Netflix #1 Movie Gives Sci-Fi Comedy Horror Sequel New Life
It seems that one streamer’s subscribers ain’t afraid of no ghosts as Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire has quickly raised through the ranks to become the number one movie on Netflix this week.
Its climb to the top spot was a speedy one, as the latest installment in the supernatural comedy franchise has only been available on the platform since Monday, meaning it spooked the competition out of its way in only two days. While it may have met mixed reviews from audiences and critics alike, now’s your chance to turn the page on the next chapter of the story.
Picking Up Where Afterlife Left Off
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’s arrival on Netflix comes just four months after the movie haunted its way into cinemas around the world. Directed by Gil Kenan, and co-penned by Kenan and Jason Reitman, the plot picks up three years after the events of 2021’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife and follows the Spengler family as they pick up their lives in Oklahoma and move to New York City.
It’s here that they discover an ages-old ghost with an army of specters bent on destroying the world. In need of some serious backup, the Spenglers know exactly who to call, reuniting the Ghostbusters of yesteryear.
A Blast From The Past For A New Generation
The freshest title in the film series featured a multitude of returning faces, mixing the new with the old and blending the talents of Paul Rudd (Ant-Man), Carrie Coon (The Leftovers), Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things), Mckenna Grace (Young Sheldon), and Celeste O’Connor (Madame Web).
What’s more, Bill Murray (Lost in Translation), Ernie Hudson (The Basketball Diaries), Dan Aykroyd (Nothing but Trouble), Annie Potts (Pretty in Pink), and William Atherton (Die Hard) have reprised their roles from the original films.
For those Ghostbusters fans looking for a blast from the past from a franchise that has shifted its course over the years, checking out Frozen Empire on Netflix is your best bet for a dose of nostalgia.
Almost Makes Us Forget About The 2016 Film
This one’s the latest title to come from the franchise and serves as the fourth film in the supernaturally hysterical world created by Ivan Reitman back in 1984. After laying dormant for nearly 30 years, the afterlife rose again in 2016 in Ghostbusters, which was largely panned by just about everyone who watched it (while it isn’t on Netflix, interested parties can find this particular installment on AMC+).
Ghostbusters: Afterlife Revived The Franchise
With this little snafu in mind, audiences weren’t sure what to think when it was announced that the franchise was coming back in 2021 with Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Like the Ghostbusters installment currently topping the charts on Netflix, Jason Reitman also penned Afterlife and served as its director, picking up the torch first carried by his father and Ghostbusters’ original director, Ivan Reitman. Against its $75 million production budget, Afterlife managed to scare up an impressive $204.3 million, ensuring Sony would fast-track its sequel.
Frozen Empire Dominating The Netflix Charts
As for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’s run at the box office, while it may be demolishing the Top Ten on Netflix, it wasn’t nearly as impressive financially as its predecessor. With a bigger budget to go more over the top with special effects and CGI, the production cost a staggering $100 million, with the film managing to only slightly one-up that number with $201.8 million at the global box office.
Still, for fans who love a bit of new mixed with the old, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire will be a must-watch during its residency on Netflix.
