Beetlejuice (1988)

The spirits of a deceased couple are harassed by an unbearable family that has moved into their home, and hire a malicious spirit to drive them out.

Director:

Tim Burton

Writers:

Michael McDowell (story), Larry Wilson (story)

Stars:

Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Michael Keaton

Won 1 Oscar. Another 6 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alec Baldwin	...	Adam
Geena Davis	...	Barbara
Annie McEnroe	...	Jane Butterfield
Maurice Page	...	Ernie
Hugo Stanger	...	Old Bill
Michael Keaton	...	Betelgeuse
Rachel Mittelman	...	Little Jane
Catherine O'Hara	...	Delia
J. Jay Saunders	...	Moving Man #1
Mark Ettlinger	...	Moving Man #2
Jeffrey Jones	...	Charles
Winona Ryder	...	Lydia
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 their 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 end 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.

---

Plot Keywords:

ghost | attic | teenage girl | black comedy | shrunken head | 

---

Taglines:

The Name In Laughter From The Hereafter.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy

---

Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Linda Blair was briefly considered for the role of Barbara Maitland.

---

Goofs

When Barbara is woken up in the morning and is found to be floating in mid-air next to her bed, some of the platform she is lying on is visible between her feet.

---

Quotes

Adam: [reading] 'Handbook of the Recently Diseased'.
Barbara: ...*deceased*.
Adam: Deceased?
Barbara: I don't know where it came from. Look at the publisher.
Adam: [does so] 'Handbook for the Recently Deceased Press'.
Barbara: You know what? I don't think we survived the crash!

---

Crazy Credits

When the Geffen logo appears right after the end credits, it's a darker gray color

---

Alternate Versions

When Disney bought the rights to Beetlejuice to air on the Disney Channel, they cut out several scenes including: The scene of a second Sandworm head emerging from the mouth of another one. In the original version, when Adam and Barbara leave the model, Beetlejuice kicks over a model tree, screams "Nice fucking model!" and then makes honking sounds while he grabs his crotch. In the Disney version, an alternate take is used where he kicks over the tree, spits, and stares up at Adam and Barbara. Several shots of Beetlejuice attacking the Deitz family as a snake were removed. The scene where the receptionist in the afterlife waiting room reveals she killed herself was removed. A scene during the dance number where the Deitz's all moon each other was also removed.

---

Connections

Referenced in The Angry Video Game Nerd: Wish List: Part 1 (2013)

---

Soundtracks

Sweethart from Venezuela
Written by Fitzroy Alexander and Robert Gordon (as Bob Gordon)
Performed by Harry Belafonte
Music arranger Robert Gordon
Courtesy of RCA Records

User Reviews

Has a crazy rhythm all its own

It may take two or three viewings to warm up to "Beetlejuice". It has a kooky, cockeyed sensibility and a rhythm that is by turns easy, lazy and frenetic. A charming couple in New England die and come back to their beloved home as ghosts, determined to rid the place of the horrendous new tenants. Possibly the most benign and engaging performance ever by Alec Baldwin; Geena Davis, Winona Ryder and Sylvia Sidney are also very appealing. The new couple from New York who take over the house (Jeffrey Jones and Catherine O'Hara) aren't as well written or thought-out as the other characters and some of their bemused, dry-ice comic lines take a few seconds to reach you. Of course, there's Michael Keaton, wildly comic as Betelgeuse. I recall hearing comments back in 1988 that Keaton wasn't around enough to make the picture worthwhile, but that's only if you watch the film for the fast quips and sight-gags. Keaton is truly wonderful, but he's also bombastic, and I felt there was just enough of him to satisfy--it's really not his story anyway, it belongs to Baldwin and Davis; Betelgeuse is used as a horny, vulgar punchline. Director Tim Burton is very careful not to overload the movie with raunch; he is surprisingly careful in setting up this story, and he works magic within a dubious scenario: a comic fantasy about dead folks which ultimately celebrates life. ***1/2 from ****

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 March 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Maitlands

Filming Locations:

Masonic Hall, East Corinth, Vermont, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,030,897, 3 April 1988

Gross USA:

$74,220,408

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$74,270,074

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Geffen Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo Dolby Digital (DVD version) Dolby Atmos Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1