Ghostbusters is a 1984 movie that was an immediate hit upon release. Since then, it has become an entertainment franchise spanning sequels, gaming, television, and other mediums. So what is next for the franchise?
Whenever you hear the phrase “Who ya gonna call?” most of Earth’s population knows the built-in response. Ghostbusters is a cultural phenomenon, with the recent theatrical reboots bringing it to a whole new audience. But with a history of flops and unfinished business, what will be next for the franchise?
Table of Contents
The Immersive Entertainment Concept
Sony has never been one to shy away from using Ghostbusters in innovative and forward-thinking ways. After the success of Pokemon Go, one of the first copycat geolocation mobile games was a ghost-hunting title named Ghostbusters World. Although it closed down in August last year, it was a testament to how willing Sony is to push the franchise into new frontiers.
It has also been one of the many movie licences to get its own slot game. Venturing into iGaming is a big step, and one that has paid off for Sony not just with this, but its other licenses. Ghostbusters Plus is made by IGT Gaming and is packed with features. It also looks great visually, with many features from the original movies in its design and animations. Some of the most popular casinos might offer no deposit bonuses, meaning that fans who want to try Sony’s slot titles can do so without even using their bankroll. They may also be available on other Sony-themed slot games.
The pinnacle of this has been Ghostbuster’s inclusion in Sony’s recent Immersive Entertainment Concept. Used primarily to showcase footage from The Last of Us, it debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show. However, it also included samples from Ghostbusters and another video game, Horizon Zero Dawn. The Immersive Entertainment Concept is Sony’s attempt to expand their in-house narrative using new technologies. This includes location-based tech, haptics, scent-based technology, and atmospheric manipulation to create a more believable and engaging experience. For the Ghostbusters section, a flight was taken over New York showing the firehouse and well-known characters like Slimer and the Marshmallow Man.
New Animated Movie in Production
Another rumoured development is a collaboration between Sony Animation and Netflix. Together, they are alleged to be working on an animated movie for the channel. While it is still in the development phase, Kris Pearn is supposedly on board to direct. He is the mastermind behind a number of hit animations such as Open Season and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2.
This will follow the release of the live-action Frozen Empire, which garnered less than favourable reviews from critics. It is rumoured that Sony is attempting to do a similar thing that Marvel did with the Spiderverse movies: an animated feature that is a cool update and reimagining. Netting $1.2 billion across the globe, it also won a host of awards. However, Ghostbusters will not be the only franchise to attempt a similar reboot. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise recently did the same with its Mutant Mayhem title. Although not as successful, it has brought the characters up to date and in front of a new audience.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Sequel
It is also quite likely that there will be another live-action movie in the works at some point. This year’s Frozen Empire was the second in the recent reboot. It was universally panned by critics, getting a 42% critic score. This placed it as the lowest-ranked movie in the history of the franchise. Yet the figures told a different story, with a $113.3 gross at the domestic box office alone. It joined a few other action follow-ups, also hammered by the judges, which did well in revenue. Venom: The Last Dance was the most obvious of these. It stayed at the top of the box office for three weeks, then managed to make $139.5 domestically. Other well-known franchises that did well but drew the ire of critics were Godzilla x Kong, which made $196.3 million.
The main factor shaping the box office releases of 2024 was the lengthy Hollywood strikes the year before, so any revenue was seen as a bonus. The first part of the year saw hardly any major movie releases, which may have contributed to the high revenues taken by Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. It is not known if the strikes had a direct impact on the creation of the movie. However, if Sony wants to keep the franchise going, they will have to up the plot and production quality of the next movies. What they must avoid is another disaster like the 2016 version of the movie. Director Paul Feig recently spoke about the discourse surrounding the film, believing the backlash to its all-female reimagining was politically motivated.
There is plenty in the pipeline for Ghostbusters fans. However, what is needed is more quality control. The franchise has had plenty of ups and downs, and if this can be smoothed out, Ghostbusters will find its stride with a whole new audience.
Comments are closed.