Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Review: Diminishing Returns for Tim Burton and Michael Keaton

   November 7, 2024

Tim Burton didn’t need to revisit the Beetlejuice universe—but here we are. In an era when nearly every beloved classic is revived, it was only a matter of time before Burton reached into his own catalog, which includes hits like Batman, Edward Scissorhands, and Sweeney Todd.

Michael Keaton in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)
Michael Keaton in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)

Tim Burton hasn’t been on a hot streak lately. Before Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, his recent projects included Dumbo, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Big Eyes, Frankenweenie, and Dark Shadows—not exactly a lineup of hits. His signature visual style remains, but it doesn’t align with the material as seamlessly as it once did.

The same holds true for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, which reunites the original cast—Winona Ryder (Heathers, The Age of Innocence), Catherine O’Hara (Home Alone, Elemental, The Wild Robot), Willem Dafoe (Wild at Heart, Poor Things), and Michael Keaton (Birdman, Spotlight)—in an effort to recapture the magic of the original.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice also enlists rising stars like Jenna Ortega (X, Scream 5 and 6, The Fallout) to bridge the generational gap in its story. This time, the film follows three generations of women from the family that first brought Beetlejuice into the real world in 1988. While it revives the familiar antics of the original, the story feels messy, and the charm is dimmed by Burton’s waning storytelling and increasingly hollow visuals.

Tim Burton has struggled to preserve his iconic gothic style as the industry shifts further toward CGI and digital effects. His visuals, once distinct and grounded in practical effects, now often appear unpolished—Beetlejuice Beetlejuice being no exception. The film looks unfinished, and while Burton’s quirky aesthetic can sometimes excuse visual oddities, the flaws here are hard to overlook.

The ending of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is especially jarring, with the sandworm summoned by Astrid (Jenna Ortega) coming off as both absurd and poorly executed. The level of detail here falls short of Burton’s best work in films like Ed Wood, Batman Returns, or the original Beetlejuice.

While I understand the nostalgia many feel for the original Beetlejuice, it’s not a film I think about often. Michael Keaton is fantastic in both movies, but Beetlejuice Beetlejuice—like the first film—holds back from fully spotlighting its titular character. Keaton has limited screen time here, as the story instead centers on a dull romance between Lydia (Winona Ryder) and Rory (Justin Theroux, Mulholland Drive, Inland Empire) and a lifeless mother-daughter dynamic between Lydia and Astrid.

While Beetlejuice Beetlejuice isn’t a complete waste of time, it’s hard to see its purpose beyond Warner Bros.’ financial interests in reviving the franchise. Tim Burton struggles to find a compelling reason to revisit this world, and instead of new life, the film feels like diminishing returns.

Score: 4/10

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