Sony’s latest installment in the Ghostbusters franchise, Frozen Empire, has made quite the impact at the box office. With $4.7M in Thursday night previews alone, the film is on track to follow in the footsteps of its predecessor, Ghostbusters: Afterlife. However, it is essential to note that the success of Frozen Empire will heavily rely on walk-up business, as pre-sales for some exhibitors were relatively low.
One notable aspect of Frozen Empire’s release was the audience composition. The Thursday night showing saw a majority of male attendees, making up 55% of the audience. Interestingly, men were more critical of the film compared to women, with a 76% positive rating. On the other hand, women gave the movie a better reception, with an 85% positive rating. This disparity in feedback highlights the diverse preferences of the Ghostbusters fan base.
Critical Reviews
In terms of critical acclaim, Frozen Empire received mixed reviews compared to its predecessor, Ghostbusters: Afterlife. While Afterlife garnered a 64% positive rating from Rotten Tomatoes critics, Frozen Empire only managed a 45% rating. However, audiences seemed to enjoy the film more, giving it an 86% approval rating on the platform. This discrepancy suggests that Frozen Empire might have a polarizing effect on viewers, with critics and audiences having differing opinions on the film.
Directed by Gil Kenan, Frozen Empire reportedly had a production budget of $100M. Despite the lower critical reviews, the film is expected to contribute significantly to the overall Ghostbusters franchise revenue. It is estimated that the five-movie franchise will surpass $1 billion in earnings, with Frozen Empire playing a crucial role in achieving this milestone. However, there are concerns about the film’s performance over the weekend, as it could potentially underperform based on current projections.
In comparison to other movies released around the same time, Frozen Empire faced tough competition. Legendary/Warner Bros’ Dune: Part Two emerged as the top performer among regular releases, generating $2.2M in revenue. Meanwhile, Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 4 also held its ground with $1.7M in earnings. These figures indicate the challenging landscape of the current box office environment, with multiple blockbusters vying for audience attention.
Frozen Empire’s impact on the Ghostbusters franchise is a mixed bag of critical reviews, audience reception, and revenue projections. While the film has shown promise with strong Thursday night previews, its long-term success remains uncertain. As the weekend progresses, it will be interesting to see how Frozen Empire performs amidst stiff competition and changing audience preferences. Whether it propels the Ghostbusters franchise to new heights or falls short of expectations, Frozen Empire is undoubtedly a significant chapter in the iconic series.