Beetlejuice 2 or Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a 2024 American dark fantasy comedy horror directed by Tim Burton, featuring a screenplay crafted by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, with contributions from Seth Grahame-Smith. As the highly anticipated sequel to the 1988 classic Beetlejuice, this marks the second installment in the iconic franchise. Fan-favorites Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara return to reprise their roles, while new faces like Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Jenna Ortega, and Willem Dafoe join the eerie fun.
Beetlejuice 2 made its grand debut as the opening feature at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on August 28, 2024. It was later released internationally on September 4, 2024, followed by a U.S. release just two days later, courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Critics were generally pleased with the sequel, praising its unique blend of dark humor and horror.
Beetlejuice 2 Budget and Box Office Collection
With a budget of $100 million, Beetlejuice 2 has so far grossed $41.5 million at the global box office.
Star Cast of Beetlejuice 2
Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice
Michael Keaton returns as Betelgeuse (yep, that’s “Beetlejuice” for the living folks) in Beetlejuice 2, the mischievous ghost and self-proclaimed “bio-exorcist” who’s still up to his old tricks—this time with his eyes set on marrying someone from the land of the living. Keaton and director Tim Burton made a deliberate choice to keep Betelgeuse as unapologetically politically incorrect as he was in the 1988 classic. In Burton’s eyes, Betelgeuse’s charm lies in his complete lack of personal growth. He’s a ghost who’s not here for character development—he’s here to wreak havoc, and he’ll never change!
Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz
Winona Ryder reprises her role as Lydia Deetz in Beetlejuice 2, the once brooding goth teen who almost tied the knot with Betelgeuse back in 1988. Fast forward to 2024, and Lydia is now the mother of Astrid Deetz and the face of The Ghost House with Lydia Deetz show. While Ryder initially imagined Lydia’s future as more of a quirky spinster hiding away in the Maitland attic, the introduction of her daughter Astrid adds a fresh twist that makes this unexpected maternal shift feel just right—without losing the spirit of the original film.
Catherine O’Hara as Delia Deetz
Catherine O’Hara returns as Delia Deetz in Beetlejuice 2, Lydia’s eccentric stepmother, who’s now also stepgrandmother to Astrid and the widow of Charles Deetz. This time around, Delia has taken her love for avant-garde art to new heights, hosting her very own art show in a trendy Soho gallery in London. Still as quirky and fabulously over-the-top as ever, Delia’s life is a blend of artistic chaos and comedic flair, making her a standout in both the Deetz family and the art world.
Jenna Ortega as Astrid Deetz
Jenna Ortega takes on the role of Astrid Deetz in Beetlejuice 2, the teenage daughter of Lydia and the step-granddaughter of the ever-eccentric Delia. Astrid brings a fresh, youthful energy to the spooky Deetz family dynamic, inheriting her mom’s gothic flair while adding her own twist to the ghostly fun.
Justin Theroux as Rory
Justin Theroux steps in as Rory in Beetlejuice 2, Lydia’s current boyfriend and a television producer. With his charm and media-savvy personality, Rory adds a modern twist to Lydia’s life, bringing a mix of humor and chaos to their supernatural adventures.
Monica Bellucci as Delores
Monica Bellucci stars as Delores in Beetlejuice 2, Betelgeuse’s enigmatic ex-wife. In her mortal days, she was a soul-draining witch with a dark history, having poisoned Betelgeuse centuries ago during the Black Plague. But don’t feel too sorry for him—Betelgeuse got his revenge by taking her out with an axe. Their twisted, centuries-old love-hate relationship adds a whole new layer of chaos and dark humor to the story.
Willem Dafoe as Wolf Jackson
Willem Dafoe steps into the role of Wolf Jackson in Beetlejuice 2, a ghost detective with a flair for the dramatic. In his former life, he was a B-movie action star, now channeling his over-the-top persona into solving supernatural mysteries from beyond the grave. Equal parts tough and eccentric, Wolf brings a dash of old-school action hero swagger to the afterlife.
Burn Gorman as Father Damien
Burn Gorman portrays Father Damien, the local reverend in Winter River. With his stern yet mysterious presence, he brings an air of quiet authority to the town, navigating the supernatural happenings with a calm but watchful eye. Father Damien’s role adds a touch of spiritual intrigue to the eerie chaos swirling through Winter River.
Arthur Conti as Jeremy
Arthur Conti plays Jeremy, a charming young boy who catches the eye of Astrid Deetz. As her love interest, Jeremy adds a touch of youthful romance to the mix, bringing a sweet and lighthearted element to the otherwise spooky and supernatural world of the Deetz family.
Amy Nuttall as Jane Butterfield
Amy Nuttall takes on the role of Jane Butterfield, a savvy local real estate agent who happens to be the daughter of the original Jane Butterfield, played by Rachel Mittelman in the first film. Carrying on the family legacy with her own flair, Jane adds a new layer of intrigue and continuity to the Deetz universe, blending business acumen with a touch of inherited charm.
