Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2 – A Cold Reckoning in “Frozen Empire”

With Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021), Jason Reitman revitalized the beloved supernatural franchise, blending nostalgia with new blood and passing the proton pack to a younger generation. In 2024’s Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the stakes are higher, the ghosts are meaner, and the mythology behind busting specters gets colder—literally.

Serving as the direct sequel to Afterlife, this installment returns us to New York City, the original ghostbusting battleground, where the past and present collide in an icy storm of ancient evil. Frozen Empire manages to continue the emotional arc of its new protagonists while paying loving homage to the roots of one of cinema’s most iconic supernatural teams.

After the rural revelations of Afterlife, Frozen Empire finds the Spengler family now relocated to the Big Apple. Phoebe (Mckenna Grace), Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), their mother Callie (Carrie Coon), and Mr. Grooberson (Paul Rudd) have taken up residence in the legendary New York firehouse, determined to continue the ghostbusting legacy.

But when a mysterious ancient artifact is uncovered during a paranormal clean-up, it triggers an apocalyptic event: the Death Chill, a wave of spectral cold that threatens to freeze all of New York—and eventually the world. This curse originates from a long-forgotten entity known as Garraka, an elemental spirit of vengeance whose icy rage cannot be contained by conventional traps.

As supernatural activity spikes and temperatures plummet, the Ghostbusters must team up—old and new—to prevent a second Ice Age from engulfing the city.

What Frozen Empire does exceptionally well is bridge generations. While Afterlife honored the late Harold Ramis with emotional delicacy, Frozen Empire ensures the surviving original Ghostbusters—Ray (Dan Aykroyd), Winston (Ernie Hudson), and even a brief appearance from Peter Venkman (Bill Murray)—remain essential without stealing the spotlight from the new team.

Phoebe Spengler continues to shine as the series' heart. Mckenna Grace brings nuance, intelligence, and vulnerability to the character, struggling with the pressures of upholding a legacy that predates her. Her deepening connection with the ghostly world raises big questions: is she just busting ghosts, or is she becoming one of them?

Trevor, meanwhile, matures from comic relief into a capable mechanic and field agent, and Grooberson, now a mentor figure, steps into the Egon/Ray role with Paul Rudd’s signature charm and chaos.

New characters, including a skeptical journalist and a psychic teen with ties to Garraka, add fresh tension and diversity, while Winston Zeddemore’s expanded role as the financial and moral pillar of the Ghostbusters adds gravitas and a sense of continuity that fans will appreciate.

The antagonist this time isn’t just a ghost—it’s a force of nature. Garraka is an ancient death god, once sealed away by early civilizations who feared the “second winter.” As his icy grip spreads, the city is paralyzed not just by fear, but by literal frost—transforming Manhattan into a frozen haunted wasteland.

Visually, the frozen aesthetic is a stroke of genius. It gives Frozen Empire a distinct style that separates it from the green slime and firehouse charm of its predecessors. Snow-covered taxis, haunted ice sculptures, and frostbitten phantoms haunt the streets. It’s The Day After Tomorrow meets The Frighteners, with just enough comedy to balance the dread.

At its core, Frozen Empire is about inheritance—not just of gadgets and jumpsuits, but of responsibility, fear, and sacrifice. The young Ghostbusters aren’t just learning how to trap a ghost; they’re discovering how to carry trauma and legacy in a world that rarely says thank you.

Phoebe’s arc in particular explores what it means to carry the ghost of a family name, both literally and emotionally. She isn't just Egon’s granddaughter—she's the spiritual successor to a movement.

The film also smartly weaves in modern concerns: climate catastrophe (interpreted through supernatural metaphors), generational divides, and the idea that saving the world sometimes means breaking the rules of the old one.

As with Afterlife, Frozen Empire is littered with callbacks—but they never feel excessive. The return of the classic Ecto-1 (now upgraded), the firehouse containment unit, and even a brief run-in with Slimer will bring grins to longtime fans. But it’s not all retro.

The Ghostbusters tech has evolved: AI-enhanced traps, portable proton streamers, and ghost-detecting drones modernize the operation, showing how science and spirit can evolve side by side. The film never forgets that science fiction and supernatural comedy can—and should—coexist.

The third act of Frozen Empire delivers a spectacular confrontation in Central Park, where Garraka’s full power is unleashed. In one emotional twist, Phoebe almost sacrifices herself to trap Garraka forever, echoing Egon’s sacrifice in Afterlife. But through teamwork, tech wizardry, and just enough ghostly intervention, Garraka is banished, and the city begins to thaw.

The final scene sees Winston establishing a Ghostbusters Academy, inviting a new generation to train—not just to catch ghosts, but to understand them. It’s a hint that the franchise may evolve into something broader: a supernatural universe where ghostbusting is a philosophy, not just a profession.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is more than a sequel—it’s a bold continuation that respects the past while embracing a future full of phantoms, feelings, and frosty fun. With thrilling visuals, heartfelt performances, and a thematic richness that goes beyond nostalgia, it proves that the franchise still has ectoplasmic life in it.