Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
When the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second ice age.
Despite a substantial budget of $100.0M, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire became a commercial success, earning $202.0M worldwide—a 102% return.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024) exemplifies carefully calibrated dramatic framework, characteristic of Gil Kenan's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 55 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes The Spengler family operates as Ghostbusters in New York City, working together from the iconic firehouse. Phoebe drives Ecto-1 through the streets on a bust, establishing the new normal of the legacy team in action.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Phoebe is benched from ghostbusting after causing property damage during a chase, with Mayor Peck threatening to shut down the team. Her identity as a Ghostbuster is stripped away, leaving her feeling purposeless and excluded from her family.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 29 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Phoebe makes the active choice to help Melody despite warnings, prioritizing her new friendship over her family's ghostbusting mission. She crosses into the paranormal world emotionally, choosing connection with an outsider over belonging with her family., moving from reaction to action.
At 58 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Garraka is released from the orb when Melody, manipulated by the entity, tricks Phoebe into helping her separate from the containment system. The false victory of Phoebe's friendship becomes a false defeat as she realizes she's been used. The stakes raise drastically—Garraka begins freezing New York City., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 87 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Garraka obtains the horns and reaches full power, unleashing a death freeze across the city. The Ghostbusters' equipment fails completely against him. Phoebe is separated from her family in the chaos, facing the devastating realization that her choice to trust Melody has doomed everyone. Hope seems lost., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 92 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Phoebe realizes the solution: she must allow herself to be pulled into the ghost realm to get close enough to Garraka, using the same technology Melody exploited. She synthesizes her scientific knowledge with her emotional understanding of the ghost world. Nadeem accepts his firebender heritage. The family reunites with a plan., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire against these established plot points, we can identify how Gil Kenan utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire within the adventure genre.
Gil Kenan's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Gil Kenan films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Gil Kenan filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional adventure films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Bad Guys and Zoom. For more Gil Kenan analyses, see Poltergeist, City of Ember and Monster House.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The Spengler family operates as Ghostbusters in New York City, working together from the iconic firehouse. Phoebe drives Ecto-1 through the streets on a bust, establishing the new normal of the legacy team in action.
Theme
Ray Stantz discusses the importance of family legacy and passing the torch to the next generation, while also warning about the consequences of being reckless with power. The theme of belonging and responsibility across generations is established.
Worldbuilding
The world of the new Ghostbusters is established: Phoebe struggles with being too young to officially ghostbust, the team's dynamic with original members, the firehouse operations, and the introduction of the paranormal research lab. Nadeem Razmaish visits Ray's shop with mysterious brass artifacts.
Disruption
Phoebe is benched from ghostbusting after causing property damage during a chase, with Mayor Peck threatening to shut down the team. Her identity as a Ghostbuster is stripped away, leaving her feeling purposeless and excluded from her family.
Resistance
Phoebe struggles with her new limitations while the team investigates the mysterious brass orb from Nadeem's grandmother. Dr. Hubert Wartzki reveals the orb contains an ancient evil entity named Garraka. Meanwhile, Phoebe befriends Melody, a ghost girl in the paranormal research containment area, finding connection in her isolation.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Phoebe makes the active choice to help Melody despite warnings, prioritizing her new friendship over her family's ghostbusting mission. She crosses into the paranormal world emotionally, choosing connection with an outsider over belonging with her family.
Mirror World
Phoebe's deepening friendship with Melody represents the thematic counterpoint: Melody is a ghost seeking to feel alive, while Phoebe is alive but feels invisible. Their connection explores what it means to belong and be seen for who you truly are.
Premise
The promise of the premise unfolds: supernatural mystery investigation, the team researching Garraka's history, Nadeem discovering his grandmother's pyrokinetic legacy and his own powers, and Phoebe navigating her friendship with Melody while secretly helping her. The fun of ghostbusting science and family dynamics.
Midpoint
Garraka is released from the orb when Melody, manipulated by the entity, tricks Phoebe into helping her separate from the containment system. The false victory of Phoebe's friendship becomes a false defeat as she realizes she's been used. The stakes raise drastically—Garraka begins freezing New York City.
Opposition
Garraka's power grows as he searches for the horns that will give him ultimate power to freeze the world. The Ghostbusters struggle against the freezing entity with standard equipment failing. Phoebe faces betrayal and guilt while her family deals with the consequences. The city descends into frozen chaos and the team fractures under pressure.
Collapse
Garraka obtains the horns and reaches full power, unleashing a death freeze across the city. The Ghostbusters' equipment fails completely against him. Phoebe is separated from her family in the chaos, facing the devastating realization that her choice to trust Melody has doomed everyone. Hope seems lost.
Crisis
In the frozen darkness, Phoebe grapples with her catastrophic mistake. The team regroups, devastated. Phoebe must face what it truly means to be a Ghostbuster—not just the science and adventure, but the responsibility and sacrifice. The family's bond is tested at its breaking point.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Phoebe realizes the solution: she must allow herself to be pulled into the ghost realm to get close enough to Garraka, using the same technology Melody exploited. She synthesizes her scientific knowledge with her emotional understanding of the ghost world. Nadeem accepts his firebender heritage. The family reunites with a plan.
Synthesis
The finale battle: Phoebe enters the ghost realm while her family and the original Ghostbusters coordinate the assault on Garraka. Nadeem channels his pyrokinetic fire powers against the freeze. Melody redeems herself by helping Phoebe. The combined power of old and new generations, science and legacy, traps Garraka back in the containment orb.
Transformation
Phoebe is welcomed back as a full Ghostbuster, having proven herself through sacrifice rather than recklessness. She says goodbye to Melody with understanding and closure. The firehouse thrives with both generations working together, and Phoebe has found her place—not as a solo genius, but as part of a legacy family.