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Ghostbusters (2016 film)

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2016 Gender Flipped Continuity Reboot of the classic 1984 filmn Ghostbusters, starring Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, Kristen Wiig and Chris Hemsworth. It avoids the pitfalls of being a simple Remake with a plot that draws inspiration from both Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II while still being entirely new. It also differs from its predecessors by slightly changing the ratio of supernatural horror to comedy a bit more to the horror side, without sacrificing the humor.

Booyah! Emphasis on the boo.
—Jillian Holtzmann
Tropes used in Ghostbusters (2016 film) include:
  • Anachronism Stew: While the skyline, cars and other elements point to a contemporary (2010s) setting for the film, there are other details, such as the presence of a Woolworth's, Loft's Candies, and Regal Shoes in Times Square, movie posters, a sign celebrating the end of the Vietnam War, plus a Times Square news ticker referencing the Carter presidency, all of which suggest the action is taking place in the 1970s.
  • Another Dimension: What lies beyond Rowan's gate. Abby gets sucked into it during the climax, and Erin dives in after her.
  • Boston Doubling: The majority of the film's exteriors were filmed in Boston, not New York.
  • Chekhov's Swiss Army Knife
  • Cloudcuckoolander: Kevin, in addition to being a Dumb Blonde:

Kevin: Would it be okay if I bring my cat to work sometimes? He has major anxiety problems.
Abby: You know what? I would love to let your cat live here with you, but I have a pretty severe cat allergy.
Kevin: Oh, I don't have a cat. He's a dog. His name's My Cat.
Abby: Your dog's name is My Cat?
Kevin: (carefully) Mike Hat.
Erin: Your dog's name is Mike, last name Hat?
Kevin: Well, his full name is Michael Hat.
Abby: I can't say that I'm allergic to dogs... so.
Kevin: You know, it's all right. He lives with my mum.

Patty: (slapping Abby) The power of PAIN compels you!

Erin: Kevin? That's a manly name! My name's Erin. With an E... for Every... thing you want.

  • Dumb Blonde/The Ditz: Kevin is a rare male example of the Dumb Blonde; he's so dumb that he shouldn't be allowed out without a minder.
  • E=MC Hammer: Averted: the production team brought in real particle physicists to create all the equations seen in the movie, and to redesign the proton packs with 21st century science and technology.
  • Elephant in the Living Room: A meta example appears in the film: When Erin and Abby post their first ghost footage on YouTube, they make the mistake of reading the comments. The first thing Erin's eye falls on is "Ain't no bitches gonna hunt no ghosts." This was a deliberate acknowledgement (and a clever defusing) of the incredibly vitriolic outrage a small sexist segment of the Net raised over the gender-flipped casting.
  • The End of the World as We Know It: What Rowan intends to bring about.
  • Gender Flip
  • Ghostly Goals: Virtually every ghost in the movie is type B: forces of pure, motiveless evil.
  • Ghoul Gate: Rowan opens one at the climax of the film.
  • Government Conspiracy: While the city government of New York (especially the mayor) is very aware of the supernatural problems plaguing the city and lets the Ghostbusters handle them, they simultaneously paint the Ghostbusters as crackpots and troublemakers to keep the people from panicking.
  • It Won't Turn Off: Averted with Rowan's "ghost machine". Holtzmann is easily able to shut it down after Rowan's electrocution. Unfortunately, Rowan-in-Kevin's-body is just as easily able to turn it back on.
  • Jacob Marley Apparel: Implied of some of the ghosts.
  • Ley Line: A pair of ley lines intersecting in Times Square is key to the plot.
  • Licking the Blade: Jillian Holtzmann licks her proton-pack-handguns after kicking ghost butts near the climax of the film.
  • Locked Into Strangeness: Abby and Erin's hair (but not their eyebrows!) turns white during their brief sojourn on the other side of Rowan's gate. Either they dye it or it goes back to normal by the time the end credits roll.
  • Mad Scientist: Holtzmann gives off this vibe oh so strongly.
  • Mirror Monster: There are numerous mirrors with ghosts behind them in Rowan's basement lair. When he activates his machine, they shatter, releasing the ghosts and more.
  • Mythology Gag: Many many.
    • When looking for a building, they are initially presented with the firehouse from the original film, but have to pass on it because it's too expensive.
    • The Stay-Puft Marshmallow man appears as a haunted Macy's parade balloon.
    • The Ghostbusters logo is created by a graffiti artist who first paints a ghost on a subway wall, and then puts an international "No" circle with bar over it when told he can't paint there. Holtzmann snaps a shot of it with her smartphone.
    • They don't initially call themselves the Ghostbusters, but eventually give in and use that name when no one ever pays attention to the long, formal "research institute" style name they initially give themselves.
    • When they first enter Times Square, a billboard advertising Twinkies with the slogan "That's a big Twinkie!" is briefly visible in the lower left of the screen.
    • A reference to Zuul slips in during The Stinger.
  • Night of the Living Mooks: The ghosts manifested at the climax of the film are at least semi-corporeal, making for a disturbingly physical opposition for the Ghostbusters.
  • Old Shame: In-universe, the book that Erin and Abby authored together, for Erin.
  • Place Worse Than Death: During one of the credits scenes, Holtzmann announces the successful creation of holding facilities for the ghosts they catch. Then she admits she doesn't know where the ghosts go when they are captured but thinks it might be Michigan.
  • Reboot Cameo: Most of the surviving core cast of the original Ghostbusters make appearances in this film:
    • Bill Murray is a debunker of the supernatural.
    • Dan Aykroyd is a cab driver.
    • Ernie Hudson is the uncle of one of the new Ghostbusters.
    • Annie Potts at the front desk of a hotel.
    • Sigourney Weaver as the mentor of one of the Ghostbusters.
    • The late Harold Ramis appears as a bronze bust outside of Erin's office. The movie is also dedicated to him.
    • Rick Moranis, having retired from show business, declined to take part in the movie, but a reference to Vinz Clortho can be seen in one of the credits scenes as a tip of the hat to him.
    • Slimer makes an appearance, and even turns out to be critical to the plot.
  • Reverse Polarity: The Ghostbusters send Ecto-1 and its nuclear reactors into Rowan's gate; it explodes and changes the gate into a giant ghost trap that sucks in all the entities at loose in the city.
  • Sassy Black Woman: Patty.
  • The Stinger: Easily a half-dozen separate little vignettes appear during and after the credits.
  • Too Incompetent to Operate a Blanket: Kevin. What can you say about someone who has no idea how to answer an office phone?
  • Whispering Ghosts: Referenced several times with various team members listening to tape recordings for electronic voice phenomena.
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