All 4 Ghostbusters Movies in Order

Still considered one of the most highly praised cult classics, Ghostbusters is an icon of the 80s cinema. Release in the cinemas in 1984, the first Ghostbuster became an instant classic because of its clever use of humor, storytelling, and the chemistry between the main characters. Since its release in 1984, the franchise has spawned two sequels and one reboot over nearly 20 years.

In the movies, we generally follow a rag-tag group of friends as they start a ghostbusting business. While the group deals with small ghosts, a bigger evil is brewing behind the scenes. The movies use the wits of each of the characters to get them out of difficult situations. The movie ends in a big climatic battle where the iconic entry scenes happen.

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If you intend to dive right into the funny and scary world of Ghostbusters or want to rewatch all the movies in the correct order, this blog post has you covered. This blog post has all the plot-related information and even answers some burning questions about the franchise.

All 4 Ghostbusters Movies in Order

1. Ghostbusters

   Streaming On: Apple TV, Tubi Tv, DIRECTV

   Director: Ivan Reitman

   Writers: Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis

   Stars: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, Rick Moranis, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts

   Genres: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

   

   Directed by Ivan Reitman, Ghostbusters was released in cinemas in 1984. The story follows a rag-tag group of outcasts fighting off ghosts for a living. As they deal with the smaller ghost, a bigger mystery unravels.

   After Parapsychological researchers Peter, Ray, and Egon encounter a ghost in the New York Public Library, they take their case to the dean. Their college dean dismisses their research and kicks them out. In retaliation, the three set up “Ghostbusters,” a paranormal investigation and elimination service.

   Dana Barrett hires them to investigate her apartment, where she encountered a scary dog that only said “zuul.” Next, they are hired to capture Slimer, a slime ghost in a hotel. Egon warns the team about some faulty equipment, but they can successfully capture Slimer. With the rise in demand, the Ghostbusters hire Winston to cope. Egon warns the team that the ghost container is at its limit.

   Peter informs Dana that “Zuul” is a demigod, a servant to the god of destruction. Peter arrives at Dana’s apartment to find Dana possessed by “The Gatekeeper,” Dana’s Neghibor, Louis, is brought to Egon as Louis claims to be “The Keymaster.” After law enforcement interferes with the Ghostbuster’s equipment, they set all the ghosts free. In the chaos, Louis escapes and goes to Dana.

   This whole situation is revealed to be a plan of a Zuul Cult Leader, which is revealed to them in jail. After explaining their case to the mayor, he sets the Ghostbusters free to save the city. In the final fight, Gozer, the god of destruction, appears and starts destroying the city. Egon uses the previously mentioned faulty equipment to close the Dimension gate and banish the monster back to its realm.

   Directed by Ivan Reitman, Ghostbusters was released in cinemas in 1984 and was praised for its mix of horror and comedy elements. Bill Murray’s performance as Peter received a lot of praise.

2. Ghostbusters II

   Streaming On: Apple TV, Tubi Tv, DIRECTV

   Director: Ivan Reitman

   Writers: Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis

   Stars: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, Rick Moranis, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, Kurt Fuller, Harris Yulin

   Genre: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

   

   Released five years after the first movie, Ghostbusters II maintained its original cast and director. The movie follows the members of the Ghostbusters as they are sued but have to fight against another rising force.

   Five years after saving the world, the Ghostbusters were sued for property damage, forcing them out of business. With the Ghostbuster disbanded, the members have picked up small jobs to support themselves.

   Dana contacts the Ghostbuster when she notices something paranormal in a museum. At night in the museum, Vigo the Carpathian, a European tyrant magician, possesses Dana’s boss. Vigo chooses Oscar, Dana’s child, as a vessel to live in and plans to possess it. While investigating the site, Ray finds Slime River running underground, and when he collects some of it, the slime attacks.

   The Ghostbusters are taken to court by law enforcement to restart their operations. Still, when a slime sample causes a commotion, the Ghostbusters make a deal to resume their operations in exchange for capturing the slime.

   When the Ghostbuster discovers that the slime is made from the negative emotions of the New Yorkers, they suspect that it might be connected to Vigo. When Egon, Ray, and Winston decide to investigate the slime river but are sucked into it. They emerge in the museum and start fighting until Egon realizes they are affected by the slime’s negative energy.

   A spirit appears like her boss steals Oscar from Dana’s apartment. Dana follows the spirit to the museum, which is completely covered by a strong slime that spreads on New Year’s Eve.

   When the Ghostbusters realize that the way to beat the Negative Slime is to create Positive Slime, they try to create a positive emotion in the citizens. With the crowd’s help, the Ghostbusters can defeat Vigo after a tough fight. Afterward, the Ghostbusters are praised for their work and become famous.

   The movie is a family-friendlier version of the first movie and still delivers good laughter with an exciting and enjoyable story.

