Jason Reitman‘s Ghostbusters: Afterlife, a sequel to the original classic(s), is currently set for theatrical release on November 11, 2021, and the first screening took place at CinemaCon last night. The screening was a special surprise treat for those in attendance, and the good news for the rest of us is that social media reactions to the film were allowed.
As Collider’s Steven Weintraub notes, that’s a *really* good sign.
Weintraub tweeted last night, “I’d heard from multiple people Jason Reitman’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife was awesome and Sony Pictures was beyond happy with how it turned out. The fact that it is screening right now at CinemaCon months before release means it must be true.” Indeed the reviews that came out of last night’s event were incredibly positive.
Geek Tyrant’s Joey Paur raves, “I had the awesome opportunity to watch Ghostbusters: Afterlife at CinemaCon. I’m a huge Ghostbusters fan and I’m happy to say the movie is everything I hoped it would be! It was such a fun film that offered all kinds of fan service and I loved every minute of it!”
Film critic Scott Menzel tweets, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife is the Ghostbusters sequel that I’ve been waiting all my life to see. It is nostalgia done right. A perfect blend of classic Ghostbusters moments with a fresh & unique twist for a whole new generation to enjoy. I got goosebumps.”
Similarly, Gizmodo and io9’s Germain Lussier tweets, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife is the sequel fans have been waiting decades for, for better and worse. It’s got great new characters, lots of surprises, & plenty of laughs with just the right amount of nostalgia. I loved SO much of it.”
Germain adds, “However, it’s not without some issues. Mainly, it packs so much into it, there are big leaps in logic & plot that hold it back from really firing on every cylinder. When it works though? Especially the kid stuff? Damn, it works. Just at times, it doesn’t. Overall though, I cheered, cried, & can’t wait to watch again.”
The most common opinion expressed out of CinemaCon last night is how “heartfelt” Reitman’s sequel is, with video journalist Austin Putnam referring to Ghostbusters: Afterlife as being “Jason Reitman’s love letter to his father and daughter while making a great Ghostbusters movie of his own.” Jason’s dad Ivan Reitman, of course, directed the original classic.
Insider’s Jason Guerrasio also praises the film’s heart, tweeting: “Ghostbusters: Afterlife … Wow! Was not expecting how heartfelt it is. It has a very childlike Spielberg vibe to it. And Jason Reitman is extremely loyal to the original.”
Bleeding Cool’s Editor-in-Chief Kaitlyn Booth admits she’s not a huge Ghostbusters fan, but ended up loving Afterlife regardless. Kaitlyn tweets, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife was really great. As someone who wasn’t a massive of Ghostbusters I had so much fun even without understanding the references. A ton of heart with a great cast. New and old fans are going to love it.”
Kaitlyn also teases, “Stay through the credits!“
One final review comes from Full Circle’s lead film critic James Preston Poole, who goes so far as to call Ghostbusters: Afterlife the best movie in the entire franchise. Preston Poole tweets, “I saw Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Sorry, no review. But what I can say is that it’s the best of the series, full stop. Stupendously well written, not leaning too hard on nostalgia, and telling a story better than even the original could muster. A winner in every sense.”
In this year’s Ghostbusters film, written by Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan:
When a single mom and her two kids arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.
Afterlife‘s cast includes Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace and Paul Rudd.
Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver and Annie Potts are all coming back for this sequel to the original classic, reprising their iconic and beloved roles.
