Beetlejuice

Tim Burton tale is creepy fun; has violence, language.
Parents say
Based on 68 reviews
Kids say
Based on 203 reviews
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Beetlejuice
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Beetlejuice is a fantasy film directed by Tim Burton that's darker than you might remember. It deals with serious themes: Young married couple Barbara (Geena Davis) and Adam (Alec Baldwin) come to grips with the fact that they're dead, and a teenager contemplates death by suicide. There's a lot of creepy imagery, and strong language includes both "s--t" and "f--k," as well as "hell," "dammit" and "piss off." There's also smoking, drinking, and a reference to Valium. The undead title character, Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), finds a brothel; women invite him inside. Sexual references and gestures include Beetlejuice grabbing his crotch and dry humping. He also kisses Barbara without consent and lifts her skirt. He also tries to coerce teenager Lydia (Winona Ryder) into marrying him. An afterlife waiting room abounds with people in various states of death, including gory-looking ones that imply violent deaths. Main characters are chased by giant striped worms in a desert, and a character shrivels up like a mummy in a matter of seconds. On the representation front, the film has no characters of color except in background parts, women characters stand up to Beetlejuice, Lydia's depression is sensitively addressed, and one man is heavier set than others and implied to be gay through stereotypical feminine behavior.
Community Reviews
Enjoyable, don’t show it to kids under 10.
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AMAZING
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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
- Studio: Warner Bros.
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Run time: 92 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- Last updated: March 2, 2023
Our Editors Recommend
For kids who love a little kooky with their spooky
Themes & Topics
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