The spooky season is starting early and strong, with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice making scary good money during its opening weekend.
Labelled as “the first event film of the fall,” the Warner Bros. production brought in $110 million domestically, well above industry projections. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice didn’t play as well overseas, though, only bringing in $35 million from 69 markets – notably behind its domestic number.
Tim Burton’s long-awaited sequel is the third-best opening weekend of the year, only behind Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine. Nostalgia and the upcoming Halloween season played a factor, as did the mostly positive reception from fans and critics.
As for September releases, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the second-highest-grossing September opening, only behind 2017’s It, opening at a monstrous $123 million. It’s giving the recent box office a strong Frankenstein-like jolt, bringing things back to life after a weak Labor Day weekend and slow August.
SEE ALSO: Read our Beetlejuice Beetlejuice review here
If this can launch a revival of Burton’s career or even another Beetlejuice entry, it remains to be seen, but it’s a nice moment for long-time fans of the filmmaker’s career and those wanting this sequel for decades.
Beetlejuice is back! After an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic, and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened. With trouble brewing in both realms, it’s only a matter of time until someone says Beetlejuice’s name three times, and the mischievous demon returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice sees the return of Michael Keaton as Betelgeuse, Winona Ryder (Stranger Things) as Lydia Deetz and Catherine O’Hara (Schitt’s Creek) as Delia Deetz, alongside new cast members Jenna Ortega (Wednesday), Justin Theroux (The Leftovers), Monica Bellucci (The Matrix), Arthur Conti (House of the Dragon), and Willem Dafoe (Poor Things).
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is now in cinemas.