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Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a 2024 American dark fantasy comedy horror film directed by Tim Burton from a screenplay by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. A sequel to Beetlejuice (1988) and the second film of the Beetlejuice franchise, the film stars Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O'Hara reprising their roles alongside new cast members Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Jenna Ortega, and Willem Dafoe. Set more than three decades after the first Beetlejuice, it follows Lydia Deetz, now a mother, struggling to keep her family together in the wake of a loss as the specter Betelgeuse returns to haunt her.

After the success of Beetlejuice, plans for a sequel were announced by The Geffen Film Company, its original producers. Little materialized until 2011 when Warner Bros. Pictures hired Seth Grahame-Smith to pitch a story, which went through numerous revisions before being shelved in late 2019. Plans for a sequel were revived in early 2022, with Burton set to co-produce with Brad Pitt's studio Plan B Entertainment. After the casting process finished in early 2023, principal photography, supervised by cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos, took place in parts of England and the U.S. from May to November, despite being suspended for four months due to the 2023 actors' strike. The official title was revealed in February 2024. During post-production, editing was handled by Jay Prychidny and the musical score was composed by longtime Burton collaborator Danny Elfman.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice opened the 81st Venice International Film Festival on August 28, 2024,[6] and was theatrically released overseas on September 4, 2024, and in the United States by Warner Bros. Pictures two days later. The film has received generally positive reviews from critics and has grossed $329.8 million worldwide on a $99–100 million budget.

Plot[]

In 2024, Lydia Deetz is the host of a supernatural talk show called Ghost House, produced by her boyfriend Rory. During the taping of a segment, she sees visions of the ghost Betelgeuse, who haunted her family thirty-six years earlier, in the audience.

Shortly thereafter, Delia, Lydia's stepmother, shares the news about the death of her father, Charles. En route to Winter River for the funeral services, the surviving Deetz family pick up Lydia's estranged daughter, Astrid, from boarding school. Following the funeral services, Rory proposes to Lydia in front of the attendees, which she reluctantly accepts, causing Astrid to flee and meet Jeremy Frazier, who invites her over prior to the wedding on Halloween.

Sometime later, Astrid discovers a box of items belonging to her father Richard, who disappeared two years earlier in South America, and an ad to contact Betelgeuse. She learns that Jeremy is actually a ghost seeking her help to restore his life. They enter the afterlife after he has Astrid recite an incantation from the Handbook for the Recently Deceased.

Discovering Jeremy is dead and his past as a murderer, Lydia reluctantly calls upon Betelgeuse to help retrieve Astrid. He agrees but demands that Lydia marry him, allowing him to stay in the mortal world and escape Delores, his vengeful ex-wife and murderer in the afterlife. Meanwhile, Delia conducts a ceremony at Charles' grave using two live snakes she believed were no longer venomous, that bite and kill her.

Lydia consents to the marriage, and Betelgeuse and she are transported into the afterlife train station in an attempt to stop Astrid from boarding the "Soul Train", which transports souls into the beyond. By reciting the incantation, Astrid was tricked into switching places with Jeremy in order for him to regain his life. She recognizes one of the station's employees as her father Richard, who rescues her and Lydia while Betelgeuse sends Jeremy to Hell.

Hunted by ghost detective Wolf Jackson for bringing Lydia into the afterlife, Betelgeuse agrees to help Delia find Charles if she helps him find Lydia, who along with Astrid was ushered away and returned to Winter River by Richard. At a church in the mortal world, Lydia and Astrid arrive as Rory waits at the altar.

Betelgeuse, with Delia's assistance, hijacks the wedding, injecting Rory with truth serum to reveal that he never loved Lydia and only intended to marry her for her money. Enraged, she punches Rory, knocking him out. As Betelgeuse prepares to marry Lydia, Delores arrives to confront him, as does Wolf with his team. Using the handbook as a guide, Astrid unleashes a sandworm into the church that eats Delores and Rory, while Betelgeuse subdues Wolf by freezing him and his men in place.

Astrid reveals that Betelgeuse violated the rules of the handbook by bringing Lydia into the afterlife, thwarting the wedding and allowing Lydia to return him to the afterlife. Afterward, Lydia and Astrid reassure Delia of their love for her as she is escorted to the afterlife by Wolf. She soon reunites with Charles before boarding the Soul Train for Heaven.

