Ghostbusters (2016) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

Estranged collaborators rebuild a paranormal investigation team and defend New York from Rowan's dimensional invasion.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Friendship Reopened

Erin's academic ambitions collide with Abby's renewed publication of their paranormal book. Their investigation of the Aldridge Mansion restores Erin's belief and begins their professional reunion.

Key Events

• The Paranormal Book — Erin and Abby's shared paranormal book establishes their past partnership. Characters: Erin Gilbert, Abby Yates Location: New York City
• Erin Seeks Tenure — Erin pursues tenure while distancing herself from paranormal research. Characters: Erin Gilbert Location: Columbia University
• Abby Reprints The Book — Erin discovers Abby has republished their book. Characters: Erin Gilbert, Abby Yates Location: New York City
• Aldridge Mansion Investigation — Erin agrees to investigate an allegedly haunted mansion with Abby. Characters: Erin Gilbert, Abby Yates Location: Aldridge Mansion
• The Mansion Ghost Escapes — A malevolent ghost appears, escapes, and restores Erin's belief in the supernatural. Characters: Erin Gilbert, Abby Yates Location: Aldridge Mansion

Outcasts Build A Team

Public exposure damages Erin's tenure prospects and costs Abby's group their institutional support. They establish temporary headquarters, build equipment, and hire Kevin.

Key Events

• The Vlog Goes Viral — Their paranormal investigation becomes public through a viral vlog. Characters: Erin Gilbert, Abby Yates Location: New York City
• Academic Fallout — Erin loses tenure, and the dean fires Abby and the investigators. Characters: Erin Gilbert, Abby Yates, Dean Location: Academic institutions
• Temporary Headquarters — The team establishes headquarters above a restaurant after stealing equipment. Characters: Erin Gilbert, Abby Yates, Kevin Location: Above Zhu's Authentic Hong Kong Food
• The Team Gets A Name — The investigators build equipment, hire Kevin, and adopt the public name Ghostbusters. Characters: Erin Gilbert, Abby Yates, Kevin Location: Temporary headquarters

Ghosts Enter The City

Patty's subway encounter brings her into the team and expands their practical resources. New ghost incidents make the investigators famous while Rowan's devices continue attracting spirits.

Key Events

• Patty Finds A Subway Ghost — Patty encounters a ghost and contacts the paranormal investigators. Characters: Patty Tolan, Abby Yates Location: Subway terminal
• Patty Joins The Team — Patty joins the team and supplies city knowledge, protective gear, and a repurposed hearse. Characters: Patty Tolan, Erin Gilbert, Abby Yates Location: New York City
• The Concert Capture — The team captures a gargoyle-like spirit while Rowan's device attracts ghosts. Characters: Erin Gilbert, Abby Yates, Patty Tolan, Rowan North Location: Concert venue
• Heiss Challenges The Team — Erin releases a ghost to prove the supernatural is real, but it attacks and escapes. Characters: Erin Gilbert, Abby Yates Location: Public demonstration

The Vortex Revealed

Officials acknowledge the supernatural threat while denying the team's legitimacy in public. The investigators trace Rowan's devices to the Mercado Hotel and discover his planned transformation.

Key Events

• The Mayor's Warning — Officials privately acknowledge supernatural activity while publicly denouncing the team. Characters: Erin Gilbert, Abby Yates, Patty Tolan Location: Mayor's office
• Ley Lines Exposed — The team connects Rowan's devices along ley lines to the Mercado Hotel. Characters: Erin Gilbert, Abby Yates, Patty Tolan, Rowan North Location: New York City
• Rowan's Laboratory Confrontation — The team confronts Rowan, who electrocutes himself rather than surrender. Characters: Erin Gilbert, Abby Yates, Rowan North Location: Boiler room laboratory
• Rowan Plans His Transformation — The team discovers Rowan intended to die and return as a ghost. Characters: Erin Gilbert, Abby Yates, Rowan North Location: Boiler room laboratory

A Portal Over New York

Rowan attacks the headquarters, possesses Kevin, and opens the hotel portal. The team reverses the vortex, rescues Abby, and sends Rowan and the ghosts back.

