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June 8 Is ‘Ghostbusters Day’: Too Little, Too Late?

By Jeffrey Totey
Published on: 12:17 PST, Jun 3, 2016

Sony Pictures announced today that the studio is officially calling June 8, 2016, “Ghostbusters Day” and those who are either fans of the older films or are looking forward to the new reboot of the franchise, will be excited to learn at least part of today’s announcement.

While it is uncertain how many fans will actually clear their calendar to participate in the various events associated with the Ghostbusters Day, Sony Pictures hopes to create some much-needed positive buzz for the new film. Fathom Events will be bring back the original Ghostbusters movie to 800 theaters on June 8, the anniversary date of the film. Additional showings of the classic will be shown on Sunday, June 12, as well.

In addition, BBQ Films, located in Brooklyn, New York, has also announced that they will be celebrating Ghostbusters Day with an “immersive” screening of Ghostbusters HQ. According to today’s press release, it will be “a transportive experience built around the classic movie.” The 360-degree viewing comes with an opportunity to play the new Ghostbusters console and mobile game: Ghostbusters: Slime City from Activision. The party continues with the return of Hi-C’s “Ecto Cooler” which will be served at the beverage bar.

Other movie theater chains are celebrating Ghostbusters Day as well. Cinemark is giving away 10 signed posters for the new movie through their new app-based loyalty program, Cinemark Connections. Regal Cinemas on the other hand are giving away a trip to the new Ghostbusters movie premiere in Los Angeles including a $2,500 gift card to be used for the travel and accommodations.

Sony Pictures will take social media by storm as well by giving away tons of prizes like custom Ghostbusters uniforms each week on Twitter up until the new film’s official release on July 15. Join in by following @Ghostbusters. Other special announcements will be featured on Ghostbusters Day on Facebook Live, Periscope, Snapchat Live Stories, and others.

Today’s news also comes with the release of Elle King’s “Good Girls,” a song written by Elle King and Dave Bassett and is featured on the new movie’s soundtrack. The full soundtrack, which also includes the song, “Girls Talk Boys,” by 5 Seconds of Summer, will be available on July 15.

But with all of the fuss that Sony Pictures is putting into this last-minute announcement in hopes of boosting ticket sales maybe too little, too late, and some fans have already made up their minds. The studio created a similar frenzy last year in May celebrating Pac-Man’s 35th anniversary which was tied to the Adam Sandler comedy, Pixels. That film flopped and some critics are concerned that history might repeat itself.

Without seeing the finished product, some fans are convinced that the original film is superior to the 2016 one and wonder if showing the 1984 movie on Ghostbusters Day is the best idea.

Original Ghostbuster, Dan Aykroyd, got some heat this week for supporting the film. In what seemed to be a ringing endorsement for the film, many saw it as a shameless plug when he said the following.

“As originator of the original: Saw test screening of new movie. Apart from brilliant, genuine performances from the cast both female and male, it has more laughs and more scares than the first 2 films plus Bill Murray is in it! As one of millions of man-fans and Ray Stantz, I’m paying to see that and bringing all my friends!”

New Ghostbusters star, Melissa McCarthy, also made headlines recently when she called out fans complaining of the all-female casting.

“All those comments – ‘You’re ruining my childhood!’ I mean, really. Four women doing any movie on earth will destroy your childhood? I have a visual of those people not having a Ben [Falcone, her husband], not having friends, so they’re just sitting there and spewing hate into this fake world of the Internet. I just hope they find a friend.”

[Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures]

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