Evolution may not be an actual Ghostbusters movie, but it is a must-see for fans of the franchise. When Ghostbusters was released in 1984, it was one of the defining comedies of its era, proving that movies can still be hilarious while also blending with other genres. Ever since, horror comedy movies have been trying to recreate that vibe.

The Ghostbusters franchise has struggled to match the brilliance of the first movie ever since, with failed attempts at a third movie with the original cast and two eventual reboots, focusing on a new generation of Ghostbusters. However, it was the overlooked sci-fi comedy Evolution that really delivers the kind of Ghostbusters follow-up that fans want.

Evolution Was A Clear Attempt At Recapturing Ghostbusters’ Success

Though not connected to the Ghostbusters franchise at all, it is clear that Evolution was meant to be a modern successor to this hit ’80s comedy. Directed by Ghostbusters filmmaker Ivan Reitman, Evolution follows a group of humans who must save the world from a species of alien that has arrived on Earth, evolving rapidly and getting ᴅᴇᴀᴅlier.

While the alien invasion aspect differs from the supernatural plot of Ghostbusters, there are a lot of similarities in the rest of the movie. The main characters are men of science and teachers who find themselves getting wrapped up in this colossal situation. They also ʙuтт heads with government officials who feel they know what’s best.

Reitman obviously knows the right tone to strike with these movies, allowing the aliens to be menacing and scary while using the human characters to maintain the light comedic elements of the film, such as in Ghostbusters. Even original Ghostbusters actor Dan Aykroyd has a cameo. Unfortunately, Evolution did not have the same success as Ghostbusters.

The movie was dismissed by critics, with a 44% on Rotten Tomatoes, and on an $80 million budget, its gross of just under $100 million wasn’t enough to warrant a franchise. As such, the Ghostbusters franchise continued working on how to make its return.

Evolution Is Better Than Any Of The Ghostbuster Sequels

Despite a disappointing reception, looking back on Evolution, it is clearer than ever that it was the Ghostbusters sequel we needed all along. The Ghostbusters movies have become known as a franchise unable to match the first movie, even with many tries over the years. Ultimately, none of the Ghostbuster sequels and reboots are terrible, but none are great.

Ghostbusters 2 was long-derided as one of the worst sequels ever made, but that opinion has softened over time, with it now being viewed simply as disappointing compared to what came before. 2016’s Ghostbusters did well in ᴀssembling a group of hilarious comedic actors, but it leaned too much into comedy and forgot an interesting supernatural story.

While Ghostbusters: Afterlife was seen as a welcome return for the franchise, its reliance on fan service and a lack of strong comedy makes it feel like a celebration of the original movie rather than a Ghostbusters movie on its own. Meanwhile, its sequel, Ghostbusters: Frozen Kingdom, failed to prove the franchise could continue with these new characters.

However, Evolution nails the exact vibe that made Ghostbusters so popular. Though David Duchovny, Orlando Jones, and Sean William Scott are not comedy legends like Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd, they make for a great team, bringing plenty of laughs. Those laughs are elevated by effective monsters and some genuine scares along the way.

Evolution actually suggests how the Ghostbusters franchise could have successfully continued. Rather than trying to recapture the magic of the supernatural story, the sequels could have explored new horror comedy angles, like vampires, zombies, and dark magic, while still maintaining that funny tone.