The Ghostbusters franchise has had a storied history, spanning from its iconic inception in the 1980s to its recent revival with sequels and reboots. With the latest installment, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, hitting theaters in 2024, fans are once again immersed in the world of paranormal investigators and ghostly encounters. Let’s take a closer look at how the films in the franchise stack up based on their Rotten Tomatoes scores:

  1. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024) Rotten Tomatoes Score: 43% Directed by Gil Kenan, this recent release reunites both old and new cast members, including Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, and Mckenna Grace. As the Spengler family and the original Ghostbusters join forces, they must thwart an ancient evil unleashed by the discovery of an artifact, thereby saving New York City and the world from a second ice age.
  2. Ghostbusters II (1989) Rotten Tomatoes Score: 55% Directed by Ivan Reitman, this sequel closely follows the events of the original film. With the Ghostbusters disbanded after a ghost attack, they reunite to combat a new spectral threat when Peter Venkman’s son becomes entangled in supernatural occurrences.
  3. Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) Rotten Tomatoes Score: 64% Directed by Jason Reitman, this installment introduces a new generation of characters, including a single mother and her children, who uncover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and their grandfather’s legacy, leading to an adventure to save their town from supernatural forces.
  4. Ghostbusters (2016) Rotten Tomatoes Score: 74% Directed by Paul Feig, this reboot features a female-led cast, including Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones. As paranormal researchers, they team up to prove the existence of ghosts and battle an onslaught of supernatural entities threatening Manhattan.
  5. Ghostbusters (1984) Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95% Directed by Ivan Reitman, this original film remains the pinnacle of the franchise. Starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Sigourney Weaver, it follows a team of scientists turned ghostbusters as they confront a supernatural threat endangering New York City.

 

While Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire may have received mixed reviews compared to its predecessors, the franchise’s enduring legacy and continued exploration of paranormal adventures ensure its place in cinematic history.

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