Audiences all across the world have been flocking to theaters to witness the great Michael Keaton make his epic return as the foul-mouthed, trouble-making poltergeist in Tim Burton’s big-screen extravaganza Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. After 34 years, the unforgettable character was back and bigger than ever, with Keaton reuniting with original film stars Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara for the highly-buzzed about sequel to the 1988 classic. The follow-up focuses on a now adult Lydia Deetz as she attempts to navigate her supernatural gift while trying to raise her angsty teenage daughter, Astrid, and deal with the shocking death of her father, Charles.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice has dominated the box office since its release on September 6, 2024, having already amassed over $153 million worldwide and garnering widespread praise and appreciation from both fans and critics alike. Lovers of the original ’80s masterpiece can’t get enough of seeing Keaton back as Betelgeuse, as well as witnessing Ryder and O’Hara team up once again on the screen, with moviegoers seeking nostalgia and comfort in the sequel. Let’s check out what makes Beetlejuice Beetlejuice a must-watch for longtime fans.
Catherine O’Hara Dazzles as Delia Deetz
The greatest aspect of the long-awaited sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was Catherine O’Hara’s dazzling portrayal as Delia Deetz, with the actress truly stealing the show and delivering a delightfully wacky performance as Lydia’s eccentric stepmother. The character was fleshed out in the horror comedy and properly allowed some time to shine, and she was finally given the opportunity to interact more with the devious and diabolical Betelgeuse, much to the delight of fans.
Seeing Delia call upon Betelgeuse in the afterlife waiting room and witnessing her not being intimidated by the rascally demon but somewhat annoyed by his presence was hilarious, and it was enjoyable witnessing her come into her own and develop a fiery attitude about the supernatural. Delia provided enlightening commentary for Lydia, frequently reminding her stepdaughter that, like Astrid, she too used to be a rebellious and angsty teenager who enjoyed making her life miserable with her attitude. The duo’s interactions came full circle as Delia was a soundboard to the stressed-out Lydia and provided some necessary guidance and insight into Astrid’s behavior.
O’Hara seemed to have tapped into the dramatic antics and energy of her other fan-favorite character, Moira Rose (of the beloved sitcom Schitt’s Creek), as Delia was hilarious when she was shrieking and sobbing while trying to capture her grief on camera for an art project. When Delia decided to take matters into her own hands and announce to Astrid at her boarding school that her grandfather Charles had passed away, her entertaining theatrics were on full display. Moviegoers also enjoyed seeing Delia’s obvious disdain for Lydia’s boyfriend, Rory, and her sassy observations and thinly veiled comments about their impending nuptials were a downright hoot. O’Hara’s performance in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice makes the film a must-watch for fans of the original Burton picture.
Burton Delivers a Heavy Dose of Nostalgia
Outside of O’Hara’s phenomenal performance in the buzzed-about flick, fans were both thrilled and relieved that the sequel captured the heart and soul of the original and didn’t try to be something it’s not. The 1988 classic had a modest budget of $15 million and just $1 million allocated for visual effects, and director Tim Burton decided to use stop-motion and puppetry in order to mimic the style of B movies and purposely make the effects look cheesy and fake. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice had a far bigger budget of $100 million and Burton could have easily gone all out with CGI and special effects, but he chose to instead remain true to the essence of the original.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice tips its hat to many elements of the ’80s knockout, such as having a choir sing Harry Belafonte’s iconic tune “Day-O” at Charles’ funeral. Similarly, Burton made sure there was a bold and over-the-top musical number performed at the climax of the film, as Betelgeuse and the Deetz gals break out in song and perform a spirited rendition of Richard Harris’ “Macarthur Park” as Delia’s wedding ceremony. The opening shot of the sequel also features a camera panning over the small town of Winter River, Connecticut and is also the Maitland’s scale model of the community.
Other Easter eggs and celebrated references in the follow-up include an appearance of The Handbook for the Recently Deceased, Lydia rocking her iconic red wedding dress when Betelgeuse once again tries to marry her, as well as the return of adored character Bob the shrunken head and the enormous wasteland “sandworms”. Part of the reason why Beetlejuice Beetlejuice has become the global hit it has is because of the nostalgia factor, with fans feeling as though the film is a return to form for Burton. In CBC Radio‘s glowing review, they declared, “There’s something comforting in seeing Tim Burton exorcizing his demons, bringing everyone back together and conjuring up some of the warmth that was in the original.”
Dafoe’s Ghost Detective Makes a Splash
While passionate fans were ecstatic to see Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara reprise their unforgettable roles for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the addition of acting chameleon Willem Dafoe and his character Wolf Jackson in the sequel was a brilliant decision for both Burton and the studio. Jackson is a determined ghost detective who was a B movie action star when he was alive and was tragically killed in an on-set accident, and he became in charge of investigating crimes in the afterlife realm. He attempts to clean up the major mess that Betelgeuse, the Deetzes, and Dolores cause, doing so with dramatic movie star flair.
Jackson delivers rousing speeches and embraces his actor training and background as he pursues the chaos-causing culprits, hilariously reading from cue cards as he prepares and motivates his men to locate Lydia and Betelgeuse. Seeing Jackson ask Astrid and Lydia if they want to snap a quick picture of him as he prepares to apprehend the pesky poltergeist was amusing, and it was a delight seeing the seasoned star embrace his campy and silly side and serve up a memorable performance in the flick.
Monica Belluci was also wickedly good in her role as Delores, as she wanders both the afterlife and Earth searching for Betelgeuse and leaving death and destruction in her wake; both new characters only added to the charm and quirkiness of the celebrated sequel. With such a stacked ensemble cast and Burton’s signature style and distinctive touch on full display, it’s no wonder that Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is taking the world by storm and emerging as both a certified critical and commercial knockout and a worthy follow-up to the original ’80s classic. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is currently available to watch in theaters.
