40 Facts About The Movie Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)

Title and Release Date

The long-awaited sequel to the 1988 cult classic Beetlejuice is finally here. Titled Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, this 2024 film promises to bring back the magic of Tim Burton's earlier works while introducing new elements to captivate both old and new fans.

1. The sequel is titled Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and is set to be released in the United States on September 6, 2024, following its premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on August 28, 2024.

Director and Screenplay

Tim Burton returns to direct, ensuring the sequel retains the unique style and charm of the original.

2. Directed by Tim Burton, the screenplay was written by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, with a story by Gough, Millar, and Seth Grahame-Smith.

Cast

The film boasts a mix of returning favorites and fresh faces, promising a dynamic ensemble.

3. The film stars Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O'Hara reprising their roles from the original, alongside new cast members Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Jenna Ortega, and Willem Dafoe.

Plot

Set 36 years after the original, the story explores new dimensions of the Deetz family's life and their interactions with the Afterlife.

4. The story takes place 36 years after the events of the first film. The Deetz family returns to their home in Winter River after Charles Deetz's unexpected death. Lydia's life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and accidentally opens the portal to the Afterlife, releasing Betelgeuse.

Character Absence

Some original characters are notably absent, with their absence explained within the story.

5. Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin do not return as Barbara Maitland and Charles Deetz, respectively. Burton explained that their characters were not needed for the story he wanted to tell, which focuses on three generations within the Deetz family. To explain their absence, the film reveals that the Maitlands used a loophole to leave their former house during the interim between this film and the original.

Production Team

A talented team of visual effects experts and producers bring the film's surreal world to life.

6. The production VFX supervisor is Angus Bickerton, working with VFX producer Alex Bicknell, supported by visual effects studios Framestore, One of Us, and BUF.

Budget and Box Office Projections

Despite a modest budget, the film is expected to perform well at the box office.

7. The film was made on a budget of $15 million, significantly lower than the original. It is projected to gross $65–80 million in its opening weekend in the United States and Canada.

Critical Response

Early reviews suggest the film has been well-received by critics.

8. The film has received generally positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, 78% of 40 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.3/10. Metacritic assigned the film a score of 63 out of 100, based on 25 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.

Visual Effects

The film features a blend of practical effects and stop-motion animation, adding to its unique visual style.

9. The film features impressive visual effects, including practical effects and stop-motion animation. The use of these techniques adds to the surreal and wonderful imagery characteristic of Burton's style.

Music

Danny Elfman returns to compose the score, adding to the film's nostalgic charm.

10. The score is composed by Danny Elfman, who also worked on the original. The wild musical sequences and Elfman's score are highly praised for their contribution to the film's magic and charm.

Script and Storytelling

The script captures the essence of Burton's storytelling style, blending humor, darkness, and heart.

11. The script is clever, funny, touching, and dark, without ever being too much. It lovingly captures the essence of Burton's storytelling style, blending the hilarious, macabre, and the heartfelt all in one.

Cast Reactions

Returning cast members were enthusiastic about revisiting their iconic roles.

12. Winona Ryder was enthusiastic about the sequel idea, which was first announced in February 2022. Michael Keaton has not missed a single beat in resurrecting one of his most iconic characters, Beetlejuice.

Catherine O'Hara's Performance

Catherine O'Hara shines in her role, delivering memorable lines and scenes.

13. Catherine O'Hara delivers every single melodramatic beat and theatrical line with so much gusto, stealing many scenes and having the best lines. She remains reliably her drama queen self, next to Keaton.

Beetlejuice's Character

Michael Keaton's performance as Beetlejuice remains as energetic and irreverent as ever.

14. Beetlejuice is the same rude, crude, over-the-top hilarious prankster he was in the original. Keaton's performance is impeccable, capturing the character's irreverence and energy perfectly.

Original Script

The original script for the 1988 film was far darker than the final version.

15. The original script by Michael McDowell was far darker than the final script. It imagined Beetlejuice as a winged demon whose human form was that of a small Middle Eastern man, with a plan for the Deetzes involving rape and murder rather than mischief and marriage.

Script Revisions

Revisions to the script made it more whimsical and family-friendly.

16. The script was rewritten by screenwriters Larry Wilson and Warren Skaaren to make it more whimsical and comedic. Tim Burton wanted Warren Skaaren to bring some playfulness and music to the script.

Early Drafts

Early drafts of the script included more gruesome elements that were later toned down.

17. Early drafts of the script offered a Maitland home for everyone and featured a more gruesome car crash for the Maitlands. These elements were toned down to create a more balanced and family-friendly film.

Title Changes

The original title for the 1988 film was almost very different.

18. The original title for the 1988 film was almost "House Ghosts." Tim Burton jokingly suggested this title, but it was eventually changed to Beetlejuice.

Beetlejuice's Name

The character's name has an astronomical origin.

19. Beetlejuice was named after a star. The character's name is a reference to the star Betelgeuse, which is a red supergiant star in the constellation Orion.

Day-O at Otho's Funeral

A memorable song from the original film played a significant role in real life.

20. The song "Day-O" played at Otho's real-life funeral. This song, made famous by Harry Belafonte, is a classic that adds to the film's nostalgic and whimsical atmosphere.

Beetlejuice's Minimal Appearance

Despite being the title character, Beetlejuice has limited screen time.

21. Beetlejuice is barely in his own movie. Despite being the main character, he appears relatively little on screen, adding to his enigmatic and mysterious nature.

Test Audiences

Feedback from test audiences led to a happier ending for Beetlejuice.

