‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ registers ‘unique, impressive’ opening – analyst

MANILA, Philippines — "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" scared its way to the top of the North American box office, taking in an estimated $45.2 million (about P2.5 trillion) in what one analyst called a "unique and impressive opening” at the end of last month.

"Only four other comedic series in the last 27 years have lasted five episodes," analyst David Gross told Agence France-Presse, with ticket sales for the latest entry in Sony's comedy series coming in "well above average for the genre."

Still, with a $100 million (around P5.6 trillion) budget, "Frozen Empire" has a way to go to reach profitability.

As of today, April 15, "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" is at the third spot of the North American box office with $5.8 million (about P329 million) this week. At the top of the box office this week is "Civil War," followed by "Godzilla x Kong.”

Co-written by Jason Reitman, whose father Ivan Reitman directed the original "Ghostbusters" in 1984, the film teams a new cadre of ghost catchers (Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon) with the veterans (Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson) as they take on a frightening deity trying to launch a new Ice Age.

"Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" feels a lot bigger, said Mckenna Grace, who plays Phoebe Spengler in the movie. 

“It’s in New York, it brings us back to where the Ghostbusters originated so that’s really special,” said Grace in a statement sent to Philstar.com. “New villain, new storylines, new problems that at least Phoebe has never encountered. It’s bigger scale, more blockbuster, action, there’s a lot. It’s very fun.”

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. Besides Grace, the film also stars Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt, Celeste O’Connor, Logan Kim and original Ghostbusters Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie