Why Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Outshines Afterlife

The Director's Vision

While Ghostbusters: Afterlife was a solid addition to the series, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire seems like a far stronger continuation of the franchise for several reasons. When 2016s Ghostbusters reboot proved a financial and critical misfire, the creators of the franchise went back to the drawing board and offered viewers something completely different five years later. Where 2016s reboot ignored the original characters, Ghostbusters: Afterlife centered their legacy and hyped their big return. While the 2016 movie was set in the franchises iconic NYC location, Ghostbusters: Afterlife relocated the series to a small town in rural Oklahoma.

McKenna Grace looking up as Phoebe in Ghostbusters Frozen Empire

While a lot of these changes worked in its favor, Ghostbusters: Afterlife was far from perfect. The reboot occasionally felt too rooted in the past, and it took most of the movies lengthy runtime to reintroduce the franchises original heroes. Fortunately, the upcoming Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire seems to have learned from the missteps of its predecessor judging by its promotional materials. With a nostalgic setting, new roles for old characters, some exciting new faces, and both returning and original villains, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire appears determined to make up for the mistakes of 2021s moderately successful reboot.

Coney Island in Ghostbusters Frozen Empire

The Director's Expertise

Unlike Ghostbusters: Afterlife, which played it safe with a comedy veteran director, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is helmed by Gil Kenan, known for his kid-friendly horror films such as Poltergeist and Monster House. Kenan's ability to balance horror and comedy, as seen in his previous works, suggests that Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire will bring back more of the scares seen in the original movie, making it a promising addition to the franchise.

Bones looking spooky in Monster House

Romance Takes a Backseat

Ghostbusters: Afterlife introduced a tentative romance between two characters, but it's a good thing that Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire will focus less on romance and more on the characters' roles as part of the next generation of Ghostbusters. By minimizing the romantic subplot, the sequel will benefit from a stronger focus on the characters' contributions to the story.

Callie on the porch looking scared in Ghostbusters Afterlife

Return to New York

While Ghostbusters: Afterlife took its heroes to a rural community in Oklahoma, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire brings the series back to its hometown, New York City. This return to the iconic location of the original movies aligns with the franchise's roots and adds to the authenticity of the sequel, setting it apart from its predecessor.

Iconic Villain's Return

While the villainous god Gozer will not be back in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the sequel introduces the return of William Atherton's officious EPA inspector, Walter Peck. Peck's grudge against the Ghostbusters promises an engaging human villain revenge plot, adding an exciting dynamic to the sequel that was lacking in Ghostbusters: Afterlife.

William Atherton's Walter Peck talking in an office in the Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire trailer

Chilling New Villain

The final trailer for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire unveils a deeply creepy, promising new monster - an unnamed evil entity capable of killing its victims through fear alone. This thoroughly chilling villain, unleashed by an artifact, adds a new layer of terror to the sequel, making it a compelling addition to the Ghostbusters franchise.

A shadowy ghost figure silhouette with glowing eyes stands menacingly in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.

Reinvigorated Original Characters

Unlike Ghostbusters: Afterlife, which spent a significant portion of its runtime teasing the return of the original Ghostbusters, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire gives the original cast more to do from the start. This approach allows the original heroes to have a more meaningful impact on the story, enhancing the sequel's narrative and appeal.

Bill Murray as Peter Venkman in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

Promising New Faces

In addition to the returning original cast members, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire introduces a cast of promising new faces, including Patton Oswalt, Kumail Nanjiani, Emily Alyn Lind, and British comedian James Acaster. The addition of these new characters adds depth and excitement to the sequel, elevating its potential beyond that of Ghostbusters: Afterlife.

James Acaster as Lars Pinfield in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire