Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the latest installment in the iconic Ghostbusters franchise, is now set for an early release.
Sony Pictures has moved the premiere date up by a week, now launching the film on 22 March 2024, instead of the originally planned 29 March. This shift is strategic, aiming to capture the spring break audience and capitalise on a period with less cinematic competition, as reported on Deadline.
This fifth Ghostbusters film, a direct sequel to 2021’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife, continues the adventures of the Spengler family. They join forces with the original Ghostbusters to tackle a new threat – the Death Chill, which risks plunging New York City into a second Ice Age. The ensemble cast reunites Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Paul Rudd, and Carrie Coon, alongside original Ghostbusters Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and others.
Gil Kenan steps into the director’s chair, co-writing the script with Jason Reitman, who directed and co-wrote Afterlife. The story brings the Ghostbusters old and new back to the famous New York City firehouse, where an ancient artifact’s discovery unleashes a formidable, chilling evil force.
With its new release date, Frozen Empire now opens against films like Mark Wahlberg’s Arthur the King and Kobi Libii’s The American Society of Magical Negroes. This scheduling avoids a direct clash with the highly anticipated Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
The film, notable for its screening in IMAX and other premium formats, benefits from an earlier release date – a contrast to its predecessor Ghostbusters: Afterlife, which faced multiple delays due to the pandemic. Despite these challenges, Afterlife managed a respectable box office performance, grossing over US$204 million worldwide.
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is set to spook theaters on its new release date, 22 March 2024.