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Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)

2024 • 1h 45m • Fantasy, Horror • PG-13
On September 29, 2026
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Brent Marchant on Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

6/10 · Sep 7, 2024

It's a real challenge to revisit what made a film beloved and truly special, and repeating that magic is often difficult, especially when the original was so well-remembered. The odds of recapturing that initial spark become even lower when a sequel takes 36 years to materialize. That’s certainly true with this long-awaited return to director Tim Burton's 1988 horror comedy, “Beetlejuice.” While there are moments of inspired craziness, the film ultimately falls short compared to its predecessor. The beginning is surprisingly slow; I didn’t even smile until almost 45 minutes in, although the humor does become more consistent after that point. The plot also feels unnecessarily complicated, with several storylines that could have been trimmed or removed altogether—a problem the original movie had, though not nearly as much as this one. There are times when the story feels disjointed and could have benefited from some editing, especially concerning scenes that feel disconnected from the rest of the narrative. On a positive note, the film retains the impressive visual style that defined the first movie, along with occasional bursts of humor reminiscent of the original, and strong performances from Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara, who convincingly reprise their iconic roles. However, many of the newer cast members—Justin Theroux, Willem Dafoe, and Monica Bellucci—don't contribute much, which serves as a reminder of those absent this time around, notably Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin, Sylvia Sidney, and Glenn Shadix. I’m not entirely shocked by the film’s weaknesses; they are typical of many disappointing attempts to revive classic movies and TV shows. While a little nostalgia can be comforting, don't anticipate anything extraordinary from this one—a stronger approach would have been needed to achieve that, and this effort simply doesn't deliver.

Source on TMDB