Sometime later, Lydia films the final segment of her last episode of Ghost House, opting to spend time with Astrid. Despite this, she continues to have nightmares about Betelgeuse, including one in which Astrid gives birth to his child. After a false awakening within a lucid nightmare, wherein Betelgeuse lies beside her, Lydia looks at the side of the bed, traumatized and alone.

Cast[]

Release[]

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice opened the 81st Venice International Film Festival on August 28, 2024, at the Sala Grande in a non-competitive slot. The film was theatrically released by Warner Bros. Pictures on September 6, 2024, including IMAX, 4DX and ScreenX engagements.[22] In February 2024, the title of the film was revealed, and its release date was reiterated.[23][24] At their 2024 CineEurope presentation, Warner Bros. announced that the film would be released overseas on September 4, 2024, two days before its domestic premiere.[25] An estimated $100 million marketing effort helped promote Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

Reception[]

Box office[]

As of September 10, 2024 (2024-09-10), Beetlejuice Beetlejuice has grossed $126.2 million in the United States and Canada, and $36.2 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $162.4 million.

In the United States and Canada, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was released alongside The Front Room, and was projected to gross $100–110 million from 4,200 theaters in its opening weekend.[26] The film made $42 million on its first day, including $13 million from Thursday night previews.[27][28] The film went on to debut with $111 million, registering the second biggest opening of September (behind It), the second biggest for Burton's career (behind Alice in Wonderland), and the third biggest opening of the year (behind Deadpool & Wolverine and Inside Out 2). Around 7.7 million admissions, 73% of the total weekend's box office earnings, came from the film alone.[29] The opening weekend gross surpassed the entire $74 million run of the original film, unadjusted for inflation.[30]

Internationally, the film debuted with $36.2 million from 69 markets. It had the biggest openings in the UK ($9.6 million), Mexico ($6.5 million), Australia ($2.6 million), Spain ($2.5 million) and Italy ($1.7 million).[31]

Critical response[]

Rotten Tomatoes reports a 78% approval rating from 280 critics, with an average rating of 6.6/10. The Critic's Consensus reads, "Michael Keaton's devious poltergeist still has plenty of juice left in this madcap return to form for Tim Burton, marrying charming practical effects and ghoulish gags to provide a fun fun time."[32] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale, up from the "B" earned by the first film, while those surveyed by PostTrak gave it an 81% overall positive score, with 68% saying they would definitely recommend it.[28]

Manohla Dargis of The New York Times called the film a "fun but less edgy sequel".[33] Xan Brooks, writing for The Guardian, stated, "Burton's game attempt to bring the 1980s horror-comedy back from the spirit world is full of gaudy set-pieces but fails to add much to the original".[34] Margaret Roarty of The Film Magazine stated that "the filmmaker manages to create something just as wacky and weird and meaningful as the original film".[35]

Cultural references[]

The black-and-white flashback sequence telling the story of Delores and Betelgeuse is narrated by the latter in Italian, a possible homage to Mario Bava, later referred to in the film.[36][37]

Future[]

When asked about a potential third film, Burton said, "Let's do the math...it took 35 years to do this, so I'll be over 100. But I guess it's possible with the advent of science these days, but I don't think so."[38]

Trailers[]

External links[]

References[]

