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Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Michael Keaton, Jeffrey Jones, Catherine O'Hara ... see more see more... , Winona Ryder , Glenn Shadix , Sylvia Sidney , Robert Goulet , Dick Cavett , Annie McEnroe , Simmy Bow , Jack Angel , Tony Cox , Cynthia Daly , Duane Davis , Carmen Filpi , Rachel Mittelman , Maurice Page , J. Jay Saunders , Hugo L. Stanger , Adelle Lutz , Patrice Camhi , Marie Cheatham , Mark Ettlinger , Harold Goodman , Gary Jochimsen , Bob Pettersen , Douglas Turner

Thanks to the carelessness of a cute little dog, newlyweds Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin are killed in a freak auto accident. Upon arriving in the outer offices of Heaven, the couple finds that, thanks... read more read more... to a century's worth of bureaucratic red tape, they're on a long celestial waiting list. Before they can earn their wings, Davis and Baldwin must occupy their old house as ghosts for the next fifty years. Alas, the house is now owned by insufferable yuppies Catherine O'Hara and Jeffrey Jones. Horrified at the prospect of sharing space with these obnoxious interlopers, Davis and Baldwin do their best to scare O'Hara and Jones away, but their house-haunting skills are pathetic at best. In desperation, the ghostly couple engage the services of a veteran scaremeister: a yellow-haired, snaggle-toothed, profane, flatulent "gonzo" spirit named Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton). The problem: Beetlejuice cannot be trusted-especially when he falls in love with O'Hara and Jones' gloomy, black-clad teenaged daughter Winona Ryder. Beetlejuice producer David Geffen, director Tim Burton, and composer Danny Elfman were also involved in an animated TV-series spin-off. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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77% liked it

834,346 ratings

Critics

81% liked it

43 critics

PG, 1 hr. 33 min.

Directed by: Tim Burton

Release Date: March 30, 1988

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DVD Release Date: June 26, 1997

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Stats: 40,873 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (40,873)

  • aquateen2
    February 27, 2012
    aquateen2
    Beetlejuice was met with mixed response upon release and is now rightfully a classic to the horror comedy genre. And of course, Tim Burton's overlooked talent at the time was like the unrecognisable talent of Led Zeppelin in the sixties and seventies, the world wasn't ready for t... read morehem yet, the world wasn't ready for Tim Burton back at the time to bring weirdness to a whole new level in cinema.
  • movieguru12
    November 25, 2011
    movieguru12
    Day-o. You say day, you say day, you say dayyy-oooo. This movie is very comical. Winona Ryder's Lydia Deetz, is so odd and interesting which equally balances out between Baldwin & Davis's Adam and Barbara, a couple who are normal and have never been able to have a baby. Michael K... read moreeaton kills it as Beetlejuice and is extremely psychotic and that makes us love him even more.
  • theunknownhobo
    July 17, 2011
    theunknownhobo
    Michael Keaton never gets enough respect for the movies he has made, same can be said for Alec Baldwin and Wynona Ryder but this movie is an integral part of my childhood and will always place those actors at the top of my lists.
  • spielberg00
    June 25, 2011
    spielberg00
    I simply could not stop laughing throughout this hysterical thrill ride of a movie. "Say it once, say it twice, but I dare you to say it a third time!" Michael Keaton is absolutely hilarious as Betelgeuse, a fast-talking motor-mouth who looks like the Joker from the newer "Batm... read morean" movies; and Jeffrey Jones, though portraying Charles Deetz, will always be remembered as Principal Rooney from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". This is an unmissable horror-comedy. You just can't miss it.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    June 22, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Beetlejuice directed by Tim Burton is one of the essential horror comedies. Yet another memorable and bizarre film by Tim Burton, Beetlejuice is a thoroughly entertaining film with a good cast. After their accidental death, the Maitlands hire a bio exorcist by the name of Beetjui... read morece (brilliantly played by Michael Keaton) to exorcise the living spirits from their home. A very original film, Beetlejuice is one of those films that is a must watch during the Halloween season. The cast that grace the film are really wonderful and all of them bring something unique to the screen. Beetlejuice is a fun filled film that blends horror and comedy into one and in the hands of Tim Burton, the film takes on an eccentricity that only Burton can deliver. The film is bizarre of course and if you're familiar with most of Tim Burton's earlier films such as Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice has that weird vibe going on but with a fun story line to boot. Beetlejuice is never a dull film as Keaton excels in his role of Beetlejuice, with his performance alone, he has carved himself a memorable place in horror as one of the most bizarre, amusing and original characters in the genre. Keaton is so good in the film that it's hard to picture someone else in the part. For the Halloween season, if you're looiking for a good horror comedy film, then Beetlejuice has enough laughs and scares for a fun fillled evening with friends.
  • moonrivers
    April 28, 2011
    moonrivers
    Aaahhhh ... you get older, you see a film after some years, and it loses some of that original zing ...
  • ythelastman89
    April 20, 2011
    ythelastman89
    No matter how many times you revisit Beetlejuice, it still has that beautiful sense of originality and weirdness pumping through its frames. Tim Burton became the director we all know and love because of this movie. It's pretty much the basis for all of his nutball ideas, kooky s... read moreets and moderately insane characters. Beetlejuice not only tackles life death and everything in between, but it becomes an entirely different way of interpreting reality and fiction. It's apparent to anyone who's seen or heard Tim Burton that he is not normal or lives anything other than a ridiculous lifestyle. His warped sense of emotions and right and wrong is something close to that of a mad scientist. Beetlejuice might not be Tim Burton's greatest feat, but it is certainly a classic in every way. It's strangely glued to a younger audience when it's really a highly demented and adult themed story. However, it's bright color palette suggests otherwise. The character of Beetlejuice is some kind of combination of a used car salesman, a serial rapist and a charming uncle. Somehow he isn't even the most bizarre element of the movie. No one should take this movie at face value because honestly you'd drive yourself insane trying to make sense of everything. Tim Burton knows exactly what he's doing and what he wants to achieve; even if he is seven different kinds of crazy.
  • ajv2688
    March 12, 2011
    ajv2688
    Love this movie so much! I highly recommend it. The cast is fantastic, especially Keaton as the title character, and Ryder as the cool goth girl. Another brilliant film from Burton, it's fun, humorous, and creepy.
  • skeletonking101
    October 30, 2010
    skeletonking101
    a brilliant comedy from the dark mind of Tim Burton ide say its the best of all of his films
  • neverteaseaweasel
    August 10, 2010
    neverteaseaweasel
    You know, I sort of miss the old Tim Burton. This is by no means my favorite movie of his, but it is hands down one of his most creative and inventive films. It is just more vibrant and clever than some of his recent work. The story and characters are both funny and lovable. The ... read morevisual style is amazing, especially considering how old the film is. The surreal/purgatory scenes were probably my favorites. They are just so wacked-out and tacky - the whole film is, really. Alec Baldwin looks really odd young. I never realized that he had a career before 30 Rock. Catherine O'Hara was born to play loud, obnoxious women and you cannot help loving her. Winona Ryder looks incredibly young. I love Tim Burton, but had also procrastinating about viewing Beetlejuice. I expected to be disappointed, but honestly was anything but. It is hands down one of his funniest and most creative works. I still would not say that it is his best just because it really doesn't show the rest of his talents. The characters and relationships are not nearly as great as those in Sweeney Todd or Big Fish. Still, there is quite enough to make an incredibly special film.

