Ghostbusters seems destined for decline after 2021’s all-female reboot was met with mixed reception from moviegoers and studio executives alike. Studio executives may have decided that nostalgia has reached its limits. Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Mckenna Grace, and Finn Wolfhard (the original Ghostbusters) rejoin forces with two new teenage Ghostbusters for this sequel set in lower Manhattan. Unfortunately, an overcrowded cast and serious tone prevent this film from truly exciting its audience.

It’s Still Haunting the Box Office

Ghostbusters 5 has seen an excellent opening weekend worldwide, grossing more than $188 Million globally and delighting audiences around the globe. But is its success enough to justify another sequel?

Gil Kenan wrote and directed this latest installment of the series, featuring Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, and McKenna Grace as well as returning faces Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Ernie Hudson. It follows the Spengler family as they take over an original New York firehouse that offers spectral capture and containment services while they face their greatest adversary yet: a mythological cold spirit.

Sony’s marketing campaign targeted a range of demographics. Their spots could be seen during male-oriented programming such as NBA games and SportsCenter, but also on family-oriented shows such as Good Morning America or The Late Show With Stephen Colbert—not forgetting digital ads!

It’s Still Haunting the Box Office: Part 2

Although Sony may have expected more from this weekend’s take, it still pushed past $1 billion and made up for their $100 million production budget and additional marketing and distribution costs.

Gil Kenan’s film brings back the Spengler family and original Ghostbusters Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace Celeste O’Connor, and Logan Kim to battle new ghosts, as well as one who wants to cause havoc across New York. Together, they must take down new spirits that threaten Manhattan—not least an ancient ghost who wants nothing more than to freeze over everything forever!

Although Afterlife received mixed critical reviews, its fans have shown great enthusiasm. On opening night alone, audience polling resulted in a B+ CinemaScore and 84% positive rating from Rotten Tomatoes audiences – far outstripping critics’ rating of 61%! That audience score represents a notable leap up from 2021’s pandemic-flawed entry that opened to only $44 million worldwide in its opening frame.

It’s Still Haunting the Box Office: Part 3

Ghostbusters was an enormously successful movie series when it was first released. Unfortunately, none of its sequels have managed to recreate its success; Paul Rudd seems lost within it all, while no new characters can topple over its iconic originals; in essence, Ghostbusters seems to have lost its magic.

Frozen Empire was directed by Gil Kenan and co-written with Jason Reitman (the son of Ivan Reitman, who directed the 1984 original), featuring Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, and Mckenna Grace Celeste O’Connor Logan Kim Bill Murray Dan Aykroyd Ernie Hudson Annie Potts as well as an all-female cast led by Kristen Wiig (Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard). Frozen Empire marks the second installment in this franchise after 2016’s female-led Ghostbusters movie.

Although its Rotten Tomatoes score of 44% may be dissatisfying, the film could still hit $100 million and put itself into competition with other recent sequels if more people went to see it. But that remains to be seen.

It’s Still Haunting the Box Office: Part 4

Sony needed to make an impression with its sequel Afterlife, yet fell short with their attempt. Instead, this installment to the venerable franchise opened to $45.2 million—far better than Afterlife but less than what Paul Feig’s 2016 reboot made during its opening weekend.

Gil Kenan directed this sequel, which sees a new generation of Ghostbusters take to the streets of New York City. Starring Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, McKenna Grace, and Finn Wolfhard alongside original ’80s actors Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson; their mission: battle an ancient evil that threatens New York City’s future.

Frozen Empire saw a good weekend performance but that alone couldn’t offset its poor Friday performance. It is the sixth 2024 release to reach $100 million domestically and should end this week in fifth place behind Civil War, The Beekeeper, Bob Marley: One Love, Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire and Kung Fu Panda 4. Additionally it exceeded $60 million internationally.