  1. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (12A) (August 19, 2024).
  2. Rubin, Rebecca (September 4, 2024). 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' Aims to Clear $100 Million in Scary-Good Opening Weekend. Variety.
  3. Barnes, Brooks (September 15, 2024). Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Hands Warner Bros. a Lifeline.
  4. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
  5. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) - Financial Information.
  6. Tartaglione, Nancy (2 July 2024). Tim Burton's 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' To Open Venice Film Festival.
  7. O'Rourke, Ryan (August 20, 2024). Tim Burton Was Never Tempted To Make Beetlejuice Anything but "Politically Incorrect". Collider.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 Romano, Nick (August 26, 2024). Beetlejuice star Winona Ryder thought Lydia would be 'this spinster' rather than a mom in sequel. Entertainment Weekly.
  9. Hernandez, Angie Orellana (July 8, 2023). It's Showtime! Here's the First Look at Jenna Ortega's Beetlejuice 2 Character.
  10. Rosenbloom, Alli (November 30, 2023). Tim Burton says 'Beetlejuice 2' has officially wrapped production. CNN.
  11. Juneau, Jen (February 21, 2024). Jenna Ortega Confirms Role as Lydia's Daughter in Beetlejuice Sequel: 'She's Weird, but in a Different Way'.
  12. Romano, Nick (March 20, 2024). "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice...Beetlejuice returns in first look at Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  13. Romano, Nick (September 7, 2024). "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice scribe on writing the 'MacArthur Park' scene, that cameo, and more". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on September 8, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  14. Vivarelli, Nick (November 26, 2023). Willem Dafoe Back on Festival Trail in Marrakech, Talks 'Poor Things,' Reveals Role in 'Beetlejuice 2'.
  15. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named auto
  16. Kroll, Justin (December 4, 2023). Beetlejuice 2 Actor Arthur Conti Signs With WME.
  17. DiVincenzo, Alex (July 21, 2023). 'Beetlejuice 2' – We Visited the East Corinth, Vermont Filming Location of Tim Burton's Sequel.
  18. Smart, Jack (September 6, 2024). Jeffrey Jones Doesn't Return in Beetlejuice Sequel After His Controversy. Here's How the Movie Includes His Character.
  19. Masood, Areeba (September 6, 2024). Beetlejuice 2: Who Plays Charles Deetz? Why Jeffrey Jones Doesn't Return.
  20. Tim Burton Pitched 'Genius' Way to Kill Off Jeffrey Jones' Charles Deetz Character in 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' (in en).
  21. Romano, Nick (September 6, 2024). "Charles Deetz's fate in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice inspired by Tim Burton's worst nightmare (exclusive)". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  22. D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 9, 2023). 'Beetlejuice 2' Sets 2024 Fall Release Date.
  23. D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 1, 2024). 'Beetlejuice 2' Gets Official Title; Pic Still Set For Post Labor Day Theatrical Release.
  24. Klein, Brennan (February 1, 2024). Beetlejuice 2 Title Confirmed, Clever Wordplay Revealed In New Poster For Tim Burton Sequel.
  25. Tartaglione, Nancy (18 June 2024). Warner Bros Blows Away CineEurope With Fresh 'Twisters' Footage, Lights Up New 'Joker: Folie A Deux' Trailer.
  26. 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice: Warner Bros Sequel To Tally A Lot Of Bananas At B.O. With $145M Global Opening – Preview (September 3, 2024).
  27. Moreau, Jordan. "Box Office: 'Beetlejuice 2' Makes $13 Million in Previews", Variety, September 6, 2024. Retrieved on September 6, 2024. 
  28. 28.0 28.1 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' Rocking Body In Time To $100M+ After $42M+ Friday – Early Saturday AM Updatedate=September 7, 2024.
  29. D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 8, 2024). 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' Shakes Senora To $110M Opening After $42M Saturday – Early Sunday AM Update. Deadline.
  30. McClintock, Pamela (September 8, 2024). Box Office: 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' Scares Up Near-Record $110M Domestic Opening. The Hollywood Reporter.
  31. Tartaglione, Nancy (September 8, 2024). 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' Jumps In With $145M+ Global Bow; Holdovers (& Disney) Hit New Milestones; Vijay's 'GOAT' One To Watch – International Box Office. Deadline.
  32. Script error: No such module "Wd". Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (in en). Fandango Media.
  33. Dargis, Manohla (September 6, 2024). 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' Review: Delightfully Undead Again.
  34. Brooks, Xan. "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice review – Tim Burton sequel takes retro joyride through old haunts", The Guardian, 2024-08-28. (in en-GB) 
  35. Roarty, Margaret (2024-09-09). Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) Review (in en).
  36. Tim Burton: "Ho sempre voluto realizzare un horror in italiano, con 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' è come se l'avessi fatto" (in it-IT) (2024-08-28).
  37. Dumais, Manon. "La Presse à la 81e Mostra de Venise: La mariée était en noir", La Presse, 2024-08-28. (in fr-CA) 
  38. Tim Burton Didn't Make 'Beetlejuice 2' to 'Do a Big Sequel for Money': 'I Didn't Even Watch the First Movie to Prepare'. Variety (August 28, 2024).
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