Santiago Cabrera as Richard
Santiago Cabrera plays Richard, Astrid’s estranged father and Lydia’s ex-husband, who mysteriously vanished during a trip to South America. His disappearance adds a layer of intrigue and unresolved tension to the Deetz family saga, leaving lingering questions about his fate and the impact of his absence.
Danny DeVito as Afterlife Janitor
Danny DeVito takes on the role of a whimsically grim afterlife janitor, whose peculiar demise involved drinking varnish. Now eternally scrubbing away in the afterlife, he tackles his ghostly duties with a blend of dark humor and eccentric charm.
Filipe Cates as Vlad
Filipe Cates stars as Vlad, a young man who fully embraces his vampire persona in the heart of Transylvania. Decked out in classic vampire garb, Vlad adds a touch of local flair and supernatural intrigue to the picturesque, gothic setting.
The film also features Charles Deetz, portrayed and voiced by an undisclosed actor. The character’s likeness is brought to life using archival photos, paintings, and an animated sequence detailing his death. This portrayal pays homage to the original actor, Jeffrey Jones, and the character’s demise, inspired by a vivid nightmare of Tim Burton’s, adds a hauntingly personal touch to the story.
Plot of the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Lydia Deetz has reinvented herself as the charismatic host of Ghost House, a supernatural talk show produced by her boyfriend, Rory. During a live taping, Lydia is jolted by eerie visions of Betelgeuse—the ghost who once terrorized her family over thirty years ago—appearing in the audience.
Soon after, Delia, Lydia’s stepmother, breaks the news of the death of her father, Charles. As the Deetz family heads to Winter River for the funeral, they pick up Lydia’s estranged daughter, Astrid, from boarding school. After the funeral, Rory proposes to Lydia, and although she hesitantly accepts, Astrid reacts by running off to see Jeremy, who invites her to hang out before the wedding.
On Halloween, Astrid discovers that Jeremy is actually a ghost who needs her help to restore his life. In return, he promises her a chance to reunite with her missing father, Richard, who vanished in South America two years ago. To assist Jeremy, Astrid recites an incantation from the Handbook for the Recently Deceased, which transports them to the afterlife.
In the midst of their journey, Lydia uncovers Jeremy’s dark past as a murderer. Desperate to rescue Astrid, Lydia turns to Betelgeuse for help. Betelgeuse agrees to assist but demands that Lydia marry him, giving him the chance to remain in the mortal world and evade his vengeful ex-wife, Delores, in the afterlife.
Lydia reluctantly agrees to marry Betelgeuse, leading them both to an eerie afterlife train station where they try to stop Astrid from boarding the “Soul Train,” a mystical conveyance for souls heading to the great beyond. Unbeknownst to Astrid, she’s been tricked into switching places with Jeremy to restore his life. As Astrid is being guided to the platform, she spots an unexpected ally: Richard, who now works at the station. Richard rescues Lydia and Astrid, helping them make their way back to Winter River.
Meanwhile, after sending Jeremy to Hell, Betelgeuse enlists Delia’s help to return to the mortal world, following her own journey to the afterlife courtesy of a snake bite.
At a nearby church, Lydia and Astrid make their dramatic entrance, finding Rory waiting at the altar. Betelgeuse, with Delia’s help, crashes the wedding in spectacular fashion. He injects Rory with truth serum, exposing Rory’s true motive: marrying Lydia for her money. Furious, Lydia delivers a punch that knocks Rory out cold.
As Betelgeuse moves to marry Lydia himself, Delores arrives, furious and ready for confrontation. Using the Handbook for the Recently Deceased as her guide, Astrid summons a sandworm into the church. Betelgeuse tries to fend it off, but the creature ends up swallowing both Delores and Rory whole.
With the ceremony in chaos, Lydia and Astrid reveal that Betelgeuse has broken the rules of the handbook and his contract. This breach allows Lydia to banish him back to the afterlife. Following the tumult, Lydia and Astrid offer their support to Delia as she transitions to the afterlife, where she is reunited with Charles before boarding the Soul Train to Heaven.
In the aftermath, Lydia records the final segment of her last Ghost House episode, choosing to focus on spending quality time with Astrid. Yet, despite her efforts to move on, she remains haunted by nightmares featuring Betelgeuse. One particularly harrowing dream begins with Astrid marrying a man named Vlad but quickly spirals into a nightmare where Astrid gives birth to Betelgeuse’s child. Shocked and traumatized, Lydia awakens in a state of panic, realizing that Betelgeuse’s obsession with her is far from over.
On IMDb, Beetlejuice 2 boasts a rating of 7.2, and at the box office, the film has already grossed $41.5 million. This strong showing indicates that audiences are enjoying the film, suggesting that its box office numbers may continue to rise in the days ahead.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Movie Box Office Collection (September 10, 2024
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice hit theaters across the United States on September 6, 2024. With a production budget of $100 million, the film has already raked in an impressive $153.3 million at the box office.
Source: Box Office Collection
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