Beetlejuice sequel breaks box office in spooky style – "it’s showtime" for Tim Burton’s sequel

Virgin Radio

9 Sep 2024, 15:36

Keaton’s ghoul is back with a bang as fans flock to the cinema for more afterlife antics in the long-awaited sequel.

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice! It’s finally here, and Tim Burton’s kooky creation has made a killer comeback at the box office.

With a whopping $110 million (£83 million) in its opening weekend in the US alone, the sequel to Burton's 1988 gothic classic Beetlejuice is already a supernatural smash hit.

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The film has scored the second-biggest September opening ever – just behind Stephen King's It – proving that Beetlemania is alive and well.

And let’s face it, there’s nothing quite like seeing Michael Keaton's grinning ghoul cause chaos once more.

While it may not have scared up quite as much as Inside Out 2 or the unstoppable Deadpool & Wolverine, which topped 2024’s charts, the Beetlejuice sequel still floats near the top as the third biggest debut of the year.

Not bad for a film set in the land of the dead, eh?

Fans of the original can’t believe their eyes as Keaton is back, reprising his role as the cackling, green-haired ghost with a love for mischief.

Joining him are familiar faces like Winona Ryder as the ever-somber Lydia Deetz and Catherine O'Hara, while fresh blood comes in the form of Jenna Ortega (aka Netflix's Wednesday) and Oscar-nominated Willem Dafoe.

And trust us, this ensemble is no dead weight.

This time around, Lydia’s goth vibes have passed down to her rebellious daughter Astrid, who manages to stumble her way into the Afterlife.

Cue Beetlejuice's return – and it’s “showtime” once again.

The ghoulish hijinks are as over-the-top as ever, with Keaton’s chaotic antics keeping audiences in stitches, and a few jumps thrown in for good measure. Who knew being dead could be so much fun?

But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for Burton's spooky sequel. The critics, much like Beetlejuice himself, are split. Some love the nostalgic chaos, others, well, not so much.

The New York Times called it "a fun but less edgy sequel," suggesting that Burton’s played it a little too safe this time.

Meanwhile, The Guardian said it’s "a pivotal picture" for the director, noting that while it might not be the cult classic the original became, it sure has a ball trying to be.

Burton’s signature gothic charm, once again, leaves a lasting impression. After all, would it really be a Tim Burton flick without the weird and wonderful?

As expected, Michael Keaton steals the show, vomiting, grinning, and gurning his way through every scene with that manic energy only he can deliver.

But poor Jenna Ortega, playing Lydia’s daughter, gets some tough love from critics.

Described in the Independent as “relatively conventional and restrained,” she struggles to shine next to Keaton’s monstrous magnetism.

Still, NME gave her a round of applause, saying she "reanimates" the undead classic with her sharp, disenchanted performance.

Danny DeVito also makes a surprise appearance, adding to the film’s comedic charm, while Monica Bellucci’s grisly scene stapling herself back together to a remix of Tragedy is one that’ll stick with audiences long after the credits roll.

While Beetlejuice 2 crushed the box office stateside, it didn’t have quite the same spectral success abroad, earning a more modest $35 million across 69 markets.

Maybe the rest of the world just isn’t ready for all those head-spinning, body-popping antics yet.