of vampire busters.
* In Creator/WilliamHopeHodgson's ''Literature/CarnackiTheGhostFinder'' stories, the title character functioned as this, and more than anything else resembled a cross between the Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}} and Franchise/SherlockHolmes.
* ''Literature/GhostFinders'' features ghost-hunting investigators from a government-affiliated agency called [[ShoutOut the Carnacki Institute]].
* ''Literature/ForestKingdom'': The ''Hawk & Fisher'' spinoff series' book 3 (''The God Killer'') features the God Squad, a special unit of Haven's police force who deal with supernatural phenomena and entities.
* Literature/JakubWedrowycz 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).
* A couple of short fantasy novels, ''Ogre Castle'' and ''In The Sea Nymph's Lair'', featured a wizard-and-apprentice team who specialized in exorcising the many, many ghosts left behind by a recent war among archmages.
* [[Literature/JohnDiesAtTheEnd John and Dave.]]
* The Raven Corporation in ''Ravencraft''.
* Literature/RepairmanJack 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.

%% * The Shadowhunters from ''Literature/TheMortalInstruments'' and ''Literature/TheInfernalDevices''.
* The titular company and others like it from ''Literature/MonsterHunterInternational''.
* [[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.
* There are plenty of agencies of them in ''Literature/LockwoodAndCo'', which is set in an AlternateUniverse where hauntings have become rampant.
* 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.
* There are currently [[DuelingWorks two different]] British series by former ''Series/DoctorWho'' writers featuring a Metropolitan Police "magical crime" unit: the [[Literature/RiversOfLondon Folly]] series by Ben Aaronovitch and the Literature/ShadowPolice series by Creator/PaulCornell. They have different set-ups, however, as the Folly in Aaronovitch's series is a long-established covert organisation, while Cornell's series is about a group of cops who initially [[BrokenMasquerade got drawn into the occult]] while investigating a gangster who had turned to black magic.
* The eponymous agency in the ''Nyctophobia'' books. It seems to be connected to multiple world governments, with Alpha agents trained to fight monsters, Beta agents for field research, and Gamma agents for desk work. The protagonist Selwyn serves as the resident [[ISeeDeadPeople medium]] on the England-based Beta team with [[Literature/{{Dracula}} Bram Van Helsing]], [[Literature/ThePhantomOfTheOpera Erik Garnier]], [[Literature/{{Frankenstein}} Victor Frankenstein]], [[Literature/TheStrangeCaseOfDrJekyllAndMrHyde Henry Jekyll]] and [[Literature/TheInvisibleMan Tommy Marvel]].
* 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.
* 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 up under wraps serial killer packs such as the Finders and the Zodiac Lodge who use the highways to hunt.
* For money or pro bono, [[TheAce famous expert]] and MasterOfAll OccultDetective [[Creator/SeaburyQuinn Jules De Grandin]] will solve your supernatural problems (and the occasional mundane case). And if it's an especially heinous criminal, Jules will happily give him a horrible death.
* Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian 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.
* Creator/TanithLee has ''Cyrion'', 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.

* ''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, then the cups "catch" her with the victims paying them for their services. Problems arise when they decide to visit a house that's already haunted, with the spirits within wanting to imprison the trio in paintings for the next 100 years.