The sequel to the iconic 1988 film “Beetlejuice” has come to theaters Sept. 6, continuing the legacy of Lydia Deetz, played by Winona Ryder, three decades after crowds last saw her.
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” follows Astrid Deetz, the daughter of Lydia, who is played by Jenna Ortega, as their family returns home to Winter River after a tragic family incident. Astrid unknowingly opens a portal to the afterlife, summoning the famed demon, Beetlejuice, played once again by Michael Keaton, and chaos ensues.
Some of the original cast has returned for this sequel including Ryder, Keaton and Catherine O’Hara who returns to play Delia Deetz. The director of the first film, Tim Burton, also returned 36 years later for “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.”
Two of the iconic characters, Barbara and Adam, played by Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin, will not be in the new film. However, other famous actors will also be joining the franchise, including Monica Bellucci as the horrifying ex-wife of Beetlejuice and Willem Dafoe as a ghost cop for the afterlife.
The essence of the original film is mirrored in its sequel with Tim Burton’s infamous stop motion animation making a reappearance and handmade set pieces as opposed to using CGI. This includes the classic “Beetlejuice” monster, the giant Sandworm, returning from the afterlife to be in the sequel.
According to Burton, the large gap between the first and second movie is the reason why a third movie is highly unlikely and could take another decade to make. Some fans were upset by this because of the opportunity to have the third film be titled, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.The film has a massive following, though, and a musical based on the original film came out in 2018.
The new movie’s run time is one hour and 44 minutes and has amassed a Rotten Tomatoes score of 78%.
Along with the release of the movie, theaters have also launched new popcorn buckets and drink cups inspired by the “Beetlejuice” movies. Some theaters have Sandworm themed popcorn buckets and others have ones that are made to look like Beetlejuice’s tombstone.
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” has been a highly anticipated movie for several months after its official announcement in February 2024. The horror/comedy will shock viewers with new twists and turns, but with the nostalgic feelings of its predecessor.
