It’s been 26 years sinceNetflixsent out its first DVD,Tim Burton’sBeetlejuice, in the original red envelopes that helped elevate the company to a household name. A lot has changed in that time - the rental giant is now a streaming behemoth andMichael Keaton’s Ghost with the Mostis back in theaters with a sequel. To celebrateBeetlejuice Beetlejuiceand the shared history between the franchise and Netflix, the creative minds atRyan Reynolds’s Maximum Effort banner have come up with a display that shows “You always remember your first.” A billboard is up now on Sunset Blvd. that resembles the ever-changing Netflix marquee, albeit with aBeetlejuicedesign and the date the first DVDs started rolling out.
At the time,Beetlejuicerepresented the perfect starting point for Netflix’s library of cinema. Released just ten years before it was available to rent in 1998, the horror comedy starring Keaton,Alec Baldwin,Geena Davis,Wynona Ryder, andCatherine O’Hara, among others, was already a classic hailed for itssurprising scares and offbeat humor. Though a sequeltook longer than expected to bring together, Burton’s original remained a cultural touchstone while Netflix would play a key role in keeping it in the minds of viewers. It’s fitting, then, that the sequel would pay homage to the company responsible for making it easy to re-watch the bio-exorcist’s antics over the years, making it a traditional Halloween classic.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, in a roundabout way, deepens the ties between the franchise and Netflix. Thebiggest newcomer to the castas Astrid Deetz isJenna Ortega, who has since become a household name thanks in part to Burton’sWednesdayat the streaming service. Moreover, Ryder, who reprises her role as Lydia Deetz, would go on to star in Netflix’s landmark series,Stranger Things, in the years after her meeting with the Maitlands and near-marriage to the titular Betelgeuse. The sequel largely revolves around the two as the Deetz family returns to Winter River andAstrid discovers a portal to the afterlife, sending her mother on a journey to save her with a little help from the grubby ghoul himself.
‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ Pays Homage to the Original Film’s Roots
Returning to a world that has such a strong legacy both in the horror comedy realm and in cinema history period was no easy feat for Burton and company, especially as filmmaking has changed considerably in the years since. Yet, the director made certain thatBeetlejuice Beetlejuiceremained mostly in line with the original. For one, the film employs similar practical effects that, while evolving from the first film, were stillused to create a homemade feeling. Burton also left plenty of room for improv and contributions from the cast, letting both the returning cast members like O’Hara and Ryder and the newcomers likeWillem Dafoe,Monica Bellucci, andJustin Therouxcontribute to their characters.
The result is a film that has been deemed a worthy follow-up that brings more wacky fun and wild Burton-esque scares to the screen. OnRotten Tomatoes,Beetlejuice Beetlejuiceis certified fresh with a strong 77% score from critics and an 86% mark from audiences. Collider’sMartin Tsaihailed it as a return to form for Burton, giving ita 7/10 score in his review. Withan eye-popping box office haullikely on the horizon, it’s proof that there’s still plenty of love for the Ghost With the Most decades after he first came to homes in a little red envelope.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuiceis now in theaters. Check out the billboard in the gallery above.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice: The sequel to the cult classic brings back the infamous ghost Beetlejuice, who is unleashed upon a modern family, setting off a chain of hilarious and supernatural events. As mischief ensues, both the living and the deceased must deal with the resulting chaos, blending comedic antics with ghostly intrigue.
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