Burton. Burton. Burton. According to early reviews of the long-awaited sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Tim Burton is back. Critics are particularly enthusiastic about this return to the kind of work that earned him fans in the first place, as the Beetle juice follow-up is being called one of those rare great legacy sequels that captures the same magic as the original. Michael Keaton slips right back into the black-and-white suit, while the practical effects are welcomed with open arms. As for what’s new, is it any surprise that Willem Dafoe fits right in with Burton and the gang?

This is what critics say about Beetlejuice Beetlejuice:

Is it as good as the first movie?

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is equally funny, lively and campy and will please both audiences nostalgic for the first film as well as those discovering this fun world of Burton’s creative mind for the first time.”
— Ema Sasic, Second Best Film

“Quirky, cheerful, lively macabre, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice managed to recreate the original’s winning mix of innocent, childlike wonder and morbidly deranged imagination.”
– Zhuo-Ning Su, Awards Daily

“It’s a silly sequel to an equally silly original, and it’s hard to imagine wanting or needing much more than it.”
— Siddhant Adlakha, IGN Movies

“The film is just a light riff on Beetle juice — a bit of fan service, really. It doesn’t give you the full monster kitsch shock that the original film had.”
— Owen Gleiberman, Variety

Is it a return to old form for the director?

“It miraculously finds Tim Burton finding his groove and successfully returning to the black comedy and outrageous imagery that marked his extraordinary early work.”
— Alonso Duralde, The Film Verdict

“This gleefully goofy farce is one of Burton’s most entertaining films, and a welcome return to his own brand of weird creepiness after the Disney failure that was his 2019 live-action Dumbo remake.”
— Nicholas Barber, BBC.com

“Fans of Burton will certainly not be disappointed…Tim Burton is back.”
— Ben Rolph, Discussion about film

“I scribbled ‘Tim Burton is back!’ in my notes.”
—David Rooney, the Hollywood reporter

“This long-awaited sequel is the most unashamedly Burton-esque and deranged film Tim Burton has made in years when it comes to macabre Frankenstein creatures, strange situations and offbeat humor.”
— Hannah Strong, Little White Lies

Few people would be mistaken Beetlejuice Beetlejuice for a confession or particularly revealing work, but it remains closer to that original artistic spark that was extinguished when the director became a trademark.”
— Ben Croll, The Wrap

(Photo by Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection)

Does it work better than most sequels?

“As for prosecution, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is one of the better examples of how to honor the past while bringing a story into the modern era.”
— Ema Sasic, Second Best Film

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a continuation of the legacy, in every way.”
— Alexander Harrison, Screen Rant

“While the track record of sequels in general – and sequels released more than 30 years after the original, in particular – is patchy at best, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice defies all expectations.”
— Alonso Duralde, The Film Verdict

“As in Top Gun: Maverick, the long gap between the old film and the new one proves beneficial. Instead of feeling like a rehash, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice “is a comedy with its own story and its own concerns.”
— Nicholas Barber, BBC.com

Is Michael Keaton still great in the title role?

“Michael Keaton’s return as Betelgeuse is worth the wait.”
— Ben Rolph, Discussion about film

“Keaton has revived the role he first played in 1988 and plays it with the same energy, intelligence and devilish enthusiasm as he did in the original all those years ago.”
— Jo-Ann Titmarsh, London Evening Standard

“Keaton is brilliant as always in a role that suits him like a glove.”
— Hannah Strong, Little White Lies

“Keaton, who gets a bigger lead in this film than he did in the first, still has the chops to bring this iconic character to life, and it’s a joy to see all his jokes and comedic flourishes still come across at 70.”
— Ema Sasic, Second Best Film

“Keaton plays the role with the same eccentric spunk as before, but – how shall I put it – he is less irritating, more subdued, slightly melancholic (perhaps).”
—Sophie Monks Kaufman, In-dieWire

“Michael Keaton clearly adores this character; once again he pours pure love into Beetlejuice’s maniacal, depraved soul.”
— Stephanie Zacharek, Time Magazine

(Photo by Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection)

And what about the other returning actors?

