Nostalgia can be profitable, especially when it’s well-timed. For that reason alone, it’s no surprise that Beetlejuice Beetlejuice enjoyed a massive first weekend at the box office.
The long-awaited sequel to the 1988 horror-comedy favorite exceeded expectations with a $111 million weekend gross. How massive was that? Beetlejuice Beetlejuice has already surpassed the original’s total earnings, which made $74 million worldwide. The people vote with their dollars, so this is great news for the entertainment industry.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice could have been a paint-by-numbers follow-up, and it still would have been a financial success. People love to relieve their adolescence— and they’ll pay good money to do so. That’s why veteran musical acts often return to touring, even if the members hate each other.
However, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice isn’t a mere cash grab. It’s the rare sequel that brings fresh energy while honoring the original. Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Tim Burton, and Catherine O’Hara didn’t just come back for a paycheck. They are part of a story that feels like a natural continuation.
Think of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice as another chapter rather than a sequel.
Making another Beetlejuice was always going to be challenging. The original stood out in ways that are hard to describe. Burton, a visionary director, has a style that cannot be replicated. A sequel needed Burton at the top of his game with full studio support to avoid the disaster that was 2019’s Dumbo.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is easily his best work in decades. And not just for the way it looks, which is spectacular. But how it weaves aspects of the original with new ideas and new characters. Burton takes us on an artistic journey that includes claymation, black-and-white footage, and other clever ideas. These extras help make Beetlejuice Beetlejuice a joyful amusement park ride. The story never bogs down and is easily understood, even if you never saw the first one.
Sometimes movies fall into the trap of pandering to fanboys (ahem, we’re looking at you Deadpool & Wolverine) that they forget that the general audience might not get all the inside jokes. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice takes a more inclusive approach with the introduction of Jenna Ortega.
Ortega plays Astrid, the high school daughter of Lydia (Ryder). Best known for her roles in the rebooted Scream franchise and Addams Family spin-off series Wednesday, Ortega knows how to fit into beloved intellectual property. She wasn’t born when Beetlejuice was released. Her perspective is an important part of the story, particularly helping to introduce this universe to younger audiences who might not be familiar with the original.
Ortega and Ryder have wonderful mother-daughter chemistry. The relationship never seems forced or over the top. That’s the fresh energy that moves the plot along as Astrid finds herself in trouble, leading to a surprising twist and an unlikely alliance.
Of course, the main draw is the title character. We already saw Keaton return as Batman last year. Seeing him reprise another one of his iconic 80s roles feels like a bigger deal. In the 1988 film, Keaton’s Beetlejuice character appears in only 17 minutes. In the sequel, they revive the tactic of less is more. As a result, Beetlejuice’s screen time is much more impactful and memorable.
The success of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice leads to the inevitable question: Will there be a third installment? Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice? Burton hasn’t said no, but Keaton is 73.
You probably couldn’t wait another 36 years for the ghost with the most.
