Tim Burton’s long-awaited sequel, ““Beetlejuice Beetlejuice””, is poised to make a huge splash at the box office when it debuts on September 6, 36 years after the original film first hit theaters. According to projections, the film is currently tracking to earn between “$100-$110 million” domestically in its opening weekend, based on pre-sales and early tracking data reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
If these numbers hold, the movie could claim the “second-best September opening of all time”, right behind the 2017 blockbuster “It”, which opened with $123 million.
However, Warner Bros. is taking a more conservative approach, estimating a debut of “$80 million plus”, which still puts the film in contention for a historic September performance.
If Burton’s sequel surpasses expectations, it could join the ranks of major September releases like Marvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” (which earned $75.4 million in 2021) and “It Chapter Two” (which brought in $91.1 million in 2019).
The original “Beetlejuice”, released in 1988, grossed $74 million during its run—equivalent to over “$195 million” today when adjusted for inflation. Over the years, it’s become a beloved cult classic, cementing its place in pop culture.
Fans of the original will be delighted to see the return of familiar faces, including “Michael Keaton”, who reprises his role as the mischievous title character, along with “Winona Ryder” and “Catherine O’Hara”. Joining the cast are newcomers “Jenna Ortega”, “Monica Bellucci”, “Willem Dafoe”, and “Justin Theroux”.
For Keaton, the sequel brings an opportunity to once again step into the chaotic shoes of Beetlejuice, but with a deliberate balance. In a recent interview with “GQ”, Keaton explained that one of his conditions for joining the project was not to overwhelm the movie with his character.
He believed that the sequel needed to maintain Beetlejuice’s unpredictability by giving him less screen time, much like the original where he was only on-screen for “17 minutes”. “The idea was, no, no, no, you can’t load it up with Beetlejuice, that’ll kill it,” Keaton explained. He emphasized that Beetlejuice serves more as part of the story, rather than driving it, preserving the chaotic energy that fans love.
Keaton also touched on the essence of his character, clarifying that Beetlejuice isn’t tied to society’s current cultural trends or pronouns. “He’s more of a thing than a he or a she—more of an “it”,” Keaton said, adding that he views the character as a force, with “strong male energy, like stupid male energy,” something he relishes in portraying.
With Burton at the helm and Keaton back as the ghoulish prankster, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is generating major buzz. Whether it breaks box office records or not, one thing is clear: fans are ready to say Beetlejuice’s name three times—and they’ll be flocking to theaters to do so.
