“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” (2024)

  • By Movie ReviewBy Bob Garver

“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” (3)

What has happened to the “Ghostbusters” movie franchise? For over a quarter century Hollywood resisted the temptation to spoil the one-two punch of the 1984 comedy classic and its decent-enough 1989 sequel. Then there came the 2016 reboot, which was controversial for its female cast, and the controversy is all anyone remembers. The 2021 legacy sequel didn’t always nail its humor, but there were some charming new characters and a nice kick of nostalgia at the end. But now with “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” this once-mighty property has officially become, well, a ghost of its former self.

“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” (4)

After the bold decision to set the last movie in Oklahoma, this movie finds the Spengler family living in New York City busting ghosts in an urban metropolis. Mom Callie (Carrie Coon) oversees overzealous daughter Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) and saner son Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), and Phoebe’s teacher Gary (Paul Rudd) is along as an unofficial husband/father figure (“step-teacher” he calls it). They’re living in the Ghostbusters’ old firehouse (an NYC landmark, to be sure) with the financial backing of Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson) and spend their days going on supernatural adventures with occasional help from classic characters Ray Stanz (Dan Aykroyd), Janine Melnitz (Annie Potts), and Peter Venkman (Bill Murray). Also back are Oklahoma friends Lucky (Celeste O’Connor) and Podcast (Logan Kim) as assistants for Winston and Ray, respectively. Oh, and their exploits constantly get under the skin of Mayor Walter Peck (William Atherton).

I know on paper this sounds like a good setup. You’ve got the likeable old characters mixing with the likeable old characters and one unlikeable old character to be their foil. But all likeability and even unlikability has been stripped away. Phoebe and Trevor have become unpleasant and rude, Gary brings nothing new to the “unsure step-parent” architype, Lucky and Podcast were never memorable in the first place, the shine is off the returning Ghostbusters (the movie lets Venkman make a grand re-entrance late in the movie, seemingly forgetting that he was used in an earlier scene), and personal grudge or not, it’s clear from minute one that Peck is right to think that the operation is a danger to the city.

One night while sulking, Phoebe plays chess with humanoid ghost Melody (Emily Alyn Lind), who is stuck on Earth until she can cross over via unfinished business. This part of the movie is relatively tolerable, though I will say that Callie and Gary letting a teenager hang out alone at the Washington Square Park chess tables after dark is worse parenting than anything that occurs while ghostbusting. Meanwhile, Ray buys an orb with ghostly energy off the money-hungry, but unambitious Nadeem (Kumail Nanjiani). Shared recklessness leads to the unleashing of an ice demon, and Ghostbusters young and old have to band together to save the city from a danger that is 100% their fault.

I couldn’t latch onto anything enjoyable about “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.” The jokes aren’t funny, the action sequences and special effects are all cheap CGI, and the heart-tugging moments are badly missing the sensitivity they had in the last movie. But I did hear laughing and cheering in my theater. It came from very young children. Maybe this movie is onto something there. Maybe the next “Ghostbusters” movie should shoot for a PG rating (and not the “80’s PG” of the original, which frankly is less family-friendly than this movie) so it can better play to kids. None of the “PG-13 humor” here is really doing the movie any favors. Of course, I don’t think any of this movie’s humor is doing it any favors, but cleaning it up so it can reach a wider audience wouldn’t be a terrible idea.

Grade: D

“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” is rated PG-13 for supernatural action/violence, language and suggestive references. Its running time is 115 minutes.

Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

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“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” (2024)

FAQs

Is there anything at the end of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire? ›

We can confirm that Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire only has one credit scene to enjoy. It comes mid-credits and there's nothing else waiting post-credits, so once you've seen that scene, you can leave knowing you won't miss anything else.

What are people saying about Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire? ›

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire offers a certain amount of nostalgia-fueled fun for fans of the original, but a crowded cast and surprisingly serious tone prevent this sequel from truly sparking.

