---
title: "Ghostbusters: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/ghostbusters-2016/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/ghostbusters-2016"
critics_score: 67
critics_reviews: 25
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Ghostbusters (2016): what the critics said

Critics' score 67 from 25 reviews: 16 positive, 6 mixed, 3 negative.

Most critics like it, and several admit to being surprised, given the online hostility that preceded it. The praise clusters almost entirely on the four leads: their rapport, their banter, and above all Kate McKinnon, whose Holtzmann is named by review after review as the thing worth watching. The film is generally found funny, good-natured and lighter on angst than expected, with a sisterly spirit that many take to be its point.

The reservations are consistent even among admirers: too much homage to the 1984 film, cameos that undercut the new cast, and a noisy, effects-heavy climax that few think lands. The spread is wide for a comedy. Variety judges the reboot too busy channelling the original to find its own identity; Radio Times finds the screenplay laughter-free; The Hollywood Reporter calls it an unfunny mess, though even there McKinnon is exempted. The dissenters are outnumbered, and they complain about much the same things as the fans, only louder.

## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 10 July 2016. 

The critic praises the film's defiant energy and frequent hilarity as a terrifically inventive comedy that overcomes fanboy hostility. The strong ensemble chemistry and fun spirit are singled out for praise.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/jul/10/ghostbusters-review-paul-feigs-female-reboot-melissa-mccarthy-kristen-wiig)

## The Independent

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 11 July 2016. 

The critic calls the all-female Ghostbusters triumphant, hilarious, smart, dorky and badass, a film that directs itself to women the way the original directed itself to men. They praise the way it updates the tone and humour through a feminine perspective while retaining the goofy spirit, highlighting Kate McKinnon's standout performance.

[Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/ghostbusters-review-this-is-exactly-the-scrappy-dorky-movie-women-need-a7130641.html)

## Little White Lies — David Jenkins

Rating 3/4/3. 10 July 2016. 

The critic finds the film much better than expected thanks to its stellar and charming central cast. It is genuinely funny and inventive with strong banter, though it struggles with effects and excessive homage to the original.

[Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/ghostbusters)

## Screen Daily

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 11 July 2016. 

After negative buzz, the remake emerges as a consistently funny pleasure radiating good cheer. It creates new dynamics and more pathos for the quartet rather than lazily recycling the original, with warm chemistry and a slyly feminist bent.

[Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/ghostbusters-review/5106557.article)

## The Telegraph — Robbie Collin

Rating 4/5. 10 July 2016. 

The review highlights how the film captures the spirit of the original with witty comic accuracy and a big sense of fun. The timely update and ensemble performances are noted positively.

[Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2016/07/10/ghostbusters-review-paul-feigs-fun-female-led-reboot-captures-sp/)

## Time Out — Joshua Rothkopf

Rating 4/5. 10 July 2016. 

The all-female reboot is pumped-up, subversive and often very funny, adding a sharp sense of sorority. Kate McKinnon steals the show with her physical comedy, though it starts wobbly with too much homage to the original.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/ghostbusters-1)

## The AV Club — Jesse Hassenger

Rating B. 11 July 2016. 

The critic finds the film enjoyable and energetic thanks to the four leads' comic chemistry and rapport, though it sometimes feels like it is holding back.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/four-funny-stars-power-the-faithful-but-not-slavish-gho-1798188309)

## Empire — Jonathan Pile

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 10 July 2016. 

The critic says the film is fun, funny and full of energy after an effectively spooky opening, with strong turns from McCarthy, Wiig and Jones and knowing nods to the online backlash. They note some elements like McKinnon's antics and the finale do not fully land but overall it works and the haters were wrong.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/ghostbusters-2016-review/)

## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 10 July 2016. 

The new Ghostbusters is a cheerfully silly, enjoyable disposable fun summer movie. It stands out for its female-driven cast and Kate McKinnon's eccentric performance as the mad-scientist Holtzmann.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/15/movies/ghostbusters-review-melissa-mccarthy-kristen-wiig.html)

## Film Comment — Michael Sragow

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 1 July 2016. 

The critic praises the strong ensemble of female leads and their comedic chemistry as the film's saving grace and main highlight, while criticizing the sprawling production and weak, incoherent action sequences in the climax.

[Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/deep-focus-ghostbusters/)

## Slant Magazine — Jake Cole

Rating 2.5/4. 12 July 2016. 

The critic notes that when good the film is funny, driven, and sometimes scary, praising its focus on friendship and touching moments, but criticizes pacing issues and a final act that feels like a rip-off of the original.

[Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/ghostbusters-2016/)

## Variety — Peter Debruge

Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 10 July 2016. 

Paul Feig's female-driven relaunch spends too much energy channeling the 1984 original to establish its own identity. It is both funnier and scarier than the first film but over-familiar with unnecessary cameos undercutting the new cast's chemistry.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/ghostbusters-review-melissa-mccarthy-1201810318/)

## Evening Standard — David Sexton

Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 15 July 2016. 

The critic finds the reboot not bad and fun for a 12-year-old but pretty crass and less funny than Paul Feig's other comedies like Bridesmaids. They note it is essentially the original with added scale and volume, praising some performances and lines but concluding it is only a satisfactory starting point.

[Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/ghostbusters-film-review-who-you-gonna-call-not-them-a3296636.html)

## Radio Times — Alan Jones

Rating ★★. 11 July 2016. 

The reboot is uninspired, bland and lame-brained with a laughter-free screenplay that fails to replicate the original's charm or eccentricity despite the gender swap and strong cast. The noisy climax is desperate CGI with little humour or sense.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/ghostbusters-review-uninspired-bland-and-lame-brained/)

## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 12 July 2016. 

The female-powered update is a cheerful summer lark that demonstrates mediocrity is not exclusively male, but it recycles secondhand ideas and peters out before the climax. It is diverting for the pleasure of seeing the four leads in their jumpsuits.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-ghostbusters-review-20160707-snap-story.html)

## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 10 July 2016. 

The critic deems the film an unfunny mess with a witless script that is short on both humor and tension, though Kate McKinnon stands out with consistent freshness.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/ghostbusters-film-review-909313/)

## Eye for Film — Andrea Mullaney

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 14 July 2016. 

The critic finds the film a refreshing, entertaining blockbuster that succeeds admirably by emphasizing fun over angst. She singles out the female leads' genuine delight in ghostbusting and their strong rapport and comic timing.

[Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/ghostbusters-2016-film-review-by-andrea-mullaney)

## Polygon — Julia Alexander

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 10 July 2016. 

The critic finds the film hilarious and fun praising the ensemble chemistry of the lead actresses and Feig's direction of comedic moments while noting some pacing issues in action scenes.

[Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/2016/7/10/12139368/ghostbusters-review)

## Collider — Matt Goldberg

Rating B. 12 July 2016. 

The critic praises the film's fun, original characters especially McKinnon's performance and its visual appeal while acknowledging some reliance on the original but overall recommending it as enjoyable.

[Read the review](https://collider.com/ghostbusters-review/)

## Consequence

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 13 July 2016. 

The review calls it sturdy summer entertainment that delivers laughs and action skillfully highlighting the cast's performances especially Kate McKinnon's and the effective blend of comedy and action.

[Read the review](https://consequence.net/2016/07/film-review-ghostbusters/)

## /Film — Jacob Hall

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 18 July 2016. 

The critic calls it a good, maybe even very good Ghostbusters movie that feels at home in the legacy while delivering color, humor, and spooky fun. He singles out the new team's friendlier, more heartfelt dynamic and the way it celebrates outsiders and science.

[Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/545415/ghostbusters-spoiler-review/)

## NME — Nick Levine

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 11 July 2016. 

The critic calls it a damn fine effort that succeeds as a gag-packed ensemble comedy with standout performances from the cast, despite imperfections in the action sequences and some cameos.

[Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-movie-16519-304889)

## The Wrap — Robert Abele

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 10 July 2016. 

The critic praises the good-natured reboot for its exuberant cast chemistry, wacky interplay among the women, and fresh comedic focus, while noting the homage to the original and CGI-heavy climax as minor distractions from the fun.

[Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/ghostbusters-review-2016/)

## Deadline — Pete Hammond

Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 11 July 2016. 

The critic calls the reboot a slick summer entertainment that delivers expected effects and cameos but falls short on laughs and original humor compared to the 1984 classic, with the cast (especially McKinnon) restrained rather than at full comedic power.

[Read the review](https://deadline.com/2016/07/ghostbusters-review-melissa-mccarthy-kristen-wiig-video-1201784951/)

## Den of Geek — Simon Brew

Rating 3/5. 10 July 2016. 

The critic finds the film a fun, eager-to-please summer comedy blockbuster with effective casting and some strong moments, though it falls short of the original and has uneven jokes and cameos.

[Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/ghostbusters-2016-review/)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/ghostbusters-2016.md