Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire got off to a slow start at the box office, but ended up making over $100 million domestically, showing the franchise still has signs of life. Some will say this is the fourth Ghostbusters film, but of course, we all know it’s actually the fifth, as you have to count Paul Feig’s reboot to a certain extent. While critics have been cool on Gil Kenan’s addition to the franchise, fans seem to enjoy the film, which gives the OG Ghostbusters enhanced roles. All this got me thinking: what are the best Ghostbusters films? So, I had to do it – here’s my Ghostbusters Movies Ranked list. I’m sure this will inspire a little debate, so let me know what you think of this list in the comments below – even if you hate it. Note that this list is from worst to best.

5. Ghostbusters (2016)

• Ghostbusters Team: Rebooted all-female lineup
• Franchise Theme: Modern reboot culture
• Setting: New York City
• Tone: Broad comedy and improvisational humor
• Horror Level: Light supernatural comedy
• Legacy Character Presence: Original cast cameos only
• Commentary Focus: Franchise reinvention and modern studio reboot strategy
• Most Memorable Element: Kate McKinnon’s eccentric Holtzmann performance
• Biggest Strength: Strong comedic cast chemistry
• Biggest Criticism: Disconnect from original franchise continuity

Let me be clear: I didn’t hate Paul Feig’s female-led reboot as much as a lot of people did. I remember this being one of the most debated films of all time here on JoBlo, and when I gave this a mildly positive review I got angry emails for years! I’m not kidding. Even now, I sometimes get comments on YouTube saying, “We can’t trust this guy because he liked Feig’s Ghostbusters.” That said, it was a bad idea. I don’t know what possessed Sony to attempt to remake the original film with an all-female cast, but it was all but sure to torpedo at the box office as the discourse behind it became so politicized. I actually think this would have done okay had it kept the original Ghostbusters film canon. Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones all do their best here, and Chris Hemsworth is actually funny as their dopey secretary, but it was doomed to fail right from the get-go.

4. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)

• Ghostbusters Team: Legacy and new-generation hybrid team
• Franchise Theme: Nostalgia expansion and franchise mythology
• Setting: New York City
• Tone: Family adventure mixed with supernatural fantasy
• Horror Level: Moderate supernatural threat
• Legacy Character Presence: Expanded roles for the original Ghostbusters
• Commentary Focus: Franchise world-building and generational crossover
• Most Memorable Element: Original team reunion in the finale
• Biggest Strength: Dan Aykroyd’s emotional presence
• Biggest Criticism: Overloaded mythology and excessive setup

So, in my review, I gave this a 6/10, but I was maybe “a little” harsh, as some Ghostbusters-fanatic friends of mine dragged me kicking and screaming to it earlier this week, and I actually had fun watching this with a crowd. Do I think it’s a great movie? No, as there’s way too much world-building going on, but Dan Aykroyd’s extended role is touching, and the ending re-teaming the original Ghostbusters put a smile on my face.

3. Ghostbusters II (1989)

• Ghostbusters Team: Original 1984 lineup reunited
• Franchise Theme: Burnout, redemption, and sequel escalation
• Setting: New York City
• Tone: More cynical and melancholy than the original
• Horror Level: Moderate supernatural comedy
• Legacy Character Presence: Full returning ensemble
• Commentary Focus: Fame collapse and public rejection
• Most Memorable Element: Vigo the Carpathian and the slime river
• Biggest Strength: Character-based humor and emotional grounding
• Biggest Criticism: Lacks the magic and momentum of the original film

For a long time, the popular sentiment was that this was a bad sequel, but it’s not at all. While it’s nowhere near as good as the original, it has some great moments. The first third of the film is legitimately great, with us seeing the now broke, depressed Ghostbusters trying to eke out a living, with Bill Murray especially good at showing Venkman becoming a hack TV psychic host. I also like Venkman’s believably shitty New York City apartment, with empty beer bottles beside the bed, expertly conveying how depressed he’s been since Sigourney Weaver’s Dana left him (I’ve been there, bro). That said, they made a massive mistake not bringing Elmer Bernstein back to do the score. I think if this had the old Ghostbusters themes, people would have liked it a lot more. I also like the romance angle between Rick Moranis’s Louis and Annie Potts’ Janine. 

2. Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)

• Ghostbusters Team: Next-generation family legacy team
• Franchise Theme: Nostalgia, family legacy, and franchise revival
• Setting: Small-town Oklahoma
• Tone: Sentimental coming-of-age adventure
• Horror Level: Strong supernatural threat atmosphere
• Legacy Character Presence: Original Ghostbusters return in final act
• Commentary Focus: Passing the franchise to a new generation
• Most Memorable Element: Egon Spengler’s ghost reunion scene
• Biggest Strength: Balances fan service with emotional storytelling
• Biggest Criticism: Heavy reliance on nostalgia callbacks

One of the reasons I liked Afterlife so much was that Jason Reitman hit exactly the right tone, giving us a legit sense of threat, but also a nice American Graffiti meets Ghostbusters vibe that hit the perfect note for me. The ending, which reunites the OG guys with Egon’s ghost, hit me in the feels, and I really think this is an underrated movie. If you want to reboot a series in a way that brings in new characters but also doesn’t piss off the old fans, this is pretty textbook. Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, and Mckenna Grace are great additions to the franchise… and that Olivia Wilde appearance is pretty cool, too.

1. Ghostbusters (1984)

• Ghostbusters Team: Original founding Ghostbusters lineup
• Franchise Theme: Blue-collar paranormal entrepreneurship
• Setting: New York City
• Tone: Perfect blend of horror, comedy, and sci-fi
• Horror Level: Suspenseful supernatural comedy
• Legacy Character Presence: Original cast introduction
• Commentary Focus: Supernatural chaos invading everyday life
• Most Memorable Element: Stay Puft Marshmallow Man finale
• Biggest Strength: Near-perfect balance of humor, horror, casting, and pacing
• Biggest Criticism: Not much. Few meaningful weaknesses compared to sequels

Gee, did anyone actually wonder what my pick for the best Ghostbusters movie would be? Fact this, Ghostbusters 1984 is a masterpiece, with it hitting the sweet spot between comedy and horror so perfectly that it inspired many clones that could never pull it off like Ivan Reitman could. The score is great, the soundtrack is phenomenal, and the cast is God-tier. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Rick Moranis, Sigourney Weaver, William Atherton, Annie Potts, they’re all amazing. (And don’t sleep on that performance by the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.) If you’ve never seen this movie theatrically, I highly recommend taking the opportunity to see it with an audience if you get a chance. I’ll never forget seeing this at TIFF a few years back with Bill Murray himself in attendance. It was magical.

Ghostbusters Franchise FAQ

Which Ghostbusters movie is considered the best?

Most fans and critics consider Ghostbusters (1984) the best film in the franchise because of its iconic cast, perfect horror-comedy balance, and massive cultural influence.

Is Ghostbusters II underrated?

Yes. Ghostbusters II has gained major reevaluation over the years, with many fans appreciating its darker tone, emotional character work, and strong New York atmosphere.

Is Ghostbusters (2016) canon?

Ghostbusters (2016) exists separately from the continuity of the original films, functioning as a standalone reboot rather than a direct sequel.

Which Ghostbusters movie is the funniest?

Many fans consider the original Ghostbusters the funniest entry thanks to the chemistry between Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson.

Which Ghostbusters movie is the scariest?

Ghostbusters: Afterlife arguably contains the strongest sense of supernatural danger and atmospheric horror in the franchise.

Do you need to watch the Ghostbusters movies in order?

Not necessarily, but watching the original Ghostbusters before Afterlife and Frozen Empire greatly improves the emotional impact and legacy connections.

Which Ghostbusters movies feature the original cast?

The original cast appears prominently in:

• Ghostbusters (1984)
• Ghostbusters II (1989)
• Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)
• Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)

They also appear in cameo roles in Ghostbusters (2016).

Why is Ghostbusters considered so influential?

Ghostbusters helped redefine blockbuster genre filmmaking by successfully blending supernatural horror, science fiction, workplace comedy, and special-effects spectacle into a mainstream audience hit.

So there you go. What would be your rankings for the movies in the Ghostbusters franchise? Let us know in the comments!

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