Ghostbusters II (1989)
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When a new paranormal threat emerges, the Ghostbusters must reunite to combat it and save the world.
The story
Set five years after the events of the first film, the Ghostbusters have been sued and put out of business after the destruction caused during their battle with the deity Gozer the Gozerian. When a new paranormal threat emerges, the Ghostbusters reunite to combat it and save the world. The story follows the team as they navigate their new lives—ranging from running an occult bookstore to hosting a talk show—until a mysterious slime and a resurrected magician force them back into action to protect a child and the city of New York.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Five years after saving New York City from the deity Gozer, the Ghostbusters are out of business and forced into mundane jobs. When Dana Barrett's son, Oscar, is endangered by a sentient painting of the magician Vigo the Carpathian, the team must confront a massive amount of supernatural slime that has accumulated from the city's negative emotions. After being briefly imprisoned by the mayor's assistant, the team is released and discovers the slime is linked to Vigo. On New Year's Eve, as the slime causes chaos across the city, the Ghostbusters use a 'positive' charge to pilot the Statue of Liberty through the streets. They eventually confront Vigo at the museum, where a collective moment of positivity from the public weakens the villain, sending him back into his painting and allowing the Ghostbusters to save the child and the city.
- First release year
- 1989
- Runtime (minutes)
- 108
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Ivan Reitman
- Writers
- Dan Aykroyd · writer; Harold Ramis · writer
- Cast and characters
- Bill Murray · Peter Venkman; Dan Aykroyd · Raymond Stantz; Sigourney Weaver · Dana Barrett; Harold Ramis · Egon Spengler; Rick Moranis · Louis Tully; Ernie Hudson · Winston Zeddemore; Annie Potts · Janine Melnitz; Peter MacNicol · Janosz Poha
- Genres
- supernatural comedy
- Themes
- consequences of negative emotions; redemption
- Tone and mood
- comedy; supernatural
- Premise and plot tags
- sequel; supernatural; comedy
- Franchise connections
- Ghostbusters
- Reception
- The film received generally negative reviews from critics who felt it was too similar to the original and less edgy, though the performances of Rick Moranis and Peter MacNicol were praised. It was considered a commercial disappointment compared to the first film, though its reputation has improved over time.
- Production trivia
- The film's soundtrack single, 'On Our Own' by Bobby Brown, was a success.; The character of Janosz Poha was originally called Jason.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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