User Reviews

Watched this film today and spent the whole time trying to articulate what was wrong with it to myself. Basically I didn't hate it and I didn't love it. It was competently made, good effects, some comedic moments and good set pieces. But it just didn't feel like something derived from a SNL skit. The joy of ghostbusters was that it was free wheeeling, that it was anarchic. That, similar to the Blues Brothers, somebody had allowed a bunch of slackers to spend millions on making a movie which to coin Bill Murray from Meatballs "just didn't matter". Afterlife was touching and sweet, looking back at that time with a smile and a wink. This however, was just a generic family action movie, using the brand name of the ghostbusters. It left me indifferent.

This film is okay. It's not nearly as good as Ghostbusters Afterlife but it's about what you would expect from a follow up. The new ghosts and elements added to the lore are very cool and some of the visuals are very nice. Some of the jokes are very funny and some aren't. The cast is pretty good here but nothing exceptional performance wise. The action scenes are ok but the final battle is pretty short and a little anti climactic. The original crew is just there to be there with the exception of Dan Aykroyd, who actually has quite a bit of screen time. If you're a Ghostbusters fan you'll probably have a good time with it but don't expect to be blown away.

They could have done so much more with this movie, unfortunately the storyline was only wafer thin, the cast were not used to to produce the same performance that they did in Afterlife and the plot holes were gaping.

If they had only made the connection with Afterlife and built upon the story from the start of the movie, then started introducing the new characters and a more convincing plot, they definitely could have made it better.

I certainly wouldn't rush to watch it again, the special effects were good, some of the comedy value was entertaining, some was just plain silly.

I scored it: 6/10.

Huge fan of the first few original movies. They were good and didn't try too hard. Focused on the main characters and the ghosts even had something enjoyable about them.

But it seems these days Ghostbusters has fallen victim of trying too hard and making a connection with everybody by introducing all these extra characters with their own backstory. The ghosts just become a pawn piece and aren't really the focal point. So much promise in the first half hour, but then more new characters, more side stories, lots of one liners, and then...a quick wrap up and credits roll. Snore. Don't waste your $

I saw this film twice because I wanted to see it with my Ghostbusters fan friend and see if this film got better with my second viewing. I seriously wanted to love this movie. The TV spots and trailers looked awesome. This had to be the best Ghostbusters sequel yet! Nope. In fact, this might be the worst.

There's a great Ghostbusters film in this movie. There really is but studio meddling hurt the film. My first time viewing it, I walked out of the film feeling like I just got out of work. Throughout most of the film I struggled to care about anything going on and I was drained. When the actual Ghostbusters show up, I perked up a little bit. However, I should be loving this. All that stuff at the library should have been beyond exciting but not even that.

Then when I saw it again, I figured out the exact moment when I stopped caring and I struggled to get that same investment I had in the film up to this point. That scene is when Phoebe and Podcast and go into that diner for a ghost call and Phoebes ghost girlfriend is sitting at one of the tables. It was that moment and that moment on where my investment in the film cratered and I tried desperately to get back into the film.

These two characters are nothing but a vacuum that sucks the fun and investment of the film into a netherworld that you will never get back. Their scenes mainly consist of "Hey hey sure whatever" and I'm left shouting "what is the point? Move forward! Stop wasting time." And apparently, the studio told the filmmakers they had to cut 20 minutes of this movie two weeks before it premiered. Why werent these scenes cut down?

So many characters and scenes could have gotten the axe with the plethora of characters flooding this film to the point where they move the brother to Slimer duties that had no real purpose in the film. Sunny and Podcast return and add nothing. They should have eliminated them and gave the scenes from Podcast to the brother.

But theres lots to like too. Dan Ackroyd is at his best here and I'm glad Winston and Murray return too. They have a couple cool new ghosts like Pukey and Possessor that were great additions and say what you want about the new villain, but at least finally the Ghostbusters face a new villain.

I'm hoping for a directors cut because there is a lot to like in a movie that is dragged down by an extremely boring subplot that gives you Rings of Power vibes in a potentially great Ghostbusters film.

Really bad characters with no substance and a sadly terrible movie. Turning McKenna Grace into some sort of boring Harry Potter character was a big mistake and the plot is full of the usual unbelievable Mary Sue tropes.

It's strange to me how it seems impossible for Hollywood to turn out a decent movie recently. Constant reshashing of old stories or franchises, with the inevitable eye-rolling tropes being added to make it more pc just smacks of desperation.

