Ghostbusters II

Ghostbusters II was released to generally negative reviews, with critics responding unfavorably to what they perceived as largely a copy of the original and a softening of its cynical, dark humor to be more family-friendly, although the performances of supporting players were repeatedly singled out for praise. One line of assessment held the film almost as sharp as the original, only suffering slightly from inevitable repetition, while another found little energy in the follow-through, with the lead's listlessness reading as more anemic than comic.

The most consistent complaint across critics was structural: several reviewers criticized the film for too closely emulating the structure and story elements of its predecessor, with one prominent critic calling it a poor copy that offered nothing new. Another argued the sequel offered only slight variations over the original without further developing the characters, and had a "shamelessly" similar ending. Critics were particularly vocal about attempts to soften the tone, arguing the original had succeeded by projecting childlike fantasies onto adult characters who snubbed authority, while the sequel added domestic sentimentality that undercut that appeal.

Audiences, however, diverged sharply from critical opinion, responding more positively with polls reporting an average grade equivalent to an A−. Several critics found real value in the effects and supporting cast even while panning the plot mechanics, and some later reassessments have been notably warmer than the initial run, suggesting the film has developed something of a cult reappraisal over time.