Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire has so many Ghostbusters that the old firehouse can’t hold them, and the story gets lost in the crowd. The Spenglers live in New York now, Ray and Winston are back, Peter Venkman drops by, and Winston’s research lab adds a whole new bench of scientists. Then Mayor Walter Peck, of all people, gets Phoebe pulled off the team as a minor. That’s the best thread: a lonely teen genius who befriends Melody, a ghost who plays chess with her in the park. Mckenna Grace and Dan Aykroyd carry the heart, and Aykroyd plays the lore totally straight. Meanwhile a brass orb holds a demigod who freezes people with fear. The ghost action and the callbacks are fun, but the tone keeps going solemn when it should be goofy. It holds a 42% on Rotten Tomatoes and made $202 million worldwide on a reported $100M. A 4.7 because the toys still work and the cast is too big to steer. $438.74 says you finish it wanting a whole movie of Phoebe and Melody’s chess games.

What works: Mckenna Grace and Dan Aykroyd give it real heart, and Phoebe’s friendship with a ghost named Melody is the freshest idea in the movie.

What doesn’t: The cast is so crowded that almost nobody gets a real arc, and the tone keeps turning serious when it should be playful.

Who it’s for: Families who want proton packs, Slimer callbacks and a spooky-but-not-scary night on the couch.