Is Ghostbusters II a Christmas Movie?

December 9, 2024
3:17 pm

Wait what is Ghostbusters 2 about again?

Before I start discussing the merits of Ghostbusters Christmas credentials. I’m gonna start by saying that growing up, I loved the Real Ghostbusters cartoons. So when the movies came out I had some expectations of how the characters would be. They didn’t disappoint: Egon (Harold Ramis) is his nerdy best, Peter (Bill Murray) is flippantly cool, Ray (Dan Aykroyd) is excitedly immature and Winston (Ernie Hudson) brings some military discipline to the proceedings. It was important to my inner kid that they cast this well, previous attempts at remaking kids favorites were generally disappointing (see Dolph Lundgren cast as He-man in the Masters of the Universe movie.)

If you haven’t seen it, Ghostbusters II is set five years after the first film. The city of New York sued the Ghostbusters crew because of the damage and city destruction they caused after defeating the shapeshifting god Gozer …so they’re not doing so great. Team Ghostbusters has been disbanded and they all got jobs! …that is, until Vigo comes to town

I think I was always gonna love this movie because I loved first Ghostbusters movie and it had already set the bar so high. Remember that defeating ghosts with an Ectoblaster in 1984 was a the height of special effects!

Why Is Ghostbusters II considered Christmassy?

Maybe this is a debate because the setting is in New York City. Have you noticed that 80s movies just love setting their productions in NYC during the holiday season? (For example, xmas classics Scrooged, When Harry Met Sally and Elf). Or maybe it’s because AMC has added this movie to its Christmas list.

The ghost squad also shows up to a gig wearing Santa hats during the montage of Run DMC’s “Ghostbusters” rap. Check out the video 👇

So is Ghostbusters a Christmas movie?

But just because they wore a Santa hat…does that mean it’s a Christmas movie?

I’m settling this debate once and for all

Ghostbusters II is a New Year’s Eve movie.

There was not one moment in the movie where Christmas was truly relevant. We barely see Christmas decorations, it just looks cold. Also the movie’s climax was on New Year’s Eve, when the slime rose to the streets, causing everyone to panic, and then (spoiler alert?) the supernatural would feed on people’s emotions. I gotta assume the events happened in the week between Christmas and New Year’s. OH and at the movie’s end, everyone sang “Auld Lang Syne”! So that pretty much seals it!

I mean, the only right statement about this movie is that it is a “Holiday Season” movie.

So maybe Ghostbusters II isn’t your classic Christmas movie—but it’s my kind of holiday magic. Also, I sometimes like an excuse to watch “seasonal” movies that aren’t your typical festive fare (ahem, Die Hard trilogy). You should add this movie to your list and check out the first movie while you’re at it. Because there are now 2 new sequels starring Paul Rudd (yes from Clueless).

Also, I found a cool tip on Reddit, if you wanna countdown the New Year with Ghostbusters II. If you start the movie around 10:24 PM, there will be a scene where the crowd is outside singing (an hour and 36 minutes in) to weaken Vigo – and it’s close to midnight. Have fun. 😉

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Sam-ta

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