The Ghostbusters franchise is a beloved property that has spanned generations, and people are clearly very pᴀssionate about it. Having grown up with the original Ivan Reitman films, I can absolutely understand the love for those movies, and the desire to keep their spirit alive (no pun intended). The franchise hasn’t gone without its share of controversy, however. From actor Bill Murray’s notorious hatred of Ghostbusters II to the negative reactions online to the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot, it seems like fans are deeply polarized when it comes to how the Ghostbusters name should be represented.

I recently rewatched the underrated 2016 Ghostbusters, and I still love it as much as I did the first time I saw it. The movie introduced Erin Gilbert, Abby Yates, Jillian Holtzmann, and Patty Tolan as a new group of scientists and ghost exterminators who face off against a supernatural threat in modern-day New York City. Sadly, the movie’s charm and entertainment value was severely overridden by the hatred of a small group of Sєxists, and any chance of a franchise was ᴅᴇᴀᴅ in the water. Even so, I’d rather see a sequel to the reboot than the upcoming Ghostbusters 5.

The 2016 Ghostbusters Reboot Sequel Was Canceled

Online Backlash Led To The Death Of The Rebooted Franchise

Optimistic that the rebooting of a beloved franchise was imminent, Sony reportedly signed on director Paul Feig and the four main cast members for two sequels (via The Hollywood Reporter). However, because of mediocre box office performance, the ensuing sequels for the 2016 Ghostbusters movie were thrown out the window. Initially, Sony president of distribution Rory Bruer told The Wrap:

“I expect ‘Ghostbusters’ to become an important brand and franchise. While nothing has been officially announced yet, there’s no doubt in my mind it will happen.”

This prediction never came to pᴀss, as the film made just under $230 million globally (via Box Office Mojo). Even after the dismal box office numbers, the Ghostbusters director still held out hope that a sequel could be a possibility. Feig told Bustle in 2016 that DVD and Blu-Ray sales could pull the franchise out of the quicksand, and just maybe “justify the amount of money it takes to make a movie like this.” This, too, would be a gross overestimation, with the home media sales only earning $40 million in the first year of release (via The Numbers).

The 2016 Ghostbusters Reboot Was Unfairly Maligned

Most Of The Hatred For The Reboot Was Due To Sєxism

Though I agree that the 2016 Ghostbusters movie wasn’t perfect, I still love it, and I don’t understand why it received so much hate. Even before it was released, the film was bombarded with criticism online — mainly by purists of the original Ivan Reitman movies, but also from blatant misogynistic and racist commentators. The supposed “sin” of remaking a beloved classic was difficult enough for die-hard fans to accept — but to have a cast of women as the heroes was apparently too much for some blowhards to handle.

Firstly, the cast for 2016’s Ghostbusters was phenomenal. Not only did it bring together Saturday Night Live alums Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones, but also one of the best comedic actors working today, Melissa McCarthy. Each character was unique and had their own distinct personality, and each of the performances was hilarious and spot-on. The four actors also had great chemistry, and you can tell that they had a ton of fun working together. The writing was also solid, and gave the franchise a new and fresh perspective.

As for Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Frozen Empire, these felt like a rehash of the same things we already saw in the first two movies. Don’t get me wrong — it’s totally okay to like the original Ghostsbusters movies better than the 2016 reboot. I also get that people love to see beloved characters like Dan Akroyd’s Ray Stantz, Bill Murray’s Peter Venkman, and Ernie Hudson’s Winston Zeddmore on the screen again. Nostalgia is a powerful selling tool for movies now, but it also tends to stand in the way of progress and the creation of something new.

What The Cast Of Ghostbusters 2016 Said About The Online Backlash

The Actors Were Shocked And Saddened By The Negative Reactions From Some Fans

All of the angry backlash to the 2016 Ghostbusters came as a shock to the stars, especially considering that most of it was prior to the movie’s release. In a 2015 interview with L.A. Times, Kristen Wiig said, “The fact there was so much controversy because we were women was surprising to me. Some people said some really not nice things about the fact that there were women. It didn’t make me mad, it just really bummed me out. We’re really honoring those movies.”

Five years after the movie’s release, Melissa McCarthy reflected on the negative responses from the haters, saying to Yahoo! Entertainment, “There’s no end to stories we can tell, and there’s so many reboots and relaunches and different interpretations, and to say any of them are wrong, I just don’t get it.”

Once it became clear that a sequel to the 2016 Ghostbusters movie wasn’t going to happen, it was a real blow to the film’s cast and creators. Even worse, the announcement of a new Ghostbusters sequel in 2021 poured salt on the wound. Director Jason Reitman confirmed that the new film, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, would be a direct sequel to 1986’s Ghostbusters II, and had no affiliation with the 2016 Ghostbusters movie or the characters. In response, Leslie Jones spoke out against the new movie on X:

“So insulting. Like f*** us. We dint count. It’s like something trump would do. (Trump voice)”Gonna redo ghostbusteeeeers, better with men, will be huge. Those women ain’t ghostbusteeeeers” ugh so annoying. Such a d*** move. And I don’t give f*** I’m saying something!!”

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Why Ghostbusters 5 Doesn’t Need To Happen

The Ghostbusters Sequels Aren’t Bringing Anything New To The Franchise

In 2021, Ghostbusters: Afterlife was enough of a financial success at the box office to warrant yet another sequel, 2024’s Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Though the movie was not a big hit with critics, the fans of the franchise responded favorably, and the movie currently has an 82% score on Rotten Tomatoes‘ Popcornmeter. The plot brings back the heroes from Afterlife as they battle an enтιтy known as Garraka the Possessor, eventually defeating the malevolent being and reestablishing the Ghostbusters headquarters in New York City.

The ending of Frozen Empire insinuates that the original Ghostbusters and their new recruits will continue their mission of keeping the New York streets free of pesky spirits. While it could simply end there, the movie’s mid-credits scene hints that yet another sequel may be in the works — and that a returning character might make an appearance. The scene shows a group of mini Stay-Puft marshmallow men taking off with a semi-truck, insinuating that these sugar-coated gremlins may spell trouble for the heroes in another movie. The film’s director and co-writer, Gil Kenan, told Entertainment Weekly that possible sequel plans are in the works, saying:

“Jason [Reitman] and I definitely have a story up our sleeves that continues that narrative thread. There’s more trouble where that came from. Nothing we can talk about yet, but it feels like those guys have way more story to tell.”

I may be alone in this sentiment, but I have to disagree with Kenan’s statement, and am not looking forward to Ghostbusters 5. Other than continually bringing back familiar characters we’ve already seen, this continued franchise feels like it’s hit a ᴅᴇᴀᴅ end. I’d rather see what new adventures the female cast could bring to the table, and their story has endless possibilities. If Sony (or another studio) would have the guts to pick up where the 2016 Ghostbusters left off, I believe that they would see that these actors and creatives have the drive and pᴀssion to respectfully honor the franchise.