Key Takeaways:
- Ghostbusters is officially a $1 billion franchise.
- The success of the Ghostbusters movies is mainly because they were made with reasonable budgets.
It’s official: “Ghostbusters” has now become a billion-dollar franchise. Nearly four decades after the iconic horror/comedy hit theaters in 1984, the series has reached a major milestone thanks to its latest installment, “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.
The film’s opening weekend success has propelled the franchise into the exclusive club of movies that have grossed over ten figures in ticket sales throughout cinematic history.
Director Gil Kenan‘s “Frozen Empire” debuted at the top of the box office charts domestically, raking in $45 million in its opening weekend. (via Collider)
The Sony Pictures release also earned $16 million internationally, bringing its total start to $61 million at the box office.
This achievement has pushed the franchise past the $1 billion mark in total earnings, spanning four decades and five films. While the overall return on investment may not be exceptional when considering combined budgets under $400 million, Sony has undoubtedly profited from merchandise and other revenue streams over the years.
Among the franchise’s films, none have surpassed the original “Ghostbusters,” which has amassed $295 million worldwide to date. While 1989’s “Ghostbusters II,” 2016’s “Ghostbusters” reboot, and 2021’s “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” have all exceeded $200 million in global earnings, director Ivan Reitman‘s classic remains the highest-grossing installment.
Paul Feig’s 2016 entry stands out as the lone disappointment, but the studio has since learned from that experience.
Ghostbusters: Laughing All the Way to the Bank
Mainly, the success of the Ghostbusters movies is because they were made with reasonable budgets. Unlike the 2016 reboot, which cost a whopping $144 million to produce and struggled to succeed, “Frozen Empire” had a more moderate $100 million budget, which still allows for profitability.
This achievement is definitely worth celebrating for Sony. The fact that Ghostbusters has remained relevant enough to have a fifth movie push the series past this major milestone in 2024 is impressive. Whether there will be more movies after this remains uncertain, as “Frozen Empire” has just started its theatrical run.
Outside of the movies, Ghostbusters has left a lasting impact on pop culture. From animated series like “The Real Ghostbusters” and “Extreme Ghostbusters” to video games like “Ghostbusters: The Video Game,” the franchise has thrived across different media. The extensive range of toys and merchandise has also contributed to Sony’s significant profits.
Let’s salute the iconic characters played by Billy Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson, who have entertained audiences worldwide.
“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” is now playing in theaters.
