Tim Burton took thirty-six years to get this right. Honestly, for a while there, it looked like the sequel was never happening. We heard rumors for decades. Kevin Smith almost wrote a script. There was that weird Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian idea that thankfully died in development hell. But the wait is over. If you’re asking when does Beetlejuice Beetlejuice come out, the answer is actually right now—it hit theaters globally on September 6, 2024, and it's currently haunting digital platforms and physical media.
It’s a legacy sequel that actually feels like the original. No heavy CGI overhauls. No weird recasting of the leads. Michael Keaton is back, Winona Ryder is back, and Catherine O’Hara is still doing that frantic, hilarious Delia Deetz energy that made the 1988 film a cult classic.
But wait.
If you missed the theatrical window, you’re probably looking for the streaming dates or the physical 4K release. The film landed on Digital (VOD) platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV on October 8, 2024. The physical 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD editions followed shortly after on November 19, 2024.
Why the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Release Date Was a Massive Gamble
Warner Bros. put this out in the post-Labor Day slot. Usually, that’s a graveyard for movies. People are going back to school. The summer blockbuster heat is dying down. But Burton knew his audience. By dropping it in early September, the film captured that "pre-Halloween" vibe that everyone starts feeling the second a single yellow leaf hits the ground.
It worked.
The movie opened to a massive $110 million domestically. That’s wild for a sequel to a movie that came out before half the audience was even born. It proves that nostalgia, when handled with actual practical effects and the original cast, is still a goldmine. People didn't just want a sequel; they wanted to see Michael Keaton in that moldy striped suit one more time. He hasn't lost a step. He's still fast, gross, and chaotic.
The Long Road to September 2024
Let’s be real for a second. Most sequels that take thirty years to make are terrible. They usually feel like a cash grab. This one felt different because Tim Burton reportedly wouldn't do it unless the "Shrinker" puppets and the stop-motion sandworms were back. He wanted it to feel "handmade."
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The production faced some hurdles, too. The 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike shut down filming when they had only two days left of shooting. Two days! Imagine being that close to finishing a thirty-year project and having to walk away. They finally wrapped in Vermont in late 2023, which kept that September 2024 release date on track.
Who’s Joining the Afterlife This Time?
You can't talk about when does Beetlejuice Beetlejuice come out without talking about Jenna Ortega. She plays Astrid Deetz, Lydia’s daughter. It’s perfect casting. If anyone can play the "disaffected, cynical teen" archetype that Winona Ryder pioneered, it’s the girl who plays Wednesday Addams.
Astrid provides the emotional core. While Lydia is busy hosting a psychic talk show and dealing with her shady boyfriend (played by Justin Theroux), Astrid is the skeptic who thinks her mom is a fraud. Then she accidentally opens a portal to the Afterlife. Typical teenager stuff.
Then there’s Monica Bellucci. She plays Delores, Beetlejuice’s soul-sucking ex-wife. She literally staples herself back together in one of the best sequences in the movie. It’s gross. It’s weird. It’s classic Burton.
- Michael Keaton as Betelgeuse (obviously)
- Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz
- Catherine O’Hara as Delia Deetz
- Jenna Ortega as Astrid Deetz
- Willem Dafoe as Wolf Jackson (a dead actor playing a cop)
Dafoe is a standout. He’s playing a ghost who was a B-movie action star when he was alive, so he treats the Afterlife like a gritty police procedural. It’s the kind of meta-humor the first movie did so well.
Where Can You Watch Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Right Now?
Since the theatrical run has mostly wrapped up, your best bet is streaming.
Max (formerly HBO Max) is the official streaming home for Warner Bros. Discovery films. The movie officially started streaming on Max on November 1, 2024. It was the perfect "day after Halloween" treat for everyone who wasn't ready to let go of the spooky season.
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If you don't have a Max subscription, you can rent or buy it on:
- Apple TV
- Amazon Prime Video
- Google Play
- Vudu (Fandango at Home)
The 4K physical release is actually worth getting if you’re a nerd for visuals. Burton’s color palette in the Afterlife—all those neon greens and deep purples—looks way better on a physical disc than it does through a compressed streaming signal. Plus, the special features show how they built the "Soul Train" set and the practical makeup effects for the Waiting Room ghosts.
The Plot (Without the Heavy Spoilers)
Basically, a family tragedy brings the Deetz women back to Winter River. Charles Deetz is gone (they handle his absence in a very creative, animated way because of Jeffrey Jones' legal history). Lydia is still haunted by Beetlejuice. She sees him everywhere.
Astrid finds the model of the town in the attic. You know the one. She meets a local boy who isn't what he seems, things go sideways, and Lydia has to call on the one person she swore she’d never see again.
"The Juice is loose."
It’s a bit more frantic than the first one. There are a lot of subplots. Sometimes it feels like three movies crammed into one, but it’s never boring.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Sequel
A lot of fans thought this would be a reboot. It isn't. It’s a direct continuation. It respects the lore. For example, the rules of the Afterlife are still the same. You still have to deal with the bureaucracy. You still shouldn't say the name three times unless you're prepared for a bio-exorcist to wreck your life.
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Also, Danny Elfman came back for the score. That’s huge. Without that iconic, oompah-style gothic music, it wouldn't feel like a Beetlejuice movie. He even reworked the "Banana Boat Song (Day-O)" in a way that feels fresh but nostalgic.
Is There Going to Be a Beetlejuice 3?
Given the box office numbers, people are already asking. Tim Burton has been pretty coy about it. He joked that if it takes another thirty-six years to make a third one, he’ll be over a hundred years old.
But never say never in Hollywood. If the demand is there, they might find a way to bring the ghost back again. For now, the story feels pretty complete. It’s a nice bridge between the generations.
How to Experience the Beetlejuice World Now
If you’ve already seen the movie and you're wondering what to do next, there are actually a few "real world" things you can dive into.
First, the Broadway musical is still a thing in various touring productions. It’s a very different vibe—more high-energy, neon-pop—but it’s great. Second, the original 1988 film is available on 4K and streaming everywhere. If you haven't watched it in a decade, go back and see how well it holds up. The practical effects still look better than most $200 million Marvel movies today.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check Max: If you have a subscription, it’s included at no extra cost.
- Look for the 4K Steelbook: If you’re a collector, the artwork on the physical releases for this film is actually incredible and likely to become a collector's item.
- Re-watch the original: Pay attention to the background ghosts in the Waiting Room; several of them are referenced or brought back in the 2024 sequel.
- Queue up the soundtrack: Danny Elfman’s 2024 score is available on Spotify and vinyl, and it’s perfect background music for a rainy afternoon.
The wait for the "Ghost with the Most" was long, but it’s officially over. Whether you’re watching for the first time or the tenth, the afterlife is open for business.