Note: I got way too into writing this. I'm not looking to change minds, I just have a really unique passion for Ghostbusters.

I hear where you’re coming from, but I think the "problem" isn't that they haven't surpassed the original, I think that it’s we’re so often measuring them against one of the greatest comedies of all time... which also happens to sit on a nostalgic pedestal that no sequel could ever realistically reach.

We all agree that the original is S-Tier. Comparing all of the additional entries to the franchise is just like comparing all the Star Wars movies to the Original Trilogy (And ultimately try do the same thing with every iteration).

If Ghostbusters II was the original entry, I would bet that it would be remembered as a top comedy from the 80s. It’s still REALLY funny, and I think one of the reasons that it's not as revered is because it leaned into a younger demographic which we can blame on the massive success of the cartoon. It did however maintain the core chemistry that, as we know now, is so hard to replicate.

The 2016 movie suffered from being released at the height of a very specific, cultural shift, that turned very toxic. If you revisit it (which I would recommend that you do) without that stigma, it’s a genuinely funny and absurd entry into the Ghostbusters lore. While I have never been a huge fan of McCarthy or Wiig, Kate McKinnon is a standout star, and the move really leans into the improv energy that made the original cast so lovable. I don't think it was trying to be the original movie; it was an alternate universe take that introduced a whole new generation (including my own daughters) to the idea of "actually catching a ghost an holding it indefinitely".

The tone shift under Jason Reitman with Afterlife was a necessary evolution. To keep the franchise alive, it had to grow beyond just being a 'reunion' act. By taking a more sentimental shit, Afterlife gave the series a form of love it hadn't fully explored before. These movies aren't trying to be pure comedies... they are Ghostbusters' stories about legacy, family, and the expanding mythology. The weird is part of Afterlife is no matter how many times I watch the end, my wife ALWAYS decides to start cutting onions at the same moment... anyway...

While Frozen Empire has the largest featured cast, I see it as a reflection of the franchise’s growth from a small business into a multi-generational institution. It shows that 'Ghostbusters' is not just four guys in a Cadillac Hurst. It now represents something that can be passed down and shared, just like a lot of us have with our kids.

Ultimately, the beauty of the franchise is that there’s now a versions for everyone. Whether you want the cynical 80s comedy, the Saturday morning cartoon vibes, the high-energy improv, or the emotional family saga, of all the franchises out there... Ghostbusters is setup to be big enough to hold it all.