After decades of fans hoping and praying for a sequel to the beloved ’80s horror comedy classic Beetlejuice, moviegoers were finally given the treat of a lifetime when Tim Burton brought back the iconic characters for the long-awaited 2024 follow-up Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Touting a decorated ensemble cast led by the original film’s stars Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara as well as newcomers Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, and Willem Dafoe, the buzzed-about sequel has completely bewitched the world upon its electrifying debut.
Viewers were curious to see how Burton would tackle a new installment, as it had been 36 years since the celebrated hit first premiered. The acclaimed filmmaker delivered plenty of feel-good nostalgia, horror, and zany humor, brilliantly paying homage to the 1988 original and leaving delightful callbacks for fans to enjoy. Here are 15 Easter eggs you might have missed in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
15 Miss Shannon’s School For Girls
In the original 1988 beloved classic, Lydia attends Miss Shannon’s School for Girls after moving to Winter River, Connecticut, and it doesn’t take long until the goth, macabre-obsessed teenager becomes a bit of a social pariah because of her unique interests and the fact that she moved into the town’s resident haunted house. In the first film, her fellow classmates are seen sporting a plaid uniform as Lydia takes off on her bike to head back home.
A Sweet Nod to Lydia’s Adolescence
36 years later, Lydia now has an angsty teenage daughter of her own named Astrid, and the girl has made it abundantly clear she does not care for the many choices her mother has made, including her accepting a marriage proposal by her cringe-worthy boyfriend/television producer Rory. Astrid hops on a bike and flees the situation, riding through the quaint town and passing by Miss Shannon’s and other local hot spots, proving that even in the decades since the Deetz family arrived, the foundation of Winter River remains intact.
14 An Aerial Shot of Winter River
The opening scene of Beetlejuice memorably features a unique aerial view of Winter River as audiences are given a look at what the picturesque Connecticut town has to offer, and the imagery is intermingled with shots of Adam Maitland’s miniature model recreation of the community that he works on up in the attic. The horror comedy’s introduction also showcases the infamous red-covered bridge that the Maitlands tragically died on after going off the road, thus kicking off the film’s wild chain of events.
Burton Honors The Original Classic
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice brilliantly captured the heart and soul of the original from the sequel’s very first moments, as the follow-up also begins with a look at the distinct town as well as Adam’s impressive model, with the aerial shot ultimately stopping on the iconic Deetz house on the hill. Not only does it mirror the ’80s hit’s distinct imagery, but it also features the same text for the opening credits and provides a slightly modernized title card, thus signaling new life for the fan-favorite flick.
13 Call Betelgeuse! Flier
As was the case in the first installment, Betelgeuse was able to reach out to both the Maitlands and Lydia from beyond the grave with the help of a clever and not-so-subtle flier encouraging the recently-deceased couple and troubled teenager to say his name three times. Obviously, the strange and sleazy bio-exorcist had his own selfish ulterior motives in “helping” both Adam and Barbara as well as Lydia, which would hilariously play out on screen.
Betelgeuse’s Direct Help Hotline
In Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the legendary ad once again makes an appearance, albeit with a slightly updated layout and a bit more intricate cartoons. Astrid stumbles upon the flyer while exploring the attic and Adam’s model, and when her mother realizes that Betelgeuse is trying to target her daughter, Lydia is quick to yank the advertisement away and frantically tells Astrid to never say his name. Unsurprisingly, Lydia’s objections only intensify Astrid’s curiosity to summon the sly spirit.
12 Charles Died From His Beloved Hobby
One actor from the ’80s juggernaut who is noticeably absent from the sequel is none other than Deetz family patriarch Charles, who was portrayed by Jeffrey Jones and whose on-screen counterpart was a massive fan of bird-watching. While Jones did not reprise his role for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Charles is still a huge focal point of the flick as his loved ones gather back in Winter River for his funeral, with his death kickstarting the film’s events.
Charles’ Wholesome Hobby Leads to His Demise
In the original, Charles’ love and adoration for all things bird-related is front and center, as he spends most of his time checking his binoculars in search of the animal and has paintings and stuffed dead birds all throughout his office. His passion for birds is what ultimately led to his demise in the sequel, as he ended up going on a bird-watching trip that resulted in his plane crashing and him being viciously attacked and killed by a shark. His wife Delia fiercely blamed Charles’ bird obsession with causing his death, and not the shark that chomped him in half.
11 The Return of “The Banana Boat Song”
Few songs have become as iconic and synonymous with a Hollywood film quite like Harry Belafonte’s “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song),” with the distinct Jamaican folk tune becoming a beloved and dazzling moment in Beetlejuice and delivering a truly iconic sequence in the original. Fans couldn’t get enough of the Deetzes and their curious visitors bursting into song when the Maitlands took over their dinner party in an effort to terrify their unwanted houseguests, thus leading to the legendary musical number.
