In a thrilling revival, the "Ghostbusters" franchise is making its mark once again at the box office with the highly anticipated release of "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire." The fifth installment of the beloved series has kicked off with an impressive start, raking in $4.7 million in Thursday previews.

With the reunion of the original stars from the '80s classic and the cast of the 2021 "Afterlife" sequel, Sony and Columbia Pictures' "Frozen Empire" is expected to dominate the box office this weekend. Projections suggest an opening weekend between $43 million and $45 million, in line with the previous film's successful revival amidst the pandemic.

To recoup its hefty $100 million budget (compared to "Afterlife's" $75 million), "Frozen Empire" will need to outperform its predecessor. The Thursday box office haul for "Frozen Empire" actually exceeded "Afterlife," which brought in $4.5 million in previews back in 2021.

Starring the talented ensemble of Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, and McKenna Grace, "Frozen Empire" takes ghostbusting back to its roots in New York City, after the previous revival took place in a quiet Oklahoma town. The descendants of original Ghostbuster Egon Spengler, portrayed by Callie, Trevor, and Phoebe, team up with Rudd's character, Gary Grooberson, to launch ghostbusting into the 21st century. Additionally, fan-favorite characters portrayed by Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, and William Atherton will make their comeback, joining forces with the new generation to thwart a chilling phantom's plans of turning New York City into an arctic wasteland.

Alongside the Ghostbusters' triumphant return, this weekend also sees the release of Neon and Sydney Sweeney's horror movie "Immaculate," which made its debut at this year's SXSW. It aims to make a splash with an estimated opening of around $5 million.

As moviegoers flock to theaters, it's clear that the nostalgia and excitement surrounding "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" will propel it to top the weekend box office charts. With an impressive lineup of talent and a thrilling storyline, fans of all ages are eager to be captivated once again by the iconic ghostbusting team.