Summary

  • Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire pays tribute to Ivan Reitman in a subtle nod to his 1973 film, Cannibal Girls.
  • Cannibal Girls follows a couple who are terrorized by a group of beautiful, cannibalistic women.
  • The Cannibal Girls reference in Frozen Empire is the third to occur in the Ghostbusters franchise.

It may be subtle, but one line from every Ghostbusters movie. In 1984, Reitman directed and produced the very first Ghostbusters movie. Five years later, he returned for Ghostbusters II. From there, he continued to be a producer on every subsequent Ghostbusters film, including the 2016 remake and the two modern-day reboots starring McKenna Grace. Though Reitman ed away in 2022, his legacy remains in one humorous way in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.

Although Ghostbusters is a massive part of Ivan Reitman's filmography, the director was at the head of several other iconic comedy films. In the late 1970s, Reitman directed the Bill Murray classics, Meatballs and Stripes. Throughout the '80s and '90s, he started to collaborate often with Arnold Schwarzenegger, directing films such as Twins, Kindergarten Cop, and Junior. He even earned more recent fame from movies like No Strings Attached and Draft Day. Luckily, Frozen Empire pays respect to Reitman's best movies by referencing one of the very first films he ever directed.

Nadeem and Gary looking in different directions in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
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Paul Rudd's Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire's Character References Ivan Reitman's From 1973

Gary Wants To Watch Cannibal Girls

Paul Rudd with a ghost trap in Ghostbusters Afterlife

In Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Ivan Reitman is given a subtle but amazing nod in one seemingly innocuous scene. When the Spenglers are about to have a family movie night, Paul Rudd's Gary suggests that the family watch Cannibal Girls. Though this may seem like a rather random movie choice, it is actually a reference to Reitman. In 1973, he directed, executive produced, and wrote the story for Cannibal Girls. It was the second feature film he ever made. This cameo is a great detail from Reitman's career, but it also makes perfect sense for Frozen Empire's spooky ambiance.

The Cannibal Girls story says that the women eat their victims alive, which helps them maintain their beauty and immortality.

Cannibal Girls itself is a horror comedy movie starring Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, and Ronald Ulrich. The movie tells the story of Clifford and Gloria, a couple whose car breaks down in a creepy town called Farnhamville. While there, they hear an urban legend about three women called the Cannibal Girls. The Cannibal Girls story says that the women eat their victims alive, which helps them maintain their beauty and immortality. Eventually, Clifford and Gloria find themselves among the Cannibal Girls and their puppet master, the Reverend.

Cannibal Girls Has Been Referenced Three Times In The Ghostbusters Franchise

Cannibal Girls Is A Pillar Of Ghostbusters

Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, and Ernie Hudson as the Ghostbusters in Ghostbusters II

What makes the Frozen Empire reference even better is that it has appeared two other times in previous Ghostbusters movies. In Ghostbusters II, Cannibal Girls is shown to be playing at a New York City theater. Then, in Ghostbusters: Afterlife, the same movie is d to be playing in another movie theater. In this way, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is the first to mention the 1973 film in dialogue, but it is still following in the footsteps of its predecessors. Therefore, this nod to Ivan Reitman feels just right. Perhaps Ghostbusters 6 will do the same.

Ivan Reitman also took on a voice role in 1984's Ghostbusters. He played Zuul/Slimer.

Ghostbusters Frozen Empire Poster Featuring the Crew Steppingout of Ecto 1 and Facing Ice Creatures in New York

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Release Date
March 22, 2024
Runtime
115 Minutes
Director
Gil Kenan

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Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire continues the story of a new generation of ghost hunters composed of Phoebe (Mckenna Grace), Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and Podcast (Logan Kim), who received help from the original team in the previous movie. Paul Rudd returns as Gary Grooberson and franchise co-creator Ivan Reitman returns to write and produce.

Writers
Jason Reitman, Gil Kenan
Franchise(s)
Ghostbusters
Studio(s)
Columbia Pictures, Bron Creative, Ghost Corps, Right of Way Films
Distributor(s)
Sony Pictures Releasing