Why Ghostbusters 2 Deserves More Love

The "Ghostbusters" franchise has remained a staple in pop culture for decades. What began as a unique blend of action, horror, and comedy in 1984 with the original "Ghostbusters" has grown into a multi-billion-dollar entertainment empire. The first film, which was made on a modest budget of $30 million, became a cultural phenomenon and is now regarded as one of the greatest American films ever made. Its impact was so significant that it was added to the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for its contribution to cinema.

The franchise has continued to thrive in the new century, with recent releases like "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" receiving positive reviews from audiences. This sequel holds a 94% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, showing that new generations are still captivated by the ghosts of the past. However, not every film in the series has been met with the same level of acclaim. The second film, "Ghostbusters II," has had a mixed reception over the years.

In the 1980s, critics gave the film a more neutral to negative review. Some outlets, like The Washington Post, called it "inoffensive" and described it as a "modest thing, a good show." Contemporary reviewers have also had mixed feelings about the sequel. For example, Collider described it as a film that makes no sense and lacks humor. Despite this, many fans continue to enjoy the movie and believe it has its own charm.

Fans think Ghostbusters 2 is funnier and scarier

A post on the "Ghostbusters" subreddit invited fans to share their thoughts on the sequel. One user, u/rollthedye, noted that while the film was a retread of the first, it was still "fun and honestly a little scarier IMO." Another user, u/Peter_Venkman008, described the film as a comfort movie with standout set pieces such as "when the Statue of Liberty is walking through Manhattan and the Ghostbusters are about to save New York… [It] is just amazing."

"It had cooler ghosts. Cool tech, cool jumpsuits and was still funny to me … and the river of slime is one of my favorite concepts in the franchise," wrote u/BruteTHE-SWISS, whose comment received the most upvotes on the thread. Another user, u/thundercat2000ca, pointed out that the film could have benefited from scenes that were cut during production. In an interview with Sci Fi Wire, star Bill Murray, who played Dr. Peter Venkman, expressed his disappointment with the final product. He said, "So they had this idea, but it didn’t turn out to be the idea when I arrived on the set. They’d written a whole different movie than the one [initially discussed]."

Despite these changes, some users praised specific scenes. For example, u/StewpidGoRilla34 highlighted the courtroom scene. "The courtroom scene is my absolute favorite scene in movie history. The build-up, the sound, the special effects, the dialogue, it’s all outstanding. Then the reveal of the Scoleri brothers, and the battle. So good," the user wrote, showing that even the less-received "Ghostbusters 2" has its moments.

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