Ride Around Like A Ghostbuster This Weekend Thanks To Lyft And The ‘Ghostbusters’ Ecto-1


Here’s some good news for Ghostbusters fans! Lyft is teaming up with Sony Pictures July 1 and 2 to promote the upcoming release of the all-female Ghostbusters remake by offering free rides in the classic Ecto-1 Cadillac hearse. The bad news? The Lyft Ghostbusters promotion is only happening in five cities. Lucky Lyft users in Boston, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and of course Ghostbuster central, New York, can use the Lyft app to access “Ghost Mode” which will send a signal to one of five Ecto-1 replicas cruising their city.

Lyft’s Ghostbuster collaboration is similar to last year’s Uber and Mad Max promotion last September. As previously reported by Inquisitr, Seattle was the lucky city chosen for free Uber rides in a variety of Mad Max post-apocalyptic-themed vehicles. While the Mad Max Ubers only offered free rides, Lyft has upped the game with Ghostbusters by branching out to five cities and offering free Ghostbusters swag.

According to MSN, the Ghostbusters car will come thumping with the theme song and be equipped with Twinkies and the infamous Hi-C Ecto Cooler as a tie-in to the original film. Given the backlash the new Ghostbusters has received before its even been viewed, Sony is undoubtedly hoping that the Lyft promotion will generate some positive buzz about the film.

The new Ghostbusters starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones, and Kate McKinnon has been under attack since it was announced that an all-female cast remake would be made. While many contend that the original Ghostbusters starring Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd was a classic that should never be given the remake treatment, others contend that the film is receiving criticism due to the misogynistic attitudes that remain prevalent in Hollywood.

Perhaps the Lyft promotion will be enough to lift the spirits of the Ghostbusters cast which has for months endured criticism over the Ghostbusters remake, which was deemed the most disliked movie trailer in all of YouTube history, according to CBS News. Though original Ghostbusters castmates Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd have praised the new Ghostbusters, many on social media still remain skeptical that the film will be a success.

Despite the criticism, the Ghostbusters stars are taking it in stride. Melissa McCarthy recently told Yahoo Movies that all of the ladies are proud of the film and had a great time making it.

“We had such a good time filming [Ghostbusters]. The movie’s really good,” McCarthy continued, “The four of us talk constantly, and are always sending each other dumb notes. I don’t pay attention to any of that stuff. It was a blast making, it was really fun and the movie’s going to be amazing.”

Of course with the Lyft/Ghostbuster cross promotion, one has to wonder if the stars will be taking the Ecto-1 to the red carpet premiere, and if so, will they be criticized for taking Lyft instead of a limo?

The one thing no one can deny, however, is that even those who are die-hard fans of the original Ghostbusters would be excited to take a ride in the Lyft Ecto-1 Caddy. One of the all-time classic movie vehicles, in 2010 a Ghostbusters Ecto-1 went for $80,000 at the prestigious Barrett Jackson Auto Show. Sure that seems like chump change compared to the millions of dollars pulled in by the original Batmobile or the $450,000 brought in by the General Lee, but Lyft isn’t giving the everyday citizen an opportunity to ride in either of those. And besides, this might be the one and only time a person actually wants to ride in a hearse.

Check out Lyft’s Ghostbuster promo spot below:

Movie fans can only dream that someday Lyft and Uber will pick some less cliche cities for their movie crossover promotions. Come on, Lyft and Ghostbusters! Places like Omaha, Nebraska; Glendale, Arizona; and Bend, Oregon like free stuff too!

[Image by Donald Bowers/Getty Images.]

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