I could possibly understand the misguided attempts at girl-bossing every movie if it meant interesting plots, good acting, and clever writing, but fails so hard. Whatever happen to story-telling and good complex well-cast characters who are cast for their acting talent rather than immutable characteristics?

As i recall this is the 5th overall ghostbusters film since the 1984 first entry and still hollywood can not bring back the magic the first film had 40 years ago.

The first film had everything needed. The sci fi and fantasy factor the comedy element a great cast and above all a superb 80s epic soundtrack. The title ghostbusters song by ray parker junior is legendairy and still fresh after 40 long years. Even air supply performed a great ballad called "i can wait forever" a 6 minutes epic song which could be released as a single back then and score the charts.

We don't get songs like these anymore. This new entry in the franchise tried to bring back some magic of the old but not much succeeded to do.

The original cast was back but for a little time and they are getting old.

The music is indefferent and the good scenes are redused in the last half an hour of the film.

How i wish we could get the old days back. Sadly nothing will match the original 1984 ghostbusters film. These were the days .....

Another empty addition to the franchise that adds nothing. I assume the original cast needed the money, because there was on other reason to be part of this dreck.

The action is boring, the story is boring, the dialog is boring.

An evil god is released by an irresponsible child, but all is forgiven, because that's what family does. The saviour of mankind becomes amazing after 5 minutes of practice.

The evil dude is not even seen for 99% of the movie, and is easily dispatched when he finally turns up. Thanks to a bonding moment. Go you all American family!

Just stick to the original. It's still a fun movie to watch. Everything after is not.

Major Ghostbusters fan here, and so sad to say the movie is a monstrosity. Characters are totally flat, acting is so-so (to say the best) but worst of all is the script. The story makes absolute no sense at all, full of plot holes. I know it's not a Nolan movie where everything is perfectly tied up, but here everything is resolved with finding a new character every time. Slapstick comedy is beyond awful, and the saddest part of all is the lost opportunity of making a good film, with the original cast.

Afterlife despite not being the best movie at least had an emotional side, but this time the movie has, in my opinion, nothing appealing. I honestly struggle to understand people giving it a score higher than 5.

If you want to hate this movie, or nit pick everything, you can. I am a big Ghostbusters fan, but my family are casual fans and we all loved Frozen Empire. It's fun, funny, at times scary and just a joy to watch. It's great seeing their world expanded. You get so much more lore, and new stuff added that would fit right along with themes from Real Ghostbusters. I can't even really fathom why this is getting negative reactions. I guess post COVID movies aren't supposed to be fun and take the audience on a ride anymore. There's a lot to love here, die hard or casual fans, and it's worth your money to see it on the big screen. A worthy sequel and I hope we get more.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire cements that this franchise has forgotten to be a comedy which is ironic considering this is the one to feature James Acaster in a fairly substantial role. However, this is the closest these have ever come to being horror and like Afterlife, it remains a lot of fun as an Amblin throwback.

The biggest issue is there's just too many characters in this one. Everyone is good, even Bill Murray obviously phoning it in. Its just doesn't succeed in the attempt to balance returning characters, the originals and some new faces, resulting in Finn Wolfhard, Celeste O'Connor and Logan Kim getting left by the wayside.

Out of those who do get enough, Mckenna Grace remains a great lead and her growing relationship with Paul Rudd is the heart of this one. Kumail Nanjiani is by far the best new addition and the main source of humour here. Dan Aykroyd clearly loves returning to this character and the enthusiasm he brings is infectious.

Gil Kenan's direction starts off strong with a tense opening and then adds another good car chase to this franchise. His greatest strengths lie in the darker moments with the solid atmosphere and a surprising amount of suspense for a family friendly blockbuster. Also, this generally looks nice with CG and practical effects that go further than the actual budget.

I really wanted to like it because I walked out of Ghostbusters: Afterlife surprisingly pleased, but this one was just a mess at best. I don't think the direction they try to take for the characters from Afterlife makes the most logical sense. There is also too many new characters alongside the ones introduced in Afterlife as well as the OG's like Ray and such. Too many characters to juggle so the ball gets dropped on all of them. Also, I know Afterlife gets some flack for references and Easter egg like fan service, sometimes called "nostalgia bait" I actually thought the way that film handled that stuff wasn't just empty nostalgia bait, I think there is a difference between that and fan service that isn't empty, that works in a story that is actually good. This film ironically IS an example of something that actually does have empty nostalgia bait in a story that feels like it doesn't know what it's suppose to be about. Is it the worst movie ever? No, but I think we also deserved way better. If you ask me, I think Ghostbusters: Afterlife should have been the last one. If there isn't a great script there, then let's just let the series rest.