3. Ghostbusters

   Streaming On: Can be rented from – YouTube, Apple TV, VUDU

   Director: Paul Feig

   Writers: Katie Dippold, Paul Feig

   Stars: Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, Chris Hemsworth, Neil Casey, Andy García, Cecily Strong, Michael K. Williams, Matt Walsh, Charles Dance, Ed Begley Jr.

   Genre: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

   

   Released 12 years after the original, Ghostbusters (2016) is a complete reboot of the 1984 Ghostbusters. Directed by Paul Feig, the Ghostbusters in the movie is an entirely female cast and the story loosely follows the original plot.

   Erin Gilbert and Jillian Holtzman are partners who investigate the paranormal. Erin recruits her old partner, Abby, to investigate a haunted house. When Abby encounters an evil ghost in the house, Abby’s belief in the paranormal is restored and decides to join the other two in their adventure. After stealing some equipment, the trio establishes “Conductors of the Metaphysical Examination” and recruits Kevin as a receptionist.

   Patty Tolman contacts them when she encounters a ghost in a subway under a haunted jail. The trio cannot catch the ghost, but Patty joins their team as she believes in them.

   Rowan North, an occultist with a god complex, triggers a supernatural event that allows him to create a vortex to another dimension. When Rowan does the same at a concert, the Ghostbusters are called. When they successfully capture the ghost, they become a sensation among the citizens.

   Ghostbusters are slandered in public by the Department of Homeland Security, but they appreciate them in private. The Quartet realizes that Rowan is behind these incidents and goes to confront them. When Rowan is cornered, he kills himself by electrocution, and his spirit possesses Abby. When Rowan is unsuccessful, he possesses Kevin and opens a portal to another dimension.

   In the final fight, the team converts their equipment into a makeshift bomb and blows up the portal, which drags Rowan and his army back. The Security Department still denounces its actions in public but funds its operations. In the end, while investigating an EVP, Patty hears the words “Zuul.”

   The movie does an excellent job of rebooting and retelling the original movie’s story while putting its own twist on the storyline and characters.

4. Ghostbusters: Afterlife

   Streaming On: Apple TV, Tubi Tv, DIRECTV

   Director: Jason Reitman

   Writers: Jason Reitman, Gil Kenan

   Stars: Mckenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Logan Kim, Celeste O’Connor, Carrie Coon, Paul Rudd, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, Sigourney Weaver

   Genre: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

   

   Released over 30 years after its predecessor, Ghostbusters: Afterlife is a sequel to the original timeline of the Ghostbusters Franchise. In this movie, we follow the grandkids of Egon as they explore his legacy.

   Financially struggling mother, Callie inherits a farm left to her by her father, Egon Spengler. Callie moves into the farm with two of her children, Trevor and Phoebe. Phoebe discovers that the house is haunted, and a spirit leads her to a Ghost Trap left there by her Callies father.

   While tampering with the trap with her friends, Podcast and Gary, a servant of Gozer, escapes to a nearby mine. The farm ghost reveals itself to be Egon himself, and he helps Phoebe rebuild the Ghostbuster equipment to chase down a local Ghost. that she encountered in the process. The equipment is seized due to the damage incurred while catching the ghost.

   Phoebe calls Ray, another member of the Ghostbuster, for help. Ray reveals everything that happened since the group broke up and how Egon stole their equipment and vanished. Phoebe, Trevor, Podcast, and Gray decide to explore the mine, where they find a Gozerian Temple.

   Exploring further, Callie and Gray are possessed by Zuul and Viz, who destroy the equipment holding Gozer back, allowing Gozer to wake. With the city under attack by Ghosts, the newly formed Ghostbusters ready themselves with gear and travel to the mine. When the new Ghostbusters find themselves on the back foot, the remaining members of the old Ghostbusters arrive to help. The whole team can send Gozer and his army back to their dimension with total effort.

   A worthy sequel to the original movies, the movie was praised for its cast performance, Rietmans’s direction, and the respect it pays to the original.

Conclusion

Ghostbusters has been an icon of the cinema of the 80s and still holds up very well in today’s time. “Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters” is still one of the most iconic lines ever to be said and is still used as a tribute to the original movie.

This horror comedy movie, made to pander to the nerds, kickstarted a franchise that has spawned many sequels, reboots, reimaginings, some animated shows, and even a whole toy line. As mentioned, since its release 20 years ago, the Ghostbusters franchise is still in really high regard. With another sequel in the making, its legacy is bound to move forward.

So, you want to dive into this spooky and funny movie with a very loveable rag tag group of characters. In that case, the Ghostbusters franchise might be the right pick for you.

Ghostbuster Movies According to IMDb Ratings

• Ghostbusters (1984) – 7.8 By 425K Votes
• Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) – 7.1 By 213K Votes
• Ghostbusters (2016) – 6.8 By 236K Votes
• Ghostbusters II (1989) – 6.6 By 192K Votes

Ghostbuster Movies According to Box Office Collection

• Ghostbusters (1984) – $296.5 Million
• Ghostbusters (2016) – $229.1 Million
• Ghostbusters II (1989) – $215.4 Million
• Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) – $204.3 Million

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