Beetlejuice (1988)
"Beetle Juice" (original title)

A couple of recently deceased ghosts contract the services of a "bio-exorcist" in order to remove the obnoxious new owners of their house.

Director:

Tim Burton

Writers:

Michael McDowell (story), Larry Wilson (story),

Stars:

Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Annie McEnroe

Won 1 Oscar. Another 6 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alec Baldwin	...	Adam Maitland
Geena Davis	...	Barbara Maitland
Annie McEnroe	...	Jane Butterfield
Maurice Page	...	Ernie
Hugo Stanger	...	Old Bill
Michael Keaton	...	Beetlejuice
Rachel Mittelman	...	Little Jane Butterfield
Catherine O'Hara	...	Delia Deetz
J. Jay Saunders	...	Moving Man #1
Mark Ettlinger	...	Moving Man #2
Jeffrey Jones	...	Charles Deetz
Winona Ryder	...	Lydia Deetz
Glenn Shadix	...	Otho
Patrice Martinez	...	Receptionist
Cindy Daly	...	3-Fingered Typist (as Cynthia Daly)

Storyline

Adam and Barbara are a normal couple...who happen to be dead. They have given their precious time to decorate the house and make it their own, but unfortunately a family is moving in, and not quietly. Adam and Barbara try to scare them out, but ends up becoming the main attraction to the money making family. They call upon Beetlejuice to help, but Beetlejuice has more in mind than just helping.

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Plot Keywords:

ghost | yuppie | attic | car crash | drink as title | 

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Taglines:

In This House... If You've Seen One Ghost... You Haven't Seen Them All.

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 March 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Beetlejuice

Filming Locations:

Culver Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$73,326,666 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Geffen Company, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title character of Beetlejuice is named for a bright red star in the constellation of Orion, Betelgeuse. The studio disliked the title and wanted to call the film "House Ghosts". As a joke, Tim Burton suggested the name "Scared Sheetless" and was horrified when the studio actually considered using it.

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Goofs

After the Beetlejuice commercial when Adam is about to poke Lydia's key out of the attic door, the handle is still seen being jiggled on Adam's end, but in the next scene Lydia's hand is not on the knob.

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Quotes

Delia: [talking to a workman] If you tell me what you do I'll tell you why my husband will fire you.

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Connections

Spoofed in Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude (2004)

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Soundtracks

"The Light Cavalry"
Written by Franz von Suppé

User Reviews

"Nice f*cking model!!"

A+

One of my favorite Tim Burton films ever, one of the movies I've loved since a time I can't remember. Where else could I possibly start other than with Michael Keaton. H embodies a distasteful, rude, and ultimately awesome character known as Betelegeuse. It's a role I highly doubt any other actor could play as well as Keaton did. He is an odd cross between anti-hero and villain, while still very far from just the general comic relief. Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin are pretty good as the newly-dead couple, and Winona Ryder is always a treat. The rest of the cast is also awesome in their roles, not a weak spot in sight.

The cast is only the beginning of why this movie is so great. The production design is dark yet beautiful, each set so haunting. The makeup and good old stop motion are used with great effect, both adding to the horror-like atmosphere. During it all Burton breathes nicely done comedy into it all. Heightening all this is Danny Elfman's awesome score. And the black humor is superb, making it one of the most unusual yet original films out there.

I guarantee with this movie you will never get a funnier portrayal of what the afterlife must be like. Each time you watch, you only notice more and more little details. "Beetlejuice" is recognized as a genre-breaking one-of-a-kind film, and rightfully so.