It is a very good film. There are some nice action sequences and lots of humor.

The slow parts in the movie happen when Murray is on screen. Frozen Empire goes out of the way to set him up for one liners that seem intended just to make the trailers. His jokes are forced and didn't add to its enjoyment. The new cast is great, Aykroyd is great also.

From the trailer you'd expect it to have more horror elements. While the big bad is very good, it's not as evil as it it could've been, which would've made the film even better.

Fans will dig the film, casual moviegoers will enjoy it too, but if there's another one they are OK to ghost the classic members of the team.

I personally believe the original Ghostbusters is the greatest comedy of all time. True lightning in a bottle that was due to a number of factors, with the main ones being the chemistry between the cast, the setting, the innovative special effects, and the wonderfully wry screenplay that tied it all together.

Afterlife was an okay attempt to bring the series into the modern age, however it fell into the "soft reboot" trap of excessive fan service and heavily rehashing the story of the first film to the detriment of its own identity in the franchise.

Frozen Empire gives fans something more along the lines of what they really wanted from a long-belated sequel: new ghosts, new gadgets, lots of Dan Aykroyd and improved integration of the rest of the OG cast with some genuinely fun Murray moments.

The setting is back in NYC as it should be (albeit CGI faked for the most part), which was sorely missing from the previous attempt. As a result, it feels much more like a proper Ghostbusters film this time around.

However, it is messy and overstuffed with pointless/cringe characters, leaving the screenplay to desperately justify their presence to a ridiculous degree toward the end. There's questionable story logic (especially concerning why some characters from Afterlife are present in NYC), and your mileage may vary when it comes to the teen/family drama. Then, the villain is rushed and everything wraps up too quickly... not to mention the over reliance on CG... but in spite of all these gripes I was less offended overall than expected.

If you're not a fan of the franchise, Frozen Empire won't win you over, but if you are, there's a lot to like here, in particular the mostly respectful treatment of the legacy characters. It certainly could have been far worse... and yes, we've seen far worse in recent times.

If they can keep the original cast coming back, I'd be happy to watch another one of these.

Following on from the surprisingly good Ghostbusters Afterlife, Frozen Empire follows the Groobersons/Spenglers as they hunt ghosts in New York City after relocating to the original Ghostbusters' headquarters. After a particularly messy bust results in a lot of damage to the city, the now Mayor Walter Peck decides to impose some sanctions on the family - namely by not allowing Phoebe to participate, as she is just a minor. Distancing herself from the rest of the crew, she spends time with a young ghost who is trapped in purgatory, and also Ray Stanz's occult bookstore. But when Ray comes into the posession of an ancient artifact that could bring about the destruction of humanity, the Ghostbusters will need all the help they can get, past and present....

After enjoying the previous film (despite its flaws), I was quite excited to see where they would go with these new characters. Taking the action back to New York was a smart move, as it nicely scratches that nostalgia itch without it going overboard (one of my main criticisms of Afterlife). The characters all work together well and are likeable, the story is, well... typical Ghostbusters... and the special effects are great.

There were quite a few little tidbits here that I really liked. I liked how the original characters all had proper purpose - Ray has his knowledge and his bookstore and acts as an info resource, Venkman is a consultant who helps with any phsychic investigations, and Winston is the millionaire who funds a giant Ghostbusters research facility. It goes beyond them just having nostalgic cameos for the sake of it. And speaking of the facility, they have various different ghosts they are studying and interacting with, which is quite cool.

However, the film does have issues. A lot of the time it struggles to be funny, with a lot of the gags falling flat. I know these actors can be funny, they just need to have a better script written for them. The only actor who lands his gags consistently is, unsurprisingly, Bill Murray. I know he ad-libs a lot in his films, so if he did here that may explain why, but he stands out against an otherwise largely unfunny experience.

Another issue is the Phoebe/Melody sub plot, which felt hugely out of place and I wouldn't be surprised if it were included to tick a box somewhere. Why does this ghost look like a normal human when practically EVERY other ghost in this franchise is grotesque? Like a said, it feels out of place and grinds the pacing to a crawl.

But by far the biggest problem, is that there are just far too many characters. At the climax of the film there are 11, yes ELEVEN Ghostbusters, and they are all fighting for screentime so bad the film completely loses its focus in the final act. In fact the final act in general felt a bit limp - they built up this main adversary who went down far too easy.

