Does deep-dive Ghostbusters easter eggs and a generous dose of nostalgia.
Written and directed by Jason Reitman, the son of Ghostbusters director Ivan, Ghostbusters: Afterlife introduces a new generation of would-be Ghostbusters while preserving the legacy of the original movie. The film follows Egon Spengler's (Harold Ramis) immediate family moving out to his old farmhouse in Oklahoma. There, his granddaughter Phoebe (McKenna Grace) finds Spengler's stash of paranormal equipment as a spooky new adventure ensues in small-town America.
Fans may be wondering if they should stay through the credits of Ghostbusters: Afterlife for any bonus content since the first Ghostbusters film does not contain any additional after-credit scenes. Surprisingly, the 2016 reboot of Ghostbusters includes an after-credits scene referencing a well-known villain: Zuul. It turns out moviegoers eager to see the new film are in for a treat. In true modern-day movie fashion, Ghostbusters: Afterlife does have one mid-credits scene and one post-credits scene. The first begins right after the main credits roll, and the second comes at the very end of the credits, so viewers are strongly encouraged to remain in their seats.
Many post-credits scenes function as a sneak peek at a sequel. Without spoiling anything specific, Ghostbusters: Afterlife's post-credits scene does hint at a broader look into the Ghostbusters franchise, while the mid-credits scene serves as a fun little throwback to the original movie. While there haven't been any plans or announcements of a sequel, the post-credits scenes are an exciting development for long-time fans of the original Ghostbusters story who may have yearned for more paranormal hijinks.
While many early reviews have deemed the film polarizing, Ghostbusters: Afterlife will likely have something for every viewer to enjoy. At its heart, it seems to focus more on family ties, whether biological or chosen and pays homage to what made the original movie so memorable. Whatever the general consensus turns out to be among audiences, Ghostbusters fans should have a lot to look forward to and a lot to talk about after Ghostbusters: Afterlife releases.
