‘Ghostbusters’ sequel takes the box office lead in North America

“Ghostbusters: Afterlife” took in an estimated $44 million over the three-day weekend to top the North American box office, per the industry specialist Exhibitor Relations.

The film is set 37 years after the first “Ghostbusters” and is chock-full of nods to the original.

It features appearances by original stars Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, and Sigourney Weaver, and is directed by Jason Reitman, whose father, Ivan Reitman, directed the original.

Reitman told a newspaper that he was initially reluctant to follow his dad’s legacy, but that same apprehension turned into inspiration for the film.

“That’s what this movie became about,” Reitman explained.

“‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ is about a family developing the courage to pick up the proton pack themselves,” he said.

For those unversed with the plot, The story revolves around a single mother and her two sons, who move to a small town and discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy left behind by their grandfather.