All in all, this film feels more like a Ghostbusters celebration rather than a meaningful story extension, which is fine because I love this franchise and these characters, but still they seem to struggle to stand up to the sheer genius, brilliance, and perfectly executed first film. From here they need to dial it back a bit, focus on the new characters and streamline the plot. Oh, and for the love of God PLEASE get someone in who can write decent gags....

When Ghostbusters: Afterlife came out I was surprised how much I liked it. I really like the 1984 original and the sequel was pretty good. The reboot in 2016 was ok but I thought the franchise was dead. Afterlife revived the franchise. It was a great mix of new characters and had enough well placed nostalgia. Frozen Empire is unfocused and relies way to much on nostalgia that just dies land as well and seems more desperate and is all over the place.

The story is set in New York with the Spengler family living and ghostbusting there. The cast from Afterlife is back. The focus again is on Phoebe played by Mckenna Grace which is good because she is the best a part of the film. The problem here is that the other characters are almost there just to appear. Paul Rudd is the biggest star here but really dies nothing other than have a couple of decent funny lines. But the rest of the family is just barely there. The nostalgia feels so racked on. Yes, three of the original cast members and a coupme if supporting characters are back but it all feels forced. Where Afterlife earned it's nostalgic moments. This film has them and it feels forced.

There are sone funny moments and sone good special effects and it's not bad but it just feels that they wanted to stuff the film with so much that it is a total mess....

Grade: C.

Scenes that are tiresome and stories that depict a childishly strong and unrealistic character, sometimes portrayed in an unreal and imaginary way, can lead to overly simplistic plots and characters. Action scenes that are disconnected from the story and are included only to engage the audience, especially if overused alongside formulaic narratives and excessive action, can become tedious over time for some viewers. Instead of inviting the audience to think and interact, they merely provide short-term entertainment through childish and tiresome imagery. They are recognized as a superficial and juvenile experience that does not truly seek the viewers' genuine attention. To me, these types of unmotivated and nonsensical structures seem absurd.

Watching it is a waste of time.

"Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" masterfully navigates the delicate balance between catering to nostalgic fans and captivating a younger audience with its modern twists. The cast delivers standout performances, injecting fresh energy into the beloved franchise. James Acaster's addition adds a delightful dynamic to the team, showcasing his comedic prowess alongside the seasoned Ghostbusters. However, the absence of Rick Moranis, a fan-favorite, is palpable, leaving a nostalgic void that a cameo could have filled.

The film's pacing initially feels sluggish, taking its time to set up the plot and introduce new characters. Yet, as the story unfolds, it gains momentum, leading to an exhilarating climax that pays off the slow buildup. The blend of humor, action, and supernatural elements keeps viewers engaged throughout, offering a rollercoaster ride of emotions.

What truly sets "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" apart is its ability to honor the legacy of the original while embracing contemporary sensibilities. It seamlessly integrates modern technology and storytelling techniques without sacrificing the essence of what made the original films so beloved.

Overall, "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" is a worthy addition to the franchise, offering a nostalgic journey for long-time fans while introducing a new generation to the ghostbusting adventures. Despite its minor flaws, the film delivers an entertaining experience that will leave audiences eagerly anticipating what's next for the Ghostbusters.

So much promise, too much stupidity, Perhaps the movie was trying to entertain the younger generation. But, if it was, the director should have remembered, that the originals did that perfectly without the cheese.

The scary and ominous bits were great, the nostalgia was there, the action worked, the big bad was cool but the idea of a fire master was pure junk.

I dig the new Ghostbusters movies and I hope we get more, but please, steer away from the cheese!!!

If this had been serious with a few comic lines/moments scattered like frosting it would have been great. But, it focused too much on trying to be comedy.

So... yeah, but no. Thanks for another Ghostbusters film, because I love the franchise, but this could have been a heap better.

I enjoyed Frozen Empire, it was especially fun to see so many actors reprising their characters from the very first Ghostbusters movie.

As others have said Phoebe carried the film, and that's not a bad thing. My only complaint is it Bill Murray really seemed to be phoning in his role.

There was a lot of connections to the first Ghostbusters movie and though some people didn't like it I found the plot rather imaginative.

Even though I actually liked Afterlife a little better, this was a fine addition to the Ghostbusters franchise.

Even though the critics didn't like it I think it will be popular enough to merit a continuation of the franchise, I for one will be a returning viewer.

For me if I really like a movie, coming out of the theater I'm like "Great movie, can't wait to see that again, definitely buying the disc when it's released". Well this movie was not one of them! Like the previous installment, it's just mediocre, not that exciting, thrilling, or even funny, kind of boring actually. Not even the inclusion of Bill Murray and Dan Akroyd can make this movie interesting or much more funny to really make a difference. The only thing that keep this movie from being too boring though, is Kumail Nanjiani who I think is hilarious in everything, movie and TV-Show, I've seen him in, and to a lesser extend Paul Rudd.

