‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ Review: A Fun, Frenzied, and Nostalgic Journey to the Afterlife

In Hollywood, nothing ever truly stays buried. Franchises are frequently revived after years in development limbo, and sequels often emerge, even when their heroes have long since faded away. So, the return of Beetlejuice after 36 years is hardly a surprise. As a beloved cult classic, cherished by many childhoods, including my own, its revival stirred both excitement and nervous anticipation.

Tim Burton reviving this iconic film after so many years could have easily gone disastrously wrong, but it delivers all the frenzied energy and dose of nostalgia fans could hope for. Michael Keaton’s performance as the manic, live-action cartoon that is Beetlejuice remains one of his best, and to my delight, Keaton hasn’t lost an ounce of that chaotic energy. Watching him bring this outrageous character back to life was a pure joy.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice features the familiar sight of the camera swooping over the quiet town of Winter River. Just like before, Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) remains at the center of the story. Once the goth teen Beetlejuice tried to marry, Lydia is now a wealthy celebrity, hosting a paranormal reality show called Ghost House. Her personal life is just as eccentric—she’s dating Rory (Justin Theroux), a slimy TV producer. Yet despite her success, Lydia is haunted by more than just her television role. The black-and-white-striped ghoul Betelgeuse continues to invade her dreams.

Lydia’s disenchanted daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega), isn’t buying into her mother’s paranormal claims. Skeptical of Lydia’s supposed abilities, Astrid believes the whole medium act is a sham—especially since Lydia can’t seem to contact the one spirit Astrid cares about: her late father. Despite their strained dynamic, Lydia’s relationship with her eccentric stepmother, Delia (Catherine O’Hara), has significantly improved since their chaotic past. The Deetz family returns to Winter River for a funeral, bringing them back to the same house where they were terrorized decades ago.

As fate would have it, a series of bizarre accidents—both in the land of the living and the afterlife—sets Lydia, Astrid, and the ever-troublesome Beetlejuice on a crash course. Adding to the chaos is Monica Bellucci as Delores, Betelgeuse’s fiery ex-from-hell, and Willem Dafoe as Wolf Jackson, a former TV actor turned afterlife cop who steals every scene with his hammed-up performance.

At its core, ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ is pure Burton—passionate, untethered, and unapologetically indulgent.

The movie is at its best when the “juice” is loose. Michael Keaton’s unhinged, chaotic energy as Beetlejuice is just as irresistible as ever, injecting the film with the same manic spirit that made the original such a cult classic. Despite the passing decades, the movie captures the right blend of nostalgic charm and outrageous fun.

The glue binding this wild ride together is Tim Burton’s wonderfully twisted imagination. True to form, there are flashes of his signature B-movie brilliance, including a stop-motion animation sequence that only Burton could pull off. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice doesn’t hold back, fully embracing the bizarre and grotesque. The film is packed with brilliantly absurd moments, from Beetlejuice literally spilling his guts to a baby that makes Chucky look like he belongs on Sesame Street. It’s delightfully weird, and the sense of fun never wavers.

At its core, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is pure Burton—passionate, untethered, and unapologetically indulgent. Fans of the original will find plenty to cheer for. It captures the chaotic spirit of its predecessor while unleashing new layers of madness. It’s silly, giddy, and just the right amount of disgusting—what more could you want from a Beetlejuice film?

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is now playing in cinemas worldwide.

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