movie review beetlejuice

Beetlejuice

`Beetlejuice” gets off to a start that’s so charming it never lives it down. The movie is all anticlimax once we realize it’s going to be about gimmicks, not characters.

During the enchanted opening minutes of the film, we meet a young married couple who have just moved into a strange new house, and we’re introduced to some of the local townspeople. All of these characters have an offhand, unforced innocence, and no wonder: The movie was directed by Tim Burton , who created a similar feeling in “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.” It’s hard to describe what makes the opening scenes so special. Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis , as the young couple, seem so giddy, so heedlessly in love, that they project an infectious good cheer. The local folks are so gosh-darn down-home they must have been sired by L. L. Bean out of the “Prairie Home Companion.” The movie is bathed in a foolish charm. And, fool that I am, I expected that note to be carried all the way through the film. But it was not to be.

The young couple die in a silly accident. But they still live in the same house. The only problem is, there’s nothing outside the door except for a strange science-fiction landscape that looks borrowed from Paul Schrader ’s “Cat People.” It takes them awhile to figure out they’re dead, and even longer to realize what has happened: Their fate is to remain in their former home as ghosts, while it is sold to a New York family ( Jeffrey Jones and Catherine O’Hara, with Winona Ryder as their daughter). The New Yorkers have big plans for remodeling the haunted house.

This is all, I guess, a fairly clever idea. And the movie is well-played, especially by Davis (the girlfriend in “The Fly”) and Jones (the emperor in “Amadeus” and the obnoxious principal in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”). But the story, which seemed so original, turns into a sitcom fueled by lots of special effects and weird sets and props, and the inspiration is gone.

To be sure, there has never before been a movie afterworld quite like this. Heaven, or whatever it is, seems a lot like a cruise ship with a cranky crew. The newly-deads find a manual, which instructs them on how to live as ghosts, and they also find an advertisement from a character named Betelgeuse ( Michael Keaton ), who specializes in “exorcisms of the living.” They enlist him to try to scare the New Yorkers out of the house, but he turns out to be a cantankerous demon – more trouble than he’s worth.

The best thing about “Beetlejuice,” apart from its opening, is the set design by Bo Welch . Both Welch and Burton seem inspired by the spirit of “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” and “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” in which objects can have lives of their own and architectural details have an unsettling way of rearranging themselves. The look of the film might be described as cartoon surrealistic. But the film’s dramatic method isn’t nearly as original.

One of the problems is Keaton, as the exorcist. Nearly unrecognizable behind pounds of makeup, he prances around playing Betelgeuse as a mischievous and vindictive prankster. But his scenes don’t seem to fit with the other action, and his appearances are mostly a nuisance. It’s also a shame that Baldwin and Davis, as the ghosts, have to spend most of their time playing tricks on Jones and O’Hara and winning the sympathy of their daughter; I would have been more interested if the screenplay had preserved their sweet romanticism and cut back on the slapstick.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

• Jeffrey Jones as Charles
• Geena Davis as Barbara
• Michael Keaton as Betelgeuse
• Sylvia Sidney as Juno
• Winona Ryder as Lydia
• Catherine O’Hara as Delia
• Danny Elfman
• Jane Kurson

Produced by

• Larry Wilson
• Michael Bender
• Richard Hashimoto

Screenplay by

• Michael McDowell
• Warren Skaaren

Photographed by

• Thomas Ackerman

Directed by

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Parents' guide to, beetlejuice.

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 72 Reviews
• Kids Say 224 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

By Scott G. Mignola , based on child development research. How do we rate?

Tim Burton tale is creepy fun; has violence, language.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Beetlejuice is a fantasy film directed by Tim Burton that's darker than you might remember. It deals with serious themes: Young married couple Barbara (Geena Davis) and Adam (Alec Baldwin) come to grips with the fact that they're dead, and a teenager contemplates death by suicide…

Why Age 13+?

Lots of cigarette smoking, some drinking. Reference to Valium.

A couple of uses of "s--t" and two "f--k"s. Also "hell," "dammit," "piss off," a

Beetlejuice finds a brothel; women invite him inside. Sexual references and gest

The main characters are ghosts and the entire film has an eerie mood. Plenty of

Minute Maid is prominently featured.

Any Positive Content?

The characters eventually learn to live together peacefully, but this is more an

Beetlejuice is rude and crude. Lydia is going through depression and contemplate

The cast is mostly White, with almost no characters of color except as extras in

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

A couple of uses of "s--t" and two "f--k"s. Also "hell," "dammit," "piss off," and "goddamn."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Beetlejuice finds a brothel; women invite him inside. Sexual references and gestures (e.g., Beetlejuice grabs his crotch, dry humping).

