If you loved
Ghostbusters: Afterlife
Jason Reitman · Film · 2021
What hooked you in Ghostbusters: Afterlife was the way family legacies and hidden supernatural histories collide within a small-town setting.
Start with the source
The source
Ghostbusters
Ivan Reitman · Film · 1984
Adaptation
The Real Ghostbusters
Dan Aykroyd · Series · 1986
Adaptation
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Gil Kenan · Film · 2024
Books on the same thread
Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary
Brandon Mull · Book · 2010
Much like the discovery of Egon Spengler's hidden lab in Ghostbusters: Afterlife, this story captures the thrill of unearthing a secret ancestral estate that guards a dangerous, magical world.
Fablehaven
Brandon Mull · Book · 2007
If the family mystery element of Ghostbusters: Afterlife resonated with you, you will appreciate how this narrative centers on siblings uncovering hidden supernatural responsibilities left behind by their grandparents.
The Lost Bookshop
Evie Woods · Book · 2023
This story mirrors the sense of wonder found in Ghostbusters: Afterlife, focusing on how a mysterious physical space can unlock hidden histories and change the trajectory of one's life.
The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles, Book 1)
Rick Riordan · Book · 2010
Fans of Ghostbusters: Afterlife will recognize the compelling blend of ancient mythology and family discovery, as these siblings navigate a world shaped by their father's hidden professional past.
Series on the same thread
Secrets of Sulphur Springs
Tracey Thomson · Series · 2021
This series mirrors the small-town mystery of Ghostbusters: Afterlife, focusing on a family that moves into a new home and must confront the local ghosts of the past.
Locke & Key
Meredith Averill · Series · 2020
The emotional core of Ghostbusters: Afterlife is mirrored here as siblings move to an ancestral home and use magical objects to confront their family's complicated, supernatural history.
The Real Ghostbusters
Dan Aykroyd · Series · 1986
If the classic ghost-hunting team dynamic in Ghostbusters: Afterlife was your favorite part, this series provides the essential foundation for those characters and their ongoing paranormal investigations.
Ghosts
Mathew Baynton · Series · 2019
This show shares the supernatural comedy tone of Ghostbusters: Afterlife, focusing on a couple who inherits a grand estate that forces them to live alongside lingering, unseen inhabitants.
Podcasts on the same thread
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
If you enjoyed the small-town setting of Ghostbusters: Afterlife, this podcast offers a similar focus on the strange, often dark histories that define rural communities and their secrets.
Story Pirates
Story Pirates · Podcast · 2026
This podcast captures the imaginative spirit of Ghostbusters: Afterlife by celebrating the way children turn ordinary surroundings into extraordinary adventures through their own creative, collaborative storytelling.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Should I watch Ghostbusters (1984) before watching Ghostbusters: Afterlife?
Yes, watching the 1984 original is recommended before Ghostbusters: Afterlife. The plot of the 2021 film focuses on the children of a legacy character discovering their grandfather's secret history, which is directly tied to the events and characters established in the original 1984 movie.
Is Ghostbusters: Afterlife the most recent film in the series?
No, Ghostbusters: Afterlife is not the most recent entry. It was released in 2021 as a direct sequel to the original films, but it has since been followed by Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, which was released in 2024 and continues the story within the same cinematic universe.
What order should I watch the Ghostbusters movies in?
To follow the narrative arc correctly, you should watch Ghostbusters (1984) first to understand the foundation of the series. After that, you should watch Ghostbusters: Afterlife to see the legacy continue, followed by the 2024 sequel, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, which picks up after the events of the 2021 film.
Does The Real Ghostbusters animated series connect to Ghostbusters: Afterlife?
The Real Ghostbusters is an animated series from 1986 based on the original film franchise. While it shares the same source material as Ghostbusters: Afterlife, it is a separate adaptation and is not required viewing to understand the plot or the legacy established in the 2021 live-action movie.