“Beetlejuice” Returns: Tim Burton’s Cult Classic Resurrected After 36 Years

Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder reprise their roles in a new chapter of the iconic 1988 film.

Over three decades after the first "Beetlejuice" came out in theaters, "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" hit the big screens on Sept. 6. Credit: Bruno Guerrero on Unsplash

Thirty-six years after its original adaptation, Tim Burton’s uniquely eerie film “Beetlejuice” has been brought back to life just in time for the chilly fall weather. This long-awaited sequel, titled “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” is a means of nostalgia for most, but also stands on its own for those who haven’t seen the original. 

The movie follows Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) and her daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega) as they navigate life following a death in the family. Lydia, 36 years later, is still dealing with her medium abilities while being haunted by the over-friendly demon, Beetlejuice. 

The aspect viewers dislike the most about sequels is the lack of original details; however, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” does a great job of creating a new story, while also staying true to its origins. Having Michael Keaton (Beetlejuice) and Ryder reprise their roles allows fans of the first movie to stay connected with the original film. Along with the cast, the iconic red overpass and white house on the hill also remain untouched from the original form. 

The newer cast also adds new elements to the story. Ortega is undoubtedly climbing her way to the top of the film industry, and this was just one more step for her. In an interview with CNN, Catherine O’Hara and Ryder were asked about why the sequel took so long to be made. “Jenna had to be born,” O’Hara responded. That statement just proves the point of Ortega being the perfect casting decision to play Lydia Deetz’s equally emo and gothic daughter. 

Similar to the song “Jump In The Line” by Harry Belafonte, which was huge for the first movie, Richard Harris’ “MacArthur Park” is heavily used in the 2024 film. It is amusing to see another song used as a theme to the movie. After all is said and done, these songs become the tunes that get stuck in your head for days. People will likely end up associating Harris’ hit from 1968 with this sequel.

After seeing this movie, I felt as though some of the plot details were short-lived and ultimately underdeveloped. Every time a solid twist in the story was shown, it was over, and it was on to the next. The saving grace of this film is inarguably the comedy. O’Hara gives an outstanding performance, and I couldn’t help but laugh anytime her character, Delia Deetz, was included in a scene. Keaton also never fails to give the audience a creepy and unsettling, yet hilarious version of the titular character. Throughout the film, Beetlejuice’s character seems to be all over the place, while dealing with multiple of his past lovers. Though Keaton’s character is known to be a demon, this new adaptation paints him to be more of a lover than a fighter.

Despite some of the plot issues, Tim Burton has outdone himself in this new adaptation. The special effects and gothic makeup stick to their original appearance, but with the help of newer technology, the CGI and costumes are taken to a different level. Lovers of the strange and unusual can get that vibe from this movie, while also having a good time watching it. The movie is not only a source of entertainment and nostalgia, but it also reminds the audience to keep living.