Directed by Tim Burton, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the much-awaited sequel to Beetlejuice. A dark fantasy horror comedy, the film features original cast members like Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara and new members like Jenna Ortega, Monica Bellucci, and Willem Dafoe.
Set three decades after the first film, it features Lydia Deetz, now a mother, whose life turns upside down when extended family members arrive at Winter River following a family tragedy. Her rebel daughter discovers a mysterious portal that returns Betelgeuse to haunt her. The movie has been getting positive reviews and is nostalgic for many cinephiles.
Fans who enjoy Tim Burton’s style of filmmaking should check out the list below, which features similarly themed movies.
We Have a Ghost, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and other movies like Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
1) The Frighteners - Amazon Prime Video
Starring Michael J. Fox, The Frighteners belongs to the horror-comedy genre, which is similar to Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. When an architect, Frank (Fox), survives a car accident, he suddenly can communicate with ghosts. Initially, he chooses to befriend the ghosts and fool people into exorcising in return for money.
But when Frank discovers a mean ghost who kills both ghosts and humans, he stops the Grim Reaper. Much like Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the film has distinct visuals, some spooky moments, and humor.
2) Little Monsters - Amazon Prime Video
Directed by Richard Alan Greenburg, Little Monsters is a fantasy comedy starring Fred Savage and Howie Mandel. The film follows a young boy, Brian, who comes to know that there is a secret world of monsters who sneak under children's beds at night and create mischief.
Brian soon becomes friends with the monster Maurice and creates a hilarious ruckus. Just like Beetlejuice’s character in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Maurice is a coarse and reckless supernatural creature. However, it is friendlier in comparison, which provides a different experience for the viewer. A cult movie, it is a must-watch after Burton’s sequel.
3) Casper - Amazon Prime Video
Based on a character from Harvey Comics, Casper is a famous horror comedy that stars Christina Ricci, Bill Pullman, and others. The movie revolves around the friendly spirit of Casper, who haunts a manor with a special treasure.
When a mean woman fails to eliminate the ghosts, she employs a paranormal therapist and his daughter, Kat, to move into the house and do the job. But Casper forms an unlikely bond with Kat. While the movie is softer and more emotional when compared to Burton’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, it has the same spooky feel and themes of friendship that make it a must-watch.
4) We Have a Ghost - Netflix
We Have a Ghost is a horror comedy directed by Christopher Landon starring David Harbour, Anthony Mackie, and others. The film revolves around the Presleys family, who move into an abandoned house. The youngest, Kevin, finds a ghost residing in the house and names him Ernest. As Ernest is mute and can’t remember much, Kevin decides to befriend and help him.
Like Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the movie is about a house haunted by a non-threatening ghost. Both movies offer light-hearted fun and some supernatural magic.
5) Addams Family Values - Amazon Prime Video
A sequel to The Addams Family, the Barry Sonnenfeld-directed Addams Family Values is a supernatural comedy starring Raul Julia, Anjelica Huston, and others. The movie has several hilarious plots, such as the family having a new baby, Uncle Fester’s marriage to a serial killer, and Wednesday and her brother being sent to a summer camp.
While the film does not involve ghosts, it has the same macabre feel mixed with comedy, which is the signature of Tim Burton and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Christina Ricci’s iconic performance as Wednesday Addams also paved the way for Netflix’s Wednesday by Tim Burton.
6) Ghostbusters: Afterlife - Netflix
If one is a fan of watching sequels where the original cast returns after a long time—like in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, then one should watch Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Directed by Jason Reitman, Ghostbusters: Afterlife is a supernatural comedy starring Finn Wolfhard, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, and others.
The movie is set 32 years after the second Ghostbusters and revolves around the daughter of Egon Spengler and her children, who come to his Oklahoma farm. The children discover a ghost in their grandfather’s old group. The movie has the same nostalgic tone and intermixing of the natural with the supernatural as Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
7) Edward Scissorhands - Amazon Prime Video
Another classic by Tim Burton and starring Winona Ryder, Edward Scissorhands is a gothic romance that also stars Johnny. The movie opens with an old woman telling her granddaughter the story of a kind man called Edward, who has scissor blades for his hands. The movie follows his chronicles as he is taken in by a family, where he falls in love and transforms a community.
The movie was highly successful, and like Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, it has many of Burton’s signature styles and themes. Both movies are gothic and surreal, explore characters who are societal misfits, and have a whimsical tone.
Viewers are welcome to go through the list and choose a spooky movie of their liking.