“Beetlejuice” is arguably one of the most prolific and profitable pop culture properties of all time.
Ever since the movie’s release in 1988, it has left an inescapable mark on Hot Topic merchandise, Halloween stores and cosplays all over the world. Anyone could recognize the iconic black-and-white striped demon and his “strange and unusual” companion, Lydia Deetz.
The original movie was a hit upon release, featuring stars such as Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin and Winona Ryder. It grossed well over its budget and eventually spawned a 1989 animated series, three video games and a 2018 musical that ran on Broadway for many months. Even now, nearly forty years after the film’s release, it’s impossible to escape this ghost.
It’s inevitable that a sequel would be released — the only wonder was that it took so long. Ideas for a sequel had been thrown around since the late 1980s, following the success of the original. Director Tim Burton, however, had many issues with getting a sequel greenlit, and Warner Brothers shelved the project in 2019. The demon had been thrown into purgatory.
Finally, the world got good news: Beetlejuice would finally return to the big screen. The second installment hit theaters Sept. 6, and it earned the all-time second-biggest opening weekend of September. It made $42 million on its first day alone.
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” whose title is a play on the motif that saying demon’s name three times summons him, stars most of the original cast alongside some newer faces, like Jenna Ortega. She plays the daughter of Lydia Deetz (Ryder) who struggles to believe in the same supernatural phenomena that her mother does.
I am a big fan of the original movie. I grew up watching the cartoon, and I have seen the show on Broadway twice. Despite all of this, I found it really hard to justify the cost of the ticket and the loss of a few hours of my time. Hollywood sequels are ubiquitous now; it’s hard to go to any movie theater nowadays without seeing advertisements for a spin-off or sequel of an already-existing property.
“Personally, sequels in my eyes are blatantly a cash grab,” said UMass Boston freshman Nick King. Although King is not well versed in the Beetlejuice universe, he has much to say about Hollywood sequels as a whole. “I’ve seen very few genuine sequels with real passion and motivation. This happens in many genres, especially in mega-corporations.”
Idris Abdullah, class of 2023, has a similar opinion. “The mindset that so many things need a follow-up even though it’s 30-plus years ago is a waste of creative energy,” he said. “It seems like everyone and their mother is either making a sequel or remaking movies that no one asked for.”
When searching for opinions on this movie in particular, I expected this same level of indifference or frustration. I expected that, after so many years without much new Beetlejuice content, modern horror watchers would be less than ecstatic to go see yet another sequel pumped out by Hollywood. Instead, the response I got was resoundingly pleasant.
Sophomore Ander O’Donnell had the unique perspective of working at a movie theater, where he was able to take in the opinions of many moviegoers. He said, “Everything I’ve heard from people leaving the theater … was good. I’m excited for the new effects.”
In fact, nearly everyone was interested in seeing the new film, no matter their opinions on sequels as a whole. Whether it was happiness about the original cast returning, interest in the special effects, or a love for Burton’s directing, this sequel has attracted more eyes than any old sequel.
Overall, fans’ love for the Beetlejuice franchise seems to be more powerful than the typical public loathing of sequels. Although this sequel came decades after the original, intrigue is still high.
“Do I think [the sequel] was necessary? No,” said O’Donnell. “But I think it was wanted.”
Freshman Zaquarah Caldwell agreed. “I think the sequel was kind of necessary,” they said. “I think most people wanted it since Beetlejuice is one of Tim Burton’s underrated movies.”
It appears this titular demon is here to haunt us for a long, long time.