Worst ghostbuster movie so far and worst movie I've seen in the past 5 years. There's just so much garbage added to the movie that doesn't belong and doesn't even make sense. It's like they wanted to jam into the movie anything they could to attract a bigger audience but ended up becoming a big awful mess. I feel like they combined 2 movies that had nothing to do with one another together and the question is why? Don't these people hire writers any more? If you feel like you want to watch a Ghostbusters movie just watch the original. This movie is beyond cringe that I cannot recommend it to anyone.

Admittedly, I found this film more enjoyable simply because I am a die hard fan of Ghostbusters. That being said, I still think this is not a bad film to see in theaters. It just feels like it could have been much better.

The Good Stuff The film has several strong points. For one, it really makes you feel as if you are inside of the firehouse. It transports the audience from floor to floor, showing you new areas and also showing you how the firehouse is connected- which is cool if you're a GB nerd.

Frozen Empire is also fairly good at creating a "lived in" world feel of a Ghostbusters New York. I didn't necessarily mind the brief cameos of returning characters. I know some will say they only function as nostalgia bait (which yeah- that's a bit true) , but I also think they provide the sense that the Ghostbusters have a history in this version of New York- and it oddly gave a nice sense of escapism.

Also, I have to say that the old cast (especially Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson) really shine in this film. Despite the fact that they are all up there in age, they injected a life and spirit to the story that at times felt sorely lacking when they weren't there.

The Plot I found that the plot is where this film really struggles. Much of this can be attributed to the ridiculous number of characters it boasts. On top of almost all of the original characters from Afterlife returning, we have several new characters unique to this film as well as much larger roles for members of the original cast. I liked certain characters from Afterlife, but the ways they're shoe horned into the film really make you wonder why they have to be in this particular story. At the very least it would have made more sense for Winston to have created a "Junior" Ghostbusters summer internship ( for all of them) as opposed to the various ways these characters come to New York City.

The sheer number of characters creates a lot of subplots - many of which fell quite flat for me. Despite the fact that it starts with a car chase through New York, the film feels like it's clearing its throat for the majority of its 2 hour run time rather than hitting its stride.

The editing of this film ( basically all of the various subplots put together) gave me the feeling that I was watching a loose collection of scenes that were pasted together- almost as if different versions of the script were put together to make this final version. The leads to a tonally inconsistent feeling. Frozen Empire often feels like it's veering from The Real Ghostbusters cartoon to Twilight to quirky Marvel-esque kind of humor. I hate to say, but I think a lot of the jokes in Frozen Empire fell flat because of this.

The Sense of Realism

Though it was admittedly a story about scientists catching ghosts, the original Ghostbusters had a sense of realism to ground it just enough . You felt that they were starting this fantastical business in the real world.

This film at times is more reflective of the Real Ghostbusters cartoon and Ghostbusters 2 as opposed to the original. There are certain events that happen early on in this film that detract from the more grounded tone of Afterlife and the original. I want to be perfectly clear that I am referring to the human side of events and not ghosts.

Essentially, there are a number of pretty blatant plot contrivances that hurt the film. I know the audience for this will be children, but I found certain things just blatantly didn't make sense as to how they were able to happen- and made the world seem inconsistent.

The Ending (NO SPOILERS just what ifs)

Okay, so again, NO SPOILERS will be included in this section. The ending felt underwhelming. To be vague, certain things happen that have happened before- and I felt like the story doesn't do enough to make me see why this time it would be much worse. Plus, I personally think we should have gotten to the frozen-ness side of things much earlier on in the script. Instead we get very little of the big bad, and two contrived ( well what if we do this?) solutions that kind of feel like the writers pulled them out of their arse as opposed to their arsenal.

It would have been neat to see the GB team split up into groups to traverse a frozen, paranormal New York City- teaming up together to fight the big bad at the end.

Sadly that didn't happen.

Final Conclusion

I would really like to say more about this movie, but I want to avoid spoilers. Despite my complaining, I still enjoyed it and hope Jason Reitman is able to make one more. It would be nice if he directed a third film instead of Gil Kenan.

This film's main weakness is that it felt like it could have been so much more than what was released. Even with an almost 2 hour run time, there is often too much happening and a serious lack of cohesion. I would hope that a third film could be a lot tighter and have less characters- even if that meant we don't see some of our friends from Afterlife the next time around.