Every Ghostbusters Movie, Ranked

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For years, it looked like the Ghostbusters franchise wouldn’t last. The first movie in 1984 was a huge hit, but the 1989 sequel disappointed many, and it seemed like the series was over. Though Paul Feig tried to reboot it nearly 30 years later, it didn’t quite work out. Then, five years after that, Ghostbusters: Afterlife finally succeeded where others had failed. While it wasn’t as big a hit as the original, it reignited fans’ excitement for ghostbusting adventures.

But do any of the newer Ghostbusters movies live up to the original? Have any of the other four films even come close to the magic of the 1984 classic? Let’s take a look.

5) Ghostbusters (2016)

Paul Feig’s Ghostbusters just didn’t quite work, but the problem wasn’t what many online critics claimed. It wasn’t about the fact that the Ghostbusters were women.

The biggest problem with this film is that it tries too hard to be funny, but isn’t. Despite featuring several comedians from Saturday Night Live, including a consistently strong host, none of the jokes land. Chris Hemsworth delivers the most amusing performance, but even he’s stuck playing a very simple character. The film also suffers from a weak villain; Rowan North comes across as unsettlingly creepy, and while Neil Casey does a good job with the material he’s given, the character itself isn’t well-developed.

Stream Ghostbusters (2016) on Hulu.

4) Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

While Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire has received the weakest reviews of any film in the Ghostbusters series, it’s still an improvement over the 2016 reboot. The movie continues the nostalgic, adventurous feel of Ghostbusters: Afterlife, but its biggest problem is that it tries to do too much. The sheer number of characters – and the image shows only about 75% of them – feels overwhelming.

Honestly, this movie just felt really… stretched. The story was already pretty simple, but here it felt like it was pulled so thin it was about to snap. Even the actors – Carrie Coon, Paul Rudd, Celeste O’Connor, and even returning favorites like Bill Murray and Annie Potts – felt underused, like they were just thrown in. The new villain, Garraka, suffered the same fate. But, and this is important, this film did learn from the mistakes of Afterlife. It didn’t try to retell the original Ghostbusters story, which was a good start. More importantly, someone realized how amazing Mckenna Grace is as Phoebe. They really leaned into her character, and the chemistry between Phoebe and Emily Alyn Lind’s Melody was fantastic – honestly, they were the best part of the whole thing.

Stream Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire on Netflix.

3) Ghostbusters: Afterlife

While Ghostbusters: Afterlife clearly echoes the plot of the first movie, it shines brightest when it tries something new. Unfortunately, even with those moments, the film doesn’t quite feel unique overall.

This movie doesn’t quite feel like the first two films in the series; it’s more reminiscent of a classic ’80s adventure like those made by Amblin, combined with the style of Andy Muschietti’s It. Fortunately, it works well, particularly when focusing on Phoebe Spengler adjusting to her new town and her relationship with Mr. Grooberson, played by Paul Rudd. Their connection is the emotional core of the film, and the scenes of them getting to know each other – like when they’re working on the ghost trap – create a genuine and heartwarming feeling. The budding romance between Finn Wolfhard’s Trevor and Celeste O’Connor’s Lucky is another strong point, which was unfortunately underdeveloped in Frozen Empire. Finally, while some people had concerns about digitally recreating the late Harold Ramis, it’s hard to believe he would have objected to how it was done; it serves as a touching tribute to the Stripes star.

Stream Ghostbusters: Afterlife on Starz.

2) Ghostbusters II

Often overlooked, Ghostbusters II is a fantastic sequel that lives up to the original. It maintains the same fun energy while telling a fresh story, and features a hilarious performance from Peter MacNicol of Veep.

While Ghostbusters II doesn’t have the same fresh, off-the-cuff feel as the first movie – particularly in its writing – the great connection between the five main actors is still clear. The film also allows Rick Moranis and Annie Potts to really stand out as Louis Tully and Janine Melnitz. Though some people criticized the slime plot when it first came out, it actually fits well with the fun, energetic style of the Ghostbusters films.

Stream Ghostbusters II on AMC.

1) Ghostbusters

Ghostbusters expertly blends 1980s humor with horror that’s not too scary. It’s a great way to introduce kids to the horror genre – you could follow it up with movies like Gremlins and Poltergeist before moving on to more intense horror films.

The first Ghostbusters movie remains a classic, and even multiple sequels couldn’t diminish its appeal. As we noted before, it feels incredibly natural and energetic – a perfect snapshot of its era, yet still relevant today. Bill Murray truly shines in this film; unlike his somewhat detached performance in the second movie, he’s clearly having a blast, and that infectious fun is impossible not to enjoy as a viewer.

Stream Ghostbusters on AMC.

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2025-11-23 20:16