Ghostbusters Movies Ranked: From Ghoulish Flops to Fan Favorites Based on IMDb Ratings!

Are you prepared to go throwback with the Ghostbusters cast and crew? No matter if you have watched the film since the launch of the first one in 1984 or if you are a fan of the latest part, this has been a comedy/horror franchise that brought a lot of chuckles, screams, and great scenes. But here’s the big question: Which Ghostbusters film is preferable and which one failed. Now is the time to explore all Ghostbusters movie rankings according to the IMDb ratings. And find out what Ghostbusters movie fans prefer. Wondering where your favorite lies? Keep reading!

Ghostbusters Franchise: A Journey Through Comedy, Chaos, and Classic Cinema

Ghostbusters: Beginning with the 1984 film where comedies meet supernatural and science-fiction characteristics. It involves the story of four eccentric parapsychologists who chase spirits in New York. The franchise includes three sequels: the original Ghostbusters in 1984, Ghostbusters II in 1989. 

The all-female reboot Ghostbusters (2016), and the nostalgic continuation Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024). Thanks to famous characters, useful ghost hunting equipment, and well-placed comedy. 

The series is still popular today. The entire Ghostbusters series is available for streaming in Amazon Prime Video and, depending on the region. Also on Netflix, while you can buy both Apple TV and Google Play versions.

Ranking the Ghostbusters Movies from Worst to Best: See Where Each Spooky Adventure Stands!

One can gain insight into this franchise by ranking all the Ghostbusters films according to their IMDb ratings. Integrating horror, comedy, melodrama, and drama, ‘’Ghostbusters’’ is still one of the most popular franchises in the world of cinema. Here we are going to give the list according to the IMDb scores and discuss each movie and what has gone well and what did not:

5. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024), IMDb Rating: 6.1

• Director: Gil Kenan  

• Cast: Paul Rudd, Carey Coon, Finn Wolfhard  

Synopsis: As for the sequel to the film Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021), the protagonist Gary with the Spengler family comes back to the initial fire station of New York City. Right when they think that they can finally settle, they stumble upon something that resurrects an ancient evil. 

Why It’s Ranked Lower:

• Afterlife performed well enough to be the foundation for the creation of the Frozen Empire. But, it seemed to have lost some feature on the Internet Movie Database to indicate this was ill received by the public.

• Over Reliance on References: Despite the fact callbacks are designed to reward the old hat fans they themselves seemed overdone to some extent as they drowned out new ideas, plots.

• Mixed Reception: Several efforts were made to try and integrate the old and new casts but the end results were not entirely successful.

4. Ghostbusters II (1989), IMDB Rating: 6.6

• Director: Ivan Reitman

• Cast: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, and T.Rick Moranis

Synopsis: Considering the fact that the shooting of the team was formed of those four actors. The sequel shot in 1989 was not as successful as Ghostbusters. Five years later, the group disbanded and must come back together to fight a new evil supernatural.

Why it stands here:

• Though still loved by the audience, Ghostbusters II did not have the same spin as the first film did. It just wasn’t as funny, and the stakes of the story seemed lower. Vigo the Carpathian was an intriguing antagonist, but he did not create the kind of sensation that Gozer did.

• Some did find the film quite far-fetched. Especially given that its key antagonist is an evil slime that gains its energy from negative human emotions. While the subplot where the Statue of Liberty awakens from its slumber was overly exaggerated in their view.

3. Ghostbusters (2016), IMDb Rating: 6.8

• Director: Paul Feig

• Cast:  Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, and Chris Hemsworth.

Synopsis: Amazingly, the 2016 reboot attracted quite a lot of controversy when it was released. An adaptation of this movie with different genders proved to be quite controversial. Precisely when the idea was first pitched due to the formation of an all-female cast. 

Why it’s ranked lowest:

• The movie was not like the excellent old Ghostbusters films of the past. It did have its quite humorous scenes, and mostly due to Kate McKinnon portraying Jillian Holtzmann. It never managed to deliver a feel that made the original iconic among the younger audience.

• There were complaints that during the shooting, attention was paid only to CGI, and the ghosts were scary, rather cartoony. There was great chemistry between the cast, but the majority of the viewers complained that the movie was typical. 

2. Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021), IMDb Rating: 7.0

• Director: Jason Reitman

• Cast: Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Bill Murray (cameo)

Synopsis: Released decades after Ghostbusters II, Ghostbusters: Afterlife continued the storyline of events depicted in the first movies. It also brought the creators’ new characters of spirits’ hunters. Helmed by the younger Reitman, Jason, who successfully succeeds his father, the director of the first Ghostbusters, Ivan Reitman.

Why it ranks second:

• It has aged the movie well while at the same time growing it into a new movie with young stars. The movie stars Sarah Cooper as Phoebe Spengler, whose father’s Egon Spengler, former role actor Harold Ramis. 

• For this reason, Afterlife is less invasive in regards to the property’s original horror mythology than the 2016 reboot. Abstract Practical effects were preferred over excessive ‘green screen’ work. Accounts of the original cast in brief appearances were appreciated. Seeing the Ecto-1 and the ghost trap seemed to be in reference to those fans of the 1984 movie.

1. Ghostbusters (1984), IMDB Rating: 7.8

• Director: Ivan Reitman

• Cast: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, Rick Moranis, and Ernie Hudson

Synopsis: To the audiences’ surprise, the first Ghostbusters film takes the number one spot. This 1984 film is truly a classic in every sense of the word, putting comedy, horror, and science fiction all together in one film.

Why it’s ranked best:

• A supernatural comedy was best defined by Ghostbusters. There was great chemistry between Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis, all three of whom were writers for the show. 

• The villains of the film, Gozer and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, became popular. The effects may be quite low quality now, and one could suspect that the movie is quite dated. But,  the effects were some of the best of the time, and they give it a certain charm.

• The film’s music selected by Ray Parker Jr. became an iconic hit. It has been 39 years since the release of the song, and it is now associated with the franchise.

This is one of those movies that has seen so many rip-offs, but none have come close to the original Ghostbusters movie. It’s iconic through and through and holds up just as well today as the year it was released 1984.

Conclusion 

Experiencing the ups and downs of Ghostbusters movies, it can be said that the mark each movie left on fans was memorable. Regardless of the 1984 classic or present-day updates in Afterlife, this show has a built-in audience that enjoys its humorous interactions. And Along with being able to engage audiences for multiple generations in one way or another. 

While everyone has their own opinions on each film, Ghostbusters’ success cannot be overstated. Regardless of whether you want to see the first set of characters or appreciate the interpolations in the latest movies, there is a special in all of them. Okay, if you hate some of it, but do you prefer the original Ghostbusters or the new Ghostbusters? What do you guys think? Let’s revisit and watch it again!