'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' Scores Big Opening Weekend

It's been nearly 40 years since its predecessor was a hit, but Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the new horror comedy sequel from director Tim Burton, showed that it can still draw audiences in 2024. No doubt, a big part of the success was the casting of current star Jenna Ortega, along with a healthy dose of nostalgia from older moviegoers, but the film is getting solid reviews as well. Read on for details.

Via Variety.

Did someone say Beetlejuice’s name three times? Either way, the mischievous demon triumphantly returned to unleash his mayhem at the box office.

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” the sequel to Tim Burton’s 1988 horror comedy about a pesky poltergeist, scored a huge $110 million from 4,575 theaters in its opening weekend. Those ticket sales rank as the second-biggest September debut of all time, ahead of 2019’s “It: Chapter 2” ($91 million debut) and behind only 2017’s “It” ($123 million debut). All three of those September record holders belong to Warner Bros. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is also the year’s third best bow, coming in behind “Deadpool & Wolverine” ($211.4 million) and “Inside Out 2” ($154.2 million). The film delivered a needed jolt to the domestic box office, which was lagging after a hum-drum end to the summer season.

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” also debuted internationally with $35.4 million, bringing its global tally to $145.4 million. It cost $100 million to produce.

“This is a sensational opening for a comedy sequel 36 years after the first film,” says David A. Gross, who runs the movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research. “In 1988, ‘Beetlejuice’ was an offbeat story that started slowly and over subsequent weeks became a hit. This time, audiences know what to expect and offbeat looks even better next to the usual storylines. It’s a mainstream smash.”

Nostalgia for the first movie, as well as word of mouth for the follow-up film, propelled ticket sales to triple digits. The original “Beetlejuice” became one of the highest-grossing movies of 1988 with $74.7 million and later inspired a Tony-nominated Broadway musical, which is still touring the country. So although more than three decades have passed since the first film, which follows a devious bio-exorcist from the Netherworld who helps a recently deceased couple haunt the new inhabitants of their former home, the Ghost With the Most hasn’t left the cultural zeitgeist.

Unlike recent legacy sequels or reboots like “Twisters” or “Wonka,” which featured entirely new ensembles, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” features many familiar faces from the Netherworld and elsewhere. Burton returned to direct and brought with him Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice, Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz and Catherine O’Hara as step-mom Delia Deetz. “Wednesday” favorite Jenna Ortega, Monica Bellucci and Willem Dafoe joined the cast.

Get the rest of the story at Variety.