Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

A Strange, Disjointed Return to the Afterlife

★★½☆☆

A wildly excessive hot mess that rewards die-hard fans but leaves others behind.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a movie as strange and disjointed as its behind-the-scenes development. While the original was a 1988 cult classic, this project couldn't come together until decades later. Whether or not it should have happened is up for debate.

"As much fun it is to see Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O'Hara return, as well as the fun additions of Jenna Ortega and Justin Theroux, the film is a bit of a hot mess."

— Ray Manukay

🎬 Cast & Crew

• Director: Tim Burton
• Starring: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Jenna Ortega
• Supporting: Catherine O'Hara, Justin Theroux, Willem Dafoe
• Music: Danny Elfman

The Director's Vision

The production design and performances are all first-class, but the story suffers from too many threads. Tim Burton seems content pulling on all of them at once. From too many musical numbers that don't add to the plot to an unfunny reliance on specific tropes, the film feels "off."

🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts

• Handmade Feel: Michael Keaton insisted the sequel feel "handmade" with minimal CGI.
• Plan B: Brad Pitt is a producer on the film through his company, Plan B Entertainment.
• Animated Omission: Burton used a stop-motion sequence to address the absence of specific original cast members.

✅ Pros

• Michael Keaton’s infectious energy.
• Jenna Ortega is a perfect fit for the "goth teen" archetype.
• Stunning practical production design and makeup.

❌ Cons

• Overstuffed narrative with too many subplots.
• Reliance on callbacks that feel forced.

🏆 Final Verdict

While it's a visual treat to see Michael Keaton back in the suit, the sequel is ultimately buried under the weight of its own nostalgia and cluttered script. It's for the superfans only.

See original review on Letterboxd