Waiting 36 years for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice release, the Tim Burton-directed sequel debuted at the Venice International Film Festival, and the first reviews have been generally positive.

Now, with 40 reviews just tabulated on Rotten Tomatoes, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice debuts with a critical score of 78%. In comparison, the original 1988 movie ended with 82% based on 102 reviews, marking just a four-point difference between the installments. While the score will fluctuate closer to its release as more critics preview screenings for the legacy sequel, this currently puts the movie with a fresh status on the site.

Why Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Is Getting Positive Reviews?

However, It's Not The Perfect Sequel

The first reviews for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice have been generally positive, although not without criticism. In most assessments, many critics noted the sequel for its nostalgia and callbacks to the original 1988 movie. Burton's revisit to the spiritual underworld has been praised for its fantastical visuals and for preserving the effects of the original film, with some even noting a return to form for the director, who delivered disappointing movies in recent years. Some reviews also emphasized Keaton's return, with his performance as the bio-exorcist not swaying far from his first portrayal and maintaining an exuberant energy.

The interest in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is already evident, with or without the reviews, as the sequel is projected to make around $60-80 million during its opening weekend.

However, many negative responses have noted the sequel's flaws, such as its lack of an innovative story. Many critics noted that the story doesn't seem focused or coherent, while the subplots with the new Beetlejuice Beetlejuice characters do little to have any effect. In particular, Monica Bellucci's Delores was pinpointed as one of the weak elements in the movie. However, even with the imperfections of the new characters, there is a general agreement that the legacy sequel strives for fun and campiness due to the cast having the freedom to explore their roles.

With the movie days away from its release, audiences will ultimately have the final say about the sequel. With many critics noting the nostalgia and fan service, the responses could likely be equally on par or even better than what critics have said, considering the weight of the reception was just about the same for the original movie. Nevertheless, the interest in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is already evident, with or without the reviews, as the sequel is projected to make $60-80 million during its opening weekend. Thus, it would be a big win for Burton, who can finally rise from his movie career decline.

If Beetlejuice Beetlejuice's box office reaches the upper range of the projections, it will have one of the best weekend debuts for a 2024 movie (behind Inside Out 2 and Deadpool and Wolverine) and become one of the highest-grossing movies for a September release.

Burton Waited 35 Years Before Making Another Beetlejuice Movie

The Director Currently Has No Plans To Make Beetlejuice 3

Development for a Beetlejuice sequel began shortly after the 1988 release, with some scripts being ordered as early as 1990. These titles included Beetlejuice in Love and Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian, but Burton and Keaton became occupied with Batman Returns. Sequel hopes were again revived two decades later when Seth Grahame-Smith was hired as a screenwriter, but those attempts were scrapped in 2019. Eventually, the project officially progressed in 2022, with Burton helming as the director and the cast slowly coming together the following year, with new additions like Ortega, Willem Dafoe, and Bellucci.

Burton explained why it was the right time to do the follow-up after three decades of developmental hell. He exclaimed that he felt connected to the original character Lydia and wondered what her life would be like once she became an adult with her own family. These questions made it so that Beetlejuice Beetlejuice became "a very personal movie," in which he could explore the three generations of Deetz to make it a story about a "weird family." He argued that this film would only work today due to his own life experiences, quoting: "it's only something you could do once you experience those things yourself."

The director was recently asked about a potential Beetlejuice 3, responding that the likelihood is super slim.

While Burton was able to resurrect the spiritual underworld after so long, the franchise's continuation doesn't seem optimistic. The director was recently asked about a potential Beetlejuice 3, responding that the likelihood is super slim. Even though that is disappointing, it only heightens the anticipation for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, with many generations having at least watched the original fantasy classic. Furthermore, it's clear that the director wants to make it a heartwarming family movie, so unless he has an idea that makes it worthwhile for more stories, it may be best to end the Beetlejuice story without ruining its core message.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will be released in theaters on September 6, 2024.

Key Background

• Beetlejuice (1988) grossed $74 million at the box office.
• Winona Ryder was only 16 when the first movie was released.
• Jenna Ortega, who plays Ryder's daughter, has already worked with Tim Burton on Netflix's Wednesday (2022).

Source: Rotten Tomatoes