An Iconic Tune Returns
“Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” makes its epic return in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice when a children’s choir performs the show-stopping tune at Charles’ funeral, with the moving rendition adopting a more somber and sorrowful tone in comparison to the upbeat version of the original. It was a no-brainer that the classic Belafonte song had to be featured in the sequel, as it holds a special place in the hearts of passionate fans and delivered a much-appreciated dose of nostalgia.
10 Deetz Art Center Statue
Delia Deetz is known for her eccentric taste in art and downright peculiar approach to sculpting and creating designs, and she taps into her bizarre aesthetic when she proudly transforms her Winter River home with her quirky sculptures and odd decorating approach. In Beetlejuice, one of Delia’s kooky sculptures nearly kills her during renovations on their newly purchased home, with the art piece amusingly trapping her during the process.
Delia’s Offbeat Art Creations
For the sequel, Delia’s unconventional artwork and distinct sculptures once again take center stage, as one of them is shown at the private boarding school where Astrid goes, with the monstrosity sitting in the courtyard and featuring weird hands and spiky fingers. It’s likely that Delia donated the whimsical work of art to the school as a gift, as she has a Soho gallery where she keeps her most edgy and prized designs while some also remain at her house on the hill.
9 Lydia & Betelgeuse’s Wedding: Part 2
Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder had phenomenal chemistry when they first shared the screen in the 1988 knockout, as their entertaining banter and Betelgeuse’s conniving antics led him to try and marry the teenage girl as a way to escape the confinements of the afterlife. Of course, Lydia had the help of the kind and caring Maitlands to prevent the nuptials from occurring, and 36 years later Betelgeuse tried yet again to wed the goth character and get her down the aisle.
Here Comes the Bride?
Betelgeuse’s frilly and dated purple tuxedo and Lydia’s unforgettable red wedding dress make their triumphant return in 2024’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, as Lydia once again finds herself forced to marry the devious spirit after he helps rescue Astrid from the afterlife and the dangerous Jeremy. Betelgeuse plans to wed the legendary leading lady at the town chapel and they once again don the popular costumes, though their ceremony is interrupted by both his soul-sucking ex-wife and the determined ghost detective.
8 Show-Stopping Lip Sync Number
The iconic dinner scene featured in Beetlejuice saw the Deetzes and their guests breaking out into a lively rendition of Harry Belafonte’s “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)”, with Delia, Charles, and Otho bursting out into song and lip-syncing along to the cheerful tune.
With the help of the Handbook for the Recently Deceased, Otho attempts to summon Adam and Barbara during the meal and holds a séance, though the couple attempts to flip the script and frighten the Deetzes and make them leave the house once and for all.
A Wonderfully Weird Grand Finale
Naturally, Tim Burton knew that Beetlejuice Beetlejuice had to have a show-stopping musical number of its own and instead of taking the easy way out and once again performing “Day-O”, the celebrated filmmaker had the characters lip sync along to Richard Harris’ “MacArthur Park.”
Fittingly, the ’60s song talks of an ill-fated romance, which Harris compares to a cake left collapsing in the rain. Watching Lydia, Delia, Astrid, and Rory perform the offbeat number was a hoot, as was seeing Betelgeuse’s own soulful rendition of the single.
7 A Nod to Ghost House
In the highly-anticipated sequel, Lydia has created and hosts a successful talk show entitled Ghost House, for which she uses her wondrous spiritual capabilities to commune with the dead and investigate terrifying hauntings, interviewing desperate families in need of help. Seeing Lydia embrace her powers and star in the show (largely because of Rory’s greedy and exploitative intentions) was interesting character development, and the program clearly poked fun at paranormal shows like Ghost Hunters.
A Callback to the Studio’s Original Name Choice
Rory wants nothing more than to capitalize on Lydia’s psychic capabilities (whether he truly believes in her powers or not), and she has grown overwhelmed by visions of Betelgeuse and the prospect that he is trying to make a comeback from the grave.
Ghost House also is a cheeky reference to the original title Warner Bros. wanted the film to be named, as the studio felt House Ghosts was fitting for the project; Burton jokingly suggested the name “Scared Sheetless” instead, and was flabbergasted when Warner Bros. actually considered running with the title. Thankfully, Beetlejuice ended up being the winning title.
6 Danny DeVito’s Homage to Batman
Tim Burton collaborator and beloved Hollywood staple Danny DeVito makes a brief yet memorable cameo in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, in which the popular performer appears as an afterlife janitor who is brutally murdered at the hands of Delores. The doomed character walks around the hallways in the Neitherworld with his headphones on, making a pitstop in the janitor’s closet and taking a swig from a bottle of floor varnish, with the liquid oozing from his mouth and hinting that he likely died by suicide.
DeVito Tips His Hat to the Penguin
The dark liquid spilling out of his mouth seems to be a tribute to the fate his Batman Returns counterpart the Penguin experienced, as the diabolical villain’s death scene in the ’90s blockbuster hit also included the character having a black substance trickling out of his mouth. DeVito’s appearance in Beetlejuice once again reunited him with both Burton and Keaton, as they had notably starred in the aforementioned superhero flick as well as the director’s 2019 Disney venture Dumbo.
5 Little Jane Makes an Appearance
After the tragic death of Adam and Barbara Maitland in Beetlejuice, their cherished Winter River home is put up for sale by tenacious local real estate agent Jane Butterfield, who was also related to Barbara and encouraged her to sell the quirky residence prior to their untimely demise. Jane managed to swoop in and sell the property to the eccentric Deetzes, and Lydia interacts with both Jane and her aptly named daughter Jane Jr. as they prepare to move into the home.
Real Estate Is a Family Affair
The sequel reveals that the real estate bug must have been passed down to Jane Butterfield Jr., as she pursued her mother’s career and remained in Winter River to follow in her parent’s footsteps. Little Jane makes it her mission to sell the famous house after the death of Charles Deetz and even gives Lydia some insight into the state of the town and some crucial information regarding Jeremy’s spine-tingling backstory. It is likely that a career in real estate will remain a family tradition, as Little Jane also named her own daughter Jane.
4 Betelgeuse Loves The Office?
When fans are reintroduced to the sly and devious Betelgeuse in the long-awaited sequel, the scheming spirit ends up landing a job as the “Afterlife Call Center Manager” in the Neitherworld, where he oversees a group of men with shrunken heads including the beloved Bob. Of course, Betelgeuse always thought he was quite the catch and far superior to others, as proven by the coffee mug he keeps sitting next to his photo of a teenaged Lydia on his desk (whom he still clearly pines for).
Betelgeuse’s Binge-Watching Is Revealed
The coffee mug reads “World’s Best Boss” and is the same cup that Michael Scott sported in The Office, and it certainly appears that Betelgeuse did a little binge-watching of the comedy series in the 36 years since he last interacted with Lydia. The mug is highlighted once again later in the movie when poor Bob (wearing Betelgeuse’s signature striped suit) is forced to hide under Betelgeuse’s desk when his vengeful ex-wife comes looking for the evasive titular character.
3 Christian Slater’s Surprising “Cameo”
In a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, eagle-eyed fans noticed an interesting element when Astrid was exploring the family attic and discovered an old photo album tucked in a box of her late father’s belongings. The teenager was flipping through pictures of her parents when they were younger, as Astrid enjoyed seeing Lydia and Richard together and happy after their later divorce and his heartbreaking passing.
Christian Slater’s Surprise Appearance
One snapshot of the happy and in love couple was actually an image of Winona Ryder posing with her Heathers co-star Christian Slater, with a younger image of Richard portrayer Santiago Cabrera being digitally imposed over Slater’s head. The photo was likely taken shortly after the release of the 1989 black comedy classic, and most moviegoers didn’t notice the callback to Ryder’s other celebrated ’80s hit and how Slater inadvertently made a “cameo” in the blockbuster sequel.
2 A Callback to Jenna Ortega’s Scream Days
Winona Ryder’s decorated acting resume wasn’t the only one focused on in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, as Jenna Ortega’s horror roots were also highlighted when Astrid reminisced on the many peculiar Halloween costumes she and her father would come up with for the spooky holiday. In the movie, Astrid dresses up like Marie Curie for her get together with Jeremy, and she opens up about a time when she was a little girl when she created a costume inspired by Edvard Munch’s painting “The Scream.”
Ortega Is a Bona Fide Horror Heroine
When the scene mentions “The Scream”, it was likely also referencing Ortega’s role as Tara in the two latest Sceam movies, as Ghostface’s signature mask is quite similar to the Munch painting. The enduring slasher franchise as well as her exceptional work in Wednesday has helped Ortega emerge as one of the spine-tingling genre’s most sensational and buzzed about stars, and her appearance in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is just another feather in her stellar horror cap.
1 Burton’s Dig at Disney
When Lydia is having a conversation with Jane Butterfield Jr. about selling the house and is given some information about the current townsfolk, she reveals to the realtor that Astrid was never one to wear traditional costumes and always thought outside the box. Lydia tells Jane that the closest Astrid came to going as a Disney character for Halloween was when she dressed up as Cinderella’s dead mother, indicating that the child-friendly media franchise has no place in their macabre-loving household.
Burton’s Not-So-Subtle Disney Jab
The gruesome joke also has a double meaning, as it was interpreted as a thinly veiled jab against the massive studio by Burton, who had previously worked with Disney on and off for years before their professional relationship soured.
After creatively clashing with the studio during production of 2019’s Dumbo, Burton would later declare that the film would be his final project with Disney as a result of the behind-the-scenes dispute and that he would not work with them again, giving a new meaning to the joke about their famous character costumes.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is currently in theaters
