Nothing encapsulates the fun and frantic essence of the supernatural comedy genre more than the Ghostbusters movies and watching them in order can be the perfect binge-watching experience you are looking for.
The idea of paranormal scientists dressed in cute overalls heading out to fix New York City’s paranormal problems is pure gold. No wonder 40 years since the first Ghostbusters movie release, the franchise is still relevant and has the charm to captivate the audience’s fancy.
Naturally, the newest entry in the iconic horror comedy franchise, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire released recently on 22 March 2024, turned out to be a box-office success as well. Much like its predecessors, this new Gil Kenan movie sees paranormal investigators, but spread across multiple generations, going against something called the Dark Chill, a death-chilling god seeking to build a spectral army and leave the city in a deep freeze.
While the timeline of Ghostbusters movies isn’t as complex as the Alien series or the Halloween franchise, newcomers or veteran fans looking for a refresher might want to navigate the timeline of Ghostbusters movies in order of their chronology, leading up to Frozen Empire.
How to watch the ‘Ghostbusters’ movies in order of chronology
Navigating the timeline of Ghostbusters movies in order is rather simple. One does not have to jump around different instalments in the series but just omit the 2016 reboot Ghostbusters: Answer the Call to get the timeline right. The 2016 movie has no real connection in terms of it being a sequel or a prequel to the other movies.
So, the release order can also be considered the chronological order for the Ghostbusters movies, with that one exception.
That said, let’s take a look at what happens in the hilariously fascinating world of the Ghostbusters movies chronologically.
Ghostbusters (1984)
The first Ghostbusters movie sets the tone that strikes the perfect balance between horror and comedy. Directed by Ivan Reitman, it introduced viewers to four paranormal scientists Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis), Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), and Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson). They battle the shapeshifting antagonist – Gozer – who wants to destroy humanity.
The paranormal scientists have a tough time and offer audiences a good laugh as they run afoul of a demonic god taking different avatars, which have been summoned to an NYC apartment complex. Egon leads the mission and instructs the team to cross their proton energy streams at the dimensional gate to battle the Gozer. The explosion kills Gozer’s avatar – Stay Puft Marshmallow Man – shooing it back to its dimension.
The Ghostbusters are hailed as heroes as they come out after rescuing Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver) and Louis Tully (Rick Moranis) from the wreckage.
The movie is available to stream on Prime Video and Hulu
Ghostbusters II (1989)
Ghostbusters II is the direct sequel to the original. Set five years after the massive destruction caused in the first film in NYC, the Ghostbusters find themselves disbanded and out of business, trying to recuperate on a personal level. However, when a new paranormal threat emerges from an abandoned river of slime, the Ghostbusters reunite to fight it and save the world.
The slime reacts to people’s negative emotions bringing out a supernatural entity named Vigo the Carpathian to life. The crew tries every measure from cheering the city up to singing ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and taking help from the torch of the Statue of Liberty to bring about an atmosphere of positivity and cheer to actually send Vigo, the sorcerer, back to where he came from.
The movie is available to stream on Prime Video and Hulu
Ghostbusters: Answer the Call (2016)
Ghostbusters II wasn’t as big a commercial success as the first movie, causing the franchise to become dormant for almost 30 years. It was much later in 2016 that Ghostbusters resurrected as a franchise and came up with an all-female instalment — Ghostbusters: Answer the Call.
Led by a stellar cast of Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones and Chris Hemsworth, the plot focuses on four eccentric women starting a ghost-catching business in New York City after a paranormal encounter in an alleged haunted house.
The real Ghostbusters heroes Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver and Annie Potts make a cameo as characters in the movie. Though the movie has no connection with its predecessors or the next films in the franchise, it is a fun watch for those who want to tick every Ghostbusters movie off the list.
The movie is available to stream on Prime Video and Apple TV
Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)
The 2021 movie Ghostbusters: Afterlife is a legacy sequel to Ghostbusters II for two reasons: first, the plot focuses on Egon Spengler’s daughter Callie (Carrie Coon) and his two grandchildren Trevor (Finn Wolfhard of Stranger Things) and Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) and second the film is directed by Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman’s son Jason Reitman.
The story follows the grandkids of Spengler as they discover the truth about what their grandad did for a living. While at their inherited family farm in Oklahoma, the kids mistakenly release one of Gozer’s sentinels unknowingly summoning it to return.
The movie is available to stream on Prime Video and Apple TV
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)
Last up on the list of Ghostbusters movies in order of the timeline is the 2024 release Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire which reunites the old and new Ghostbusters to save the world from a second ice age.
Set three years after the spooky events in Afterlife, the OG Ghostbusters Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson and Annie Potts sporting their signature coveralls step in to help the young Spenglers to stop a dark power known as the Death Chill from freezing the infamous paranormal city of New York into oblivion.
After its successful run in theatres, the film will make its OTT debut on Netflix by July 2024.
(Header and feature image courtesy: IMDb/Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire/Ghostbusters: Afterlife)
This story first appeared here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– Which Ghostbusters movie should I watch first?
You should start with the first Ghostbusters movie, which was released in 1984.
– How many Ghostbusters movies are there?
There are a total of five Ghostbusters movies including the 2016 reboot. Apart from the movies, there are two animated shows – The Real Ghostbusters and Extreme Ghostbusters.
– Which is the new Ghostbusters movie releasing in 2024?
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is the 2024 movie, which was released in theatres on March 22 and will get an OTT release on Netflix in July 2024.
Kratagya Rathore could possibly be your passport into the world of style, grooming, skincare, and mindful living. Fashion is as imperative to him as his daily 10,000 steps count. He is a raconteur, almost living his life in a musical; A social firefly who is also fluent in silence. A journalism grad, Kratagya has previously worked for Times Internet and The Times of India.
