How to watch Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire in the UK

The next generation of Ghostbusters are back on the big screen in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire as the series moves back to its spiritual home of New York City.

2021’s Afterlife was a hugely successful ghostbusting reboot and introduced the iconic 80s franchise to a new generation. The film featured a talented new cast, including Handmaid’s Tale star Mckenna Grace and Finn Wolfhard of Stranger Things fame. Much to the delight of fans, it also reunited the original Ghostbusters stars, including Bill Murray.

Grossing $200m (£160m) at the global box office it told the story of a single mother and her two kids who moved to a seemingly mundane town in Oklahoma, where strange things started to occur.

Read more: How Groundhog Day broke Bill Murray's relationship with Harold Ramis

Not long after they arrive begin to discover their family connection to the original Ghostbusters and must continue their ghost-trapping legacy.

Since the first Ghostbusters film in 1984 — starring Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd — the franchise has exploded into a worldwide phenomenon, grossing millions of dollars and spawning a huge range of toys, comic books, video games and merchandise.

Frozen Empire will see the new proton pack gang teaming up with the classic team to once again battle the supernatural and protect the public from spooks, spectres and marshmallow ghouls.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Ghostbusters sequel.

When will Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire be released?

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire will hit UK cinemas on 22 March, having moved up a week from its original release date of 29 March. A streaming release date has yet to be announced.

The film was originally slated for release at Christmas 2023, but was delayed amid Hollywood strikes.

What are the reviews like?

Listen... do you smell something? It’s Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire reviews — they’ve finally landed online and given us our first reactions to director Gil Kenan’s follow-up to sentimental franchise restarter Ghostbusters: Afterlife. The verdict so far? About as lukewarm as a half-toasted marshmallow.

The Independent said that “Frozen Empire is a notable improvement on Afterlife,” calling it “funny, silly and a little scary.” Their review concluded by saying “we’re finally on the way to a Ghostbusters film that actually feels like a Ghostbusters film.”

The Guardian wasn’t so kind, with their review suggesting that it may be time to keep the franchise in the ghost trap for good. “There are one or two laughs here and an attempt at a queer romance,” it said, “but no real signs of life.” Variety had more fun, labelling it “a livelier movie than Afterlife” and praising Kumail Nanjiani’s comedic performance.

Read more reviews below.

The Independent: Funny, silly, and a little scary, the franchise finally returns to fun (3-min read)

The Guardian: Time to consign franchise to the spirit realm (3-min read)

Variety: A Bigger, Rowdier and (Slightly) Funnier Fan-Service Grab Bag Than ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ (6-min read)

Total Film: Doesn't touch the original movies but likeable enough (2-min read)

Who is starring in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire?

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire will star Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, and William Atherton, who all appeared in the earlier Ghostbusters films.

Other cast members include Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt, Celeste O’Connor, Logan Kim and British stand-up comedian James Acaster.

In a discussion with USA Today, Aykroyd shared that he wants his character Ray and Murray’s Peter to be killed in the next film and have their ghosts guide the new Ghostbusters in spirit form.

“I’d like to die. I think Bill and I should be killed in the next one,” Aykroyd said. “Or, maybe we wait. Why not use the living Ghostbusters — Ernie, Billy and myself — for four, five, and six? Go until we're gone. Then there will be time for the tributes.

“Death is going to take us soon enough.”

Speaking to comedians Dana Carvey and David Spade on their Fly On The Wall podcast, Aykroyd revealed that he plays a version of Stantz who has become “resentful.”

“I do the enthusiastic, wants to believe everything, kind of a resentful that things have passed him by Ghostbuster in this one because he’s no longer licensed,” he explained.

Who directed Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire?

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire was directed by Gil Kenan, who co-wrote the script with Ghostbusters: Afterlife director Jason Reitman. Reitman is the son of the late Ivan Reitman, who directed the original two Ghostbusters films.

“A few years ago, my father handed me the keys to Ecto-1,” said Reitman, “and together we made Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Words will never express how grateful I am to have made a film with my father by my side.

Read more: The cartoon that kept the Ghostbusters flame alight

“It’s now time to hand those keys to my creative partner and fellow Ghostbuster Gil Kenan, a brilliant director who will keep the Spengler spirit alive. I can only hope to provide him the same producorial care and support that my father showed me.”

“It’s an absolute honour to pick up the proton pack and step behind the camera for the next chapter of the Spengler family saga,” said Kenan. “I just wish I could go back to 1984 and tell the kid in the sixth row of the Mann Valley West that one day he was going to get to direct a Ghostbusters film.”

What is the plot of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire?

The official synopsis explains: “In Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the Spengler family returns to where it all started – the iconic New York City firehouse – to team up with the original Ghostbusters, who’ve developed a top-secret research lab to take busting ghosts to the next level.

“But when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second Ice Age.”

With a new frozen foe threatening to unleash an arm of ghosts, the Ghostbusters look to have their work cut out for them in their latest outing.

Is there a trailer for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire?

As Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire creeps towards cinemas, the film’s final trailer made its way online, warning viewers that all hell was about to break loose across New York — and the world.

Before this hit, we were treated to a full-length trailer for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire in January, with the teaser giving us a better look at the film’s ice-cold villain and the deadly threat they pose.

It also brought us back alongside Walter Peck and Slimer.

As if this wasn’t good enough, an international trailer also made its way online featuring a trap-load of new footage. Watch it below:

Meanwhile, the debut trailer for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire was shared in November 2023, providing our first real look at the movie’s chilly plotline.

Watch it below.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire will be released in cinemas on 22 March.