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Violence & Scariness

The main characters are ghosts and the entire film has an eerie mood. Plenty of scary/cartoonishly gory moments, such as a woman blowing cigarette smoke out of her slit throat. An afterlife waiting room holds people in various states of death, including states implying violent deaths. Main characters are chased by giant striped worms in a desert. A character shrivels up like a mummy in a matter of seconds. A teen contemplates death by suicide, and there are other suicide references. Beetlejuice tries to coerce Lydia into marrying him and kisses/gropes Barbara without her consent.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Positive messages.

The characters eventually learn to live together peacefully, but this is more anecdotal than a deliberate positive message.

Positive Role Models

Beetlejuice is rude and crude. Lydia is going through depression and contemplates death by suicide. Barbara and Adam are good people who are understandably unhappy in their situation.

Diverse Representations

The cast is mostly White, with almost no characters of color except as extras in the background. Lydia's depression is handled sensitively. Barbara looks after Lydia. Women often stand up to Beetlejuice. Otho is heavier set than other characters, and through feminine behavior meant for laughs, it's implied that he's gay.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Parents need to know that Beetlejuice is a fantasy film directed by Tim Burton that's darker than you might remember. It deals with serious themes: Young married couple Barbara ( Geena Davis ) and Adam ( Alec Baldwin ) come to grips with the fact that they're dead, and a teenager contemplates death by suicide. There's a lot of creepy imagery, and strong language includes both "s--t" and "f--k," as well as "hell," "dammit" and "piss off." There's also smoking, drinking, and a reference to Valium. The undead title character, Beetlejuice ( Michael Keaton ), finds a brothel; women invite him inside. Sexual references and gestures include Beetlejuice grabbing his crotch and dry humping. He also kisses Barbara without consent and lifts her skirt. He also tries to coerce teenager Lydia ( Winona Ryder ) into marrying him. An afterlife waiting room abounds with people in various states of death, including gory-looking ones that imply violent deaths. Main characters are chased by giant striped worms in a desert, and a character shrivels up like a mummy in a matter of seconds. On the representation front, the film has no characters of color except in background parts, women characters stand up to Beetlejuice, Lydia's depression is sensitively addressed, and one man is heavier set than others and implied to be gay through stereotypical feminine behavior. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Parent and Kid Reviews

• Parents say (72)
• Kids say (224)

Based on 72 parent reviews

Enjoyable, don’t show it to kids under 10.

Too gory and sexual for kids under 13, what's the story.

BEETLEJUICE starts with Adam and Barbara Maitland ( Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis ) driving off a bridge into a river. Arriving back home, they realize that not only are they now dead, but they're also trapped in a sort of limbo in their own house. The cryptic Handbook for the Recently Deceased they've been left with offers little guidance. When a new family moves in and assertive Delia Deitz ( Catherine O'Hara ) starts remodeling, the ghosts decide they want them out. But the ghosts' attempts to scare off the new inhabitants fail miserably. The only one who can see them is Lydia ( Winona Ryder ), the Deitz' teen daughter. Sympathizing with the Maitlands' predicament, she summons the mischievous Beetlejuice ( Michael Keaton ), "the afterlife's leading bio-exorcist," to their aid. It doesn't take her long to regret the decision.

Is It Any Good?

Director Tim Burton has an abnormal talent for capturing morbid, cartoonish imagery on-screen. Beetlejuice uses all of his best tricks. As played by Keaton, Beetlejuice is a scum-covered, bug-eating ghoul dressed in something akin to a dirty umpire's uniform. Keaton gives such pungent life to the title character, and to the movie as a whole, that it's no wonder Burton cast him as the unlikely star of his two Batman films, too.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about Beetlejuice 's portrayal of depression through Lydia. How does she deal with it, and is her way of coping effective? How do you deal with sadness?

What do you think of this movie's take on the afterlife? What movies best depict how you imagine an afterlife?

This movie was released in 1988. Has it aged well? Why, or why not?

Movie Details

• In theaters : March 30, 1988
• On DVD or streaming : June 25, 1997
• Cast : Geena Davis , Michael Keaton , Winona Ryder
• Director : Tim Burton
• Inclusion Information : Female actors
• Studio : Warner Bros.
• Genre : Comedy
• Topics : Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
• Run time : 92 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG
• Last updated : October 7, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

What to watch next.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Tim Burton's Corpse Bride

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

Movie monsters, scary (but not too scary) halloween movies, related topics.

• Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires

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Beetlejuice

Where to watch.

Watch Beetlejuice with a subscription on Max, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

What to Know

Brilliantly bizarre and overflowing with ideas, Beetlejuice offers some of Michael Keaton's most deliciously manic work - and creepy, funny fun for the whole family.

Critics Reviews

Audience reviews, cast & crew.

Michael Keaton

Betelgeuse (Beetlejuice)

Alec Baldwin

Adam Maitland

Geena Davis

Barbara Maitland

Jeffrey Jones

Charles Deitz

Catherine O'Hara

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Screen Rant

Beetlejuice review: being weird has never felt as good as burton's creepy cult classic.

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Michael Keaton's 10 Best Movies, Ranked

Beetlejuice ending explained: how it sets up michael keaton's beetlejuice 2 return, michael keaton's 10 best quotes from beetlejuice.

1988's Beetlejuice may not have been Tim Burton's first movie, but it was the project that truly launched him as a bold, weird, and creative voice in Hollywood. He was - and is - a voice for counter culture with great affection for mainstream pop culture, whose work is challenging, meta, and nostalgic, and who found, in Michael Keaton, a perfect muse.

They don’t make films like Beetlejuice any more, but then they don’t make filmmakers like Tim Burton either. Flicking through his art collections, Burton's characters - often sketched with frenetic energy - already feel recognizable. Unlike directors working to stylistic mandates and franchise playbooks, Burton's movies are best when he's allowed to be himself, and Beetlejuice absolutely fits that criteria.

Beetlejuice

Not available

What's more impressive, on that front, is that Burton didn't write Beetlejuice . In stark contrast to the later projects where he attempted to apply his darker style to reimaginings of existing IPs (like Dumbo and Alice In Wonderland in particular), though, Beetlejuice feels unrestrained. That it came right before he made Batman (though that hiring actually came first), is still shocking: a fitting win for counter culture.

Michael Keaton Has Never Been Better Than He Is As Beetlejuice

He's only on screen for 17 minutes, but what an impact.

Keaton’s performance as Betelgeuse is ridiculous, explosive, and outrageous. He’s a shock jock, a non-PC comedian, and a lush, ostracized even by the dead community for being too much. Keaton brings a physicality that almost defies belief when you watch him in straighter work like his Bruce Wayne: he seems to manifest a paunch out of nowhere, and there’s never been a movie performance you could smell quite as much as Betelgeuse.

Michael Keaton has been in some great movies over the years, and his best ten films are among the most impressive and varied of all Hollywood stars.

The supernatural exorcist is himself a commentary: the nightmarish end result that comes with nonconformity at an extreme point. Ironically, of course, he too craves normalcy (hence his desire to marry Lydia), but his radar for how to appropriately achieve that is completely broken. Betelgeuse is a parable of what Lydia could become or what any of us could, if we just stopped caring.

That’s the genius of Burton’s creation and Keaton’s performance: Betelgeuse is somehow likable. He ticks all manner of boxes that should make him completely despicable, and modern criticism tends to focus on his problematic nature, but that's exactly the point of him.

But Beetlejuice's Cast Is More Than Just Michael Keaton

Every actor is on point with winona ryder a stand out.

So many years on, it's easy to forget how excellent both Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis were as the tragic Maitlands, Adam and Barbara . The combination of Michael Keaton's colossal performance and Winona Ryder's modest, melancholic Lydia vacuum up so much of the attention that they shrink a little in memory. Rewatching it now, they're the key to the whole movie working, and actually, the sequel is poorer for their absence.

Ryder's performance is demure and very subtle: she nails the gothic malaise, draped in funeral attire, without fully stepping into the counter culture rage of something like Ghost World or The Craft. She's not bullied into her position, she seems to actively choose her "strange and unusual" armor for herself, and Ryder makes that fully believable. If you grew up loving the films or music Burton likes, you've met a Lydia. You've probably met several.

In the supporting cast, there are equally excellent performances: Jeffrey Jones is very good; C atherine O'Hara is a revelation of artistic neurosis ; and Glenn Shadix is a delight as the reprehensible Otho. Watching them in particular during the musical dinner sequence is one of Beetlejuice 's many highlights.

Beetlejuice Feels Like Burton's Personal Expression

This is where the director's playbook was written.