“Ryder and O’Hara stand out in the top cast.”
—Jonathan Romney, Screen International

“Ryder goes beat for beat with Keaton as the film’s yin to its raunchily irreverent yang. The actress transports us back to the beguiling screen persona of her late teens, not only in Beetle juice but also in films like Edward Scissorhands, Mermaids and Heathers, where she exuded a unique blend of intelligence, kindness and innocence, but was equally effective when she stepped into the darkness.”
—David Rooney, the Hollywood reporter

“Ryder isn’t always great at comedy, but her rapport with Burton probably contributed to this wonderfully loose performance.”
– Zhuo-Ning Su, Awards Daily

Are there any new additions that stand out?

“The addition of Willem Dafoe, who is known for his various wacky roles, fits perfectly into Burton’s world… Dafoe is great every time he gets the chance and provides a lot of laughs as a result.”
— Ema Sasic, Second Best Film

“Dafoe is clearly not doing well in his own film, a film that barely connects to the rest of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice…but like most actors, the actor has an infectious sense of humor.”

— Siddhant Adlakha, IGN Movies

“Justin Theroux is perfect for the role of Rory and despite his limited screen time, he impresses by delivering some of the film’s best dialogue.”
— Serena Seghedoni, Loud and Clear reviews

(Photo by Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection)

Does it sometimes feel unnecessary?

“At no point does the 36-year-later revival call itself ‘Important’ with a capital ‘I’… it’s fine – sometimes even charming – and doesn’t need to be much more than that.”
— Siddhant Adlakha, IGN Movies

“There’s good and bad fan service, and as contrived and shaky as it can be at times, I had a great time with it Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.”
— Owen Gleiberman, Variety

What does it look like?

“There is a lot to experience visually… the comical-gory special effects are also memorable.”
—James Mottram, Total Film

“The film’s most commendable achievement is the exuberant way in which its highly tactile, practical and animatronic effects are reclaimed for the CGI age.” — Jonathan Romney, Screen International

“Burton captures and expands the aesthetic of the original, blending the macabre and the cartoonish and running the gamut from stop-motion animation to the most advanced CGI.”
— Alonso Duralde, The Film Verdict

“There are an abundance of practical effects, with the caveat that some of the CGI effects (particularly a chilling scene featuring some influencers) aren’t as graceful and tactile.”
— Connor Lightbody, Movies We Texted About

(Photo by Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection)

Should we laugh about it?

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is funny, all the time.”
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline Hollywood Daily

“The nicest surprise is that Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is that rare thing, a big-budget comedy that’s also funny.”
— Nicholas Barber, BBC.com

“The priority is to cram as many gruesomely comedic riffs into the album as possible, from visual puns on phrases like ‘inner child’ and ‘spill your guts’ to a tasty digression into Betelgeuse’s romance with Dolores.”
—Jonathan Romney, Screen International

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is full of lame jokes and childish one-liners, but the effect works.”
— Stephanie Zacharek, Time Magazine

Is it for children?

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (is) an ideal gateway to the horror genre for younger viewers.”
— Siddhant Adlakha, IGN Movies

“The original script for Beetle juice was considered too dark and was lightened in tone, while this seems to have undergone a similar sanitization to an F-bomb being covered up by a very sharp and very unnecessary beep.”
— Connor Lightbody, Movies We Texted About

(Photo by Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection)

Are there any complaints?

“Monica Bellucci’s role is wasted.”
— Ema Sasic, Second Best Film

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice could use more Delores: she pops up, elegantly, only here and there.”
— Stephanie Zacharek, Magazine

“The only downside to the film is that there are a few too many storylines, making the middle drag and the ending rushed and messy: just like in the original Beetle juiceshe could have spent more time with Betelgeuse.”
— Nicholas Barber, BBC.com

Thumbnail image by ©Warner Bros. Pictures
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