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Critic Reviews

Richard Corliss
August 22, 2008
Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine

Beetlejuice means something good: that imaginative artists can bring a fading genre back from the dead. Full Review

Variety Staff
August 8, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety

Luckily, Keaton pops up from his grave to liven things up when the antics pitting the good ghosts against the intruders become a trite cat & mouse game. Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
August 7, 2004
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

An appealing mess. Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

[The] actors, not surprisingly, are limited by the stupidity of their material. Full Review

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

Not since Ghostbusters have the spirits been so uplifting. Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

The joy of Beetlejuice is its completely bizarre -- but perfectly realized -- view of the world. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The movie is all anticlimax once we realize it's going to be about gimmicks, not characters. Full Review

Scott G. Mignola
January 2, 2011
Scott G. Mignola, Common Sense Media

Early Tim Burton is creepy, dark fun for tweens and teens. Full Review

Ryan Cracknell
November 3, 2008
Ryan Cracknell, Movie Views

With its sophisticated yet accessible blend of comedy and the macabre, I knew Beetlejuice was likely to be one of those films I would never tire of. But a classic? It's been 20 years. I'm willing to t... Full Review

David Nusair
October 29, 2008
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

Quite possibly the most bizarre and flat-out surreal effort of Tim Burton's career... Full Review

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Facts

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    • Lydia Deetz: I myself am strange and unusual.
    • Betelgeuse: IT'S SHOWTIME!
    • Preacher: Do you Betel?
    • Betelgeuse: Ah! Oo, oo, oo, oo, ah, ah, ah! Nobody says the 'B' word!
    • Adam Maitland: What are your qualifications?
    • Betelgeuse: Ah. Well... I attended Juilliard... I'm a graduate of the Harvard business school. I travel quite extensively. I lived through the Black Plague and had a pretty good time during that. I've seen the EXORCIST ABOUT A HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SEVEN TIMES, AND IT KEEPS GETTING FUNNIER EVERY SINGLE TIME I SEE IT... NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT YOU'RE TALKING TO A DEAD GUY... NOW WHAT DO YOU THINK? You think I'm qualified?
    • Delia Deetz: Chalrles if you do not let me remodel this house, I will go insane and take you with me!
    • Charles Deetz: Yeah...well maybe it could use a fixer up. Tell you what, just this room alone okay?
    • Lydia Deetz: My whole life is a dark room. One. Big. Dark. Room.
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Beetlejuice Trivia

  • In which film do Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis play inept ghosts who need the help of a professional spirit to help reclaim their house  Answer »
  • What actor has played these characters? Batman, Beetlejuice, Jack Frost, Carter Hayes, and Jack Butler?   Answer »
  • what Tim Burton film did johnny depp not star in?  Answer »
  • Who directed these movies? Sleepy Hollow Beetlejuice Big Fish Charlie and the Chocolate Factory  Answer »
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