All 5 Ghostbusters Movies, Ranked by Rewatchability

Ghostbusters is one of the few popular culture franchises that has resonated with audiences for more than four decades. when Ivan ReitmamThe original film hit theaters in the summer of 1984, unlike any other blockbuster that had come before it. Ghostbusters it was creepy enough to keep the audience on their toes, but deeply goofy in a way rarely seen in popcorn action franchises like War of the galaxies or Indiana Jones. Between its iconic logo, beloved theme song, and goofy ghouls set, Ghostbusters is a popular culture sensation that remains exciting. Based on the strong box office performance of the last entry in the franchise, it's safe to expect Ghostbusters will continue well into the future.

Surely there was a generation older Ghostbusters fans who met Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis), Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), and Winston Zeddmore (Ernie Hudson) as definitive protagonists of the franchise. However, recent entries have opened up the franchise to a new generation of fans. There is a ferocious intelligence to the films that makes each entry worth checking out; even some of the sillier elements of the Ghostbusters The series have incorporated elements of real science and inspired a genuine interest in the study of parapsychology and physics. Each entry is solid in its own right, but some Ghostbusters movies are much more rewatchable than othersthanks to their humor and the importance given to them by the public.

5 'Ghostbusters: Answer the Call' (2016)

Directed by Paul Feig

director Paul Feig faced high expectations when he was tasked with refitting the Ghostbusters franchise Instead of serving as a “legacy sequel” along the lines of Star Wars: The Force Awakens or i believe, Ghostbusters: Answer the Call served as a reboot set within a completely different continuity. While this would have theoretically allowed Feig to take a different approach to the material, Ghostbusters: Answer the Call it feels too derivative to stand alone. The film is simply burdened by its desire to produce callbacks to past moments in the series and doesn't give its talented cast room to flesh out their characters.

Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones, Melissa McCarthy, i Kate McKinnon they all do their best to deliver memorable performances. oh Ghostbusters: Answer the Call doesn't have enough time to set a coherent tone. Moments of sincerity are undermined by slapstick gags that would have felt out of place in even a simpler comedy. In fact, the film seems to insist on shaming its characters rather than empowering them. Feig has proven it with movies like The bridesmaids i A simple favor which is capable of making effective genre films, however Ghostbusters: Answer the Call it's just not creative enough to stand out. It's a movie that only gets worse with subsequent viewings.

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4 'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' (2024)

Directed by Gil Kenan

Although it is a series that has always been enjoyed by several generations of viewers, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire it lacks the edge that made the original films so memorable. Ghostbusters they slipped in some surprisingly cheeky jokes and political satire that may have gone over the heads of younger kids; despite this, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire seems aimed squarely at the younger audience with its simpler narrative. While that's not necessarily a detriment, it's disappointing to see a franchise known for its boldness go in a safer direction. The third sequel was perhaps the moment when the Ghostbusters The series could have changed its formula and done something different, but the director Gil Kenan settles for another mystery set in New York.

While it doesn't pack the same emotional punch as its predecessor, >Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire it's still a relatively entertaining supernatural comedy which benefits from the strong chemistry between its cast members. The sequel stars Callie Spengler (Carrie Coon), his son Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), his daughter Phoebe (McKenna Grace), and her boyfriend Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd) once again linking to the Ghostbusters fits when a supernatural entity threatens to unleash a winter storm in the middle of summer. Rudd is definitely the highlight of the film, as he captures some of the same snarky energy that made Murray so great in the original films. However, the film also benefits from memorable appearances by the comedians Patton Oswalt i Kumail Nanjianiwho will hopefully get bigger roles in the upcoming sequels. There are certainly enough charms to warrant multiple viewings Ghostbusters: Frozen Empireeven if it doesn't hold a candle to the franchise's highlights.

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3 'Ghostbusters II' (1989)

Directed by Ivan Reitman

Ghostbusters II addresses the unique challenge of following a phenomenon, as the original film was instantly hailed as one of the best films of the 1980s. Luckily, Ghostbusters II opts for a more meta approach as Venkman, Egon, Ray and Winston are forced to deal with the ramifications of becoming overnight celebrities due to their heroism in the first installment. It's fun and surprisingly introspective to watch the characters struggle with their legacy. Although Ghostbusters II represents a genuinely intelligent examination of the inherent disappointment that comes with making a sequel, Reitman strikes just the right tone to ensure the film never becomes too cynical.

In addition to serving as clever social commentary, this unique take on the antagonist allows for more creative jump scares and set pieces. Ghostbusters II It actually has a great concept for the next villain in the series, as an evil slime emerges from the sewers of New York and feeds on the negative energy of the citizens. In particular, a final battle set during New Year's Eve stands out. Nice to see though Sigourney Weaver i Rick Moranis reprise their roles, the sequel doesn't do much to develop the characters. However, Ghostbusters II it's a fun bonus viewing for fans who watch the entire franchisebut it can't be seen again as a stand-alone adventure.

2 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife' (2023)

Directed by Jason Reitman

Ghostbusters: Afterlife is perhaps the most unique entry of the Ghostbusters series, as it changes location and offers a new set of protagonists. Instead of keeping the story isolated to New York City, the 2021 Legacy sequel follows Egon's daughter Callie as she rediscovers her father's legacy and research. Given the death of Ramis, Ghostbusters: Afterlife it packs an extra emotional punch with how he recovers Egon's spirit. While the ending is a bit saccharine compared to previous entries in the series, the more serious tone reflects a nice change of pace. Jason Reitman proved to be a seasoned dramatic filmmaker with films like Juno i in the airso Ghostbusters: Afterlife it never feels like it's trying to manipulate the audience's heartstrings.

There are some fun cameos and callbacks to the post-credit sequence, though Ghostbusters: Afterlife it doesn't rely too much on nostalgia. There's enough reason to care about Callie, Trevor, and Phoebe as individuals because their connection to Egon isn't essential to the emotional crux of the story. The new supernatural entities leave something to be desired, but the third act is full of creative ghost busting and slapstick gags to keep the momentum going. Ghostbusters: Afterlife is the rare highly anticipated sequel that can satisfy multiple generations. It serves as a faithful continuation of the original timeline that can also expose younger viewers to the property for the first time.

1 'Ghostbusters' (1984)

Directed by Ivan Reitman

Four decades after its launch, the original Ghostbusters remains an all-time feel-good classic. It's surprising how modern it feels, as its playful character interactions, imaginative scenes, and heartfelt homage to New York City workers make it very modern. Although many of the film's cutting-edge visual effects were ahead of their time, the true power of Ghostbusters is the great writing. Murray, Hudson, Ramis and Aykroyd pour so much of their personalities into the characters that the story feels very personal. It's a movie that's so full of blink-and-you'll-miss-it gags. viewers can discover something new on each subsequent viewing. It's also the funniest entry in the series; Aykroyd gets the film's biggest laugh when Ray accidentally evokes the now-iconic Stay Puft Marshmallow Man as the main antagonist, “The Destroyer,” in the film's action-packed third act.

The original Ghostbusters has the strongest history. The plot revolves around the villain Zuul, a role originally intended Paul Rubens, allowing the film to dip its toes into supernatural horror at surprising moments. Murray and Weaver have great romantic chemistry, but the story really embraces the notion of being an ensemble comedy; each actor is given room to shine, and the film celebrates their achievements and the role scientists play in keeping the public informed and safe. It's not hard to see why Ghostbusters remains popular after all these years, as the original classic still feels subversive and unique. It's safe to say there will be more Ghostbusters films in the years to come, but it's unlikely there'll ever be an entry that's as purely entertaining and revisiting as the original classic.

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