22. Test audiences encouraged a happier ending for Beetlejuice. The film's team went back to create an upbeat epilogue featuring Beetlejuice hassling a sawed-in-half woman before being hexed by a witch doctor.

Lydia Deetz Role

The role of Lydia Deetz was initially turned down by several actresses.

23. The role of Lydia Deetz was rejected by several young actresses, including Lori Loughlin, Diane Lane, Sarah Jessica Parker, Brooke Shields, Justine Bateman, Molly Ringwald, and Jennifer Connelly. Winona Ryder eventually won the part after Juliette Lewis auditioned.

Animated Series

The original film inspired a long-running animated series.

24. A cartoon spinoff of Beetlejuice ran for 94 episodes. The show completely reimagined the relationship between Lydia Deetz and the titular character, with Beetlejuice taking her on wild adventures in the "Neitherworld." The Maitlands do not exist in this spinoff, but Lydia gets a cast of classmates as well as ghoulish friends like a skeleton bodybuilder and a tap-dancing spider.

Awards and Recognition

The original Beetlejuice received several awards and accolades.

25. The original Beetlejuice won an Oscar for Best Makeup. It also received awards from the Saturn Awards for Best Makeup and Best Horror Film. Years later, it finished 88th on AFI’s list of all-time best comedies.

Broadway Musical

Beetlejuice was adapted into a Broadway musical, gaining critical acclaim.

26. A Beetlejuice musical was produced for Broadway, starring Alex Brightman as Beetlejuice. The musical was nominated for eight Tonys but did not win any.

COVID-19 Impact

The pandemic affected the run of the Beetlejuice musical.

27. The COVID-19 pandemic paused the run of the Beetlejuice musical, but it returned to Broadway in 2022 with Brightman still in the role of Beetlejuice.

Sequel Ideas

Tim Burton had plans for a sequel as early as 1990.

28. Tim Burton had plans for a sequel to Beetlejuice as early as 1990. He even hired the writer Jonathan Gems to pen a screenplay for a film called “Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian,” but that idea never found footing.

Modern Sequel Idea

A new script for a sequel was developed in 2011 but was later revived.

29. In 2011, Seth Grahame-Smith was hired to write a new script for a Beetlejuice sequel set in the present time with an adult Lydia. This idea fell by the wayside but was revived in February 2022 with Keaton and Ryder reportedly returning.

Production Timeline

The film's production progressed steadily, with a rough cut completed by early 2024.

30. By March 2024, Michael Keaton had seen a completed rough cut of the film and stated that further editing would occur thereafter. Jeffrey Jones would not reprise his role as Charles Deetz in the film, as his character was revealed to have been killed off in the trailers.

Visual Effects Studios

Several visual effects studios collaborated to create the film's stunning visuals.

31. The film's visual effects were supported by Framestore, One of Us, and BUF. These studios worked together to create the impressive visual effects seen in the film.

IMAX and 4DX Release

The film will be available in various formats for an immersive viewing experience.

32. The film is scheduled to be theatrically released by Warner Bros. Pictures on September 6, 2024, including IMAX, 4DX, and ScreenX engagements.

Venice Film Festival Premiere

The film had its world premiere at a prestigious film festival.

33. The film opened the 81st Venice International Film Festival on August 28, 2024, in a non-competitive slot.

CineEurope Presentation

Warner Bros. announced the film's overseas release at a major industry event.

34. 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.

Future Sequels

Tim Burton hinted at the possibility of more Beetlejuice films in the future.

35. 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…” This suggests that there may be more Beetlejuice films in the future, but no concrete plans have been announced yet.

Burton's Return to Form

The film is seen as a return to form for Tim Burton, blending humor, horror, and heart.

36. The film is seen as a return to form for Tim Burton, blending the hilarious, macabre, and the heartfelt all in one. It captures the magic of his earlier films like Edward Scissorhands and Dumbo.

Characters' Evolution

The characters have evolved logically and beautifully, adding depth to the story.

37. The characters that needed to evolve have done so logically and beautifully. Beetlejuice himself and Delia Deetz remain consistent with their original portrayals, while new characters like Astrid add fresh dynamics to the story.

Music Sequences

The film features wild musical sequences that enhance its charm and whimsy.

38. The wild musical sequences and Elfman’s score are incredibly good. They add to the film's charm and whimsy, making it one of the most fun and joyous experiences in theaters this year.

Practical Effects

The use of practical effects and stop-motion animation adds to the film's unique visual style.

39. The practical effects and stop-motion animation are brilliant and charming. They remind viewers of Burton's ability to create surreal and wonderful imagery.

Overall Reception

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a highly anticipated sequel that captures the essence of the original while introducing new elements to captivate audiences.

40. Overall, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a return to form for Tim Burton. It is one of the best movies of the year, capturing the essence of his storytelling style while introducing new elements to captivate audiences. With its blend of humor, horror, and heart, it is a must-watch for both old and new fans of the franchise.

Final Thoughts on Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) brings back the quirky charm of the original while adding fresh twists. Directed by Tim Burton, the film features returning stars Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder, alongside new faces like Jenna Ortega. The story, set 36 years later, dives into the Deetz family's new adventures with the mischievous Betelgeuse. With a budget of $15 million, it's projected to make a big splash at the box office. Critics have given it generally positive reviews, praising its clever script, practical effects, and Danny Elfman's score. The film's blend of humor, horror, and heart makes it a must-watch for fans old and new. Whether you're a longtime Beetlejuice fan or new to the franchise, this sequel promises a fun, spooky ride. Don't miss it when it hits theaters on September 6, 2024!