Tim Burton’s Long-Awaited Sequel That Finally Reunited Him With Winona Ryder & Michael Keaton After 36 Years Is Now Streaming On Max

Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice reunited the director with Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder 36 years after the first movie and is now available to stream on Max. Since Beetlejuice‘s ending in 1988, the film has been solidified as an iconic piece of modern pop culture and put Tim Burton on the directorial map. Not only is Beetlejuice considered a staple of many Halloween movie rewatches each year, but it stands the test of time by being an incredibly fun and zany story for audiences to experience whenever they need a pick-me-up.

One of the big reasons behind the first film’s iconicity is Beetlejuice‘s now-all-star cast. Michael Keaton is a world-renowned actor in modern Hollywood, largely driven by Beetlejuice and his excellent comedic performance. Alongside a young Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz and Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis’ Maitlands, Beetlejuice‘s characters and their stories became equally iconic, as the clamor for a sequel persevered throughout the 1990s and 2000s. 36 years later, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice provided exactly this, reuniting Burton, Keaton, and Ryder, with the film now streaming on Max.

Beetlejuice 2 Is Now Streaming On Max – Is It Worth Watching?

Did The Beetlejuice Sequel Meet Expectations?

Naturally, the simple question that will be asked ahead of Beetlejuice 2‘s streaming debut on Max is whether the film is worth watching. After all, a 36-year wait for a sequel, Burton’s return as director, and the reunited cast caused high expectations. Fear not, however, as Beetlejuice 2 is certainly worth watching. While slightly longer and, as a result, somewhat less focused than its predecessor, Beetlejuice 2 received positive reviews and was regarded as a worthy sequel upon its theatrical debut.

A big factor in these reviews was Beetlejuice 2‘s cast. Expectedly, Keaton was fantastic once more as the titular Betelgeuse, proving that almost four decades did not dampen his talents for wacky, exaggerated, irreverent humor. Both Ryder and Catherine O’Hara as Lydia and Delia Deetz had great returns, with emotionally resonant but still funny character arcs. Then there was the addition of Jenna Ortega, who added something new to Beetlejuice 2 via her character’s skepticism of the afterlife.

Thankfully, Beetlejuice 2‘s pros extended beyond the cast. The same inventive practical effects were used to convey the film’s stranger elements, just as they were in its predecessor. In an age that is becoming increasingly reliant on CGI, the practicality on display was both familiar and refreshing. The aforementioned pacing issues aside, Beetlejuice 2‘s script retained most elements that audiences loved about the original movie, providing a worthy sequel that is certainly worth watching – or rewatching – now that it is streaming on Max.

How Beetlejuice 2 Became A Major Reunion

As already alluded to, Beetlejuice 2 was a massive reunion in more ways than one. Firstly, it reunited Burton with the original cast of Beetlejuice, namely Keaton, Ryder, and O’Hara. Although some original characters from Beetlejuice were missing, the core cast remained the same, allowing the film to shine as a legacy sequel. Burton even revealed to Entertainment Weekly that his desire for the sequel centered around reuniting three generations of the Deetz family, driven by Ryder’s Lydia, O’Hara’s Delia, and Ortega’s Astrid, most notably the former’s character arc as an adult.

Beyond the Deetz family, there is no Beetlejuice 2 without, well, Betelgeuse. Keaton’s return saw him work with Burton again in the franchise that made both of them household Hollywood names. Finally, Jenna Ortega’s involvement in Beetlejuice further contributed to the film’s overall reunion feel, having previously worked with Burton on Netflix’s Wednesday. Without the return of these cast members and the reunion this caused, it is safe to assume Burton would not have been inclined to direct Beetlejuice 2.

What’s Next For Tim Burton After Beetlejuice 2

Burton’s Upcoming Projects Explained

With Beetlejuice Beetlejuice being regarded as a return to form for Burton, many will be looking at what upcoming projects are on his radar. Regarding theatrical movies, Burton is reportedly developing a remake of Attack of the 50 Foot Woman alongside Gone Girl screenwriter Gillian Flynn. The 1958 original is known for its exaggerated premise that leads to sci-fi horror elements, fitting Burton’s talents perfectly. After Beetlejuice 2‘s success, it makes sense for Burton to return to a familiar sandbox after lesser-received projects due to his collaborations with Disney in the 2010s.

Moving into the world of TV, Burton has another familiar upcoming project. Filming for Wednesday season 2 began in 2024 and wrapped in December of that year, setting the show up for a 2025 release date. Burton is expected to direct half of the season’s episodes, reuniting him once more with Jenna Ortega. After a brief period of divisiveness, Burton’s return to horror-comedy seems to be back in full flow with Wednesday season 2. Beetlejuice 2 was a big factor in this, and audiences can now stream the long-awaited sequel on Max.