A Look Back At What Made Each Ghostbusters Movie Amazing (Yes, Even That One)

Have you caught the trailer for the new Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire? Coming out on March 22, it follows the characters from 2021’s sequel, including well-loved cast like Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, and Paul Rudd. Plus, Ghostbusters purists will be happy to see the original 1984 cast reprising their roles as well with Bill Murray, Dan Ackroyd, and more. Frozen Empire finds a spooky, horned, ice-loving ghost hitting NYC and I have to admit, it looks good. But Frozen Empire is the child of the movies that came before it. Here’s what made each Ghostbusters special–including the one you were hoping to forget.

Warning: Spoilers ahead!

Ghostbusters (1984): The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man

The original Ghostbusters has so much to like. The trio of Venkman, Stanz, and Spengler give the exact right amount of humor to counteract the legitimate scares you can thank Gozer for. Who can forget the electrocution-themed college experiments or Louis getting chased all over Manhattan by a devil dog?

But most of all, the original Ghostbusters is special for the giant Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. Equal parts sugary goodness and ghoulish delight, this skyscraping madman will put a smile on your face while you reel back in horror. I can’t be the only one who was jealous of the citizens of New York who got covered in marshmallow fluff when the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man was vanquished.

Honorable mentions: Dana’s amazing gold lamé outfit, the first appearance of Slimer, and the all-star cast.

Ghostbusters II (1989): The Pink Kinetic Mood Goo

Although people may look back fondly on the second Ghostbusters movie, at the time much of it was laughed it. Alas, this sequel still did a few things right. We get everyone in the all-star cast back on the screen, plus a fun new mechanic: mood slime.

After Dana’s baby carriage runs amok, the boys are back to investigate. Ray, dropped down a hole in the street, finds a river of pink goo. It turns out the slime senses mood and will act accordingly. You yell and it gets mad. You play (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher” by Jackie Wilson and it’s enough to make the Statue of Liberty–and the audience–dance.

Honorable mentions: The statue of liberty and her catchy tunes, the hilariously bad accent of art curator Janosz, and the MC Hammer cameo modern audiences won’t even notice.

Ghostbusters (2016): The Aesthetic

A reboot of the original film, this Ghostbusters is often reviewed poorly. With a different comedic style and a female reimagining of the core four, it comes as no surprise that this movie wasn’t for everyone. But even if you pick apart every little thing about this reboot (which happens to have the second-highest Rotten Tomatoes rating of the franchise with 74% behind the original’s 95%), there are still things to like.

Chief among the good things of the Kristin Wiig/Melissa McCarthy reboot is the aesthetic. Unlike the other films, the ghosts have a distinct green and blue neon glow that permeates every haunted scene. By the climax, the movie is an attractive riot of color. To be honest, it looks cool.

Honorable mentions: Kate McKinnon’s hair, Gabe from The Office shitting himself, and this classic Gabriel Gundacker vine:

Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021): The Ghostly Cameo

Ghostbusters: Afterlife was the first true sequel in over 30 years. Unlike the reboot, it doesn’t try to do a goofy spin on an already tried-and-true formula. Instead, it takes a new crew–who happen to be descendants of the late Egon Spengler–to find the truth of ghosts not in NYC but in the deserts of Oklahoma.  This sequel has more heart than any of the previous films combined, and that’s especially true with the ghostly cameo at the end of the movie. (SPOILERS AHEAD! Don’t read ahead if you haven’t seen this one yet.)

When the big fight seems like it’ll finally win against the intrepid Ghostbusters, the crew gets help not only from the original living cast, but from the ghost of Egon Spengler. What makes this extra tear-jerking is that Spengler’s actor (and original screenwriter) Harold Ramis had passed away in 2014. The reveal of his CG ghost is respectful, terribly sad, and a perfect way to cap off the plot.

Honorable mentions: Paul Rudd being Paul Rudd, tiny Stay Puft Marshmallow Men, and the nerdy-but-hilarious little scientist played by Mckenna Grace.

Check out Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire in theaters starting March 22, 2024.