WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for Beetlejuice 2!After the success ofBeetlejuice Beetlejuice, it’s theperfect time for Tim Burton to return to the film format that he hasn’t fully embraced since 2012. Tim Burton’s heyday in Hollywood is generally considered to be the time period betweenBeetlejuicein 1988 and aroundAlice in Wonderlandin 2010, his major breakout horror-comedy movie and his biggest box office success. In the time since, Burton has notably been behind some big-budget films with mixed reviews from critics or unimpressive box office returns, but this all changed withBeetlejuice 2’s resounding critical and box office successin fall 2024.
Having released in theaters on August 20, 2025,Beetlejuice’s long-awaited sequel holds a 77% Rotten Tomatoes score and has already earned over $250 million at the box office after its sophomore weekend.The movie marks a welcome return to form and comeback for gothic fantasy horror auteur Tim Burton, and makes his upcoming film projects all the more exciting. While Burton is already lined up to direct aremake of 1958’s sci-fi horrorAttack of the 50 Foot Woman, a brief yet effective animated sequence inBeetlejuice 2proves he should finally return to that classic format after 12 years.
Tim Burton Needs To Make Another Stop-Motion Animated Movie After Beetlejuice 2
Beetlejuice 2’s Stop-Motion Animated Scene Makes The Case For Another Claymation Movie
Though he’s surprisingly only directed two full feature stop-motion animated films, this filmmaking technique has become one of the biggest trademarks of Tim Burton’s career. The director has oftenintegrated stop-motion animation into his live-action movies, such as with bothBeetlejuiceandBeetlejuice 2, but has also helmed shorts and feature films that are entirely shot with stop-motion animation. Three ofBurton’s most critically acclaimed and adored moviesare stop-motion animated, including 1993’sThe Nightmare Before Christmas(which he executive produced and created the story and characters for but didn’t direct), 2005’sCorpse Bride, and 2012’sFrankenweenie.
Beetlejuice 2 Revives A 42-Year-Old Tim Burton Trademark Missing From His Last 3 Movies
Tim Burton has confirmed that a trademark of his filmmaking will be back on display in Beetlejuice 2, which was largely absent from his recent movies.
It’s now been 12 years since Burton has made a stop-motion animated feature, the same time gap betweenThe Nightmare Before ChristmasandCorpse Bride. However,Beetlejuice 2includes a humorous scene that’s told entirely in stop-motion animation, as Burton uses this format to depict thedeath ofBeetlejuice’s original character Charles Deetzas his plane crashes and he’s eaten by a shark.Beetlejuice 2’s claymation sequence is a great reminder of how skillful the director is with this artform, and makes the desire for anotherstop-motion animated Tim Burton movieeven greater.
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Beetlejuice 2 Subtly Adapts Tim Burton’s Stop-Motion Movies For Live-Action
Beetlejuice 2’s Characters & Afterlife World Are Reminiscent Of His Stop-Motion Movies
There have long been calls for a live-actionCorpse Bridemovie, andBeetlejuice 2arguably sees this wish come to fruition with Burton’s spooky afterlife realm. His 2005 stop-motion animated movie and 1988 horror-comedy have often drawn comparisons for their themes, character designs, stories, and settings, andBeetlejuice 2often feels likeCorpse Bridein live action. Delores’ design and appearance inBeetlejuice Beetlejuicearecomparable to a live-action version of bothCorpse Bride’s Emily andThe Nightmare Before Christmas’ Sally, serving as a successful nostalgic combination of Burton’s iconic spooky characters across different mediums.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Cast
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.