Beetlejuice still feels like the movie that most expresses Tim Burton as a filmmaker and storyteller , which is probably why it feels like the project he's having the most fun directing. After the knowingly meta, but innocent spirit of Pee-wee's Big Adventure 3 years later, it's also true expression of Burtoncore film-making. You don't have to look hard to find most of his trademarks in some fashion, in strokes both broad and very specific.

Watching his gothic suburban stories back, it’s so obvious that Burton grew up as an outsider in the Californian suburbs . Lydia is his stand-in: defiant and unusual, but also caught in a conflict between suburban comfort and her difference. Both are authentic, but their balance has to be worked on, and it’s usually the darker elements that come off worse.

Beetlejuice's ending leaves a lot of details unclear, but the Tim Burton horror comedy does reveal what happens to Beetlejuice, Lydia, and Barbara.

Looking at Lydia, you’d assume her people would be Betlegeuse and the other members of Burton’s grotesque carnival, but she’s drawn to the cozy suburbanism of the Maitlands. This feels like Burton expressing his own comfort in Hollywood: he’s someone who should be making more Ed Wood-like movies, but instead he’s far more suited to populating worlds made familiar by Hollywood traditions and tropes with friendly ghasts and ghouls.

Burton’s fun in Beetlejuice comes from clashing things together and finding their strange connections and how perverse the reactions can be in the most surprising ways. Edward Scissorhands appears to be about the invasion of suburbia by a monster, but actually it’s about a strange boy trying to find his place in a monstrous community. Beetlejuice is similarly coded: it’s not just a haunting, it’s about Lydia finding her home.

Beetlejuice Still Hits All The Right Notes

Burton's cult classic united a community and not just an audience.

Like much of Burton’s work, Beetlejuice is an anthem to non-conformity . But because this creative universe is told from Burton’s perspective, it’s actually the most traditionally “normal” people who are most abnormal. Lydia Deetz is a self-confessed oddity, gothic and isolated, it she’s among the least eccentric of Beetlejuice ’s cast of weirdos.

Interestingly, it’s the Maitlands who are the least odd in a ghost story that positions them as unnatural abominations. In actual fact, it’s obviously the Maitlands who are haunted, by the creeping poltergeist of gentrification by the Deetz. Then, on the other side of their conflict sits Betelgeuse, an exploitative snake oil salesman with devilish small print. Look hard enough and there’s commentary on late-stage Reaganism, displacement, gentrification and pastoral anxiety, and the subjective nature of art.

Michael Keaton established the iconic character of Beetlejuice in Tim Burton’s 1988 film. He's also become one of Burton's most quotable characters.

That might seem like unnecessary navel-gazing, but it’s important to help understand how Beetlejuice became a cultural phenomenon beyond its own boundaries . In Lydia and the Maitlands, people found themselves reflected, both at the surface level and in deeper ideological strands. Burton also captured something few talk about in counter culture circles: the symbiotic relationship of normal-appearing people and their goth best friends.

How Beetlejuice Holds Up Decades Later

It's still as fun to watch as it was back in 1988.

The special effects might not be incredibly glossy by 2024’s standards, but they’re more magical thanks to the use of stop-motion. And the rough edges feel like a more true expression of Burton’s living sketchbook. After all, otherworldly does not need to mean flawless.

What’s striking with Beetlejuice is how close the art design feels to Burton’s own sketches. Characters pop up - particularly in the afterlife sequences - who are realized fully from Burton’s twisted imagination. The sequel went further, but the director’s flair for the macabre was honed here. They take up little screen-time, but the shrunken-headed hunter, the Road Kill Man, and chain-smoking caseworker Juno are memorable well beyond their immediate impact.

It’s not a particularly scary movie, but Burton never really wades that far into horror territory. Instead, Beetlejuice is weird and unsettling, but everything that’s presented as odd tends to be consciously made mundane . The Maitlands’ experience of the dead world is a government-like agency, the dead have jobs, and even Betelgeuse is subject to rules. There is banal order even in the most extraordinary things. That's why Beetlejuice is - and will remain - one of the most weirdly comforting movies ever made.

Tim Burton's Beetlejuice stars Michael Keaton as the titular "bio-exorcist", an obnoxious spirit who specializes in driving living occupants out of homes. When Barbara (Geena Davis) and Adam Maitland (Alec Baldwin) die suddenly, they pass into the spirit realm, and must stay in their home. However, in the living world, the Deetz family purchases the house and moves in, prompting the Maitlands to enlist the help of Beetlejuice to drive them away.

• Michael Keaton is a revelation, obviously.
• The rest of the cast are all uniformly excellent.
• Burton's creative vision feels fresh and transformative.