Was Frozen Empire good? ›

RUDD! The critic rating for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire currently sits at 44 percent over on Rotten Tomatoes, with some people calling it “lukewarm” (or some other temperature pun) and that it can't measure up to Afterlife.

Were Phoebe and Melody in Love Ghostbusters? ›

As such, audiences have been left guessing what the nature of their relationship really is, calling it everything from a friendship to Phoebe's crush. In a recent Zoom interview, Lind told me that since Phoebe is alive and Melody is dead, she sees it more as a spiritual connection than anything.

Is there a secret ending in Ghostbusters? ›

Is there an end-credits scene in 'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire'? Indeed, there is! As the credits roll alongside the familiar refrains of Ray Parker Jr.'s vintage “Ghostbusters” theme song, the screen cuts to a remote truck stop.

Who was the truck driver at the end of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire? ›

While comedian and actor Adam Murray might not be a name everyone knows, those who've watched Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire should instantly recognize him from the film's mid-credit scene, where he plays the role of the Stay Puft Marshmallows truck driver.

Is Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire flopping? ›

Summary. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire didn't break even with $160 million box office, raising concerns of franchise viability. Overinflated cast and subplots hurt Frozen Empire's reception, leading to disappointing box office numbers.

Why didn't Jason Reitman director Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire? ›

According to Jason, those individual scenes where Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) and Callie (Carrie Coon) explore Egon's lab were partially meant to parallel his younger self on his dad's movie sets. So in light of Ivan's passing, it makes sense why he removed himself as director on Frozen Empire.

Will there be another Ghostbusters after Frozen Empire? ›

Summary. Ghostbusters 6 is not confirmed yet, but the box-office success of Frozen Empire will likely determine the franchise's future. No updates on potential Ghostbusters 6 cast members or storyline direction. A sequel could potentially involve the Spengler family and introduce a new big-bad villain.

How did Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire do? ›

The film received mixed reviews from critics and has grossed over $195 million worldwide, making it the eighth-highest-grossing film of 2024.

Who is the villain of Frozen? ›

Prince Hans is the central antagonist of Disney's Frozen franchise. He is a young prince from the Southern Isles, who fell in love with Anna. However, developing ambitions to compete with his brothers, he would later betray Anna and Elsa for the throne of Arendelle. He was voiced by Santino Fontana.

What is the rating on Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire? ›

Rating: 5/10

“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” is the newest film in the long-running “Ghostbusters” franchise, directed by Gil Kenan, following 2021's “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.” The film follows the new Ghostbusters, who are now located in New York, taking care of the paranormal activities plaguing the city.

What happened to Lucky in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire? ›

Lucky finally leaves Summerville and heads to New York City in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, fulfilling her wish for adventure.

Who is the pretty girl in Ghostbusters? ›

Jennifer Runyon
BornJennifer Victoria Runyon April 1, 1960 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1980–1993, 2015-present
SpouseTodd Corman ​ ( m. 1991)​
3 more rows

Who is Egon's love interest in Ghostbusters? ›

He is the love interest of Janine Melnitz, the Ghostbusters' secretary, in the first film and both animated series (Ghostbusters II excluded their romance due to Ramis' dislike of the subplot, thus having Janine date Louis Tully instead).

Is there anything at the end of the Ghostbusters movie? ›

As mentioned at the top of this page, the new Ghostbusters movie does have a mid-credits scene. It's a rather sweet — pun intended — sequence that sees the Mini-Pufts from Ghostbusters: Afterlife hijack a giant Stay-Puft Marshmallow truck from a gas station, driving it off into the dark night.

Will there be another Ghostbusters movie after Frozen Empire? ›

Ghostbusters 6 is not confirmed yet, but the box-office success of Frozen Empire will likely determine the franchise's future. No updates on potential Ghostbusters 6 cast members or storyline direction. A sequel could potentially involve the Spengler family and introduce a new big-bad villain.

Is there an extra ending in Ghostbusters: Afterlife? ›

Ghostbusters: Afterlife actually has two end credits sequences.

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