Ghostbusters Frozen Empire is a true family affair giving fans bucket loads of nostalgia and the fun banter of the 80’s. But, will this follow-up to Ghostbusters Afterlife appeal to the younger generation? Is Ghostbusters Frozen Empire kid-friendly? What ages is Ghostbusters Frozen Empire best suited for? Is Ghostbusters Frozen Empire too scary for kids? I’m breaking down all of the thematic elements, including its PG-13 rating, in my Ghostbusters Frozen Empire Parents Guide and Movie Review. Here’s what parents need to know to help YOU decide if it’s appropriate for kids. As always, no spoilers!
Ghostbusters Frozen Empire Parents Guide + Movie Review
Everyone’s favorite ghost-busting franchise is back with more action, more fun, and more thrills. Ghostbusters Frozen Empire takes us back to where it all began, New York City. Following the events of Ghostbusters Afterlife, the Spengler family, Callie (Carrie Coon), Trevor (Finn Wolfhard), Phoebe (McKenna Grace), and Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd), have uprooted their lives and now live in the Big Apple at Hook and Ladder, the original Ghostbusters firehouse. Fans will appreciate the familiarity of being back to where it started.
Although the Spenglers are the main feature, they joined forces with the remaining original Ghostbusters, Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), and Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson). Janine Melnitz (Annie Potts) is even in the mix. Of course featuring the Spengler family is a great nod to the OG Ivan Spengler (Harold Ramis). It honors his legacy in the most perfect way.
McKenna Grace’s, Phoebe Spengler, is the true standout of the film. Phoebe is trying to find where she fits in when she’s benched from ghost-busting because she’s a minor. Grace embodies Phoebe’s character beyond perfection. It’s always empowering to see a female badass onscreen.
I feel like I need to mention Paul Rudd simply because he’s Paul Rudd. His character is incredibly corny and awkward and just completely adorable. I’m a fan of Gary Grooberson.
Is Ghostbusters Frozen Empire Kid-Friendly? Here’s Your Parents Guide:
Ghostbusters Frozen Empire has an MPA rating of PG-13 for supernatural action/violence, language, and suggestive references. It has a runtime of 1 hour 55 minutes. Is Ghostbusters Frozen Empire too scary for kids? Here’s what parents need to know before watching the latest Ghostbusters movie with their family.
Language
It’s no secret that PG-13 movies have definitely increased the amount of profanity. Frozen Empire follows suit with an abundance of words that are not suitable for children. Moviegoers can expect to hear the following: asshole, Hell, testicle, nipples, shit, sucks, morons, stupid, son of a…, and someone says “F-word” (that’s literally how the character says it).
Violence & Suspense
With a title like Ghostbusters, you can expect the suspense level to be pretty high. There are multiple jump scares in Ghostbusters Frozen Empire. They start right at the beginning of the film and don’t stop. There are obviously many ghosts seen throughout the movie, but the main villain takes things to a whole other level. Garraka is the big baddie this time around, and he’s seriously what nightmares are made of. If you’ve watched Stranger Things, Garraka’s presence reminded me very much of Vecna. He’s meant to be bone chilling, and he wholeheartedly succeeds.
The violence seen in Ghostbusters Frozen Empire includes people being frozen to death and one character gets possessed. The proton pack is the Ghostbusters weapon of choice, so expect to see those blasting off.
Mature Content
There are an abundance of sex innuendos in Frozen Empire….but, to be fair, if you’ve ever seen a Ghostbusters movie, this is pretty much to be expected. There is mention of a sex dungeon, and someone refers to a character as “tall, dark, and horny.”
A character drinks alcohol and calls it “liquid courage,” offering it to others.
Shoplifting is mentioned as a normal teenage thing to do.
Ghostbusters Frozen Empire Age Recommendation
Taking the above into consideration, I would recommend Ghostbusters Frozen Empire for ages 10 and up. However, keep in mind that this movie is 1 hour 55 minutes, and I did find the second part to be a bit slow. The opening started with a bang, and the third act really brought it home, but the middle was slow. Also, keep in mind your child’s maturity level. There are a lot of questionable themes for kids in Frozen Empire. As always, you know your child best.
Is there an End Credit Scene in Ghostbusters Frozen Empire?
There is one mid-credit scene in Ghostbusters Frozen Empire. While it’s nothing too earth shattering, fans will definitely want to stick around for it. However, feel free to leave after that scene, there is no post credit scene afterwards.
Overall Thoughts
Ghostbusters Frozen Empire is a true family affair, with a story that delivers humor and heart. McKenna Grace is the standout as Phoebe Spengler. As someone who grew up with the Ghostbusters, I immensely enjoyed the loads of Easter eggs…and those tiny Stay Puft Marshmallow Men are hilarious. Seriously. They’re like toddlers gone wild. Fans of the OG will love the throwbacks that ooze of nostalgia. This 80’s kid sure was smiling! Harold Ramis would be proud. See it in IMAX, the visuals are out mind-blowing!
Ghostbusters Frozen Empire Synopsis
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.
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