Common Sense Media Review
Tim Burton tale is creepy fun; has violence, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
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Beetlejuice
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 75 parent reviews
Parents say this film, notable for its quirky blend of horror and comedy, garners mixed reactions regarding its suitability for children, with many emphasizing its darker themes, crude humor, and some graphic imagery. While some families find enjoyment in the film’s humor and charm, others caution against its content, suggesting it is more appropriate for older children or teens due to elements like strong language, sexual innuendos, and unsettling scenes.
- dark themes
- mature humor
- graphic imagery
- age recommendations
- parental guidance needed
- fun for teens
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 237 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is a fun and spooky mix of comedy and horror that appeals to older children and teenagers, although its mature themes, including suicide, adult language, and sexual innuendos, make it less suitable for younger viewers. While many enjoy the entertaining and bizarre style typical of the director, some feel the content may be disturbing or inappropriate for kids under 12 or 13.
- dark humor
- mature themes
- age recommendation
- spooky yet funny
- classic Tim Burton
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
BEETLEJUICE starts with Adam and Barbara Maitland (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) driving off a bridge into a river. Arriving back home, they realize that not only are they now dead, but they're also trapped in a sort of limbo in their own house. The cryptic Handbook for the Recently Deceased they've been left with offers little guidance. When a new family moves in and assertive Delia Deitz (Catherine O'Hara) starts remodeling, the ghosts decide they want them out. But the ghosts' attempts to scare off the new inhabitants fail miserably. The only one who can see them is Lydia (Winona Ryder), the Deitz' teen daughter. Sympathizing with the Maitlands' predicament, she summons the mischievous Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), "the afterlife's leading bio-exorcist," to their aid. It doesn't take her long to regret the decision.
Is It Any Good?
Director Tim Burton has an abnormal talent for capturing morbid, cartoonish imagery on-screen. Beetlejuice uses all of his best tricks. As played by Keaton, Beetlejuice is a scum-covered, bug-eating ghoul dressed in something akin to a dirty umpire's uniform. Keaton gives such pungent life to the title character, and to the movie as a whole, that it's no wonder Burton cast him as the unlikely star of his two Batman films, too.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Beetlejuice's portrayal of depression through Lydia. How does she deal with it, and is her way of coping effective? How do you deal with sadness?
What do you think of this movie's take on the afterlife? What movies best depict how you imagine an afterlife?
This movie was released in 1988. Has it aged well? Why, or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 30, 1988
- On DVD or streaming : June 25, 1997
- Cast : Geena Davis , Michael Keaton , Winona Ryder
- Director : Tim Burton
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Fantasy
- Run time : 92 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : March 23, 2026
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