Key Events

• Headquarters Attack — Rowan possesses Abby, is stopped by Patty, then possesses Kevin and escapes. Characters: Erin Gilbert, Abby Yates, Patty Tolan, Kevin, Rowan North Location: Temporary headquarters
• The Mercado Portal Opens — Rowan opens the portal and releases an army of galvanized ghosts. Characters: Erin Gilbert, Abby Yates, Patty Tolan, Kevin, Rowan North Location: Mercado Hotel in Times Square
• The Logo Ghost Rampages — Rowan becomes the logo ghost, grows enormous, and attacks the city. Characters: Erin Gilbert, Abby Yates, Patty Tolan, Rowan North Location: Times Square
• Ecto-1 Bombs The Vortex — The team detonates Ecto-1's reactor inside the vortex, reversing the portal. Characters: Erin Gilbert, Abby Yates, Patty Tolan, Rowan North Location: Mercado Hotel portal
• Erin Rescues Abby — Erin enters the portal and rescues Abby as Rowan tries to drag her inside. Characters: Erin Gilbert, Abby Yates, Rowan North Location: Dimensional vortex
• The City Is Restored — The portal closes, the ghosts return, and the city is restored. Characters: Erin Gilbert, Abby Yates, Patty Tolan, Kevin Location: New York City
• A Funded Firehouse — The team moves into a firehouse with covert public funding and investigates an EVP mentioning Zuul. Characters: Erin Gilbert, Abby Yates, Patty Tolan Location: Disused firehouse

Story Breakdown

• Broken Scientific Partnership — Erin and Abby's past collaboration resurfaces when their paranormal book threatens Erin's academic career.
  • Shared Paranormal Book — Erin and Abby previously documented paranormal investigations together.
  • Publication Dispute — Erin confronts Abby after discovering the book was republished.
• Aldridge Mansion Awakens — A haunted mansion investigation restores Erin's belief in ghosts and repairs her friendship with Abby.
  • Haunted House Visit — Erin and Abby investigate the Aldridge Mansion.
  • Malevolent Ghost Escapes — The apparition appears and escapes after proving the supernatural is real.
• Team Without Institution — After public exposure damages their careers, the investigators create an independent operation.
  • Academic Fallout — Erin loses her tenure bid and Abby's group is fired by the dean.
  • Temporary Headquarters — The team steals equipment and works above a restaurant.
• Patty Joins The Hunt — A subway encounter adds Patty's local knowledge and practical resources to the team.
  • Subway Ghost Call — Patty contacts the investigators after seeing a ghost in a subway terminal.
  • Ecto-1 Arrives — Patty provides a repurposed hearse that becomes Ecto-1.
• Rowan's Ghost Network — Rowan attracts ghosts with ionizers and positions them to power a dimensional vortex.
  • Concert Apparition — The team captures a spirit while Rowan's device causes the manifestation.
  • Ley Line Alignment — The investigators trace the devices toward the Mercado Hotel.
• Institutional Denial — Officials know about the supernatural activity but publicly discredit the team.
  • Mayor's Private Warning — The mayor's office and DHS acknowledge the city's supernatural events.
  • Public Fraud Accusation — Officials publicly denounce the investigators despite privately recognizing their work.
• Rowan Becomes A Ghost — Rowan engineers his death and returns as a powerful entity determined to destroy the team.
  • Laboratory Confrontation — Rowan electrocutes himself rather than surrender to the investigators.
  • Possession Attack — Rowan possesses Abby and then Kevin during his assault on headquarters.
• Portal Over Times Square — The final battle unfolds when Rowan opens the portal and releases ghosts across the city.
  • Logo Ghost Rampage — Rowan assumes the form of the team's logo and grows to enormous size.
  • Reactor Reversal — The team detonates Ecto-1's reactor to reverse the vortex.
• Heroes After The Crisis — The city is restored, the team receives covert support, and a new supernatural clue remains.
  • Erin Rescues Abby — Erin enters the portal and saves Abby from being dragged inside.
  • Zuul EVP — At the new firehouse, Patty hears the word Zuul during an EVP investigation.

Directed by

Paul Feig

Key Cast

• Kristen Wiig — Erin Gilbert
• Melissa McCarthy — Abby Yates
• Kate McKinnon — Jillian Holtzmann
• Leslie Jones — Patty Tolan
• Chris Hemsworth — Kevin