The sequel, *Beetlejuice Beetlejuice*, has surpassed the original horror-comedy in its Rotten Tomatoes rating. This film is a sequel to the iconic Tim Burton classic, bringing back Michael Keaton as the ghostly Betelgeuse, Winona Ryder as the once-goth Lydia Deetz, and Catherine O’Hara as her stepmother, Delia Deetz. Joining them are new characters portrayed by Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Willem Dafoe, Danny DeVito, among others. *Beetlejuice Beetlejuice* debuts nearly four decades after the first movie, which was released on March 30, 1988.
On the first full day of its theatrical release, the sequel accumulated more than 1,000 user reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. This resulted in a Popcornmeter score of 86% for the 2024 film, surpassing the original’s 82% from 1988 by 4%. Given that the original has amassed over 250,000 ratings on the platform over the years, it remains to be seen if the sequel can maintain its edge as more reviews roll in.
What This Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score Means for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
The Sequel’s Rotten Tomatoes Success Signals a Promising Future
This audience score marks the first instance where *Beetlejuice Beetlejuice* has outdone its predecessor on Rotten Tomatoes. While both films have achieved Certified Fresh status from critics, the original boasts an 82% Tomatometer score, which aligns with its audience score and is 5% higher than the new film’s 77% Tomatometer score. Below is a comprehensive comparison of the performance of both films with critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes:
The enthusiastic response from both critics and audiences, along with projections of a record-breaking opening weekend at the box office for *Beetlejuice Beetlejuice*, signals the film’s success. Though Tim Burton has been non-committal about the possibility of a third installment, the strong commercial and critical reception of this sequel, as well as their successful Netflix series *Wednesday*, suggests that Burton and Jenna Ortega might continue their collaboration in future projects, much like Burton’s long-term partnership with Johnny Depp.
Our Take on the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Audience Score
The Movie Isn’t a Classic Just Yet
Ultimately, whether the new film will be celebrated as a classic like its predecessor is still uncertain. However, it appears that the cast, direction, narrative, and visual style of *Beetlejuice Beetlejuice* are resonating with both new viewers and loyal fans. This is a notable feat, considering this is the first sequel in a franchise that has been largely inactive for over 35 years, though it did inspire a brief cartoon series and a stage musical during that time.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
- Comedy
- Supernatural
- Fantasy
- Horror
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the sequel to the original Tim Burton classic that starred Michael Keaton and Wynona Rider in a horror-comedy that involved ghosts trying to scare off new homebuyers from taking their house. The sequel brings back Michael Keaton as the hilarious and sleazy ghost with selfish intentions, now joined by Jenna Ortega in a new role.
