Last week, Tim Burton’s new film, the sequel to Beetlejuice, opened worldwide 36 years after the original story. The film grossed $110 million in its opening weekend, the third-highest for a 2024 film and the second-highest for a September release of all time.
This success confirms that Beetlejuice’s cult status remains today and that audiences are still able to return to Tim Burton’s unique world.
We’ve already watched the new film, and we’ll tell you why viewers liked the film so much. Spoiler alert for everyone!
Briefly
Burton is a genius
The original Beetlejuice was a breakthrough in the genre.
The best return to the afterlife
The return of old heroes and the appearance of new ones – everyone will be happy
The special effects and gothic are great.
There’s a weird sense of humor here, but you’ll like it.
For those who like problems
Burton is a genius
What is the film about?: The story follows Lydia Deetz (the character from the first film), who, as an adult, uses her paranormal abilities to host a popular ghost show.
After her father’s death, Lydia returns to her old home and once again encounters the demon Beetlejuice, who, despite his old tricks, has his own goals. At this time, the main character’s daughter Astrid is drawn into the afterlife, which forces Lydia to ask Beetlejuice for help.
Tim Burton is one of those directors whose films cannot be confused with anything else. His unique style, imbued with gothic motifs, absurdity and black humor, has made him a cult figure in America since the late 1980s. From his debut great adventure Pee-wee to such masterpieces as Edward Scissorhands and Ed Wood, Burton has always found a way to show something strange and unusual on the screen.
Burton uses dark, gloomy atmospheres, gothic settings and stylized imagery. His worlds were often filled with castles, graveyards and menacing landscapes with bizarre architecture. The protagonists of his films are often “outcasts” or strange individuals. Burton is distinguished by distinctive humorwhich often balances between absurdity and darkness. He masterfully combines comic situations with elements of horror and creepiness.
Finally, Burton favors the use of practical effects, miniatures, and stop-motion animation. This creates a handmade feel and adds a unique visual richness to his films. No one else can do this.
In 1988, he released Beetlejuice, a film that became an instant hit and cemented the director’s status as Hollywood’s foremost and greatest queer visionary.
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The original Beetlejuice was a breakthrough in the genre.
The first part of Beetlejuice tells the story of Barbara and Adam Maitland, a young married couple who become ghosts in their own house after their death. When the eccentric Deetz family appears, a struggle for space between the dead and the living begins in the house. To get rid of the new tenants, the Maitlands call upon the demon Beetlejuice, a chaotic, comical and at the same time frightening character who can solve their problems. But once Beetlejuice appears, everything becomes even crazier.
The film became a cult classic due to traditional factors.: Tim Burton’s amazing direction, Michael Keaton’s mastery, stunning special effects for its time and Danny Elfman’s magnificent soundtrack.
Beetlejuice was and remains one of the best examples of black comedy, where humor and horror go hand in hand to create the necessary atmosphere. By turning the afterlife into a colorful, strange, yet enchanting place, Burton made a film that remains relevant today.
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The best return to the afterlife
After a nearly 36-year wait, through sequels and reboots, Tim Burton has decided to return to the Beetlejuice story. The new film, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, not only brings the familiar characters back to life, but also expands the original universe by introducing new storylines and characters.
Lydia Deetz, now a grown woman, uses her mediumship abilities to work on television, hosting a popular ghost show. However, the death of her father and a conflict with her daughter Astrid once again triggers memories of how she once summoned Beetlejuice. But this demonic character is not just coming back – he has his own plans and problems, including a vengeful ex-wife, Dolores, who is eager for revenge.
The film’s plot revolves around family problems, Lydia’s reconciliation with her daughter, and their journey to the afterlife. Unlike the original, Beetlejuice is more of a nuisance than the main antagonist. He again uses his tricks and chaos to further his own agenda, but it’s always accompanied by his trademark jokes and eccentric antics.
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The return of old heroes and the appearance of new ones – everyone will be happy
Michael Keaton returns as Beetlejuice with the same intensity he had 36 years ago. In fact, he embraces the role as if not a day has passed since he first donned the pinstriped suit.
Keaton is the central figure in the film, and each of his appearances is characterized by self-effacing humor and unpredictability. Winona Ryder, in the video for Lydia, does a great job of conveying her character’s maturity and internal struggle. She’s no longer just a gothic teenager, but a mother trying to mend her relationship with her daughter while dealing with her own grief.
Jenna Ortega Was Made for Burton Movies — a rising Hollywood star who plays this family dynamic beautifully, playing a teenage girl trying to find herself in the world of the dead and the living. Oh, and she quotes Dostoevsky. Great character.
Catherine O’Hara returns as Delia Deetz, Lydia’s stepmother, and once again turns to her talent. Her eccentric and grotesque character contains many comedic moments. She skillfully balances between hysterical eccentricity and humanity, which makes her one of the most striking characters in the film.
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The special effects and gothic are great
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a visual feast. Tim Burton once again shows why he is a master of creating unique worlds. The afterlife is once again presented to the audience as a place of absurdity and phantasmagoria, with colors, vivid details and incredible creatures.
The visual effects in the film are a mix of classic stop-motion animation and modern CGI techniques. Instead of overloading the computer-generated sound effects of some of Burton’s later films, there is a return to man-madethat fans loved so much in the original. The afterlife is once again full of surprises, strange creatures and warped spaces, and every scene is filled with the director’s creative exuberance.
Danny Elfman’s music plays a key role in Tim Burton’s atmospheric films, and Beetlejuice doesn’t go unnoticed. Elfman has been Burton’s regular composer since their first collaboration on Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985), and his music has become part of the director’s oeuvre.
For Beetlejuice, Elfman brings back his signature combination of orchestral grandeur with a dark, whimsical energy. The soundtrack perfectly supports the film’s gothic and eccentric atmosphere, adding a sense of mystery and fun. Elfman’s music is able to combine elements of humor with a touch of dread, which perfectly suits the mood of the film.
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There’s a weird sense of humor here, but you’ll like it.
The film’s script combines both absurd humor and elements of black comedy, just like the original. Beetlejuice is still the same hero who likes to joke on the edge of what is allowed.
Its results and unpredictability are laughable, but beneath the surface lie dark motives and horrors. The film is a black comedy at its finest, presenting death, the afterlife, and gore through a humorous lens that allows the viewer to simultaneously enjoy and be horrified. Typical Burton!
The authors even use repetition of the signature jokes from the first part. Fans definitely do not like these references.
In essence, the humor in the film is a signature mix of centric dialogues, situational absurdity and jokes, borders with the afterlife and death.
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For those who like problems
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a film for fans of Tim Burton and those who love unusual, gothic cinema with elements of comedy and fantasy. It will be especially interesting for those who grew up on Burton’s films and appreciate his unique visual style and sense of humor.
The film retains many of the same elements that the original Beetlejuice cult classic established: dark humor, grotesque characters, and the visual splendor of the afterlife. However, the sequel also faces certain challenges, such as an overstuffed plot and a lack of development for some key characters.
This film will also be appreciated by fans of black comedy and those who want to see something unusual on the big screen.
Overall, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a film that will please both the original’s authority and those who appreciate Tim Burton’s unique worlds. While it doesn’t quite reach the level of the first, it still offers a nostalgic feel to the world filled with humor, weirdness, and visual splendor. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s a worthy addition to Burton’s films and a happy return to familiar characters.
Source: Iphones RU

I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.