‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ Scares Up $110 Million in Second-Biggest September Debut in History

As a lifelong cinephile who has been through the highs and lows of Hollywood, I can confidently say that the return of Beetlejuice is nothing short of a triumphant comeback. It’s not every day you see a movie from 1988 outperforming contemporary releases, but here we are with a sequel that has broken records and left the competition in the dust.


Three times Beetlejuice’s name was spoken, and lo and behold, the trickster spirit emerged once more, ready to cause chaos and rule the box office with his antics.

In its opening weekend, the sequel of Tim Burton’s 1988 horror comedy “Beetlejuice” raked in an impressive $110 million from 4,575 theaters, making it the second highest September debut ever, surpassing “It: Chapter 2″‘s opening weekend earnings of $91 million in 2019 and only falling short behind the record-breaking $123 million debut of “It” in 2017. The movie currently holds the third spot for the best box office openings this year, trailing only “Deadpool & Wolverine” ($211.4 million) and “Inside Out 2” ($154.2 million). This film provided a much-needed boost to the domestic box office, which had been struggling following a lackluster end to the summer season.

David A. Gross, head of Franchise Entertainment Research, finds the upcoming comedy sequel to ‘Beetlejuice’, released 36 years ago, to be an exciting launch. He notes that the original film was initially an unusual story that gained popularity over time. However, with audiences now familiar with the concept, the unconventional nature of this sequel stands out more against typical storylines and is expected to be a mainstream success.

The initial movie, along with positive word-of-mouth for its sequel, significantly boosted ticket sales to three figures. The original “Beetlejuice” film, released in 1988, earned $74.7 million and even sparked a Tony-nominated Broadway musical, which continues to tour across the nation. Despite over three decades having passed since the initial release, this unconventional bio-exorcist from the underworld, who assists a deceased couple in haunting their former home, remains deeply ingrained in popular culture as the “most memorable ghost.

Unlike some modern remakes or follow-ups such as “Twisters” and “Wonka,” which introduced entirely new casts, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” brings back a host of familiar characters. Tim Burton is once again in the director’s chair, with Michael Keaton reprising his role as Beetlejuice, Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz, and Catherine O’Hara as step-mom Delia Deetz. “Wednesday” star Jenna Ortega, Monica Bellucci, and Willem Dafoe are among the new additions to the cast. The sequel takes place 36 years later, with Lydia Deetz’s daughter accidentally opening a portal to the Afterlife, releasing everyone’s beloved ghost once more.

In other places, the box office charts showed a dismal scene, seemingly miles away from the realm of prosperity. Apart from “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” no movie could surpass the ten-dollar mark in ticket earnings.

In its seventh week on the big screen, Disney’s Marvel sequel “Deadpool & Wolverine,” featuring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, earned $6.4 million at 3,400 theaters nationwide, landing it in the second spot. This R-rated blockbuster has amassed a staggering total of $613 million in the U.S. and an impressive $1.25 billion worldwide.

In its second week, the biographical movie “Reagan,” starring Dennis Quaid, held firmly at third place with a gross of $5.1 million from 2,770 cinemas. So far, this film about Ronald Reagan’s life has earned a total of $18.4 million.

Over the weekend, “Alien: Romulus” and “It Ends With Us” concluded the top five earnings list. Specifically, “Alien: Romulus” brought in an additional $3.55 million from 2,560 theaters. After being in release for a month, this latest installment of Disney and 20th Century’s science fiction horror series has amassed $96 million domestically and approximately $300 million globally.

In its fifth week, “It Ends With Us” earned $3.5 million across 2,850 cinemas. This adaption of Colleen Hoover’s top-selling novel has so far made $141 million in North America and surpassed the global mark of $300 million. While a sequel seems inevitable, potential drama between co-stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni (who also directs) may hinder its production.

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2024-09-08 17:46