Films & Entertainment
Revisiting All 6 ‘Ghostbusters’ Movies: Is ‘Answer the Call’ Really the Worst?
The long-running Ghostbusters franchise began with the release of the original film in 1984, which was directed by Ivan Reitman and starred Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson as the titular paranormal investigators Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, Egon Spengler, and Winston Zeddemore, respectively.
The supernatural comedy swiftly garnered critical acclaim and established a rich world filled with memorable characters, hilarious one-liners, and innovative special effects. Over the years, the franchise evolved, with sequels, animated television shows, and a plethora of merchandise, all of which have kept the Ghostbusters brand alive for decades.
But while the influence of the original 1984 film remains undeniable, having shaped the landscape of comedy and supernatural genres alike, most of the subsequent entries — whether sequel, reboot, or other — were met with mixed receptions.
Related: Related: All 13 Ghostbuster Characters (Including a Guest of Honor!) Ranked Worst to Best
Ghostbusters II
Ghostbusters II, released in 1989 and again directed by Ivan Reitman, often finds itself in the shadow of its groundbreaking predecessor. While the sequel follows a very similar formula to the original, many view its re-treading as a major drawback for the film, despite the fact that it effortlessly captures everything that made the original film so beloved.
Despite the film being the target of criticism from many fans, the original cast returned, including supporting actors Rick Moranis and Annie Potts as Louis Tully and Janine Melnitz, respectively. Ghostbusters II is also filled with as many memorable moments as the first film. It may not reach the same heights, but it still makes for an excellent addition.
“Ghostbusters: The Video Game”
Released in 2009, “Ghostbusters: The Video Game” serves as an unofficial third entry in the film series, with a plot that’s true to the “spirit” of the franchise. Players take on the role of a new recruit named “Rookie” alongside the original Ghostbusters, with Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Winston Zeddemore, and Harold Ramis reprising their roles.
The game received widespread critical acclaim for capturing the tone and humor of the original films. Though it’s no longer part of canon thanks to Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, fans still regard it as an essential part of the Ghostbusters legacy, with many considering it to be the most superior sequel in the franchise to date.
Ghostbusters: Answer the Call
The 2016 reboot, Ghostbusters: Answer the Call, directed by Paul Feig and with an all-female Ghostbuster crew — Melissa McCarthy’s Abby Yates, Kristen Wiig’s Erin Gilbert, Leslie Jones’ Patty Tolan, and Kate McKinnon’s Jillian Holtzmann — remains the most controversial entry in the franchise.
But the decision to replace the original male cast with female actors sparked backlash from many fans prior to the film’s release. Online harassment aimed at cast members highlighted the toxic nature of certain fan communities and overshadowed the film’s marketing.
However, the film itself turned out to be a critical and financial disaster. The reception of Answer the Call was overwhelmingly negative, with fans and critics pointing out the lack of genuine humor, and the fact that the film often felt more like a series of Saturday Night Live skits than a cohesive story.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife
In 2021, Ghostbusters: Afterlife marked a nostalgic return to the franchise’s roots. Directed by Jason Reitman, the late Ivan Reitman’s son, the film serves as a love letter to its predecessors (although it has far too many references to the original film) while also paying homage to the late Egon Spengler actor, Harold Ramis, who died in 2014.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife introduced a new generation of Ghostbusters, led by Phoebe Spengler (McKenna Grace), “Podcast” (Logan Kim), and Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd), while the appearance of the beloved original characters (Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, and Dan Aykroyd) made for some incredibly-crowd pleasing moments in the film.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
The latest entry, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, was released in 2024, however, it failed to meet or exceed the same box office success of its predecessor. But while it may not have broken records, it continued the franchise’s trend of generating public interest.
Initial reception was mixed. Some praised the film’s call-backs to the popular 1986 cartoon series The Real Ghostbusters, while others deemed it a lackluster addition to the franchise. With returning legacy characters such as Peter Venkman (Bill Murray) and Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson) honoring the original 1984 film’s legacy, Frozen Empire at least avoids the many pitfalls faced by prior entries like 2016’s Answer the Call.
The Future of the Franchise
With the Ghostbusters brand continuing to evolve and expand, the potential for new stories, sequels, and even spin-offs looms large. While a sequel to Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is yet to be announced, an animated television series is in development at Netflix.
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